Pain, weakness or dysfunction of the wrist or hand, possibly including some of the arm.

 

Common symptoms can include:

– Trouble gripping or twisting

– Fingers locking or clicking with movement (trigger finger)

– Pain at the base of the thumb

– Tingling, numbness, or burning hands or arm

– Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

– Sore forearm

– General stiffness or loss of motion

– Pain or throbbing at rest

– Trouble sleeping

– Sensations spasm or cramping

– Weakness or control issues

– Swelling or tenderness to touch

 

Our hands are the most dexterous in the animal kingdom. The dense packing of many tendons, ligaments, “pulleys,” and nerves makes for a complex structure. Getting all those parts working in sync can take some problem solving.

 

Common causes of wrist and hand problems include:

– Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

– Pinched nerves

– Muscle strains

– Trigger fingers

– Tendon sheath, pully, or retinacular irritation or damage

– Arthritis

– Muscle spasms

– De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

– Neck or elbow issues

– Scar tissue from past injuries or surgeries

– And many more…

 

Physical therapy can help with all of these things and more. *Even if you have been told you have arthritis or been told you need surgery or have had surgery in the past. * Nearly anyone can expect to see at least partial improvement.

 

Most patients are pleasantly surprised to find just how much pain free function they can regain with conservative treatment, even returning to sports and heavy labor. Physical therapy may help you avoid surgery, injections, additional medications, and other more invasive procedures. Even if more invasive procedures eventually become necessary, physical therapy prior to those interventions often improves the outcome.

 

Physical therapy treatment may include:

Therapists are trained unlike any other profession with knowledge and skills to specifically identify damaged or malfunctioning structures, how to help them heal naturally where able, and how to help the body accommodate and adapt where necessary.

 

Interesting hand and wrist facts:

– while the four main fingers have 3 bones each (phalanges), the thumb only has two, but makes up for that mobility by having a more mobile metacarpal (the bones that make up the palm/hand area) than the fingers. This same structure holds true in the foot, where the first two only has two phalanges compared the three in each of the other toes. But the toes “base bone” (the metatarsal) does not have the extra mobility of the thumb’s metacarpal.

– There are at least three other areas throughout the arm and neck where a nerve impingement can cause symptoms that mimic carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

Reminder:

The longer you wait, the more complex a problem can become. Call us or book your appointment online today! The sooner the better. Remember, you do not need a referral from any other doctors and your insurance will still be accepted the same as at any other medical appointment. Don’t delay, see us about naturally encouraging your body to heal itself without drugs, injections, or surgeries you may not need.