The Center for Hand Injury

Common hand problems

Since all of us use our hands almost constantly in daily life, any abnormality is a potential problem that deserves prompt and expert attention. Some common hand problems include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome - This disorder is caused by pressure on the median nerve as it enters the hand through a tunnel under a ligament at the back of the wrist. Symptoms include numbness and tingling, pain after prolonged gripping, or clumsiness in handling objects.
• Ganglion cysts - These non-cancerous, fluid-filled cysts most commonly appear on the back of the wrist and develop when the ligaments, joint linings or tendon sheaths become irritated or inflamed and release fluid.
• Tendonitis of the wrist - Sometimes caused by overuse or by inflammatory arthritis, this condition involves irritation and swelling of the sheath that surrounds the thumb tendons as they enter the hand from the arm. The most common symptoms are pain when grasping or pinching objects and tenderness over the area below the thumb on the inner side of the wrist.
• Arthritis - Osteoarthritis or wear and tear arthritis of the finger and thumb joints is common; symptoms include pain, swelling, and enlargement and redness of the affected joints.
• Dupuytrens Contracture. This is a hereditary condition in which the tough tissue or fascia just below the skin of the palm becomes abnormally thick; in severe cases the fingers may be pulled into the palm.
• Trigger finger. In this condition, the sheath surrounding the tendon that causes a finger to flex becomes irritated, preventing the tendon from moving smoothly. The finger may catch and then suddenly release as if a trigger were pulled.

How are hand problems treated?

Problems of the hand may be treated with splints or braces, steroid drugs and anti-inflammatory medications, or surgery. The specialists at The Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Center of the Cascades are trained and equipped to diagnose your hand problem and then prescribe and perform the best course of treatment.

Our physicians and other health care professionals are dedicated to providing the best and most advanced specialty treatments. Please visit our Physicians and Providers page for more information about our doctors on staff.

Click here to schedule an appointment.