Hand Pain Affecting Your Daily Life? Common Conditions Orthopedists Treat

Whether working at a computer, gardening, knitting, or cradling a newborn child, you use your hands for so many important tasks, so serious hand pain can affect all aspects of your life. 

At Texas Health Care's Bone and Joint Clinic, we treat many hand pain conditions.

James Brezina, MD; David Brigati, MD; Gary Driver, DPM; Andrew Lee, MD; Steven Meyers, MD; Joseph Milne, MD; Grace Reynolds, MD; Stephen Troum, MD; and Torrance Walker, MD offer individualized, compassionate treatment for people with hand pain at any age. Here’s what you need to know. 

Hand pain conditions orthopedists treat 

You might experience hand pain from a minor injury, such as a cut or scrape, or sometimes from temporary overuse. Usually, this type of pain resolves within a few days. Orthopedists focus on chronic hand pain or discomfort caused by a serious injury. 

Some of the common conditions associated with hand pain include:

Injury-related pain 

You may have suffered a serious hand injury with ongoing pain and discomfort, or your injury could result from repetitive stress, like continuous typing on a computer. Problems such as carpal tunnel, tendonitis, and bursitis frequently occur due to this type of repetitive stress.

Arthritis 

Arthritis develops when your joints become inflamed, leading to swelling, tenderness, and stiffness. Several types of arthritis can affect your hands, causing pain and limiting daily activities. Our orthopedic specialists evaluate and treat many of these conditions. 

Osteoporosis 

Osteoporosis is a condition that makes your bones very weak, and many people associate it with the spine. However, it can also impact other bones in your body, even your hands, leading to real discomfort. If you’re concerned, our orthopedic specialists can diagnose osteoporosis and guide you toward the right care. 

Tumors

Sometimes, pain can be a sign of something more serious, like a malignant growth or tumor that might develop in the hands, causing discomfort. The good news is that our orthopedic surgeons can help diagnose and treat hand tumors. 

How we determine the cause of your condition

When you come to us with hand pain, we first perform an exam. This may include checking your hands for signs of stress, asking you about your symptoms (including what the pain feels like and where it occurs), checking your sensory reflexes, and discussing your medical history. Afterward, we may order certain tests, such as an X-ray or a CT scan, to learn more. 

With these tools, we can determine whether your condition is acute or chronic and whether it’s associated with a specific injury. Essentially, we can begin putting the pieces together to determine what you’re dealing with and how we can treat it. 

What comes next

After your diagnosis, we discuss your condition and how we can treat it. Because there are so many causes of hand pain, treatments vary widely depending on your diagnosis. For example, tendon issues might require rest or steroid injections, while treating a tumor usually starts with draining the cyst. 

In most cases, we begin with conservative treatments like medication or physical therapy. The hands are intricate and sensitive, and often they respond well to these less invasive approaches. If those options don’t provide enough relief, we can talk about surgical solutions. 

We always start with the simplest, most effective path forward and build from there if needed.

Do I need to see an orthopedic doctor for my hand pain? 

If hand pain lingers for more than a week and starts interfering with your daily routine, it’s time to have it evaluated. Our orthopedic specialists are uniquely trained to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments of the hand — and can help you find real, lasting relief.

We have offices in Fort Worth, Weatherford, and Southlake, Texas, where our providers can offer you the best treatment for your hand pain. Call or book online today.