Why does pain occur in the hand from the elbow to the hand? This question is asked not only by people engaged in physical labor, but also by those who work, as they say, only with their heads. For what reasons such feelings periodically experience a person, as well as how to get rid of them, we will describe in detail in this article.
Pain in the arm from the elbow to the hand: causes
A person can experience pain in the upper limbs as a result of a variety of factors. Most often this is due to excessive physical exertion. But it also happens that pain in the hand from the elbow to the hand occurs due to injuries, neurological disorders, as well as ailments associated with joints. All of these reasons we will consider in detail right now.
Professional activity
Very often, pain in the arm from the elbow to the hand appears due to banal functional disorders. As a rule, this happens after overstrain of muscle tissue or the occurrence of a syndrome called the carpal tunnel.
Today, such a deviation affects representatives of a large number of different professions (for example, computer scientists, artists, pianists, telephone operators, cashiers, etc.). Pain in the hand from the elbow to the hand occurs due to regular and uniform movements that contribute to the overstrain of certain muscle groups, and this, in turn, immediately causes the inflammatory process and swelling of the tendons. Also, as a result of long work, the nerve endings that pass in the wrist canal can also be “crushed”.
It cannot be said that pain in the hand from the elbow to the hand (we will consider treatment below) regularly occurs in people who are forced to strain their wrists very much. Most often this happens with crane operators, chippers working with a jackhammer and representatives of other similar professions. As a result of wrist microtraumas in such people, normal blood circulation is disturbed, which leads to the gradual destruction of bone tissue.
Active sports
Pain in the hand from the elbow to the hand in a child and an adult can occur due to constant overstrain of muscle tissue, which is caused by intense sports training. As a result of physical exertion, people develop an inflammatory process, and tendons become denser. As a rule, in such cases, the patient is diagnosed with tendonitis.
Injuries
An unsuccessful fall on a hard or even soft surface, as well as a sharp blow or any other damage, can easily cause dislocations, closed fractures or cracks. Pain in such cases occurs sharply, and is also accompanied by inflammation of the surrounding tissues and swelling.
Joint diseases
Ailments such as osteoarthritis or arthritis can easily cause severe pain in the carpal and elbow joints. In this case, the patient may observe limited movement, as well as swelling and redness of the affected area.
Neurological disorders
If the peripheral nervous system has undergone pathological changes, then this can easily cause atrophy of the muscle tissue of the forearm, as well as amyotrophy and paralysis. Such a disease is not characterized by a sharp development of pain syndromes, but gradual. Over time, pain can appear more and more often. Due to dystrophy, the muscle tissues of the hands begin to weaken, as a result of which it becomes difficult for a person to carry out daily duties.
Spinal diseases
Osteochondrosis of the spinal column also leads to pain in the upper limbs (from the shoulder to the wrist). This reason is one of the most common.
Pain in the arm from elbow to hand: treatment
A variety of ailments that can cause discomfort in the hand from the elbow to the hand, greatly complicates the diagnosis and subsequent treatment. That is why, if the pain has become intense and regular, you should charmingly consult a specialist.
So how to treat pain in the hand from the elbow to the hand? The heart, joints and other body systems are checked by a doctor first. After the diagnosis is made, the doctor will prescribe drug therapy. In addition, a specialist can recommend exercise and diet.
Folk remedies
If pain in the upper extremities is not often manifested, and also does not represent a pathological condition, then you can get rid of it at home. To do this, observe the following rules:
- Reduce the intensity of physical activity. If the discomfort from the elbow to the hand is caused by an overstrain of muscle tissue, then the patient is advised to rebuild his entire professional activity. For this, it is necessary to observe the regime of work and rest. It is also recommended to develop the habit of performing special relaxing and strengthening muscle tissue exercises that can be carried out even at the workplace. Such actions will help to permanently get rid of unpleasant sensations in the hands.
- Immobilization. In the event that the cause of the pain syndrome lies in getting injured or sprained, then the injured arm needs to provide immobility and complete rest. For this, the upper limb should be fixed in the position in which the person does not experience unpleasant sensations. By the way, it is highly recommended not to move it before examination by a doctor.
- Cold compress. If it happened that the hand from the hand to the elbow not only hurts, but also swells, then you can reduce the inflamed state with the help of a heating pad with ice or another cold compress.
If the pain in the hand is associated with serious deviations in the body, then effective methods of treatment should be prescribed only by an experienced doctor. Indeed, without knowing the diagnosis, it is rather difficult to choose a therapy that would help reduce discomfort. Moreover, any attempts to cure a serious illness on their own can not only not help, but also worsen the already difficult condition of the patient.