Life would be several times more difficult if we were not blessed with our precious hands. From the most basic gesture of showing affection to performing the more complex chores of life, we need our hands by our side (quite literally) to get them done. So, it is only fair that we take utmost care of them and visit an orthopaedic immediately if they feel unhealthy even for the slightest bit. Here are 4 common yet alarming conditions that should be taken to the chamber of orthopaedic surgeons, Gold Coast as soon as possible.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The carpal tunnel is a space in your wrist which lets nine tendons and the median nerve pass through it into your forearm. Discomfort in patients arises when the median nerve gets pinched due to swelling in the tunnel which exerts pressure on the nerve. This swelling can be caused by fractures, arthritis, and fluid build-up in pregnant women, tenosynovitis, and joint dislocation.
Symptoms
- Pain in the wrist and adjoining area
- Numbness in the hands
- Swelling
- Weak grip
- Tingling sensation
- Ganglion cysts
Among all tumours and cysts, a ganglion cyst is the most common. These cysts are, basically, spherical pockets of fluid that occur adjacent to the joints or tendons. Most of us fear tumours to turn out to be cancerous, but these cysts are generally not cancerous but can cause pain as the swelling often pushes against various nerves and tendons.
Symptoms
- Lumps near your wrist area which may or may not be painful
- Difficulty in making motions with the hand
- Wrist or finger arthritis
Arthritis is the inflammation of the tissue that lines your joints. Arthritis that is most prevalent in the hand regions are osteoporosis, which wears out the protective cushioning cartilage in the joints of your hands due to age, and rheumatoid arthritis, which occurs when the immune system of your own body attacks the cartilage lining between the delicate bones of your hands.
Symptoms
- Pain or a burning sensation around the affected joints like wrist, knuckles, the base of the thumb, etc.
- Pain becomes much severe around night time
- Swelling
- Sensation of warmth in the affected area
- Difficulty in movement
- A weak grip
- Feeling or hearing the bones grinding against one another
- Appearance of cysts or tumours
- Trigger finger
Unlike what the common name suggests, this ailment can affect any of your finger, and not just your thumb. And when it does it makes your affected finger to lock in position when you bend them and makes a pop sound when you try to straighten them. It is usually caused by inflammation of the tendons that are responsible for the smooth working of your fingers.
Symptoms
- Stiffness in the finger
- Soreness at the base of the finger
- Popping sound
- A locked finger that gets difficult to straighten.
So, if any of these symptoms pop up, it is safe to assume that you need to see an orthopaedic immediately and get yourself the right treatment.
