Hand Pain Causes

When hand pain results from an injury or a fracture, it's causes are easy to diagnose. So this article will focus more on other causes that may trigger pain in the hands and fingers. 

There are literally dozens of diseases, disorders and conditions that cause hand pain. Below is a list of the most common.

Arthritis The hand is a marvelous mechanism packed with bones and joints. Unfortunately arthritis in these bones and joints can cause hand pain that varies anywhere from slight to severe. Arthritis is more common in people 50 and older, but it can affect anyone at any age.

Buerger's disease This disease is known medically as thromboangiitis obliterans and tunying streptococcus. It occurs much more frequently among tobacco users than non-users. Buerger's disease is characterized by inflammation and clotting (thrombosis) of arteries and veins of the hands and feet. Complications and gangrene are possible complications.

Carpal tunnel syndrome This is a painful condition that involves the median nerve. It causes hand pain, weakness and loss of feeling in the hands when the nerve is compressed or damaged. It's often the result of years of repetitive motion involving the hands and wrists.

Elbow tunnel syndrome Similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, except in this case the nerve that causes the problem is the ulnar nerve, which passes by the elbow and stretches to the hand. When this nerve is worn or damaged, it can trigger pain in the hands.

Fractures, sprains and strains These usually result from an injury or trauma, and, as mentioned above, are relatively easy to diagnose.

Radiculopathy This relates to the irritation of a nerve root at any level of the spine. Pain can be felt in the hands.

Raynaud's disease  This disease characterized by low blood flow to the fingers, toes, and/or ears.

Shoulder-hand syndrome Severe constant pain in the shoulder and arm. It is usually accompanied by limited joint motion, swelling, fibrosis and atrophy of muscles.

Thoracic outlet syndrome Pain results from the compression of nerves or blood vessels between the base of the neck and the armpit.

De Quervain tenovaginitis  An inflammatory condition of the tendons in the thumb, at the wrist region.

Kienbock disease This disease occurs when there is an interruption in the blood supply to one of the small bones of the hand near the wrist. It causes pain that resembles a sprain.