Hand & Arm Pain

Pain occurring in the hand can sometimes be relieved by the gentle manual treatment of osteopaths depending on the cause. Osteoarthritis or wear and tear in the joints of the hand and the elbow may be the cause of your symptoms and may benefit from treatment and advice from an osteopath.

You may experience tenderness, numbness, tingling or pain when gripping things. Certain conditions may also cause swelling or immobility of the joints affecting movement. Arthritis may also be a factor.

What causes it?

There can be many causes of wrist pain, hand pain or arm pain. These include ligament sprains, which may occur if you use your hand to catch a fall. The ligaments attach to the bones and it is easy to overstretch them.

You may also have heard of ‘Carpal Tunnel Syndrome’. It is often associated with repetitive activities such as typing and is due to compression of the median nerve as it travels through the wrist to the hand. In severe cases it may require surgery. It can also affect women in the latter stages of pregnancy. Nerve compression at the neck and shoulder can also cause symptoms in your arm and hand.

You could also be suffering from tendinopathy, where the tendon becomes irritated. Tendons are like thick cords that attach muscles to bone. Tendinopathies commonly occur at the elbow.

X-rays, scans and other tests are sometimes required to make a diagnosis and your osteopath may refer to your GP or a specialist for any additional investigations or treatment.

Therapies:
Osteopathy
Medical Acupuncture
Sports Injury Therapy
Traditional Acupuncture
Laser Therapy