Learn When It’s Time to Contact a Doctor For Hand and Wrist Conditions
“Am I hurt, or am I injured?”
You may have asked yourself this question before, especially if you’re active in sports. Being hurt means you’re experiencing acute pain with no lasting damage. Being injured means a bone, tendon, ligament, or muscle has been compromised, resulting in pain, lack of mobility, and loss of function.
It’s possible to play through hurt. Playing through a torn ACL, ruptured Achilles tendon, or broken bone isn’t. However, sometimes the difference between temporary pain and lasting injury aren’t immediately clear, especially when it comes to the hands.
To help you discern between hand pain and a hand injury, let’s explore the most common symptoms that warrant the attention of a hand doctor.
Common Sports-Related Injuries Hand Doctors Treat
Sports that involve high-impact collisions, repetitive movements, or falls put athletes at risk for hand, wrist, and forearm injuries. These injuries can either occur suddenly or develop over time due to overuse. Here are some of the most common sports-related hand injuries.
Wrist Sprains
Sprains occur when the ligaments in the wrist stretch or tear due to a sudden impact or twist. This often happens when a person tries to brace themselves during a fall.
Wrist sprain symptoms include:
- Pain and tenderness.
- Swelling and bruising.
- Difficulty moving or bending the wrist.
- A popping or tearing sensation at the time of injury.
Bone Fractures
The hand and wrist are made up of small, delicate bones that can easily break due to trauma or blunt force. Bone fractures are common in contact sports like football, rugby, and hockey.
Bone fracture symptoms include:
- Severe pain that intensifies with movement.
- Visible bone deformity or misalignment.
- Swelling and bruising.
- Difficulty gripping or holding objects.
- A grinding or snapping sound at the time of injury.
Tendonitis and Overuse Injuries
Doctors for hand and wrist conditions often treat baseball pitchers, tennis players, golfers, and distance runners because they’re all at high risk for overuse injuries. Performing the same motion over and over – such as throwing a ball or swinging a racket – can cause tendonitis.
Symptoms of tendonitis include:
- Gradual pain that increases with activity.
- Stiffness and tenderness in the wrist or hand.
- Weak grip strength.
- Swelling in the affected area.
Jammed Fingers
A jammed finger happens when the tip of the finger is forced back into the hand, causing swelling and pain in the joints. This is a common injury in basketball, volleyball, and football.
Jammed finger symptoms include:
- Pain and swelling in the affected finger.
- Difficulty bending or straightening the finger.
- Bruising around the joint.
- Tenderness at the fingertip.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Athletes who perform repetitive wrist movements or place constant pressure on the hand and wrist region, such as cyclists and weightlifters, may develop carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the median nerve in the wrist becomes compressed.
Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms include:
- Numbness, burning, or tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
- Weak grip strength.
- Hand pain that worsens at night.
- Difficulty performing fine motor tasks.
How Hand Doctors Treat Sports-Related Hand Injuries
What can you expect when you call a doctor for hand and wrist injuries? Because these orthopedic professionals specialize in hand conditions, they are more experienced and better equipped to treat sports-related hand injuries than a general practitioner.
Hand doctors have numerous treatment options at their disposal that can help you recover.
- Physical therapy: This treatment helps regain strength, flexibility, and mobility after an injury. It’s also a holistic way to manage pain and joint stiffness.
- Activity modification: Sometimes the shortest path back to the field of play is taking a break. If you have tendonitis, your hand doctor may recommend stopping athletic activities, wearing a supportive brace or splint, or modifying your technique to reduce strain.
- Medications and topical treatments: Depending on the injury, your hand doctor may recommend medications to help manage pain and inflammation. Treatment options include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), topical pain relievers, and prescription pain medications.
- Injection therapy: Doctors for hand and wrist conditions sometimes use injection therapy when less aggressive treatments aren’t effective. Corticosteroid injections, for example, offer immediate pain relief and reduced inflammation.
- Hand surgery: For severe hand conditions that don’t respond to other treatments, your hand doctor may recommend surgery as a last resort. Common surgical procedures include fracture repair, ligament reconstruction, and carpal tunnel release surgery.
Contact a Hand Doctor For Your Sports-Related Hand Injury
Ignoring hand and wrist pain can lead to long-term damage and reduced performance. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a sports-related hand injury, seeing a hand doctor is the best first step toward a full recovery.
During your initial appointment, your hand doctor will discuss your medical history, examine the injured area, and take images so they can properly diagnose the problem. Next, your hand doctor will develop a personalized treatment plan that manages your symptoms while accelerating your recovery.
Scheduling an appointment with a doctor for hand and wrist conditions is your best bet for returning to your sport and avoiding long-term complications.