Hand Neuropathy: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Hand neuropathy is one of the common conditions that many people are currently suffering from. It causes pain, numbness, and weakness in the hands. It can occur as a result of several reasons, the most common of which are injuries, overuse of the hands (for example in writing), or some medical conditions such as diabetes. (1)

Overview

The hands are controlled by 3 main nerves: (2)

• Median nerve.
• Ulnar nerve.
• Radial nerve.

Any type of problem that affects these nerves or their branches may cause pain or numbness in the hands.

Causes

There are many possible causes of neuropathy in the hand that cause pressure on or damage to the nerve, including: (3)(4)

• Overuse of hands, such as writing or using a computer for long periods of time.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: It occurs as a result of persistent pressure and inflammation on the median nerve. Anyone can suffer from this syndrome, but it is often associated with overuse of the hands, pregnancy, and some health conditions.
• Direct injuries in the hands, like falling.
• Some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid or lupus.
• Diabetes: High accumulations of sugar over many years may cause gradual nerve damage.
• Trigger finger: A condition that affects any finger, most often the ring finger and the thumb, in which the finger bends in a fixed position and makes a cracking sound when trying to straighten it.
• Ganglion cysts in the hand and wrist.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hand neuropathy usually appear gradually or suddenly after an injury and could be unilateral or bilateral. Common symptoms include: (2)

• Loss of feeling in the hand, including heat, cold, and pain, which may lead to serious injuries, such as burns and wounds.
• Numbness, tingling, or stinging in the hand, which can also include a feeling of itching, coldness, or warmth in it.
• Pain in part or all of the hand, which may extend to the wrist or arm as well and may be intermittent or continuous.
• Weak hand strength: This impairs the ability to perform daily tasks, such as holding things, unbuttoning a shirt, or typing on the computer.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of neuropathy in the hand, but in general, most cases respond to home remedies, such as resting the hands and avoiding using them frequently, until the inflammation resolves on its own. In other cases, medications, physiotherapy, or surgery may be required for more severe cases. (5)

Available treatment options include: (4)

Home remedies

• Rest the hand, and limit activities and movements that cause pain and discomfort.
• Modify the way you write or use your hands on the computer to a comfortable position.
• Wear a special splint for the hands.
• Alternate between using cold and warm compresses on the site of inflammation.

Medications

The doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatory pain relievers, and other options such as cortisone injections to reduce inflammation.

Physiotherapy

In addition, some types of exercises and movements can help relieve inflammation and pain of the hand nerves.

Surgery and medical procedures

Other medical procedures may be performed depending on the cause. For example, fluid may be aspired from ganglion cysts in the hand. To relieve pressure on the nerves.

In severe cases that have not responded to previous treatments, the doctor may recommend surgery.

References

1. American Society for Surgery of the Hand - Nerve Injury
2. Spine Health - Understanding Hand Pain and Numbness
3. Spine Health - What Causes Hand Pain and Numbness?
4. Verywell Health - Nerve Pain in Hands: Causes and Treatment
5. OCC Advanced Orthopedic - Nerve Pain in Your Hands? Common Causes and Treatments