If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or a hand injury, there are a number of ways you can help ease it.If you want to relieve pain, try a treatment at home.If your hand continues to hurt, you should visit your doctor to see if physical therapy, steroid injections, or surgery is an option.Stretching your hands can help relieve pain if you have arthritis.
Step 1: Take 15-20 minutes to ice your hand.
Some cases of arthritis can be helped by icing your hand.You can either put an ice pack on your hand for 20 minutes before taking it off, or you can put it in the ice bath for 10 to 15 minutes.The ice will numb the pain in your hand.If you leave your hand in the ice bath for more than 15 minutes, you can mess up the circulation in it.
Step 2: You can use a heat compress to soothe your hand.
Apply a heat compress, such as a warm washcloth or heated pad, to your hand and hold it there for 10 minutes.It is a good idea to dip your hand in warm water to help reduce pain and strengthen fingers.The heat compress is good for arthritis.flexing your hands and fingers under the hot water will help reduce pain when washing dishes.Warm water can be used with a temperature between 92 and 100 F.
Step 3: Rub a hand cream on your hands.
There are creams on the market that can help soothe carpal tunnel, arthritis, and many other conditions if you apply them to your skin.Follow the instructions on the packaging if you want to use a pain-relieving cream.If you want to relieve pain, you can use Bengay or Aspercreme, both of which have an active ingredient.In big box stores, drugstores, and online, you can find pain relieving hand creams.
Step 4: If you want to keep your hand from moving, place a splint on it.
A hand injury or carpal tunnel can be alleviated with this.Buying a hand brace that fits your hand size is a good way to reduce pain and keep it from moving.If you do an activity that has caused your hand pain before, you should wear the splint.It is possible to prevent your pain from getting worse by wearing a splint overnight.It will take at least 8 weeks for you to notice improvement.If you don't use a hand brace as often, it can make your muscles weaker.Wrist pain can be caused by tennis or golfer's elbow and using a splint can help.Visit your local drugstore or big box store to find a hand splint in the right size, or ask your doctor to give you one.
Step 5: It's a good way to relieve hand pain.
Aspirin, naproxen, and Ibuprofen are over-the-counter pain killers that are great for easing hand pain.Make sure you follow the instructions on how much you should take for your age and weight.If you have hand pain, you should only take medication if the pain is preventing you from doing things.A typical dose of aspirin is less than one-tenth of an ounce.
Step 6: If you fell with your hands, go to the doctor.
It's normal to grab your fall by extending your hands.If you have pain in your hand after a fall, you can see a doctor or go to an urgent care center.Immediate treatment is required for a broken hand.It's important to see your doctor if you have pain in your wrist.You may have a broken bone.If your hand is broken, your doctor will do an X-ray.They may give you a cast if it's true.
Step 7: If your hand pain doesn't go away after 1-2 weeks, you should visit the doctor.
It's time to visit the doctor if you're doing things like using a hand splint and icing but your pain isn't getting better.They will be able to examine your hand to see if a treatment is needed.You can schedule an appointment to see your doctor.Basic hand exercises can be used by the doctor to see what's wrong with your hand.An orthodontist is someone you might see instead of your regular doctor.
Step 8: If you have hand pains, see a specialist to get steroid injections.
If your doctor finds carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis in your hand, steroid injections may be able to help.A hand orthopedic or sports medicine provider will use an ultrasound to guide them as they inject cortisone into your hand, which helps reduce inflammation and pain.Ask your doctor if this is an option that would help you.The injections may only temporarily relieve the pain.The effects of the steroid injections can last up to a few months.Don't get steroid injections too often as they can affect your joints.Discuss with your doctor how often you should get steroid injections.
Step 9: Ask your doctor if it's a good idea to have surgery.
If you have a carpal tunnel syndrome that won't go away, surgery may be your best option.Discuss with your doctor if you need surgery.Discuss with your doctor what the surgery would look like, how the recovery would be, and any costs or other concerns you have.If you have damage to the knee, you can get an MRI.It's best to use surgery as a last resort when you can't get relief from your hand pain.Depending on your hand pain, the type of surgery you need will be different.Before committing to surgery, you should get several different doctor's opinions.
Step 10: You can learn exercises that will help your hand at an occupational therapist.
An occupational therapist can help strengthen your muscles.They will assess your hand and show you exercises you can do at home or with a therapist to help it.Check with your doctor to see if occupational therapy can help you.They can refer you to an occupational therapist that they think would be a good fit.
Step 11: To stretch a towel, twist it in opposite directions.
You can put the towel in each of your hands.Next, twist the ends of the towel in different directions.Hold the stretch for 1-2 seconds, then release the towel to complete it.With both hands, twist at the same time.Do 10 stretches in the same direction and then do 10 more.
Step 12: Make a fist with your hand.
Start by stretching out your fingers.You can make a fist by bending your fingers towards your palm.If you want your fingers to be straight again, slowly expand them back out.This is done several times for both hands.If you want to avoid creating too tight of a fist, you should not squeeze your fingers.A stress ball is an alternative to this exercise.
Step 13: You can stretch it into a 'C' or 'O' shape.
Pretend as if you're about to grab something and move your hand into a 'C' shape by stretching out your fingers.Continue moving your fingers together to create an 'O' once you've mastered this.Before doing this exercise again, let your fingers relax.The stretches should be done for both hands.For each hand, do each shape 3-4 times.
Step 14: Lift your fingers and stretch them.
Place your hand on a table with your palm facing down.Slowly lift up one finger at a time, focusing on lifting it as far up as you can while keeping the other fingers and your palm on the table.Slowly lowering them back down once they've been lifted, do this with each finger on each hand.Lift each finger a few times.
Step 15: bend your thumb into your palm.
Relax your hand because your palm is facing you.Try to get your finger to touch your palm.You should stretch it back out slowly once you've bent it as far as possible.For both hands, repeat this exercise several times.If your thumb can't reach your palm completely, stretch it out as far as you can.
Step 16: If an activity is causing your hand to hurt, take a break.
If you notice that your hand hurts while you work on the computer, take a break until the pain goes away.Hopefully this will help prevent the pain from getting worse.Try to do different activities throughout the day in order to prevent your hands from getting sore from repetitive movements.