Physical Therapy for Hand Pain in New Jersey

H

ands are complex structures composed of many delicate parts. When even one part is damaged, the whole hand is affected. The resulting hand pain makes it difficult to accomplish everyday tasks, reducing a person’s confidence and quality of life.

Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) is the premier rehabilitative treatment provider in New Jersey. CNSO offers convenient locations throughout northern New Jersey, where the medical team provides physical therapy, pain management, and other treatment options to help patients recover from hand pain.

Causes of Hand Pain

Hand pain is a common complaint that is often accompanied by other symptoms such as stiffness, swelling, or loss of mobility. To provide effective treatment for these symptoms, an accurate diagnosis is needed. Hand pain may arise from a variety of conditions, including acute and overuse injuries, nerve damage, degenerative diseases, and others. Common causes include:

Overuse Injuries

• Trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis)
• De Quervain tenosynovitis
• Mallet finger (extensor tendinitis)
• Tendinitis
• Repetitive strain injury (RSI)

Traumatic Injuries

• Bone fractures
• Strains and sprains
• Joint dislocation
• Acute compartment syndrome

Nerve Conditions

• Pinched nerve
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Ulnar tunnel syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Cervical radiculopathy

Degenerative Conditions

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Gout

Other Health Conditions

• Ganglion cysts
• Raynaud’s syndrome
• Scleroderma

Risk Factors of Hand Pain

Hand pain can affect anyone. Certain people, however, may face a greater risk of developing a hand condition or injury due to lifestyle or health factors. Risk factors include:

• Job responsibilities: Many jobs require repetitive hand movements. People whose work involves construction, assembly line production, food service, musical performance, and office tasks such as typing may be at greater risk of hand pain.
• Sports participation: Sports that involve heavy use of the hand and wrist, such as skiing, golfing, climbing, tennis, and basketball, have a high incidence of overuse conditions. They also see higher rates of traumatic hand injuries.
• Poor form: When performing certain extreme or strenuous motions, proper form is essential to prevent injury. Improper form, which is exacerbated by a lack of flexibility or strength, results in a higher likelihood of damage.
• Previous injury: Sites of previous bone, muscle, or tendon injuries are weaker than undamaged tissue, rendering them less capable of withstanding high strain. As a result, the hand may be susceptible to re-injury.
• Age: All body parts experience wear and tear, especially fragile and frequently-used joints like those in the hands. Over time, this gradual wear compounds on a joint surface, resulting in a painful degenerative condition.

Diagnosis of Hand Pain

Because so many conditions and risk factors may be responsible for hand pain, a thorough process is essential to rule out wrong answers and determine the cause. Pain management physicians and certified physical therapists at CNSO use the following steps when diagnosing a patient’s hand pain:

• Medical history assessment: The specialist starts by analyzing the patient’s medical history. They are looking for risk factors such as previous injuries or underlying conditions that may influence their approach to treatment.
• Physical examination: Next, the patient will undergo a physical examination. The doctor may manipulate the hands or move them in certain ways to test reflexes, range of movement, possible weaknesses, or loss of function.
• Diagnostic imaging tests: In some cases, a medical imaging test may also be requested. X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and computed tomography (CT) scans may reveal conditions that are otherwise invisible.

Through this process, the CNSO pain management physician or physical therapist forms a complete understanding of the patient’s pain and its cause or causes. This understanding will help them produce a treatment plan that addresses the pain at its source.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Hand Pain

CNSO is proud of its reputation as a premier pain management service provider. Part of this reputation is due to a conservative philosophy toward treatment, which prioritizes non-invasive methods and suggests surgical intervention only when necessary.

Treatment plans at CNSO are developed by an award-winning team of neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, interventional pain management physicians, physiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, and certified physical therapists. These experienced specialists collaborate to design a personalized care plan with a focus on achieving the patient’s treatment goals for symptom management or functional restoration. In most cases, these aims are possible through non-surgical treatments such as:

Lifestyle Modifications

Because hands are so heavily used, lifestyle modifications are often necessary to ensure rest and facilitate a successful recovery. The care management team will recommend a series of changes to the patient’s everyday habits and activity level, which may include:

• Using proper form during sports and strenuous activities
• Limiting or ceasing sports involvement
• Wearing appropriate gloves and protective gear
• Taking regular breaks while performing repetitive hand movements
• Wearing a supportive medical brace

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a proven alternative to medication and surgical treatments. At CNSO, the certified physical therapy team provides patients with a custom regimen designed to restore flexibility, build strength and support, stabilize the hand, and enable a return to full function. Common tactics include exercise, heat and ice therapy, and tissue manipulation, among others. CNSO offers physical therapy at locations in Wayne, Paramus, Morristown, and Jersey City, NJ.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs are common medications used to relieve pain and inflammation. Standard doses are accessible as over-the-counter purchases at many major retail locations and pharmacies. A pain management specialist may prescribe higher doses. NSAIDs are most appropriate for patients whose pain limits everyday functionality and may be used to provide fast-acting relief in combination with physical therapy for long-term results.

Oral Corticosteroids

Like NSAIDs, oral corticosteroids are designed to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. They are most often prescribed in a short course of five to seven days. This may be followed by a longer course of NSAIDs to maintain the pain relief provided by the corticosteroid.

Steroid and Medication Injections

Some patients do not find the relief they are looking for with oral medications. These patients may benefit from epidural steroid injections or joint injections. Performed by a pain management specialist, this treatment administers pain- and inflammation-relieving medication directly into the affected tissue. The effects are more powerful, faster-acting, and longer-lasting than those provided by oral medication, helping the patient return to their typical levels of function.

Surgical Treatments for Hand Pain

Some cases of hand pain do not respond to conservative treatments or are caused by underlying conditions that cannot be treated non-invasively. In these cases, surgery may be necessary. Physical therapists at CNSO will coordinate care with the appropriate surgical specialist to help them determine the proper procedure. Afterward, physical therapy helps rebuild strength and mobility for a smooth and expedient recovery.

Trust CNSO for Hand Pain Care

Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) understands that hand pain can be life-altering. When patients choose CNSO for pain treatment, they are assured care from a committed team of certified physical therapists and pain management specialists who use conservative methods to help patients overcome debilitating pain. CNSO offers multiple convenient locations across northern New Jersey, including Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Morris, and Hudson counties. To learn more about physical therapy for hand pain, contact the medical team today.