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Hands and wrists play a big part in our everyday life. They enable us to drive, play sports, work, cook, and eat — almost everything you do will demand something from your hands and wrists. The hand and wrist are intricate structures consisting of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, nerves, muscle, blood vessels and cartilage. With so many moving parts, it’s no surprise that this area can come under strain and become injured. Sports, degenerative diseases, and overuse can all cause injuries in the hand and wrist.
Our wrists and hands are intricate structures of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, and cartilage. Sports, degenerative diseases, and overuse can cause pain in the wrist and hand.
Whether you’re in chronic pain, suffering an injury, or have a condition, we use modern techniques to help you reduce your pain and move freely. This page shares more details about our treatments for the wrist and hand, so you’ll understand what to expect.
In the human hand, there are 27 bones, 27 joints, 34 muscles, more than 100 ligaments and tendons, as well as various nerves and blood vessels.
The wrist consists of 3 joints, 8 carpal bones and 2 long bones — the radius and the ulna. The muscles in the wrist allow for flexion, extension, abduction and adduction.
The forearm contains most of the muscles that control the hand. However, there are some small muscles in the hand at work too. The many ligaments help to stabilise the bones in the area.
When all these structures work in harmony, it allows for ahigh level of function and dexterity. Movement should be pain-free if there is no injury or disease.
Your GP or Pharmacist will be able to offer you advice on medication to relieve pain in the hand and wrist. You may also seek a Physiotherapist to give you a specialist assessment. They will be able to prescribe exercises and perform manual therapies to help with the condition.
If physiotherapy isn’t a success, or if it isn’t suitable for the condition, then surgery may be the next cause of action. An Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in the hand and wrist will be able to give you more advice.
Repetitive use, or an injury, often causes problems in the hand and wrist. Getting older can also be the reason for pain in this area, especially if you have arthritis in the finger joints, wrist, or hand. Symptoms from hand and wrist conditions can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, pins and needles, and numbness.
Some conditions are treated using physiotherapy or injections, while others require surgery.
What causes pain in the hand and wrist?
With so many structures in the hand and wrist, pain can be caused by several different conditions. These conditions could be due to an injury to a bone, tendon or ligament, repetitive movement or inflammation caused by arthritis.
Common issues that affect the hand and wrist include:
When you have pain in your hand and wrist you should have an assessment to check where the problem lies. You may have to have a follow-up X-ray or MRI to get to the root cause of the pain.
We offer a range of hand and wrist treatments and diagnostics, including surgical and non-invasive procedures. You can choose to have your NHS treatment carried out by One Health at no cost to you. Our expert consultants will guide you on the right treatment for your condition, these could include:
You can prepare for your hand and wrist treatment by removing rings, as they hide infections and can reduce circulation. Please keep fingernails clean and short and remove fake nails and nail polish.
You will also need to arrange transport to and from the appointment and make plans for time off work. You may want to consider planning quick meals that you can prepare easily if you are unable to use your hand properly.
If you are having a sedative or general anaesthetic, you must have someone at home with you for 24 hours after the appointment.
While most hand and wrist treatments are safe and successful, some risks can lead to complications. Discuss the specific risks with your consultant.
Risks include:
If you smoke, you can help the healing process by quitting. Smoking reduces blood flow and causes delays in healing. Eat a healthy diet, including fruit, vegetables, and protein, to help promote healing.
You may have a dressing on your hand or wrist when you leave the hospital. The nurse will advise you when and how to remove it at home or if a nurse will remove it for you later.
Your arm may be numb following the operation. The healthcare team will tell you when to start taking pain medication. Swelling is a normal part of recovery. However, you should keep it under control to reduce stiffness by raising your hand and arm as much as possible in the first two weeks. When sitting, raise your hand and arm on pillows to keep it upright.
You may have a sling to wear. However, you should take this off regularly to avoid stiffness in your elbow and shoulder joints.
You will have exercises to keep your arm mobile during recovery. It’s important to follow these as instructed by your physio team.
How soon can I go home after my procedure?
What activities are safe after the procedure?
When can I go back to work after the procedure?
When can I start driving after the procedure?
Will I need a follow-up after the procedure?
One Health waiting times from consultation to treatment are 3 - 7 weeks on average.
