HAND TENDINITIS

Tendinitis of the hand is an inflammation of the tendons in the hand. Tendons are cords that attach muscle to bone. The tendons are used to control the movements of the fingers and wrist through finger and arm muscles. The most common cause of hand tendinitis is overuse. These injuries are common in people working in the technology industry and they engage in repetitive finger movements like typing. When the tendons are inflamed in their respective sheath or encasement, it makes it more difficult to move the fingers making the hand feel stiff and tender. Symptoms include stiffness, tightness, trouble gripping, aching, burning, and tend to be worse in the morning and late at night with inactivity. Goals of therapy are to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

Tendinitis of the hand is an inflammation of the tendons in the hand. Tendons are cords that attach muscle to bone. The tendons are used to control the movements of the fingers and wrist through finger and forearm muscles.

When the tendons are inflamed in their respective sheath or encasement, it makes it more difficult to move the fingers making the hand feel stiff and painful. The most common cause of hand tendinitis is overuse. These injuries are common in people working in the technology industry and may be associated with in repetitive finger movements like typing. Age is also a factor, as tendons become less flexible and more susceptible to injury when people get older.

Symptoms include pain, tenderness, stiffness, tightness, trouble gripping, aching, burning, and tend to be worse in the morning and late at night with inactivity. Goals of therapy are to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Avoiding or limiting activities that involve the same repetitive motions of your hands will allow the tendons to rest and reduce inflammation. Icing and heating your hand may also relieve the symptoms. If your symptoms are severe and do not improve with conservative treatments, surgery may be an option. Usually, the surgeon will open your tendon sheath and make more room for the inflamed tendons.