Conditions and injuries of the finger, hand, wrist, forearm and elbow: what they are, how they behave, and when they stop being minor.
Most pain on top of the hand is overloaded tendons and settles in days to a few weeks. What each spot usually means, from lumps to knuckle injuries, and the small knuckle cut that needs same-day care.
Most palm pain from heavy gripping settles in 3 to 7 days. Past that, where it sits tells the story: thumb side, little-finger side, near the creases or the whole palm, plus the palm problems that can’t wait.
Arthritis in the hand is five different conditions on five different clocks: wear, rheumatoid, psoriatic, gout and post-injury. Four questions to tell which one you have, how it’s diagnosed, and what to do about each.
The right finger splint holds only the injured joint: the end joint straight for mallet finger, buddy strapping for most jammed fingers, the knuckle blocked for trigger finger. Which splint fits which injury, how tight, and how long to wear it.
Most finger pain settles in 3 to 7 days. Past that, the joint that hurts points to the cause: a sprain at the middle joint, mallet finger or arthritis at the tip, trigger finger at the base. Plus the finger injuries that can’t wait.
Most wrist tendonitis settles in 6 to 12 weeks: cut the movement that provokes it, splint that specific tendon, then rebuild its strength. Which tendon you have, the exercises with reps, and when it needs checking.
Most thumb pain settles in 3 to 7 days. Past that, the spot decides it: base and grinding is usually arthritis, two finger-widths up is De Quervain’s, a click at the knuckle crease is trigger thumb, and a sore inner knuckle after a forced bend needs seeing this week.
Most wrist pain settles in 3 to 7 days. Past that, the spot decides it: thumb side lifting is usually De Quervain’s, little-finger side twisting is usually the TFCC, numb fingers at night is carpal tunnel, and any fall gets an X-ray first.
Most elbow pain is an overloaded tendon at one of two bony points. Outer elbow when you grip is usually tennis elbow, inner elbow is usually golfer’s elbow, tingling into the little finger is a nerve, and a pop at the front needs seeing this week.
Yes, but only when its cover is missing or broken: a small finger can reach the fan in seconds. What happened at ION Orchard, the first aid, recovery for a child, and the safety rules that prevent it.