Hand injuries can make it difficult to perform many different activities in your daily life. They can make it hard to work, to enjoy recreation and even to do the most basic tasks like tying your shoes. You may have sustained a traumatic hand injury in an accident or you may be struggling with a more persistent, long-term hand injury. Whatever your current difficulties, there is a good chance that chiropractic care could help you improve your condition and lessen your pain.
Hand Injuries and Chiropractic – What You Need to Know
1. The problem may or may not be in your hand.
If a heavy object falls on your hand and injures you, the cause of the problem is pretty obvious. You sustained trauma and your hand was damaged as a result. But there are other types of hand injuries that can be caused by problems in the neck, back and shoulders. That is why chiropractors conduct a full body examination when you come in for a visit – even if you are there for a hand issue. They may find that pinched nerves or unhealthy movement patterns in other parts of your body are causing your hand issues.
2. Trauma requires medical care – but chronic pain is often best treated through rehab.
For hand injuries that result from recent trauma, like getting your hand smashed by a heavy object, your first course of action should be to seek medical care. You may need some quick medical interventions to repair and protect your hand. But for more chronic hand injuries, you need the kind of treatment that comes from rehab and chiropractic care.
Rehab helps your body learn to operate in a healthy way. In the case of a hand injury, you might learn and practice strengthening exercise, mobility exercises and other types of treatment to help you regain the use of your hand. Rehab takes longer than a single visit to the doctor for medical care, but it is time well spent. Without rehab, you may not recover as quickly or as thoroughly as you would if you participated in rehab.
3. You could have a repetitive motion injury.
Depending on how you use your hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders, you could be experiencing pain and stiffness in your hands due to a repetitive motion injury. While your body is quite versatile and can make many fine movements, it is not designed to perform the same task hundreds or thousands of times repeatedly. But sometimes, whether due to your job or due to a favorite activity, you repeat an action often enough to cause damage to your ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most well-known repetitive motion injuries you can get that affects your hands. When the median nerve in your wrist is compressed – such as if you type a lot at your job – you could develop tingling and numbness. You could even find that your grip becomes weaker as the condition progresses.
Your chiropractor can help identify if you have a repetitive motion injury and determine the best course of treatment for that injury. Through writs and elbow adjustments, they can help open up the carpal tunnel and reduce irritation of the nerve. Combined with ice and specific exercises designed to decrease inflammation and regain strength, your chiropractor could steadily help you improve your condition.
Get Help with Hand Injuries
If you are suffering from a hand injury, we would like to speak to you. Please contact us today at our chiropractic office and schedule an appointment to get treatment for your hand injury.
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