If you have persistent or nagging hand pain, it may hurt more at night while you sleep. Indeed, many people notice that their arthritis pain or other inflammatory conditions tend to become worse at night – to the extent that it interferes with their sleep.
Why does this happen? The jury is still out, but there does seem to be a general correlation between pain and your immune system.
Misinterpretations or overreactions by the immune system tend to produce inflammation, which causes pain. For instance, if you have arthritis in your hand, most likely you will experience more of its characteristic swelling, tingling, stiffness, and discomfort while you’re trying to sleep at night. Other inflammatory conditions react in a similar way. This appears to be because too much inactivity (such as while sleeping) actually allows fluid to build up, thereby stiffening the connective tissue. Movement helps to distribute bodily fluids more evenly, thus increasing flexibility.
Let’s talk about what can cause constant hand pain, and where you can go in North Dakota for an expert orthopedic evaluation and treatment that works to alleviate the pain once and for all.
Common Causes of Chronic Hand Pain
Hand pain most often originates in these common conditions:
- Arthritis, which is inflammation in one or more joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and it is caused by a degradation of the joint cartilage due to overuse.
- Tendonitis, which produces constant pain and stiffness due to inflammation and overstretching of the tendons in the hands and fingers. (Tendons connect muscle to bone.)
- Stenosing tenosynovitis – also called trigger finger – which is inflammation in the tendon sheath. This is usually caused by overuse.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by compression of the median nerve which runs through the wrist. This results in hand pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, and poor function.
What Your Hand Surgeon Can Do for You
Your orthopedic doctor will recommend the least-invasive measure possible to treat your hand pain. Noninvasive or minimally invasive medical interventions work well in most cases. These simple strategies can include:
- Supporting your hand and wrist area with a soft, removable splint
- Taking oral medications, such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or other over-the-counter pain relievers, to alleviate pain and inflammation
- Engaging in stretching and exercise techniques as recommended by your orthopedic doctor or your physical therapist
- Receiving physician-administered cortisone injections into the affected areas to reduce pain and inflammation in the hand
- Applying heat therapy or a cold pack to the area several times a day to alleviate swelling and discomfort
Orthopedic Doctors throughout North Dakota treating Nighttime Hand Pain
Here at The Bone & Joint Center, our medical team is highly experienced at successfully treating musculoskeletal issues and injuries, including hand pain of all types. To schedule a consultation with one of our orthopedic doctors, call us today at (800) 424-2663 or fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you get back to enjoying life without pain!
