What can you use to treat aching hands?

The joints of the body are the locations where two bones connect. The joint is kept stable with the supporting tendons and ligaments. The hand consists of 15 joints and 27 bones. The joint of the hand allows an individual to move the wrist and fingers. Many people experience aching hand joints. This pain may be temporary or persistent. Chronic pain in the hand joints can affect the normal movement of the hand.

There are many factors that contribute to aches and pains in the hand. Some of the aching hands causes include bone fracture, arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome, hand sprain and hand strain. A bone fracture may occur due to an accident or some kind of trauma to the hand area. A fracture can lead to severe pain during hand movements. Arthritis is characterized by swelling and inflammation in the joints. There is also a progressive deterioration of the affected joints. Arthritis may also occur due to a joint infection. The functioning of the joint is affected due to arthritis. Stiffness and redness may also occur. Carpel tunnel syndrome is one of the most common hand pain causes. This condition is common during the later stages of pregnancy. Individuals with this condition may experience a tingling sensation in the fingers. This is because the median nerve present at the wrist becomes compressed. Carpel tunnel syndrome may worsen at night and numbness may also occur. A hand sprain may occur due to tearing of the ligaments. Any injury or fall may cause excessive stretching of the ligaments, leading to hand pain. A hand strain results when the muscles or tendons are affected. The common symptoms of a hand strain include swelling and muscle pain. Any movement which leads to stretching of the muscle may lead to hand strain.

In order to treat hand aches and pains, the underlying cause must first be determined. For carpel tunnel syndrome, anti-inflammatory medication is usually administered. Hand sprains are treated with cold compresses or ice packs. It is advisable to seek early treatment for any kind of hand pain so that normal movement may be restored. Aching hand joints may be massaged with diluted essential oils such as rosemary and lavender. Herbal teas are believed to enhance blood flow in the affected areas. Teas such as ginger, elderflower and yarrow are known to be beneficial. Moderate exercise is also helpful in improving blood circulation in the affected joints.

answered by G R

Aching hands may be caused by arthritis or by Carpal Tunnel syndrome. If you have swollen or inflamed joints, the problem may be arthritis. If you spend a lot of time working at the computer or doing any other repetitive work such as knitting or embroidery, you may have a condition called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome can also occur if you spend a lot of time using mobile gadgets or playing video games. Here are some remedies to help reduce the pain:

• Make compresses or Poultices taking of St.John's Wort or Devil's claw root. This may help to ease the pain and swelling in arthritis
• Hot fomentation with a wash cloth may work for pain that is not so severe. Apply a hot wet washcloth to the aching hands and apply gentle pressure. Do this for at least 20 minutes a day.
• Try and use an ergonomically designed keyboard or try using voice recognition software to avoid typing too much if that is causing the problem.
• If it is not possible to cut down the amount of time you spend doing repetitive activities with your hands, you can try taking off five minutes or so every hour to do some simple hand exercises. Bend your fingers backwards and forwards, rotate your wrists in one direction and then in the other. Flex your wrists back and forth and then wiggle your fingers.

answered by S E