Our hands play a vital role in our everyday life – they help us perform tasks like cooking, typing, and driving. But what happens when your hands don’t work as well as they should?
Many people suffer from hand conditions that make it hard to use their hands. Three common issues are Dupuytren’s Contracture, trigger finger, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
This blog will help you understand these conditions, how they are different, and what treatments are available.
What is Dupuytren’s Contracture?
Dupuytren’s Contracture is a condition that affects your hands, specifically the tissue under the skin in your palm. This condition makes the tissue thicken and tighten over time, causing your fingers to bend. It usually affects the ring and little fingers but can also involve other fingers.
Symptoms of Dupuytren’s Contracture
If you have Dupuytren’s Contracture, you might notice a lump or bump in your palm. As time goes on, this lump can turn into a thick cord that pulls your fingers inward, making it hard to straighten them and limiting how well you can use your hand. The good news is that Dupuytren’s Contracture usually doesn’t hurt.
What Causes Dupuytren’s Contracture?
Doctors aren’t exactly sure what causes Dupuytren’s Contracture, but it seems to run in families. It mostly affects men over 50. Some things that might increase your chances of getting it include smoking, diabetes, and drinking too much alcohol.
Dupuytren’s Contracture Treatment
There are a few ways to treat Dupuytren’s Contracture. If it’s mild, you might just watch it over time. For worse cases, treatments include:
- Needle Aponeurotomy: A doctor uses a needle to break the thick cords that are pulling your fingers.
- Enzyme Injections: A special enzyme is injected to help dissolve the thickened tissue.
- Surgery: In severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove the affected tissue.
What is Trigger Finger?
Trigger finger or stenosing tenosynovitis is a hand condition that affects the tendons in your fingers. It happens when the tendon sheath becomes inflamed, making it hard for the tendon to move smoothly. This can cause your finger to get stuck in a bent position.
Symptoms of Trigger Finger
The main sign of a trigger finger is a popping or clicking sound when you move your finger. You might also feel pain or stiffness, especially in the morning. In more serious cases, your finger can get stuck and needs to be straightened out manually.
What Causes Trigger Finger?
Trigger Finger is often caused by repetitive hand movements or gripping things tightly. People with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to get it, and it’s also more common in women than men.
Treatment for Trigger Finger
Treatments for Trigger Finger depend on how bad it is. Options include:
- Rest and Splinting: Taking breaks and wearing a splint can help reduce inflammation.
- Steroid Injections: These injections can help reduce swelling and relieve pain.
- Surgery: Surgery can release the tight part of the tendon sheath, helping your finger move smoothly again.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: What is It?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that occurs when the median nerve, which runs from your forearm to your hand, becomes compressed at the wrist. This can lead to pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and fingers.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The symptoms of carpal tunnel disease often include numbness, tingling, and pain in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. These symptoms may worsen at night.
You might also notice weakness in your hand and a tendency to drop objects.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Various factors, including repetitive hand motions, wrist anatomy, and underlying health conditions, can cause carpal tunnel disease. People with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disorders are at higher risk.
Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
There are several carpal tunnel syndrome treatments. These include:
- Wrist Splinting: Wearing a splint at night can keep your wrist in a neutral position and reduce pressure on the median nerve.
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Medications like ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation and relieve the pain of CTS.
- Steroid Injections: Corticosteroid injections can reduce inflammation and ease symptoms.
- Physical Therapy: Physical therapy for carpal tunnel can include exercises to strengthen the wrist and improve flexibility.
- Surgery: In severe cases, carpal tunnel syndrome treatment may require surgery to relieve pressure on the median nerve.
Key Differences Between the Conditions
Understanding the differences between these hand conditions is important for proper diagnosis and treatment:
- Dupuytren’s Contracture: Affects the connective tissue, causing fingers to bend inward without pain.
- Trigger Finger: Affects the tendons, causing fingers to lock or catch in a bent position, often with pain.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Involves compression of the median nerve, leading to numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and fingers.
Dupuytren’s Contracture Disease in Bethesda, Rockville, & Germantown, MD
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms related to Dupuytren’s Contracture disease, trigger finger, or carpal tunnel syndrome, don’t hesitate to seek help.
At Maryland Orthopedic Specialists, our team of dedicated, board-certified orthopedic specialists is committed to providing comprehensive evaluations and tailored treatment plans to help you regain the function of your hands. We offer a range of treatments, from non-surgical to advanced surgical techniques for hand conditions.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, call us today at (301)-515-0900 or schedule an appointment online. We look forward to serving you!
