Arm and hand pain

Chronic pain in the arm and hand can arise for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, what would have been a minor injury just never goes away, and may even get worse. Many times, over-use can lead to chronic pain, like tennis elbow or tendinitis. Other times, arthritis and nerve damage are the culprit.

In order to treat any chronic pain in the arm or hand, a proper diagnosis is required. A proper diagnosis comes only after consideration of all variables, and is done through thorough testing, and in-depth physical examination. Dr. Cassaro specializes in finding the cause of your arm and hand pain, and then makes treatment decisions on what will reduce the chronic pain the most.

Here are some things you can do at home to relieve the pain.

Home treatment for chronic arm and hand pain:

Exercise: Even though you may be in pain, exercise is very therapeutic in relieving pain. If traditional exercise is too painful, then consider just taking a brisk walk (cover a mile in about 20 minutes), or join an exercise class that uses a heated swimming pool for therapy. (see "helpful links" in main menu)

Eliminate sugar: Sugar causes nerve sensitivity, and can make your chronic pain much worse. It also weakens the body's tissues, and interrupts the body's healing process and suppresses the immune system.

Sleep: Getting plenty of sleep is crucial to the overall healing process. In fact, it's when the majority of the healing process takes place. Go to bed early, eliminate distractions, and get at least 8 hours of sleep every night.

Heat: You can try applying a heating pad to the affected area of the arm or hand. Heat can calm and soothe nerves, reduce inflammation, and promote circulation.

Topical medications: Some over-the-counter topical medications are effective in reducing chronic pain, especially if the pain is due to nerve, or arthritic origin. The best choices are those containing a chemical called capsaicin. This is a natural ingredient that originates from hot peppers. There are also special prescription medications that are very effective. Make an appointment to find out more about these. *you can also download a recipe for making an effective topical medication at home - click here)

Medications: Most over-the-counter pain medications(Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, etc.) will provide temporary relief from acute arm and hand injuries. If you find that you are increasing the frequency and dosage to cope with your pain, consider making an appointment with Dr. Cassaro for other alternatives.

If your pain persists, or worsens; click here to make an appointment.