Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common neurological disorder that occurs when the median nerve, which runs from your forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. You may feel numbness, weakness, pain in your hand and wrist, and your fingers may become swollen and useless. You might wake up and feel you need to “shake out” your hand or wrist.

The median nerve and the tendons that bend the fingers pass through the carpal tunnel—a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand. The median nerve provides feeling to the thumb, index, and middle finger, and part of the ring finger (but not the little finger). It also controls some small muscles at the base of the thumb.

Sometimes, thickening from the lining of irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and compresses the median nerve. CTS is the most common and widely known of the entrapment neuropathies, in which one of the body’s peripheral nerves is pressed on or squeezed.

You can sometimes treat carpal tunnel syndrome at home, but it may take months to heal. Your doctor can recommend treatments. CTS rarely recurs following treatment and home care.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent numbness or tingling in the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers. Symptoms often first appear in one or both hands during the night. The dominant hand is usually affected first and procures the most severe symptoms. Early symptoms include:

• Numbness, particularly at night  
• A feeling the fingers are useless or swollen
• A tingling sensation or pain in the fingers.

As symptoms worsen, people might feel:

• Tingling during the day, especially with certain activities such as talking on the phone, reading a book or newspaper, or driving

• Mild to severe pain, sometimes worse at night 
• Some loss of movement in the hand

• Hand weakness may make it difficult to grasp small objects or perform other manual tasks.

In chronic and/or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may shrink and waste away. Some people with very severe CTS cannot determine between hot and cold by touch and may burn their fingertips without knowing it.

Who is more likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is often the result of a combination of factors that increase pressure on the median nerve and tendons in the carpal tunnel, rather than a problem with the nerve itself. Sometimes no single cause can be identified. Contributing factors may include:

• Trauma or injury to the wrist that cause swelling, such as sprain or fracture
• Imbalance of either the pituitary gland or the thyroid gland
• Rheumatoid arthritis or other arthritic diseases
• Mechanical problems in the wrist joint
• Repeated use of vibrating hand tools
• Fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause
• Development of a cyst or tumor in the canal
• Sex—women are three times more likely than men to develop CTS
• Having diabetes or other metabolic disorders that directly affect the body’s nerves and make them more susceptible to compression
• Repeated sleeping on a bent wrist
• Increasing age—CTS usually occurs only in adults.

The risk of developing CTS is not confined to people in a single industry or job but may be more reported in those performing assembly line work—such as manufacturing, sewing, finishing, cleaning, and meatpacking—than it is among data-entry personnel. Many people who have CTS report never have working at these types of jobs.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosing CTS

Early diagnosis and treatment are important to avoid permanent damage to the median nerve.

• Physical exam. Your doctor will examine your hands, arms, shoulders, and neck to determine if your complaints are related to daily activities or to an underlying disorder and to rule out other conditions that mimic carpal tunnel syndrome. Your wrist will be checked for tenderness, swelling, warmth, and discoloration. Your fingers will be tested for sensation, along with muscles at the base of the hand for strength and signs of atrophy.
• Routine laboratory tests and X-rays can reveal fractures, arthritis, and nerve-damaging diseases such as diabetes.
• Specific wrist tests may produce the symptoms of CTS.
  • In the Tinel test, the doctor taps on or presses on the median nerve in your wrist. The test is positive when tingling in the fingers or a resultant shock-like sensation occurs.
  • The Phalen, or wrist-flexion, test involves having you hold your forearms upright by pointing the fingers down and pressing the backs of the hands together. If you have CTS, you should feel tingling or increasing numbness in your fingers within 1 minute. Your doctor may also ask you to try to make a movement that brings on symptoms.
• Electrodiagnostic tests may help confirm the diagnosis of CTSs.
  • A nerve conduction study measures how quickly impulses are transmitted along a nerve. Electrodes are placed on your hand and wrist and a small electric shock is  applied and the speed with which nerves transmit impulses is measured
  • In electromyography, a fine needle is inserted into a muscle and electrical activity is viewed on a screen to determine the severity of damage to the median nerve.
• Diagnostic imaging also can help diagnose CTS or show problems.
  • Ultrasound imaging can show an abnormal size of the median nerve.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show the anatomy of the wrist but to date has not been especially useful in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Treating CTS

Treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome should begin as early as possible, under a doctor’s direction.  Underlying causes such as diabetes or arthritis should be treated first.

Non-surgical treatments

• Splinting.   Initial treatment is usually a splint worn at night.
• Avoiding daytime activities that may provoke symptoms.  If you have slight discomfort you may wish to take frequent breaks from tasks, to rest the hand.  If the wrist is red, warm and swollen, applying cool packs can help.
• Over-the-counter drugs.  In special circumstances, various medications can ease the pain and swelling associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonprescription pain relievers, may provide some short-term relief from discomfort but haven’t been shown to treat CTS.
• Prescription medicines.  Corticosteroids (such as prednisone) or the drug lidocaine can be injected directly into your wrist or taken by mouth (in the case of prednisone) to relieve pressure on the median nerve if you have mild or intermittent symptoms. (Check first with your doctor if you have diabetes or may be predisposed to it, as prolonged use of corticosteroids can make it difficult to regulate insulin levels. )
• Exercise. Ask your doctor about hand exercises that might help with pain.
• Alternative therapies. Yoga has been shown to reduce pain and improve grip strength among those with CTS. Other alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and chiropractic care, have benefited some people with CTS but their effectiveness remains unproved.
• Vocational or occupational therapy. You may need to learn new ways to perform certain tasks or job skills that will not complicate or worsen your CTS.

Surgery

• Carpal tunnel release is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States. It may be recommended when non-surgical treatments are ineffective or if the disorder has become severe. Carpal tunnel surgery involves cutting a ligament to relieve the pressure on the nerve. Surgery is usually done under local or regional anesthesia (involving some sedation) and does not require an overnight hospital stay. Many people require surgery on both hands.
• Open release surgery is the traditional procedure used to correct carpal tunnel syndrome. It consists of making an incision up to 2 inches in your wrist and then cutting the carpal ligament to enlarge the carpal tunnel. The procedure is generally done under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, unless there are unusual medical conditions.
• Endoscopic surgery may allow somewhat faster functional recovery and less postoperative discomfort than traditional open release surgery but it may also have a higher risk of complications and the need for additional surgery. The surgeon makes one or two incisions (about ½ inch each) in your wrist and palm, inserts a camera attached to a tube, observes the nerve, ligament, and tendons on a monitor, and cuts the carpal ligament (the tissue that holds joints together) with a small knife that is inserted through the tube. Following the surgery, the ligaments usually grow back together and allow more space than before. Your symptoms may be relieved immediately after surgery, but full recovery can take months. You may have infections, nerve damage, stiffness, and pain at the scar. Almost always there is a decrease in grip strength, which improves over time. You may need to modify work activity for several weeks following surgery or need to adjust job duties or even change jobs after recovery from surgery.   

Recurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome following treatment is rare. Less than half of individuals report their hand(s) feeling completely normal following surgery. Some residual numbness or weakness is common.

How can self-care or lifestyle changes support a treatment plan for carpal tunnel syndrome?

At night, keep your wrist straight while resting or asleep to prevent pressing on the nerve and carpal tunnel.

Tasks at home or work, along with workstations, tools, and tool handles, can be redesigned to help your wrist maintain a natural position during work.  Wearing fingerless gloves can help keep hands warm and flexible.  At the workplace, workers can do on-the-job conditioning, perform stretching exercises, take frequent rest breaks, and use correct posture and wrist position.   Jobs can be rotated among workers.  Employers can develop ergonomic programs to adapt workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of workers. 

What are the latest updates on carpal tunnel syndrome?

The mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is to seek fundamental knowledge of the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.  The NINDS is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the leading supporter of biomedical research in the world. NINDS is the leading NIH funding Institute on nerve disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome.

Scientists supported by NINDS are studying the factors that lead to long-lasting neuropathies (diseases or malfunction of nerves), and how the affected nerves are related to symptoms of pain, numbness, and functional loss. Researchers also are examining biomechanical stresses that contribute to the nerve damage responsible for symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome in order to better understand, treat, and prevent CTS and other costly and disabling occupational illnesses.

Scientists funded through NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health are investigating the effects of acupuncture on pain, loss of median nerve function, and changes in the brain associated with CTS. In addition, a randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment in conjunction with standard medical care is underway. Evaluations of these therapies and other therapies will help to tailor individual treatment programs.

Another NIH component, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders (NIAMS), supports research on tissue damage associated with repetitive motion disorders, including CTS. Scientists have developed animal models that are helping to understand and characterize connective tissue in hopes of reducing harmful tissue buildup and identifying new treatments.

More information about carpal tunnel syndrome research supported by NINDS and other NIH Institutes and Centers can be found using NIH RePORTER, a searchable database of current and past research projects supported by NIH and other federal agencies.  RePORTER also includes links to publications and resources from these projects.

For research articles and summaries on carpal tunnel syndrome, search PubMed, which contains citations from medical journals and other sites.

file-medical

Learn About Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are studies that allow us to learn more about disorders and improve care. They can help connect patients with new and upcoming treatment options.

How can I or my loved one help improve care for someone with carpal tunnel syndrome?

Consider participating in a clinical trial so clinicians and scientists can learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome. Clinical research uses human volunteers to help researchers learn more about a disorder and perhaps find better ways to safely detect, treat, or prevent disease.

All types of volunteers are needed—those who are healthy or may have an illness or disease—of all different ages, sexes, races, and ethnicities to ensure that study results apply to as many people as possible, and that treatments will be safe and effective for everyone who will use them.

For information about participating in clinical research visit NIH Clinical Research Trials and You. Learn about clinical trials currently looking for people with CTS at Clinicaltrials.gov.
 

Where can I find more information about carpal tunnel syndrome?

The following resources may help individuals, families, friends, and caregivers of people living with CTS:

Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy
Phone: 877-883-9942

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Phone: 301-496-8190 or 877-226-4267

Information about CTS is also available: 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Phone: 800-311-3435 or 404-639-3311

National Library of Medicine
Phone: 301-496-6308 or 888-346-3656

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Phone: 800-321-6742

Learn about related topics

• Repetitive Motion Disorders 

15 Causes of Swollen Fingers

Medically Reviewed by David Zelman, MD on February 07, 2023

Swelling happens when body fluids collect in tissues or joints. Sometimes your pinkie might be puffy. Or you may have trouble slipping your rings on and off. A salty meal could be one culprit. That’s usually not a cause for worry. But other times, your swollen fingers and hands can signal a health problem that needs your attention.

Your heart, lungs, and muscles need oxygen to fuel your workout. So, more blood goes to those places and less flows to your hands. Small blood vessels react to this change and expand, and that swells your fingers. Something similar happens when your body heats up in hot weather. To cool down, blood vessels in your skin swell to allow heat to leave the surface. This is totally normal.

You may have a torn a ligament or sprained your finger. Or injured a tendon, or dislocated or even broken a bone. If the injury isn’t too bad, ice, rest, and over-the counter pain medicine may be enough. See your doctor if you can’t straighten your finger, have a fever, or you’re in great pain.

Three that can cause swollen fingers are:

• Herpetic whitlow: A herpes infection that causes small, swollen, bloody blisters on the fingers
• Paronychia: An infection in the nail base caused by bacteria or fungus
• Felon: A painful pus-filled infection in the fingertip

Finger infections can spread or other parts of the body if they’re not treated early.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects the lining of joints and causes swelling, pain, and stiffness. The symptoms often appear first in the hand joints. RA usually affects both hands

Psoriatic arthritis can affect people who have a skin condition called psoriasis. It often causes sausage-like swelling in fingers and toes. Both arthritis types are serious and can cause joint damage and other body problems without treatment.

This “rich man’s disease” largely used to afflict people who could afford lots of meat, seafood, and alcohol. Today, gout can hit people of all income levels. It causes extreme pain and swelling, usually in the big toe. But you can get it in any joint, including your fingers. It happens when too much uric acid in your blood forms crystals in the joint. Drugs can help ease the pain and prevent more attacks.

Some common culprits include:

• Over-the-counter pain pills like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen
• Steroids
• Certain drugs for diabetes or high blood pressure
• Nerve pain drugs like gabapentin and pregabalin
• Hormonal therapies with estrogen or testosterone

Puffy fingers from medication usually isn’t a serious condition. But talk to your doctor if you’re worried.

Your kidneys get rid of waste and extra fluid from your body. One of the first signs that something is wrong is puffiness in your fingers, feet, and around your eyes. You’re more likely to get kidney disease if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. Control these problems to protect your kidneys or stop the disease from getting worse. If your kidneys don’t work well enough, you’ll need a transplant or dialysis.

You can expect swollen fingers, ankles, and feet when you’re expecting. But sudden swelling, especially in the hands and face, can be a sign of preeclampsia. That’s dangerously high blood pressure that can happen in the second half of pregnancy. Rarely, it comes after childbirth and is called postpartum preeclampsia. The problem affects the kidneys, triggering swelling. You may also have a bad headache, belly pain, and trouble seeing.

Normal red blood cells look like doughnuts and are flexible. When you have sickle cell disease, the cells are stiff and crescent-shaped. These get stuck in small blood vessels and block blood flow. In the hands and feet, this causes painful swelling. Other problems include infections, anemia, stroke, and blindness. Sickle cell is a lifelong condition. In the U.S., it’s most common in African-Americans.

This swelling happens when fluid in the lymph system can’t drain well. It’s sometimes a side effect of cancer treatment. Women with breast cancer often have lymph nodes in their armpits removed to check for cancer. This upsets the flow of lymph and can lead to swelling in the arms and hands. Radiation can damage nodes and make the problem worse. Lymphedema can happen any time after treatment. It can’t be cured, but it can be managed.

Raynaud’s Disease is a rare problem that affects blood vessels in your fingers and toes. It causes them to narrow when you’re cold or stressed. Lack of blood flow makes your digits frosty and painful. They may turn white or blue. When the vessels open up and blood returns, your fingers can throb and swell. In serious cases, lack of blood flow can cause sores or even kill tissue.

This is an immune system disease that tricks your body into making too much of a protein called collagen. This thickens and hardens skin and can affect other body parts too. Your hands may become stiff and your fingers may puff up like sausages. Some people have mild symptoms. In more serious cases, organs can be injured. Scleroderma does not go away but can be treated.

IMAGES PROVIDED BY:

1) Dr P. Marazzi / Science Source

2) SeventyFour / Getty Images

3) Du Cane Medical Imaging Ltd / Science Source

4) Dr P. Marazzi / Science Source

5) rudisill / Getty Images

6) Allan Harris / Medical Images

7) smartstock / Thinkstock

8) Evan Oto / Science Source

9) SPL / Science Source

10) Eraxion / Getty Images

11) Hill Street Studios / Thinkstock

12) Southern Illinois University / Science Source

13) SPL / Science Source

14) St Bartholomew’s Hospital / Science Source

15) SPL / Science Source

SOURCES:

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: “Why Our Bodies Swell: 12 Surprising Reasons. ”

Cedrina Calder, MD, preventive medicine specialist, Nashville.

Alejandro Badia, MD, hand and upper extremity orthopedic surgeon, Badia Hand to Shoulder Center, Doral, FL.

Mayo Clinic: “Home Remedies: Just Jammed Your Finger?” “Gout,” “Trigger Finger,” Sickle Cell Anemia.”

National Health Service (UK): “Herpetic Whitlow,” “Overview: Trigger Finger.”

Kids Health: “Paronychia.”

Harvard Medical School: “Felon.”

UpToDate: “Patient education: Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and diagnosis (Beyond the Basics).”

National Psoriasis Foundation: “About Psoriatic Arthritis.”

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fact Sheet”

American Academy of Family Physicians: “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.”

National Kidney Foundation: “How Your Kidneys Work.”

American Kidney Fund: “Kidney Failure (ESRD): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments.”

March of Dimes: “Preeclampsia.”

American Society of Hematology: “Blood Basics. ”

MedlinePlus: “Raynaud’s Disease.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Breast Cancer: Lymphedema after Treatment,” “Understanding Scleroderma,” “Types of Scleroderma.”

Scleroderma Foundation: “Hands.”

© 2023 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. View privacy policy and trust info

Scientists have found out what tingling in the fingers indicates

https://ria.ru/20210917/vitamin-1750435091.html RIA Novosti, 09/17/2021

Scientists have found out what tingling in the fingers indicates2021-09-17T01:11

2021-09-17T01:11

2021-09-17T11:43

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world

vitamins

healthy lifestyle (healthy)

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MOSCOW, September 17 – RIA Novosti. Tingling and numbness of the fingers and toes may indicate a deficiency in the human body of a vital vitamin, writes the British Express edition, citing the results of research by scientists from the University of Michigan Public Health. We are talking about vitamin B12. Its lack can cause nerve damage, which in turn causes discomfort in the arms and legs. Numbness and tingling, experts say, should not be scary, however, if such symptoms are observed too often, you should consult a doctor, undergo an examination and begin treatment. .B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, also called cobalamin. He is not only responsible for the functioning of the nervous system, but is involved in the production of red blood cells and DNA. Deficiency of this nutrient can lead to nerve damage and cause tingling and numbness in the arms and legs, muscle weakness and loss of reflexes. Previously, it was known that a thick and reddened tongue could be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency, a lack of which increases the risk of pernicious anemia.

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MOSCOW, September 17 – RIA Novosti. Tingling and numbness of the fingers and toes may indicate a deficiency in the human body of a vital vitamin, writes the British edition of Express, citing the results of research by scientists from the University of Michigan Public Health.

This is vitamin B ₁₂ . Its deficiency can cause nerve damage, which in turn causes discomfort in the arms and legs.

Numbness and tingling, experts say, should not be frightening, however, if such symptoms are observed too often, you should consult a doctor, undergo an examination and begin treatment.

B ₁₂ is a water soluble vitamin also called cobalamin. He is not only responsible for the functioning of the nervous system, but is involved in the production of red blood cells and DNA. Deficiency of this nutrient can lead to nerve damage and cause tingling and numbness in the arms and legs, muscle weakness and loss of reflexes.

A syndrome that causes a feeling of extreme fatigue is revealed

March 10, 2021, 00:55

It was previously known that a thick and reddened tongue can be a sign of vitamin B deficiency ₁₂ , the lack of which increases the risk of pernicious anemia.

SM-Clinic cardiologist spoke about the causes of hand swelling in adults

Edema of the hands occurs quite often, and can be a manifestation of physiological changes or one of the symptoms of pathology. When should edema alert and where to address the problem?

ALENA PARETSKAYA

Pathophysiologist, immunologist, member

St. Petersburg Society of Pathophysiologists


ANDREY GRACHEV

Leading cardiologist of the holding

SM-Clinic, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences

Swelling of the hand is a cause for concern if it occurs frequently or almost daily, is accompanied by additional symptoms, is aggravated or is not eliminated by simple methods.

What you need to know about hand swelling

• Why does the hand swell
• How to relieve swelling
• Questions and answers

Why the hand swells in adults

Swelling of the arm or both at once may be physiological or be a sign of pathology. It may be localized or spread to surrounding tissues. With swelling, the limb increases in volume, discomfort, soreness, and inconvenience when performing precise finger movements may be felt. It is difficult to remove the rings from the fingers or the watch from the wrist.

Swelling in the right or left arm occurs when the blood or lymphatic vessels are compressed by items of clothing during sleep. Swelling of the fingers and hands, which is especially noticeable if you remove rings or watches, occurs after alcohol or excess salty foods, fluids at night.

Right hand

A small local edema, if the mobility of the limb is preserved, is possible with bruises. In the area of ​​​​edema, there may be soreness, redness, bruises or abrasions may appear. If it is a hematoma, the edema will be more pronounced, a seal is determined under the skin, in the center of which fluctuation (fluid movement) is felt. Swelling is typical for sprains in the area of ​​the carpal, elbow or shoulder joint, with torn ligaments or their rupture. Severe pain is characteristic, which increases with movement, if the ligaments are torn, it is almost impossible to move the hand.

Edema is possible with fractures of bones, dislocations of joints. Then there is pain, limb deformity, complete impossibility of movement.

Edema may appear with frostbite of the fingers, burns, infectious processes in the area of ​​the hand, forearm or shoulder.

Left hand

Swelling of the finger of the left hand (as well as the right one) is possible with panaritium – suppuration in the phalanx. If it is a deeper lesion, the edema passes to the hand. Carbuncles or boils on any part of the arm can also lead to swelling. In this case, cyanosis or a purple area with suppuration is visible in the center of the inflamed focus. Edema is possible with suppuration of wounds, erysipelas, purulent arthritis and osteomyelitis.

Joint damage in other forms of arthritis also leads to tissue swelling. With rheumatoid arthritis, the joints of both hands are symmetrically affected, with gout, the fingers swell, with psoriasis, the joints of the fingers and hand.

Edema is typical for joint damage – thrombosis. In addition to edema, a feeling of fullness, pain, thickening of tissues, discoloration of the skin, crawling, and a change in sensitivity are typical.

Morning

Lymphatic edema is possible after operations to remove the mammary gland, if the axillary lymph nodes were excised. Puffiness may increase or appear in the morning with malformations of the lymphatic capillaries, with post-burn scars, thrombophlebitis, lymphadenitis. Without treatment, swelling can become permanent.

Hand edema also occurs against the background of heart failure. In the morning they are minimal, intensify in the evening. In contrast, renal swelling of the hands is most pronounced in the morning and decreases or disappears during the day.

Pregnancy

Puffiness in the fingers or hands is due to hormonal changes, especially as the pregnancy progresses. In the first trimester, a slight swelling of the fingers is typical, which is almost not noticeable. By the third trimester, swelling can be pronounced, making it difficult to wear rings, watches, bracelets. Puffiness gradually disappears in the first days after childbirth.

However, pathological edema associated with hypertension, excess weight gain and the development of preeclampsia is also possible in pregnant women. Then the appearance of protein in the urine, a pronounced weight gain per week, severe swelling of the arms and legs, face, and body are typical.

How to relieve hand swelling in adults

At home or for first aid, you need to give your hand an elevated position.

If this is an injury, the hand should be immobilized with a bandage or splint, a cold compress should be applied to the affected area, and an anesthetic should be taken.

If these are diseases of the joints, it is necessary to use painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs locally and orally. If the swelling develops quickly, with severe pain and dysfunction of the hand, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Doctors can use two options for treating edema – conservative and surgical. It depends on the cause, the severity of the condition, and possible complications. In case of injuries, emergency care, bandages, anti-inflammatory drugs, anesthesia are indicated.

In vascular edema, antispasmodic, angioprotective and phlebotonic drugs are used.

Physiotherapy, gymnastics, massage or manual therapy are also prescribed.

If the injury is serious or severe lesions of blood vessels, bones, joints are detected, the edema is not eliminated, surgical interventions are used.

Popular Questions and Answers

Edema can be a short-term phenomenon and does not threaten anything. But sometimes they are symptoms of dangerous conditions. Andrey Grachev, a cardiologist, helped us figure out the problem.

Why is hand swelling dangerous?

Swelling is often a sign of a serious infection, cancer, heart or kidney problems. And if the swelling is persistent, then the disease has worsened or is rapidly progressing. Edema can be complicated by tissue malnutrition, skin inflammation, stretch marks, and discoloration.

When should I see a doctor for swollen hands?

In any situation when you notice swelling of your hands – in the morning, in the evening or during the day, you need a doctor’s consultation and at least a minimal set of tests and examinations. Edema itself is a symptom of problems in the body, and you need to find out what caused it.

Is it possible to remove swelling of the hands with folk remedies?

There are a number of diuretic decoctions and infusions, but it is extremely dangerous to use them on your own, not knowing what the causes of edema are.