Triggering is a common condition affecting the tendons that bend (flex) the fingers and the thumb. The tendons get stuck as they try to pull, causing a clicking or catching sensation with bending of the joints. In more advanced cases, the affected digit will actually get stuck in a flexed position.
When the nerve gets compressed, people experience a variety of symptoms including numbness, tingling, pain and weakness of the hand. The symptoms are often brought on by repetitive or prolonged hand activity. Frequently, people with CTS will notice that their hand gets numb or painful at night, causing them to wake up.
De Quervain syndrome is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. Tendons are the rope-like structures that the muscle uses to pull the bone. Chronic overuse, such as repeating a particular hand motion day after day, may irritate the covering around the tendons.
Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition where a nerve gets compressed as it passes by the inner side of the elbow. The particular nerve involved is called the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve provides the feeling to the ring and small fingers. The ulnar nerve passes by the inner side of the elbow through a channel called the cubital tunnel.
Dupuytren’s disease is a genetically-based condition that typically affects people of northern European ancestry over the age of fifty. The condition causes a gradual thickening and contracting of the tissue of the palm and fingers, resulting in restriction of full extension.
Extensor tendon injuries occur when the tendons that straighten the wrist, fingers, and thumb are damaged, often due to minor cuts or trauma, such as jamming a finger. A common example is Mallet Finger, which results from tearing the extensor tendon at the tip joint of the finger.
Ganglion cysts are common fluid filled lumps that form next to joints or tendons. Although they often feel firm like a solid object, they are actually filled with the thick fluid that lubricates the associated joint or tendon. Most of the problems associated with ganglions are related to the pressure they apply on their surroundings and the associated discomfort.
Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as “tennis elbow,” is a painful condition affecting the tendons that attach to the outside (lateral) part of the elbow. The condition primarily involves the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle, which helps to straighten and stabilize the wrist.
A mallet finger is a common injury caused by the tearing of a tendon at the tip joint of the finger. When this particular tendon tears, the tip of the finger droops down into a flexed position, simulating the appearance of a small hammer (or mallet).
Nerve injuries occur when the body’s nerve fibers, which transmit signals between the brain and other parts of the body, are damaged. These injuries can disrupt communication, affecting movement, sensation, and bodily functions.
