Hand Pain Diagnosis Based on Additional Symptoms
Depending on your additional signs and symptoms, your hand pain diagnosis can be directed to one cause or the other. That’s why doctors ask you many questions that are not apparently linked to the main symptom. They guide the diagnosis and help them understand your condition.
If your hand pain is accompanied by swelling, redness, or warmth, it may be caused by inflammation or an infection. If the pain is severe, persists for more than a few days, or is accompanied by a fever, you should see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. An infection is more likely if you had recent trauma, especially if it was with a piercing instrument.
Another set of signs and symptoms is numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and sensory abnormalities. These symptoms suggest nerve involvement, as in carpal tunnel syndrome. There are other nerve entrapment syndromes we should rule out before diagnosing a problem with your carpal tunnel. Another symptom of nerve-related hand pain is a radiating pain that moves through your forearm instead of staying in the hand.
If your hand pain is not accompanied by any of the above signs, it is most likely due to an injury or overuse. The intensity of pain symptoms is also important because some ailments rarely cause severe pain, and other diagnoses should be considered. Thus, if the pain is severe or persists for more than a few days, you should see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.