Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve that travels through a space that connects the forearm and hand at the front of the wrist. Pressure on the nerve, from many possible causes, can lead to a slowing of the electrical signals that supply sensation to the thumb, index and middle finger. It can lead to tingling and numbness in these fingers or the whole hand and can often be worse at night time.
Dupuytren’s disease is pronounced “doop – atren” and is a benign (non cancerous) condition causing a thickening of the gristle tissue under the skin in the palm. The disease can extend into the fingers. It can cause a progressive bending of the fingers into the palm.
Ganglions are fluid filled cysts that arise from a joint or tendon.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where the smooth cartilage covering the bone ends, wear out, causing pain, swelling and stiffness and in the hand and commonly affects the PIPJ, DIPJ and base of thumb. Treatments include, simple pain relief, splints, home modifications, cortisone injections and surgery.
A mucous cyst is a benign (non-cancerous) fluid filled cyst arising from DIPJ.
Skier’s or gamekeeper’s thumb is caused by a fall onto the thumb or a forceful pull of the thumb away from the palm. This results in a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb MCP joint.
Trigger finger is also known as stenosing tenovaginitis. It is a condition where the flexor tendon of the finger or thumb, which bends the digits, gets stuck as it glides in a tunnel created by a series of pulleys, in the palm of the hand. This can cause pain and catching when bending and straightening the finger and when severe, can cause the finger to become locked when bent into the palm.
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