Associated symptoms
Which symptoms are associated with pain in the back of the hand depends strongly on the cause of the complaints. In an acute trauma such as a fall, the pain on the back of the hand can indicate injuries such as a bruise, sprain or broken bone. The muscles and tendons that run along the back of the hand can also be affected.
In most cases there is also swelling, and superficial bleeding and bruising are also accompanying symptoms. If the cause of the pain is a degenerative or inflammatory disease, often not only one hand is affected. Thus, the pain also occurs on the other hand or other joints.
Swelling is a symptom that is often accompanied by pain. This often indicates an inflammatory process. This includes other symptoms such as redness and overheating of the skin as well as limited mobility of the affected hand.
In this case, the swelling is usually caused by the body sending many inflammatory cells to the affected hand.These bring with them fluid that leaks from the vessels into the tissue, where it accumulates, causing swelling. Swelling can also occur in pain caused by trauma. This is due, for example, to bleeding from an injured vessel, which leads to a bruise.
Duration
The duration of pain in the back of the hand can vary between a few days and weeks. With chronic diseases the pain can also last longer. How long the duration of the pain is, however, strongly depends on its cause.
Tendinitis, fractures/bone fractures, etc. are usually healed after a few weeks with immobilization of the affected hand. In contrast, carpal arthritis and rheumatic causes of the pain are chronic and usually last a lifetime.
Examination and diagnosis in general
It is important to always have strong and long-lasting pain clarified by a doctor. The attending physician first asks for the exact location, type and intensity of the pain. Of particular interest is when and after which activities the pain occurs (e.g. at rest or while typing on a keyboard).
During the physical examination, the entire arm is examined and examined for pain. The doctor uses various movement tests to check the hand’s functions. Blood tests (e.g. for rheumatism), X-rays, ultrasound and MRI can also be included in the diagnosis.
If joint damage is suspected, e.g. as part of arthrosis, an arthroscopy can be performed. If nerve damage is suspected, as is the case with carpal tunnel syndrome, for example, various neurological examinations are used. These include measuring the nerve conduction velocity, force and movement tests, and vegetative function tests. If circulatory disorders are suspected, an angiography can be performed.