Which doctor will treat this? | Pain in the palm of my hand – What do I have?

Which doctor will treat this?

If you have pain in the palm of your hand, you can first consult an orthopedist. The orthopedic surgeon will usually arrange for an X-ray of the hand in cooperation with a radiologist. Often further imaging by means of MRI or CT is necessary.

Once the cause of the complaints has been clarified and the problem is a degenerative disease or acute injury, the orthopedist can continue to treat the complaints. Alternatively, a hand surgeon can be consulted. Especially when surgery is necessary, a hand surgeon is usually better trained than an orthopedist. For inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatism, the treatment should be in the hands of a rheumatologist.

Treatment/Therapy

The therapy of pain in the palm of the hand is initially based on the symptoms. For example, pain medication (e.g. Ibuprofen®) can be taken for temporary complaints, and ointments such as Voltaren® or Doc-Salbe® can also relieve the pain. Often, additional stabilization of the affected wrist with a bandage or tape is also helpful.

Furthermore, the therapy should be causal, so that the cause of the pain is treated. In the case of a trauma with fracture, for example, therapy can consist of immobilization in a cast; in the case of sprains and bruises, a bandage is usually sufficient. For more complicated injuries, surgical treatment with bone nails or plates is rarely necessary.

Pain at the ball of the hand, which is caused by chronic overstrain, can usually only be treated by prolonged protection and immobilization of the wrist. Surgery can also be helpful for diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatism and inflammatory diseases are best treated with medication.

A wrist bandage can relieve the pain at the ball of the hand. Immobilization supports the function of tendons and muscles, and compression limits the swelling somewhat. A wrist bandage can also be used after traumatic injuries; it can protect the wrist during renewed stress. A bandage can also be worn for chronic diseases such as rheumatism.