Neurological pain is the result of damage to the nerves in the body, either due to trauma, compression or inflammation. Sometimes the nerves that transmit signals to and from the hand can become damaged. Neurological hand pain treatment requires remedying the underlying cause of the nerve disorder.
Description
Neurologic hand pain is the result of damage to the nerves that supply the hand. This kind of pain is typically described as a burning pain and may be accompanied by tingling or numbness. This pain can occur anywhere on the hand, depending on which nerves are involved.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common cause of neurological hand pain. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) explains the carpal tunnel is the result of a nerve in the wrist (the median nerve) becoming compressed. The median nerve is surrounded by tendons that extend into the hand. If these tendons become stressed they can swell, causing compression of the median nerve, which can cause hand pain.
Carpal Tunnel Treatment
Relief of neurological hand pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome is based on reducing the compression of the median nerve. Resting the affected hand can help relieve the inflammation as well as avoid putting additional strain on the wrist. In some cases a cortisone shot is used to reduce the inflammation of the wrist tendons. In severe cases, surgery may be performed to create more space around the median nerve, thus reducing the compression and relieving the neurological hand pain.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Another neurological cause of hand pain is called Guillain-Barré syndrome. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a disease in which the immune system is inadvertently triggered to attack the nerves. The inflammation and nerve damage that this condition causes can lead to neurological pain. As Medline notes, one of the common symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome is pain in the hands.
Guillain-Barré Treatment
Guillain-Barré-related hand pain can be very difficult to treat because it is caused by the immune system. This kind of hand pain can be treated using medications that block the immune system in order to relieve the nerve pain. Sometimes plasmapheresis can be used, which filters the blood to remove the antibodies attacking the nerves. Other treatment options include narcotic pain relievers.
