What are the signs of nerve damage in your hand?

Nerves are found in the body and they are bundles of fibers that transmit impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal cord, which then send back impulses to the muscles and organs. These impulses can be considered “messages”. Nerves can send messages to make the body move as well as sending messages about pain or pressure. There is an outer layer tissue of the nerve called the endoneurium which protects and insulates the nerves. At times, people may experience nerve damage in their hands due to an injury at work and can receive workers comp hand injury in Suffolk County. 

Causes:

Applying too much pressure to the nerve by stretching, or by a cut, can lead to nerve damage in the hand. An example of a problem from excessive pressure on nerves in your hand is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This condition causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm. It occurs when one of the major nerves of the hand, the median nerve, is squeezed as it travels through the wrist. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a very common one that arises from office jobs. A stretch injury to the nerve ranges from temporary nerve injury to permanent nerve injury depending on the ability to treat. When a nerve is cut, it can no longer transmit any signals from the brain to the body. 

Signs and Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of nerve damage or injury can differ due to many different factors such as what nerve was injured, the type of nerve injury, and the severity of the injury Signs of nerve injury include:

• Numbness.
• Weakness.
• Tingling.
• Twitching.
• Pain.
• Sensitivity to touch.
• Muscle degeneration.

The symptoms that come along with nerve damage or injuries can be sporadic, or constant depending on the severity. 

How Can Nerve Damage Be Treated? 

If you have recently experienced a hand injury, and are looking to take the next step towards treatment, know that our team at East End Occupational Therapy can help. Our team focuses on helping each patient make a complete return to function as soon as possible. When you visit us for hand therapy, we focus on the science of rehabilitation of the upper limb, which is specific to the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder girdle. Hand therapy merges the specialized skills of occupational and physical therapy to ensure that patients will return to their lifestyles. Why hand therapy? 

• Accurate Assessments.
• Immediate Care/ Effective Treatments.
• Fast Recovery Results.
• Improved Functional Outcomes.
• Client Training and Education- Reduce Recurrence of Injury. 

Workers Comp Hand Injury in Suffolk County:

Worker’s Compensation is a form of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees that are injured on the job. When you get injured while working you can be eligible for worker’s comp. Hand injuries from work oftentimes lead to nerve damage. Depending on the type and severity of your injury will determine the amount of compensation you will receive. To receive any type of worker’s comp, one must file an employee claim (C-3) form as close to the occurrence as possible. One can complete this form online or on paper. Once filled out you file the form submitting the online version or mailing the paper version to the centralized mailing address. You must inform your employer in writing which entails all details of the accident. Once this is complete, you will be notified if action will be taking place regarding your claim.

East End Occupational Therapy:

At East End Occupational Therapy, we are dedicated to getting you back to your normal lifestyle. We take pride in providing our patients with the best care by providing them with skilled and compassionate therapy of the hand. Let us help you recover from any type of nerve damage in your hand and contact us today!