Ateneo de Zamboanga University

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Non-Musculoskeletal
Causes of Hand Pain
ARQUIZA, ANGELO

LEVEL-III MEDICAL STUDENT

ADZU-SOM
• HEART
• LUNGS
• KIDNEYS
• GALLBLADDER
• SPLEEN
• PANCREAS
What is referred pain in the hand?
• Referred pain in the hand is pain that originates in one part of the body
that is actually experienced in the hand. Physiotherapy is an effective
treatment for referred pain in the hand.
• Referred pain is pain perceived at a location other than the site of the
painful stimulus/ origin. It is the result of a network of interconnecting
sensory nerves, that supplies many different tissues. When there is an
injury at one site in the network it is possible that when the signal is
interpreted in the brain signals are experienced in the surrounding
nervous tissue. 
What can cause referred pain in the hand?
• There are a number of different causes of referred pain in the hand.
The nerves supplying the hand region originate in the cervical and
thoracic spine and if these become damaged and compressed, this
can cause referred pain in the hand.
• The referred pain occurs because of multiple primary sensory
neurons converging on a single ascending tract. When the painful
stimuli arise in visceral receptors the brain is unable to distinguish
visceral signals from the more common signals that arise from
somatic receptors.
What are the symptoms of referred pain in
the hand?
• Patient’s may experience numbness or pins and needles in the hand
which can be aggravated by certain activities. Some muscles in the
hand area may become weaker as the motor nerves usually supplying
them have been damaged. A burning sensation and pain can also be
experienced. Other symptoms include:
• reduced range of movement
• stiffness
• Immobility
• spasm
Physiotherapy for referred pain in the
hand.
• Physiotherapy treatment may include specialist equipment such
as Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to try and stimulate the
damaged nerve endings. There are also other nerve stimulation
techniques to help regenerate the affected nerves. TENS can be used
for pain relief and you may be given postural advice to try and reduce
the strain on the nerves. Mobilisations on cervical and thoracic
spine can also be carried out to reduce pain. Other treatments include:
• Postural Realignment
• Soft Tissue Treatment
• Manipulation / Mobilisation
• Ergonomic Assessment
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!
Ateneo de Zamboanga University
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE