NERVE DAMAGE / COMPRESSION

A nerve injury can occur when the finger, hand, or wrist is cut, overstretched, crushed or burned. Symptoms include numbness and difficulty moving the affected area.

Treatment depends on the severity of the injury, and may include rest, immobilization, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery.

Causes of hand & wrist nerve damage Injury to nerves in the hand or wrist is often caused by trauma, such as the area being cut, overstretched, crushed or burned, damaging the nerve or nerve ending.

The nerves located in the hand and wrist affect motor and sensory functions. If a nerve in the hand or wrist is cut, severed, stretched, or otherwise damaged, it will not function properly (or at all).

Damage to motor nerves can cause weakness, twitching, and paralysis in the hand, wrist and arm. Sensory nerve damage symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling, increased sensitivity, burning, and problems positioning the hand correctly.

Similarly, when a nerve in the hand or wrist is pinched or compressed (such as in carpal tunnel syndrome), there can be pain and loss of feeling through the hand and fingers.

If the nerve is pinched or compressed, surgery may be able to release the nerve and restore functionality, depending on the severity of damage and how long the nerve was compressed.