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30Oct 2019

Can stress influence my pain?

Yes, absolutely.
The sensitivity of the nervous system can be turned up or down by many factors so stress can certainly make the system more sensitive and wound up, which in turn can increase pain and muscle tension. This can then lead to more stress due to pain which sets up a vicious cycle that can be difficult to get out of sometimes. See Self Help section for more useful strategies to break this cycle.
Ongoing stress has also been shown to have physical effects on body tissues that can make people more susceptible to injuries or episodes of pain in the first place. This can sometimes explain why you can suddenly feel pain one day when carrying out a movement or activity you’ve down a thousand times before without any problem.
Therefore, it’s really important you develop ways to help manage your stress, if necessary, to help manage your persistent pain better.
Watch this short video to learn the single most important thing you can do for your stress.
If you are feeling stressed, anxious or low in mood and you would like further help and support, visit NHS website – Health in Mind website for more information.
30Oct 2019

Is it my fault I have this pain?

No – No one asks for a persistent pain problem to develop, and no one deserves the suffering that can come with it.
In the UK it is estimated that one in 5 people experience persistent pain, so there are many people like you living with pain. However, pain does not need to lead to long term suffering if you can learn new ways to understand pain and manage the problem better.
See the Self Help section for further information.
30Oct 2019

Is the pain all in my head?

Yes and No – We now know that every pain experience we have is produced 100% of the time by the brain. This includes acute pain, such as twisting your ankle or stubbing your toe, when there is a clear injury to local tissue as well as persistent pain where the ongoing pain experienced is less to do with tissue damage. However all pain, including persistent pain, is still felt in the body.
It is common for people with persistent pain to feel like others doubt that their pain is real. Persistent pain may not be visible on a scan or to others around you, but it is a recognised condition that is based in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
30Oct 2019

When should I accept the pain and give up trying to find a cure?

When you have been appropriately investigated and have been diagnosed with a persistent pain condition, it may be time to look at the ways you can manage this condition.
It is important however, to know that giving up trying to find a cure does not mean giving up on the problem entirely – it simply means that you may have to take a different approach. This will likely mean enhancing your ability to self-manage the pain. See Self Help section for further information.
30Oct 2019

Why do my fingers click?

Clicking in your finger joints is very common and does not indicate that you are doing damage to your joint or mean you are causing arthritis. The more often we move our joints the healthier they are. It is likely you will be encouraged to move your joints regularly despite the clicking if you see a doctor or physiotherapist.

30Oct 2019

Should I stop working because of my pain?

It is unlikely your healthcare professional will recommend you take time off work. This is because we know you are more likely to recover sooner by keeping moving and using your hand. Sometimes you will need to modify what you do for a short while.

30Oct 2019

Do I need to wear a wrist or thumb support?

It is unlikely this will improve your recovery as a support will often reduce movement at your joint and make it more prone to pain and stiffness. It can be helpful if it increases your confidence to get back to certain activities but this should only be used for a short period of time and then reduce how much you use the splint or support.

30Oct 2019

Have I broken a bone?

The best way to predict if a bone in the wrist or hand has been fractured (broken) is if you have experienced:

  • A trauma to the area
  • Immediate pain when you try to move your hand or wrist.
  • Immediate pain when you try to touch the area.
  • Immediate pain when you try to grip objects.

Click here for further guidance.
Certain people are more at risk of a broken bone (fracture), if you suffer from medical condition such as diabetes or osteoporosis, take certain medications such as steroids or are a smoker.

30Oct 2019

How can I have Tennis Elbow when I don’t play tennis?

Tennis Elbow is the common term for lateral epicondylitis. You don’t have to play tennis to get this condition.

Any repetitive wrist extension activities can cause the pain. It occurs when the tendon that produces wrist extension becomes irritated at the point it attaches to your elbow.

The pain from tennis elbow is usually on a very specific spot around the joint.

30Oct 2019

How can I have Golfers Elbow when I don’t play golf?

Golfers Elbow is like tennis elbow but occurs on the opposite side of your elbow. Golfers elbow is the common term for medial epicondylitis. You don’t have to play golf to get this condition.

Any repetitive wrist flexion activities can cause the pain. It occurs when the tendon that produces wrist flexion becomes irritated at the point it attaches to your elbow.

The pain from Golfers elbow is usually on a very specific spot around the joint.

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