Category: Hand conditions

According to the American Stroke Association, sudden weakness in one or both hands is a key symptom of a stroke and should be treated as a medical emergency. However, a sudden loss of grip in hands can also be caused by various other nerve-related and systemic conditions, which range in severity and urgency. Understanding the different potential causes is vital for proper diagnosis and treatment.

According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, Dupuytren's disease, a common cause of hand curling, affects millions worldwide. Knowing **what causes your hands to curl up** is crucial for proper diagnosis and effective management of this and other conditions, which can help preserve your hand function and quality of life.

Approximately 2-3% of the general adult population will experience trigger finger, or stenosing tenosynovitis, in their lifetime. This condition affects millions and is often associated with a clicking or locking sensation when a finger or thumb is bent or straightened. If you've ever wondered about the prevalence, we answer the question, "What percentage of people get trigger finger?" and delve deeper.

While the idea might seem strange, in medical reality, it is possible for fingers to shorten. This can be due to congenital conditions present at birth or acquired issues that occur later in life, affecting the bones, joints, or tissues of the hands.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, hand arthritis is common, affecting nearly half of all women and a quarter of all men by age 85. A sudden or gradual change in the shape of a finger, therefore, is a potentially serious symptom that warrants attention, making you wonder: why has my finger changed shape?

According to the National Health Service (NHS), swelling in the hands and arms is often caused by a buildup of fluid in these areas. When this swelling affects only one hand, the cause is typically localized to that specific limb, rather than being a systemic issue affecting the entire body. Understanding what could cause swelling in only one hand is the first step toward finding relief and determining if medical attention is necessary.

While extremely rare, instances of embedded ring injuries have been documented in medical literature for decades. What is embedded ring syndrome? It is a serious, often progressive, condition where a ring becomes entirely or partially embedded in the soft tissue of a digit, typically due to chronic swelling or neglect.

Did you know that this condition has been associated with Northern European populations for centuries? The common term "Viking finger" refers to Dupuytren's contracture, a hand deformity that can slowly pull one or more fingers into a bent position toward the palm, posing a challenge for daily tasks.