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Pain in the muscles of the hands

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
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Pain in the muscles of the hands appears in times of extreme fatigue from physical overstrain or as a consequence of the development of one of many diseases. Diseases can cover both the musculoskeletal apparatus of one hand, have a symmetrical defeat of both hands, and become an echo of the defeat of another organ located somewhere in the interior of the body. In this case, we will talk about irradiiruyuschih pain, giving in the muscle formations of the upper extremities. Similar pains occur with certain cardiac pathologies, the development of a herniated disc, cancer of various organs, and many other diseases.

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Biceps End Triceps

One of the major muscles of the hand and, probably, the most recognizable and popular, especially those who purposefully works to increase its volume, is the bicep or biceps arm muscle. Its name biceps muscle justifies the structure. One end of it has two branches, which, in fact, are called heads, they attach it to the shoulder blade, and the other, the single end, is attached to the forearm. Biceps comes into operation when the arm rises or bends.

The triceps is located on the back of the humerus and is called the triceps, because the three parts of this muscle, its three heads, are alternately attached to the scapula and humerus. Further, all three heads move into a single "abdomen" of the triceps, which ends with a tendon end fixed to the ulna. The triceps is responsible for extending the arm at the elbow.

The movements of the shoulder, flexion and retraction to the trunk, are provided by the beak-brachial muscle, it originates in the same-named (coracoid) scapula and is attached at its other end to the middle of the humerus. It remains to mention the deltoid, supraspinous, subacute, subscapular, large and small round muscles - they all form part of the muscular muscular frame, keep the hand from a dislocation in the shoulder joint.

Between the muscles are located the main blood vessels, veins and arteries, large nerve trunks, lymphatic canals and nodes. All this can be affected to a different degree by pathogenic microflora, pustular infection, external factors, as a result of which injuries and bruises, stretching, pinching, blockage can develop. Ultimately, all these violations will characterize the pain in the muscles of the hands.

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Anatomy

The pain in the muscles of the arms is a rather vague concept. Each pain syndrome has its own characteristics and, therefore, is caused by different causes. In order to understand in detail all the possible causes of morbidity, it is necessary to name the main muscles that make up the muscular skeleton of the upper limbs.

Some muscles originate from the scapula and the cervical vertebrae, they are attached by one edge to the humerus, and others start and end within the elbow and ray bones. Some are responsible for the removal and bringing of the thumb, while others play the role of flexors and extensors of all fingers. The entire muscle group of the upper limb is divided into brachial, forearm and hand muscles. Any movement of the hand is accompanied by simultaneous work of a dozen muscles, while others, in the same position, hands, return to a state of rest. 

The largest number of muscles responsible for the movement of the fingers and the hand itself are located in the forearm area, and are represented mainly by long muscles. The main function of them, with the participation of tendons, is flexion and extension.

By the way, it should be noted that the upper limbs, this is not only the shoulder, forearm and hand. The clavicle and scapula are the founders of the upper humeral girdle. Due to the presence of a joint cavity in the scapula, the humerus has its head able to securely fix it in it. Formed by the scapula, clavicle and humerus, the shoulder itself can be retracted, raised, lowered, retracted, thus ensuring the maximum amplitude of movement of the upper limb.

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Pain in the muscles of the hands, as a symptom of serious diseases

The correct name for muscle pain is myalgia. It is detected by palpation of a painful area, has the property of developing spontaneously, during the onset of movement in the muscle. Myalgia is often the forerunner of the appearance of other symptoms indicating the degree of damage to the muscular structure and the involvement of surrounding tissues, including bone or joint, into a common painful process.

Here is an incomplete list of the most common diseases, the common symptom for which is the pain in the muscles of the hands:

  • myositis (catarrhal and parasitic) and poliomyositis. With myositis, there is inflammation of the muscle tissue, which occurs against the background of catarrhal phenomena. Heated muscles that are exposed to cold or cold temperatures for a long time can become inflamed, causing severe pain in the muscles of the hands. As a result of infection with helminths, for example, toxoplasma, trichinella, which live in muscle fibers, parasitic myositis develops. Reproduction of parasites, their vital activity is accompanied by strong painful sensations. Pain can be periodic or constantly aching or jerking, turning into a general unpleasant sensation all over the arm. Poliomyositis leads to a weakening of the muscle as a whole, to its hypertrophy;
  • many infectious diseases, including influenza;
  • various muscular injuries. In this case, the edema of the lesion is observed, a strong and sharp pain in the muscles of the hands, a local increase in body temperature, and possibly partial or complete immobility of the limb;
  • diffuse viral lesions of the muscular structure. It is possible to develop under the influence of the same influenza virus. Pain in the muscles of the hands is pronounced, acute. An indicative symptom of diffuse myalgia is the presence of painful points in certain places, called "trigger points". When palpation of trigger points, the pain in the muscles of the arms increases significantly. The general condition suffers, apathy and depression appear, the pain in the muscles of the arms exhausts, leads to the development of insomnia;
  • Neuralgia is characterized by paroxysmal pains, which are noted along the course of the main affected nerve. The painful attack lasts from a few seconds to ten minutes. Then the pain in the muscles of the hands passes without a trace and can for a long time not remind oneself;
  • Rheumatoid lesion, which affects not only the muscles of the shoulder girdle, but also the pelvic region. It develops mainly in old age;
  • An unpleasant phenomenon, which can be accompanied by pain of varying intensity - muscle cramps. The cause of the appearance of seizures may be different, the identification of it is of a sufficiently long duration and should only be carried out taking into account laboratory and diagnostic measures. Cramps are removed by relaxing, placing the limb in a state of rest on a horizontal surface, massage movements complete complete relaxation, then apply a wet towel soaked in cold water. Pleasant cold allows you to quickly remove the manifestation of cramps in a relaxed muscle.

Even with one of the diagnoses mentioned above, urgent measures must be taken to prevent the progress of the painful process to a larger area. Diagnostic and treatment procedures are conducted according to the main disease, the symptom of which is pain in the muscles of the hands. Establish a hypothetical reason for the pain in the muscles of the hands, such doctors as therapist, traumatologist, neurologist, rheumatologist will help.

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