Teen In Pain

[Kape]

I have work ever since I was allowed to get a job. My life was hard but I never complained. Since the age of 14 I have worked none stop. A couple of days ago pain has been spiking through my hands. It has gotten to the point where I can not hold a pencil for more then 30 seconds. Also when I try to ball up my fist the pain is so great I struggle to open my hand. I'm not sure if this is a sign of low arthritis, I just hope someone can shed some light on my problem.

[Cindee56]

You say pain is through your hands?  Is the pain in the joints, the fingers, the middle of the hand?  It could be many things such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis.  Do you have numbness or just pain?  

If you have a general practitioner, I would start with him and he will send you to the correct specialist if it is serious.

[Kape]

The pain is mainly in the middle of my hand. Sometimes it reaches the fingers but I only have pain. I have no way of paying for a practitioner my family has no type of insurance and we struggle to pay our bills. this is the reason I have been working so long.

[txsilver]

That pain sounds horrible and I am sorry you are experiencing it.  Do you have any other symptoms?  Pain anywhere else?  Please take advantage of the free clinics and visit one in your area and have them look at this.  

[Cindee56]

It sounds like something in the metacarpal bones (I think they are called) in the middle of the hand.  Maybe tendonitis?  Did you possibly hit your hand or bang it and maybe broke something at that time?  It doesn't sound like arthritis.  

The only thing I can suggest is to take Advil (take 3 of the 200 mg.) and you can also try wrapping the hand or using one of those hand/wrist splints you can buy in a drugstore.  See if that helps it.  You have to stop using the hand for a while to allow it to heal, or at least wrap it so you are not putting pressure on it.  When I had carpal tunnel, I had to wear the wrist split a lot, esp. at night.

[Kape]

Thank you for the advice. This is the only place I have been having pain. I haven't banged or broken my hand before. I would try the sling but I work with my hands all they time. But I will try it while I am asleep.