Why Do My Hands Cramp Up so Often?

Are you bothered by painful hand cramps? You don’t realize how often you rely on your hands until you cannot use them. Hand cramps can immobilize you, so you can’t button a shirt, type on a keyboard, swing a hammer, or accomplish household tasks. 

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Shults with Coastal Empire Orthopedics treats many painful hand conditions. Dr. Shults uses imaging tests to ensure you don’t have a fracture. 

Dr. Shults feels and manipulates your hand gently. He examines your medical history, your medications, the location, duration, and severity of your pain, and asks about any other symptoms you have to determine the cause of your cramps. 

The following are common reasons you get cramps in your hand, along with effective treatments. 

Overuse 

Cramps in your hand may come from overuse. If you frequently make repetitive motions using your hands, constantly using those muscles can cause cramps. 

Dehydration 

If your cramps often occur after vigorous exercise or repetitive hand motions, you may not be drinking enough water before, during, and after your activity, whether it’s playing music, doing manual work, or using a keyboard. 

When dehydrated, your body lacks key minerals, including sodium, potassium, and magnesium. These are called electrolytes; they control muscle and nerve function. Without an adequate supply of these minerals, your muscles may cramp. You may also experience leg cramps without the proper electrolyte balance. 

Your muscles need a proper balance of magnesium and potassium to contract and relax normally. Low magnesium creates a calcium buildup, which prevents your muscles from relaxing as they should. A lack of potassium can create abnormal muscle contractions, which you experience as cramps. 

Carpal tunnel syndrome

A cramp in your hand could be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. If you have carpal tunnel, you’re experiencing nerve compression. The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are wrist pain and/or numbness and tingling in the thumb and/or first four fingers, but you can also experience cramping in your hand from this condition. 

Rheumatoid arthritis 

The hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis is painful, swollen joints, but this disease can also cause cramps in the hands. 

Remedies to ease hand cramps

You can take steps to ease painful cramps. 

Stay hydrated

Drink enough water throughout the day. Drinks with electrolytes may also help prevent cramps.  

Use ergonomics 

If your cramps come from constant computer use, ensure you sit in an ergonomic chair that places your arms at a 90-degree angle to your workstation. Use a curved or split keyboard that avoids stress on your hand. Invest in tools with a wide grip if you work with your hands. 

Take breaks 

Remember that your hands have muscles just like other areas in your body. You need to take breaks to help avoid cramping. 

Use gentle stretches and massage 

Perform simple stretching exercises with your fingers before you begin an activity using repetitive motions with your hands. Repeat the stretches when you take breaks and when your work or activity is done. 

Call Coastal Empire Orthopedics today or book an appointment online for unexplained cramping and pain in your hands.