*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Pain In The Back Of The Hand

There are many causes of pain in the back of your hand. You can often ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.

How you can ease pain in the back of your hand yourself

If you see a GP about pain in the back of your hand, they'll usually suggest you try these things:

rest your hand when you can
put an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel and place it on the back of your hand for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
take paracetamol to ease the pain
take off any jewellery if your hand is swollen
wrap a bandage around your hand to support it
wear a splint to support your hand and ease pain, especially at night - you can get these at most pharmacies and supermarkets
gently exercise your hand and fingers to help ease pain and stiffness

do not use ibuprofen in the first 48 hours after an injury
do not use heat packs or have hot baths for the first 2 to 3 days after an injury

You can ask a pharmacist about:

pain in the back of your hand is stopping you doing normal activities
the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your hand
you have diabetes and hand pain - hand problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

These might be signs of a broken hand.

What we mean by severe pain

Severe pain:: always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
you cannot sleep
it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
Moderate pain:: always there
makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
you can manage to get up, wash or dress
Mild pain:: comes and goes
is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

Pain in the back of your hand is often caused by bruising or injuring your hand.

Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing the pain in the back of your hand.

Symptoms	Possible cause
Pain, swelling and stiffness that lasts a long time, may be hard to move your fingers, may have a lump	Tendonitis or arthritis
Sudden, sharp pain, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury	Broken bone in the hand
Smooth lump near a joint or tendon, may be painful	Ganglion cyst
Aching pain that's worse at night, numbness or pins and needles, a weak thumb or difficulty gripping	Carpal tunnel syndrome
Itchy and painful skin, rash	Scabies

Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.

Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.

If you have pain in the back of your hand, you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.