We have enclosed a brief description of hand/upper extremity conditions. If you need more information, please visit the following website: www.assh.org

Arthritis:

Commonly known as “Wear and Tear” arthritis, most patients find they suffer from arthritic ailments when they feel pain located at the base of the thumb, called the basal joint. Basal joint arthritis can affect anyone, regardless of gender, race, or age, though it is most often found in women over 40.  If diagnosed early, arthritis and the pain associated with it can usually be treated with anti-inflammatory medication.  If the wear and tear continues without proper care, surgery is often required; there are many orthopaedic procedures that are used to help alleviate the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis.

Sometimes patients find that their joints feel bumpy or swollen.  This occurs when Heberden nodes develop at the last joint of the finger or thumb due to daily “wear and tear.”  As joints in the fingers and thumb begin to deteriorate, small bones form over the back of each joint, making fingers look swollen.  Since most Herberden nodes are not painful and do not hamper daily routines, anti-inflammatory medications are used to treat the affected areas.  Please keep in mind that lack of movement may perpetuate the stiffness associated with arthritis; regular movement is recommended to keep joints flexible.


Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

Symptoms associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include pain, numbness, tingling, or burning in the hand, fingers, and wrist.  CTS is most noticeable when patients find they are having trouble gripping or holding objects for a long period of time or if they have less coordination than usual when handling objects on a day-to-day basis.  These symptoms arise from pressure on the median nerve in the wrist; pain sometimes works itself up to the arm, shoulder, and neck.  Minor cases involve no more than a splint or brace while more severe cases may require steroid injections or outpatient surgery.

 

Ganglion cysts:

Ganglion cysts are the most common lumps in the hand and back of the wrist.  These cysts, containing non-cancerous fluid, may disappear or change in size, and are usually noticeable when the area is irritated.  While they do not pose a health risk, patients who find the cyst painful or aesthetically unpleasing can have the fluid drained or surgically removed by their orthopedic physician.

 

Hand and shoulder trauma:

Broken bones, lacerations, dislocations, shoulder separations and sprains are common in the hand and upper extremity.  We can help to heal these conditions and restore your abilities back to normal in an efficient manor with minimal pain and discomfort.
 

Ligament injuries:

Ligaments secure the joint by connecting one bone to another.  Injuries affecting ligaments generally cause the joint to feel weak or unstable; noticeable ailments include an audible clicking sound from the joint and pain in the affected area.  Evaluation from your orthopedic physician may be necessary to help alleviate the ligament in question.


Nerve damage:

Whether a nerve is damaged from a deep cut or irritated as a result of carpal tunnel syndrome or other nerve disorders, evaluation and treatment of these conditions can be made using non-surgical as well as surgical approaches.  Both may be required to restore nerve functioning and relief of symptoms.


Tendon Repair:

Tendons are cords or fibers that connect muscles to bones.  Tendonitis takes place over the course of a long period of time and is the result of sports injuries (acute tendonitis), wear and tear due to age (chronic tendonitis), or the splitting and/or tearing of tendons.  When tendons are split, usually due to age, patients find that they suffer more injuries with their rotator cuff, the group of muscles that move and stabilize the shoulder.  Patients find that tendon injuries cause pain during movement of the joint and any force that may be exerted by the muscle related to that particular tendon.


Sports Injuries:

The most common sports injuries include tennis elbow and bone fractures in the hand and wrist.  Tennis elbow occurs when the outer knob of the elbow becomes inflamed, a condition that is perpetuated by irritation to the tissue that attaches to the bone.  Athletics that involve rotating the forearm or active wrist use may cause tennis elbow.

Bone fractures in the hand and wrist can cause stiffness, loss of movement, or pain in the affected area.  Generally, when the soft tissue (i.e. tendons, ligaments, nerves) is injured, patients begin to feel the symptoms associated with bone fractures.  If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, patients should seek medical counsel from their orthopedic physician.


Work Injuries:

Injuries occurring on the job are a specialty within our practice, and our experience allows us to treat these kinds of injuries of the maximum recovery possible.  We also understand the additional considerations that need to be made with regard to issues of returning to work and any residual impairment or disability.

 

Independent Medical Evaluation (IME)/Expert Opinions:

If you referred for “evaluation only” or “IME only” by another doctor, an insurance company, or an attorney, please be aware that this is the only service our doctor can provide under those conditions.  We are not authorized to give treatment or prescriptions to an “evaluation only” patient.

Insurance carriers insist that “evaluation and treatment” or “IME and treatment” must be authorized before any treatment begins.  If an insurance company or attorney referred you to us for evaluation and treatment, your doctor will examine you and schedule or conduct necessary tests.  At that point, your physician will then make a preliminary diagnosis and begin a treatment program that suits your needs.

 
Disclaimer:

The materials, illustrations, and text on this web site have strictly an informative purpose.  They are not meant to diagnose, give specific advice, and treat an illness or disease.  They offer visitors general information on certain disorders in order to help them understand better.  If you have any of the conditions described on this web site, please seek medical help from your doctor.