Our hands are one of the most intricate parts of our body, naturally, you would want a hand surgeon or orthopedic hand specialist to treat and care for your hands. No matter what you are doing, your hands are always working. When our hands, or even one hand, are in pain, injured, or not functioning as they should, it significantly affects our wellbeing. From something as basic as brushing our teeth or combing our hair to more substantial activities like driving, cooking, or holding a child, hands need to be pain-free and working well in order to live our best lives. Hands are used quite often in everyday life. For this reason, it is vital that you seek care from an experienced hand surgeon, like our orthopedic hand specialists to diagnose and treat hand injuries. It’s not until the pain affects your ability to use your hands that you truly realize how much you do with your hands. Because we use our hands so often, it’s not surprising that sometimes just simple overuse can lead to injury. If hand pain is affecting you, the orthopedic hand specialists at AICA want to help.
Did You Know? Hand surgeons have received additional specialized training in the treatment of hand injuries and conditions. This is in addition to their board certified training in orthopedics.
Hand specialists have received additional specialized training in the treatment of hand problems beyond their board-certified specialty training in orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, or general surgery. To become a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, a full year of such additional training is required, as is the passage of a rigorous certifying examination. Common conditions and procedures that hand surgeons specialize in are:
Symptoms of hand issues can vary from person to person. If you experience such symptoms as numbness or tingling of the hands, a grinding or grating feeling in the joints of the hands, swelling or discomfort, pain in the fingers while in use, warmth or redness anywhere on the hands, or stiffness or inability to move hands or fingers, then you need to see an orthopedic hand specialist.
Over time, injuries of the hands can worsen, so it is imperative to seek treatment for hand pain right away. Overuse of the hand or repetitive motions can lead to inflammation of the hand, wrist, or fingers that leads to hand pain.
Stenosing tenosynovitis, otherwise known as trigger finger, can affect the fingers and the hand due to a problem with the tendons in the finger. Tendons get stuck causing the finger to jerk or snap when it is straightened, which causes pain and makes certain movements painful or impossible to do. Pain or swelling in the fingers accompanied by a popping sound could be caused by trigger finger. Tendon tears in the hand also lead to injury and pain.
Another common cause of hand pain is carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the wrist and hand. A pinched nerve or inflammation in the carpal tunnel in your wrist can bring about excruciating hand pain. Age and overuse of the hand and wrist can also lead to arthritis, or degeneration of joints, in the hand.
Previous injuries to the hand, wrist, or fingers can also cause arthritis pain. Accidents, such as falls or car accidents, can injure a hand as well, bringing about significant pain and problems completing everyday tasks. If you’ve been in an accident, consult with our hand surgeons right away. Whatever symptoms you are experiencing, the hand surgeons at AICA Orthopedics have extensive knowledge and experience to treat the root cause and alleviate symptoms of hand pain.
Hand pain can best be treated with a proper diagnosis using state of the art imaging, such as X-Rays to assess if the bones in the hand are broken or harmed in any way.
LEARN MOREMRI scans and CT scans are then utilized to give a clear picture of the soft tissue, such as the ligaments and tendons in the hand. These parts of the hand can be torn or strained, causing chronic pain in the hand.
LEARN MOREIn some cases, EMG tests may be conducted to help assess the responsiveness of the muscles and nerves in the hand relative to electrical signals being pulsed through them. Your doctor can then treat your pain with this result in mind.
LEARN MOREAt AICA, our orthopedic hand specialists are dedicated to diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating hand injuries of all kinds. We will help you gain range of motion, increased mobility, improved strength, and better function in your injured hand. We are committed to getting you back to your normal routine as quickly and as safely as possible using noninvasive procedures, innovative methods, and state-of-the-art technology. Our team of hand surgeons and orthopedic hand specialists work together to create a comprehensive plan that will treat all of your hand pain. Chiropractic care can correct joints that are out of alignment. Neurologists work with you to treat nerve pain in the hands. Orthopedic hand surgeons perform surgical procedures such as Carpal Tunnel Release to cut the tendon that is putting pressure on the median nerve so you can experience relief from unwanted pain. A physical therapist can work with you on exercising your hand to improve the range of motion and increase strength so that you can continue to use your hand each and every day. With an expert team working on your behalf, you are sure to experience a full recovery.
The first step in treating hand pain is to diagnose the specific problem. The best way to diagnose hand injuries is to take a look at the bones, tissue, and tendons inside the hands. Digital imaging such as X Rays, MRIs, and CT scans give our hand surgeons a clear picture of what exactly the bones, joints, and tendons look like in the hand so we can accurately diagnose the problem area. NCV testing is used to assess nerve function in the hands. Once a proper diagnosis is given, the best place to start when addressing the hand is with conservative therapy. Heat and ice therapies can help with hand pain. Physical therapists at AICA Orthopedics work with you to complete occupational exercises to strengthen the hand and improve your symptoms. If pain persists, orthopedic hand specialists work to provide comprehensive care that can offer long-term relief from hand pain. Hand arthroscopy is a procedure that orthopedic hand surgeons may suggest to repair damaged tissue in the hand. Other minimally invasive surgeries can correct hand issues as well. If you have tried other options that just haven’t worked, orthopedic specialists at AICA Orthopedics can evaluate your situation to design the right treatment plan for you. Find healing and relief when you turn to the orthopedic hand specialists at AICA. The latest in technology and imaging can assist in pinpointing the exact problem area to form a specific plan for effective healing and pain relief. You can’t go wrong when you entrust your hands to the orthopedic specialists at AICA Orthopedics.