There are many different causes of hand and wrist pain. Discomfort that occurs after an injury, such as a sprain or strain, will usually resolve with proper rest and the help of anti-inflammatory medications. Broken bones need immobilization with a cast or splint, and sometimes surgical correction to help fix the alignment of the bones or to repair a tendon that has been cut or has ruptured.

Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis in the thumb, trigger fingers, and ganglion cysts can be managed conservatively with rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and activity modification. Because these problems are usually a result of inflammation, these conservative treatments may decrease the pain enough so that you may function normally. If these methods fail, however, surgical intervention is often needed to address the underlying cause of the pain.

Arthritis in the hand and wrist is most often treated with anti-inflammatory medications and activity modification. A steroid injection can be given into certain joints for temporary relief. If your arthritis pain is extremely debilitating, sometimes a surgical fusion of that joint can help relieve some or most of the pain.

All surgeries on the hand and wrist are done on an outpatient basis. Most are done under local anesthesia and sedation in the operating room, which means that you can go home from the hospital soon after the procedure. Trigger finger releases are performed in our office under local anesthesia.

Learn about common Hand / Wrist Conditions

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Pain, numbness and tingling in your hand may be from carpal tunnel syndrome. It happens when the area around the main nerve to your hand is too tight. The nerve is called the median nerve. And the small space in your wrist where it passes is called the carpal tunnel.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

This chronic condition, also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, is an unexplained feeling of pain and discomfort that most commonly affects an arm, leg, hand or foot. Often, it begins in the hand or foot and then spreads to affect the entire limb.

De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

This condition, also called stenosing tenosynovitis of the first dorsal compartment of the wrist, is an inflammation of the sheath that wraps around the tendons at the thumb side of the wrist.

Distal Radius Fracture (Broken Wrist)

This condition is a break of the radius bone at the wrist. The radius is the larger of the two bones that connect the wrist to the elbow. The other bone is called the ulna. The radius supports the majority of forces at the wrist joint with its large joint surface. A fracture of the distal end of the radius - the end nearest the wrist -is one of the most common types of fractures. It may be part of a complex injury that involves other tissues, nerves and bones of the wrist.

Dupuytren's Disease

This condition is a thickening of the fascia on the palm of the hand. The fascia is a connective tissue located just beneath the skin of the palm and fingers. This thickened fascia can form lumps or nodules under the skin, or long thick cords of tissue that extend from the palm to the fingers. Often, this thickened tissue contracts. This causes one or more fingers to curl toward the palm. This is called a flexion contracture.

Finger Dislocation

This common injury occurs when a bone in the finger is forced out of its normal position in the joint. Any of the bones of the finger can become dislocated, but most dislocations occur at the middle joint. The bone may be displaced to the side, top, or bottom of the involved joint. Adjacent tissues that stabilize the joint can often be severely injured by a joint dislocation.

Fractures of the Finger

This common condition is a fracture or break of one or more of the bones of the finger called a phalanx, or phalanges. A finger fracture may be nondisplaced, in which the bones remain aligned, or displaced, in which the fractured ends shift out of alignment. Improper finger alignment can affect normal hand function.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Hand

Rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that can attack joints throughout the body, commonly affects the joints and surrounding tendons of the wrist and fingers. It can cause the joints to become swollen, painful and possibly deformed. This can interfere with normal hand function. It can significantly impact a person's quality of life.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Hand (Arthritis Foundation Approved)

Rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that can attack joints throughout the body, commonly affects the joints and surrounding tendons of the wrist and fingers. It can cause the joints to become swollen, painful and possibly deformed, interfering with normal hand function and significantly impacting a person’s quality of life.

Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Injury

This condition, also called skier's thumb, is an acute sprain or tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) on the ulnar side of the metacarpal-phalangeal (MCP) joint of the thumb. A related condition, called gamekeeper's thumb, is a chronic injury that develops over time from repeated stretching of the UCL.

Trigger Digit

This common condition, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a narrowing of a portion of the tendon sheath in the finger or thumb that interferes with normal finger movement. This condition most commonly affects the ring finger, but can affect any digit. It is more common in middle-aged women, but anyone can be affected, even newborns.

Wrist Sprain

When your wrist is bent too far, this can injure bands of tissue called "ligaments." Ligaments connect the bones of your hand to each other. They also connect the bones of your hand to the bones of your forearm.

Hand / Wrist Procedures:

  • Fracture Reduction & Fixation
  • Trigger release
  • Tendon repair
  • Fusions
  • Dupuytrens contracture releases
  • Carpal Tunnel Release
  • Guyans Canal Release
  • DeQuervain’s Release

Learn About Common Procedures for the Hand/Wrist

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