We rely on our hands for daily activities both big and small. Think about it: The moment you get up, you check your phone, then you prepare breakfast, take a shower, brush your teeth, drive to work, perform a full day of work, go back home and make dinner, open the mail – all of these you cannot do without your hands. It’s no wonder that your hands and wrists are prone to pain or injury.
If you are experiencing pain in your hands or wrists, an orthopedic doctor who specializes in hand and upper extremity conditions is best qualified to help you prevent further injury and ongoing hand pain. Let’s talk about some of the treatments available for hand pain that a hand specialist can offer you.
Hand Pain Treatments
Treatments for hand pain include surgical and nonsurgical methods, depending on the type and extent of your hand problem. Going from the least-invasive type to the most invasive type, examples of hand therapies include the following:
Lifestyle Changes
Hand pain usually gets worse if you continue with the activity that is causing it. For instance, your hand pain may be due to your job and the unnatural hand positions you are using for extended periods of time.
That is why proper ergonomics is so important, because the pain may be due to the way in which you are sitting at your desk and the awkward arm/hand positioning. A physical therapist or occupational therapist can teach you better hand positions while at work.
Hand Therapy
For patients with hand trauma, tendon injuries, fractures, dislocations, and sports-related injuries, orthopedic physicians can refer you to a physical therapist or a certified hand therapist (CHT) to address your hand pain. A therapist can also rehabilitate your hand and arm to help you regain their usefulness.
Patients with medical conditions (such as arthritis or stroke) or who have had hand surgery will have hand therapy as part of their rehabilitation program. A hand therapist can use several different methods to improve your motion, strength, and dexterity, including:
- Manual therapy
- Electrical stimulation
- Activity plans
- Compression therapy
- Splinting
- Heat and cold therapy
Corticosteroid Injections
For hand pain that is combined with swelling and inflammation in the hand, steroid injections can usually provide immediate pain relief thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Steroid injections are usually part of a comprehensive treatment plan and not a standalone treatment for hand pain.
Hand Surgery
For hand pain that is unresponsive to conservative, nonsurgical treatment methods, your doctor may recommend hand surgery. Some of the surgeries that are used to address hand pain include minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, carpal tunnel surgery, and microvascular and peripheral nerve surgery.
Treatment for Hand Pain in Greater Cleveland
At Orthopaedic Associates, our hand surgeons specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of hand and upper extremity conditions. Our medical team is able to handle the full spectrum of hand and arm disorders that are due to athletic, traumatic, repetitive, or degenerative issues.
Our ancillary services include physical therapy and rehabilitation services, all under one roof! If you are ready to say goodbye to hand pain, contact us at Orthopaedic Associates today by calling (440) 892-1440 or (866) 362-7624. We look forward to helping you get back to your active lifestyle again.
