The Top 10 Ways an Orthopedic Hand Doctor Can Help You

Picking up a coffee mug, typing on your computer, opening the door–chances are, you take for granted the thousands of tasks your hands perform until you need an orthopedic hand doctor. From arthritis to carpal tunnel syndrome to wrist and finger injuries, our orthopedic doctors in Raleigh can provide the care you need to get your hands back to their optimal level of function. 

We’ll take a look at the role of orthopedic hand doctors and the top 10 ways our hand specialists in Raleigh can help you.

The Top 10 Ways an Orthopedic Hand Doctor Helps You With Hand and Wrist Treatment

1. Treating Hand Injuries

Some of the most common hand injuries include sprains, fractures and strains.

Other injuries include:

• Skier’s thumb, which causes pain, weakness, and swelling. It’s caused when the thumb makes a sudden outward movement. 
• Mallet finger, also called “baseball finger” is usually caused by something forcefully hitting the fingertip, causing it to bend at an awkward angle. It causes drooping fingers, swelling, pain, and problems straightening the affected finger. 
• Jersey finger (ring finger avulsion) occurs when the flexor tendon is torn. It gets its name from injuries that occur in football when a player grabs an opponent’s jersey. The finger gets “stuck” in the jersey, and as a result, it’s forcefully extended, which can cause extensive injury. 

2. Treating and Managing Arthritis

There are several types of arthritis, and these can make it difficult and painful to move your fingers or your wrist. The most common is osteoarthritis, caused by wear and tear on the cartilage that cushions the joints. 

Treatment includes everything from steroid injections to surgery. At the Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic of Raleigh, we take a conservative approach to medicine. This means that we will only consider surgery and more invasive techniques after conservative, nonsurgical approaches have been unsuccessful. 

3. Managing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you’re an office worker or you have to perform numerous repetitive motions all day, you’re all too familiar with the pain and inconvenience of carpal tunnel syndrome.

While this is technically a wrist injury, as it progresses, it can affect the entire hand’s ability to hold and grasp objects—or even complete a task as simple as pushing a shopping cart. 

If not treated, it can become worse, and in extreme cases, may lead to permanent nerve damage. Your orthopedic hand doctor will work with you to help alleviate this wrist condition that can affect the functionality of your entire hand. 

We’re experts at treating carpal tunnel syndrome through medications, physical therapy exercises, and steroid injections. If these methods are not successful, surgery is an option. 

4. Ensuring That Fractures Are Healing Correctly

If your fracture doesn’t heal correctly, it can set the stage for more serious problems further down the line. These issues can include:

• Stiffness
• Loss of Range of Motion
• Weakness
• Pain
• Deformities

Therefore, it’s vital to have the assistance of one of our orthopedic hand doctors for hand and wrist treatment. 

5. Performing Surgery

As we mentioned earlier, our orthopedic hand doctors in Raleigh don’t immediately consider surgery as the first option. Our more conservative approach to medicine means we’ll only perform surgery if it is absolutely necessary. 

But there are times when it is imperative to ensure proper healing and restoring function to your hand, wrist, and fingers. We implement minimally invasive, state-of-the-art arthroscopic surgery as a part of hand and wrist treatment, which can dramatically reduce the time it takes for you to recover. 

6. Resolving Nerve Compression Issues

If excessive pressure is pushing on a nerve, it can cause pain and even damage to the nerve. Our orthopedic doctors in Raleigh can help resolve these issues through providing an accurate and detailed diagnosis that sets the stage for a treatment plan tailored just for you. 

7. Assisting With a Physical Therapy Plan

Did you know we have physical therapy services on-site?

Our orthopedic hand doctors will work closely with your physical therapists as part of the healthcare team to assist in providing a regimen that will help your condition. Often, physical therapy is a vital part in the healing process of hand and wrist treatment, and is needed to ensure a 100% recovery. 

8. Fixing Dislocations

While you may hear of dislocated shoulders more often, the bones in your hand are still susceptible to being dislodged from where they should be. This is most often caused by:

• Trauma, such as a fall
• Sports injuries
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Joint hypermobility
• Workplace injuries
• Congenital conditions

9. Treating Infections

Hand infections have to be carefully treated because if not they can lead to more serious problems—even prompting the need for surgery in severe cases. 

Hand infections can be caused by:

• Puncture wounds
• Severe cuts
• Animal bites
• Ingrown nails
• Embedded foreign objects
• Pre-existing skin conditions
• Compromised immune system

10. Treating or Removing Ganglion Cysts

These noncancerous, fluid-filled lumps are typically found near a tendon or joint in your hand. They may also be found on the wrist. These soft growths vary in size. Just because you have a ganglion cyst, doesn’t mean that it needs to be removed. Whether or not you’ll need to have it removed depends upon if it’s causing pain, impeding your ability to use your hand, or if it keeps recurring. Some people prefer to have the cyst removed for cosmetic purposes. 

The cyst may be aspirated (drained) or surgically removed. 

What Is the Difference Between a Hand Surgeon and an Orthopedic Surgeon?

A hand surgeon is a type of orthopedic surgeon who has had further specialized training in hand treatment. Their scope of practice is focused on diseases and injuries that affect this part of your skeletal system.

An orthopedic hand surgeon also has specialized training, which typically takes the form of a one- to two-year fellowship program focusing on hand and upper extremities in addition to medical school and residency. 

Do Orthopedics Treat Fingers?

Yes, orthopedic doctors do treat fingers, and many specialize in this area. In addition to surgery, they may also help you recover from conditions that affect the fingers. We’ve listed some of these above, but others may include: 

• Dupuytren’s contracture, which causes the fingers to bend inward
• Nailbed injuries that affect the structure of the fingers
• Finger infections, such as cellulitis 
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, which occurs when tendon inflammation makes it difficult to move the thumb
• Nerve compressions

What Do You Call a Doctor Who Specializes in Hands?

These physicians are referred to as orthopedic hand surgeons, hand surgeons, or orthopedic hand doctors. 

When You Need Help, Turn to Our Orthopedic Hand Doctors in Raleigh

Our team of specialists have extensive experience in treating diseases of the hand, wrist and fingers. By being proactive in your care, we can take the most conservative approach possible to enable you to return to your level of functioning. 

For nearly 50 years, our practice has provided outstanding, personalized care to Raleigh and Triangle residents. Because we’re affiliated with several different surgical centers throughout the area, you have a choice as to where you would like to receive your care.

Do you have issues with carpal tunnel? Have you sustained a hand injury that makes it difficult to function in everyday life? Contact us for an appointment—our board-certified physicians would consider it a privilege to care for you.