Monthly Archives: February 2014

How is Tendonitis of the Wrist Treated?

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Tendonitis of the wrist occurs when the tendon is inflamed. Inflammation is most often caused by overuse and repetitive motions such as throwing, catching, bowling, hitting a tennis ball, typing or sewing.

Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment may include:

  • Temporarily wearing a splint to immobilize the wrist

  • Applying an ice pack routinely

  • Elevating the wrist on a pillow while sleeping or resting

  • Taking anti-inflammatory medicine(s)

  • Stretching and strengthening exercises

It is important to note that conditions of the hand or wrist must be properly diagnosed before being treated. If another condition is causing you discomfort or pain, the treatment plan recommended by your certified hand doctor will be specific to that condition.

For example, tendonitis of the wrist and carpal tunnel syndrome are often mixed up with one another when people try to self-diagnose their pain, as the conditions’ causes and symptoms are very similar. However, the recommended treatment for each condition is different.

If you are experiencing pain in or around the wrist, contact Dr. Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation - proper diagnosis is critical to proper treatment!

Is Baseball Finger Specific to Baseball?

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The most common cause of baseball finger is being hit on the tip of the finger by a solid object. This often occurs in baseball when a ball accidentally hits the end of an extended finger. But, just as tennis elbow is not specific to the game of tennis, baseball finger is not specific to the game of baseball.

In the medical community, baseball finger is referred to as mallet finger. Mallet finger can be caused by any blunt force on the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP). The DIP is the last joint of the finger, closest to the tip, and when it is injured an individual’s tendon can be partially or completely torn. Patients diagnosed with mallet finger can no longer fully extend their finger – the tip appears bent or “drooped” inward toward the palm.

Symptoms of mallet finger include:

  • The inability to straighten the finger

  • Pain or swelling at the tip of the finger

  • Numbness at the tip of the finger

It’s important to immediately seek medical attention if you have a finger injury, especially if it is baseball finger. Those that do not seek medical care could permanently lose the ability to straighten the finger.

Most mallet finger conditions can be treated through rehabilitation. The finger will likely be splinted to allow the tendon to heal. Surgical repair may be necessary if the injury also shows signs of a large fracture or the joint is misaligned and unable to be corrected through splinting. An x-ray can help determine the extent of the injury.

Because mallet finger is a condition that results from an accident, it is not preventable. If you’re currently experiencing finger pain, contact our team. Our certified hand therapists have a minimum of ten years’ experience treating conditions such as mallet finger.