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An occupational therapist is someone who helps develop, recover or maintain the basic life and work skills of individuals living with physical, mental or developmental conditions. This client centered practice is customized to individual patient needs and challenges. These therapists focus on task modification, environmental adaptations, skill mastery as well as coaching families, loved ones and caregivers on how to support the occupational therapy process.
Occupational therapists can specialize in a variety of areas including children and teens, health and wellness, mental health, productive aging, rehabilitation and work and industry therapy.
These areas include the following types of activities:
- Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) including:
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Feeding
- Functional Mobility
- Personal Grooming
- Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) including:
- Care of others
- Care of Pets
- Child Rearing
- Driving
- Financial Management
- Meal Preparation
- Shopping
- Emergency Maintenance
- Work including:
- Employment interests and acquisition
- Job performance
- Retirement
- Volunteering
The therapists will walk you through the occupational therapy process which includes evaluation, intervention and outcomes. At Dr. Rehman’s office, we have a team of two exceptionally talented occupational therapists who specialize in hand therapy. Our team is here to help you overcome any challenges you are facing and provide you with a long-term plan for success!
Contact us today to learn more!
There is nothing more frustrating than pins and needles. Couple that with numbness and you have yourself quite the annoying condition. Usually this is the result of keeping an appendage in one place for too long – for instance – sitting on your feet. However if the numbness and/or tingling is persistent and doesn’t go away it could be a sign that there is a greater issue.
Since our office specializes in hand-related injuries and conditions, we are going to share with you some common causes of numbness and tingling in the hands.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – this ailment is a common causes of numbness and tingling, as the repetitive bending and straightening of the wrist causes tissue around the tendons to swell, impacting the Median nerve.
Ganglion Cyst – these non-cancerous fluid filled lumps can develop along tendons or joints, putting pressure on nerves which can result in tingling and numbness.
Flexor Tendon Injury – in the hand, flexor tendons are responsible for helping us bend the fingers. If you experience trauma to your flexor tendon, you may notice numbness in your fingers or finger tips.
Skier’s Thumb – this condition is caused by a disruption to the ulnar collateral ligament and results in a loss of ability to pinch or use your thumb properly. It can happen over the course of time or from a single trauma.
Numbness and tingling can be a sign of a more complex issue – but please, don’t self-diagnose. It is critical that you are seen by a professional, due to the complex and fragile nature of the hand and wrist.
If you experience numbness or tingling – do not wait to contact a doctor. Dr. Rehman is available to help diagnose and treat you! Contact us today!
Electric Stimulation, commonly referred to by practitioners as EStim, is a therapeutic modality that uses electrical currents to simulate the same currents produced during exercise or movement. These electrical currents stimulate the nerves and help restore the ability to perform common movements, such as grasping or pinching.
This therapy is frequently used for patients that have paralysis or immobility of the hand or wrist using electrodes that are placed in the affected area. Your practitioner will generally start out using a low-grade stimulation and continually increase as you move through the therapy process. This treatment is used in conjunction with other modalities to provide a comprehensive therapeutic solution to injuries and chronic conditions.
Electrical Stimulation is non-invasive, and while it may sound scary, it is actually a very gentle treatment for many complex injuries. In addition to stimulating the nerves and muscles, it also increases and promotes blood supply to the area, which helps the healing process.
Not only does electronic stimulation help heal, it can also help reduce pain through stimulating sensory nerves using a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation unit or a “TENS” Unit. TENS Units are great for patients with chronic conditions such as arthritis and carpal tunnel, as they provide relief while also providing stimulation.
Do you have questions? Perhaps concerns that you may be suffering from a chronic condition? Contact us today to find out more about the comprehensive treatment plans we can offer you!
A fracture is a break in the bone. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an “open” or “compound” fracture. Fractures commonly happen because of accidents, falls or sports related injuries. Other causes are low bone density and osteoporosis, which cause weakening of the bones. Overuse can cause “stress” fractures, which are small cracks in the bone.
Symptoms of bone fractures:
- Out-of-place or misshapen limb or joint
- Swelling, bruising or bleeding
- Intense pain
- Numbness and tingling
- Limited mobility or inability to move a limb
Treating bone fractures:
- If you think you may have broken a bone, seek emergency medical care immediately.
- A medical examination and x-rays can help determine if and where a bone is broken.
- The broken pieces may need to be put back in place and then immobilized until the bones can heal as new bone forms around the break.
- External Fixation- Pins or wires are set into the bone through the skin above and below the fracture. These are connected to a ring or bar outside the skin that holds the pin in place until the bones heal.
- Internal Fixation- In a surgical procedure metal rods, wires or screws are inserted into the bone fragments to keep them together.
- Fractured bones usually need at least 4 weeks to heal although casts may be removed before that to prevent stiffness (particularly for fractures involving the elbow or hand).
- Physical therapy may be required after the bone has healed.
For more information, contact us today!
A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and other moving parts, such as muscles, tendons, or skin. Bursitis occurs when a bursa becomes inflamed. People get bursitis by overusing a joint. It can also be caused by an injury. It usually occurs at the knee or elbow. Kneeling or leaning your elbows on a hard surface for a long time can make bursitis start. Doing the same kinds of movements every day or putting stress on joints increases your risk.
Symptoms of bursitis include pain and swelling. Your doctor will diagnose bursitis with a physical exam and tests such as x-rays and MRIs. He or she may also take fluid from the swollen area to be sure the problem isn’t an infection.
Infection of a bursa, referred to as “septic bursitis,” may occur following trauma to the nearby skin. If a bursa becomes infected, the skin in the area around the bursa usually becomes red, warm, and swollen. Excess fluid may also accumulate within an infected bursa. The elbow and the knee are the most common sites of an infected bursa, often as a result of injury to the overlying skin. When redness and swelling are present, urgent medical attention may be necessary to determine if an infection is present.
Treatment of non-septic bursitis typically includes rest, pain medicines, or ice. If there is no improvement, an injection into the area around the swollen bursa may be recommended. If the joint still does not improve after 6 to 12 months, you may need surgery to repair damage and relieve pressure on the bursa.
For more information on bursitis, or if you are experiencing pain, please contact us at Midwest Hand Therapy.
A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Ligaments are tissues that connect bones at a joint. Falling, twisting, or getting hit can all cause a sprain. Ankle and wrist sprains are often the most common. Symptoms can include pain, swelling, bruising, and being unable to move the joint. You might even feel a pop or tear when the injury happens.
A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Tendons are tissues that connect muscle to bone. Twisting or pulling these tissues can cause a strain. Strains can happen suddenly, or develop over time. Back and hamstring muscle strains are common. Many people get strains playing sports. Symptoms can include pain, muscle spasms, swelling, and trouble moving the muscle.
At first, treatment of both sprains and strains usually involves resting and elevating the injured area. Icing, wearing a bandage or a cast, boot, or splint that compresses the area may also be recommended. Medicines to relieve the pain can include aspirin and Ibuprofen, and using a cane or crutch can also help with leg issues. If the pain and swelling persists, later treatment may include exercise and physical therapy.
For more information on sprains and strains, or if you are experiencing pain, please contact us at Midwest Hand Therapy
Basal Thumb Arthritis is a condition that is often times associated with other conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and scaphotrapezial arthritis. Typically, patients complain of pain localized to the base of the thumb. This pain is often activity-related, particularly after excessive use involving a forceful pinch.
Daily activities such as grasping large objects, unscrewing jar tops, turning doorknobs and writing can cause symptoms to flare up. As the condition progresses, pain may become constant. In addition to pain, weakness or loss of motion are also reported. In the later stages of the disease, patients may experience an inability to move the thumb away from the hand, weakness of pinched grip and loss of hand function. As a result, the thumb cannot be brought far enough away from the index finger to grasp large objects.
A detailed examination is normally all that is needed to make a diagnosis of Basal Thumb Arthritis. Initial treatment of Basal Thumb may include activity modification, rest, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, exercises and splinting. Corticosteroid injections can be useful when conservative measures have not worked; pain relief can be effective and last from a few days to several months.
While the above treatments are often successful, surgery may be needed when more conservative measures have failed, or in advanced cases.
If you are experiencing pain in or around the thumb, contact Dr. Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation – proper diagnosis is critical to proper treatment!
Olecranon bursitis, also known as elbow bursitis, is a condition that causes an excess of fluid to collect behind the elbow. When it becomes inflamed, it can cause pain and swelling behind the elbow. Olecranon bursitis can be caused by a traumatic accident, like a fall, or it may seem as if it’s developed out of nowhere!
The symptoms of olecranon bursitis include a painful feeling in the back of the elbow, swelling around the elbow bone and the inability to move your elbow in a full range of motion. Bursitis is just one of many causes of elbow pain, which is why it’s important to always see your doctor if you’re experiencing anything out of the norm.
The best way to avoid bursitis, barring any falls or injuries, is to keep from resting your elbows on hard surfaces for long periods of time. The elbow bone is very sensitive because it isn’t protected by anything but a thin layer of skin, so you want to avoid putting direct pressure on it for long periods of time. If you sit at a desk all day, try to avoid resting your elbows on the desk while you work. This will help make sure you don’t cause or aggravate the condition.
If you’re concerned that you might have olecranon bursitis, it’s important to have a consultation and get a diagnosis so that you can make sure it is treated properly! Please contact us today to schedule an appointment at either of our offices in Bloomfield Hills or Sterling Heights.
Did you know that distal radius fractures are common and are actually the most prevalent type of wrist fracture?
Children and the elderly are the most susceptible to this type of fracture, as it is generally caused by a fall from an elevated position. The distal radius is the larger of the two forearm bones and bears the brunt of force when trauma occurs, particularly in the instance of a fall, where the individual braces themselves. When a distal fracture occurs, the radial bone may impact into the bones in the hand, similar to a crush injury.
While accidents can’t always be prevented, you can take some measures to ensure that you are as strong as possible when they do! This means getting adequate amounts of Calcium and Vitamin D to strengthen your bones and, as you age, being screened for bone density disorders such as osteoporosis.
Wrist injuries, such as distal radius fractures, can have severe long-term impact if not treated properly as soon as they occur. Should you have an accident, immediately stabilize the wrist and do not try to self-heal. There are many instances where you need more than just a splint or a cast to fix the injury.
If you experience this type of injury or any type of wrist pain, contact Dr. Rehman immediately for a full evaluation.
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