If the point of your elbow is swollen the cause or the condition could be a number of things. Before reading on, know that the best thing you can do for upper extremity pain or injury is see a medical professional board-certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery. Don’t panic though; just because you see someone qualified in orthopedic surgery does not mean you need surgery!
At Midwest Hand Therapy a common elbow condition we see among patients is bursitis. Bursa can be found throughout the entire body; its function is to decrease friction between two surfaces that move in different directions. Bursa is a slippery fluid-containing sac and can be found in our elbows, to allow the skin to move without rubbing against the bone.
When our elbow experiences a repeated injury (such as falling onto the elbow) or is continually rubbed against a hard surface it can irritate the bursa, thus causing bursitis. Olecranon bursitis (bursitis of the elbow) results in pain or swelling at the point of the elbow. It may also hurt to bend or straighten your arm and may have some warmth and redness.
Upon reviewing your symptoms and examining your elbow, your health care provider may recommend a number of treatments including but not limited to: ice packs, wrapping an elastic bandage around your elbow to keep the bursa from swelling more, removal of some of the bursa fluid , and/or taking anti-inflammatory medicine.
Midwest Hand Therapy sees patients of all ages including infants, athletes, musicians, office workers, as well as people recovering from surgery. We encourage you to contact us for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan if your elbow is bothering you. Also, avoid direct contact to the point of your elbow until you’re able to get an appointment. Bursa can be further irritated by leaning your elbow onto a surface such as a desk or countertop.
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!
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.
Are you experiencing an internal burning-like sensation on or around your elbow? You aren’t alone. Many children and adults experience elbow pain at least once throughout their lives, but determining its cause on your own can be rather difficult.
A number of disorders can directly affect the elbow. Many of them are caused by overuse and sports injuries. This burning feeling could be the inflammation and irritation of your arm muscle, tendons, ligaments, or the bone itself.
Conditions with “burning” symptoms linked to them include but are not limited to:
Tennis Elbow: Tennis elbow is the inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles right near the elbow. This condition is caused by repetitive motions of the arm, hence the name “tennis elbow,” but is by no means limited to this sport. A carpenter could get tennis elbow from swinging a hammer routinely day after day. A common symptom is pain or burning on the outer part of your elbow.
Tendonitis: Tendonitis is the inflammation, irritation, and/or swelling of a tendon. Tendons are fibrous structures that join muscles to bone, and if you have tendonitis of the elbow you may be experiencing pain alongside a burning sensation within your arm.
Arthritis: Arthritis of the elbow, particularly rheumatoid arthritis can ache and continue throughout the night when you aren’t actually utilizing your elbow or arm.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Although CTS is usually caused by repetitive hand and wrist motion, radiating pain throughout the arm and up to the elbow can be a symptom.
As you can see, several conditions can cause your elbow to feel as if it’s “on fire!” An orthopedic doctor can properly diagnose what is causing this burning sensation. Dr. Rehman is highly experienced at assessing conditions of the arm and elbow and prescribing a treatment regimen to alleviate pain, build strength and rehabilitate the elbow. In addition to proper assessment and diagnosis, Midwest Hand Therapy educates patients about their condition and the best options for restoring full function.
If you’re experiencing elbow pain or a burning-like sensation it is recommended to seek professional help as soon as possible. Many conditions will worsen over time if left untreated.
Fluid-filled Bumps on the Hand or Wrist
If you’ve noticed a fluid-filled and raised bump on your wrist or hand, it may be a ganglion cyst. While the name sounds a bit scary, ganglions are a common condition, often found on the tendons and joints of the wrists or hands.
They are usually benign and harmless; however they bother many patients from a cosmetic standpoint. If you have a bump that is painful, it may be because it’s positioned very closely to a nerve.
So, what exactly is a ganglion and why did this bump arise out of nowhere? Ganglions often occur spontaneously when the soft sheath around a tendon or joint swells and fills with mucus. The specific cause of ganglions is unknown, although they may often grow with increased wrist and hand activity. With rest, the lump will typically start to shrink on its own.
Treatment is not always necessary, but it is recommended that you have any type of lump or growth on your body properly examined and diagnosed by a medical professional. A hand specialist will want to discuss your medical history and symptoms. He or she may ask you how long you’ve had the bump, whether or not it’s changed in size, and if it’s painful or interferes with your everyday activities.
Treatment for ganglions varies and often depends on the size and location of the bump. Your doctor may recommend a wrist splint to immobilize the wrist and hand so that it will disappear on its own. Cysts can also be removed with a syringe, and for complicated cysts that interfere with joint movement, the cyst may need to be removed surgically.
Note that it’s never safe to self-diagnose or leave something on your body untreated. If you’ve noticed a bump on your wrist or hand, schedule an appointment to have it checked out – even if it’s not bothering you!
We encourage you to contact Midwest Hand Therapy and Dr. Rehman if you have an undiagnosed bump or growth. A comprehensive evaluation and consultation will help to determine the best treatment plan possible.
Did you know that if you’re a woman you’re more likely to be diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) than a man? Did you know that if you’re retired and intensely knit or sew as a hobby you may be more likely to get CTS than those that work and utilize their hands all day every day?
There are many factors linked to carpal tunnel syndrome that put an individual at risk. Here are just some of them:
Age: CTS is uncommon among children and older adults are at higher risk than young adults.
Occupations & Hobbies: Individuals that utilize their hands and wrists all day in repetitive motions may be at risk for developing CTS. In 2006, the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked occupations in order from the highest number of CTS conditions reported to the lowest. The top of the list included laborers and freight workers, movers, and stock and material professionals. Office managers, administrative support (people that type all day), janitors, maids and housekeeping professionals weren’t far behind. Those that knit or play video/computer games for countless hours each week as a hobby may also be at risk.
Sex: As mentioned above, studies and healthcare records suggest that women are at a higher risk for developing CTS at least once in their lifetime when compared to men. CTS is more frequently seen during menopause and also after delivering a baby, which suggests that the condition may also be linked to hormonal changes.
Overall Health: Obesity, lack of fitness, and cigarette smoking are not only risk factors for carpal tunnel, but for a number of joint, bone, and nerve conditions.
Are you at risk? It’s extremely important to know the signs of carpal tunnel so that you can have your condition properly diagnosed and treated. If left untreated, CTS can lead to hand weakness and lack of coordination in the fingers and thumb.
Carpal tunnel usually begins as an ache in the wrist and may extend down to the forearm or up to the hand. As carpal tunnel develops, you may also experience tingling or numbness in the fingers or pain radiating throughout the entire forearm.
If you think you may be suffering from carpal tunnel, contact Dr. Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation and consultation. As with most medical conditions, early detection, awareness and a prevention or treatment plan is the most effective way to combat the effects of conditions like CTS. To learn more about carpal tunnel, you can also visit the “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome” and “Carpal Tunnel Treatment” sections of our blog.
A flexor tendon is a tendon which serves to bend a body part. In our hands particularly, flexor tendons permit us to bend our fingers. They are located on the palm-side bend of the fingers, as the tendons on top of the hand used to straighten our fingers are called “extensor tendons.”
When a person experiences a deep cut to the palm side of their hand or fingers, it may result in a flexor tendon injury. Cuts or tears to flexor tendons make bending your fingers very difficult or impossible.
Sometimes flexor tendon injuries can occur without a cut. This is common in sports – a finger may get caught and pulled, resulting in the tendon being pulled off the bone. Long-term and strenuous use of the fingers in activities such as rock climbing can also eventually tear flexor tendons, and certain health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can weaken flexor tendons.
The signs of a flexor tendon injury include but are not limited to:
A very deep cut on the palm side of your hand or finger(s)
Difficulty bending your finger(s)
Being completely unable to bend your finger(s)
Numbness in your fingers or fingertips
If you’re experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms, a proper diagnosis is necessary. There are many variations of tendon injuries in the hand, and some can be corrected by immobilizing the hand for several weeks, whereas other tendon injuries can only be corrected with surgery. Post-operative controlled mobilization (through hand therapy) has been a major contributor to improved results.
At Midwest Hand Therapy, our staff is exceedingly accomplished and trained in the evaluation and treatment of hand and upper extremity conditions. We are educated on the latest techniques and methods of hand, wrist, finger and elbow rehabilitation and therapy, and take extreme care to provide the individual guidance and personal touch needed to aid patients in full recovery.
A crush injury occurs when a body part is “crushed” by a high degree of force or pressure. These injuries often occur from being squeezed between two heavy objects, or having something very large or heavy fall on oneself.
Crush injuries can result in bleeding, bruising, fractures, wounds and lacerations and can also have very serious side effects such as compartment syndrome (increased pressure that causes serious muscle, nerve and tissue damage), nerve injuries, and secondary infections.
Because hand function is vital for most of our daily tasks, crush injuries often occur to the fingers, hands, and wrists. These body parts are simply at higher risk– adults injuring themselves at work is a common cause, and the majority of hand trauma injuries seen in the ER are children with crush injuries to their fingertips (after accidentally being slammed in doors).
If you have experienced a crush injury, you should immediately have yourself examined by a doctor. Not all injuries can be seen, especially if the skin is still intact. An X-ray will help determine if there are broken bones or fractures. Depending on the severity, a crush injury may require a splint or cast for proper healing. If the injury is very serious, surgery may be required.
Moderate to severe crush injuries usually require rehabilitation and hand therapy to ensure the patient’s fingers, hand or wrist resumes its original mobility, comfort, and functionality. Depending on the extent of the injury or trauma, strength training may take several weeks or even months. At Midwest Hand Therapy, it is always our goal to not only heal, but also to help prevent future injury. Range of motion hand exercises and special hand strength training tools are often incorporated into a crush injury patient’s recovery program.
If you are currently recovering from a crush injury and have questions or concerns, please contact our team. If you have recently experienced a crush injury, as advised earlier, seeking immediate medical attention is highly recommended.
Whether you are referred to a hand specialist for surgical care or decide to make the choice on your own, certain qualifications should not be overlooked. At a minimum, your operation should be performed by a hand surgeon that meets the following criteria:
Board Certification: Your hand surgeon should be board-certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery, an organization committed to identifying and certifying physicians who have met stringent standards to assure competent performance in the field of orthopedic surgery.
Experience: Like any skill, practice makes perfect. In addition to obtaining an educational degree, be sure your surgeon has engaged in post-graduate training and fellowships. How many surgeries have they performed? How many years have they been operating?
Professional Memberships: Professional memberships with organizations such as the American Osteopathic Association and the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons are important because these organizations encourage and support their members through continuing education, high standards, professional development, accreditations, training and more.
Patient Testimonials: Don’t forget to do your research. Just because a surgeon looks great on paper doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a patient favorite. How does this surgeon rate in patient satisfaction on sites like Vitals.com? Can the surgeon refer you to past patients for testimonials and feedback?
Strong Ties To Hand Therapy: To aid patients in full recovery, many hand surgeries require followup hand therapy services. Does this particular surgeon have his/her own rehabilitation center or hand therapy services?
When it comes to having a surgical hand procedure, only trust a top-rated and experienced surgeon! To learn more about Dr. Uzma H. Rehman, D.O., click here. To learn about Midwest Hand Therapy, and its post-surgical regimens, click here.
There are many types of corticosteroid injections, but in general, a corticosteroid injection is a formulation of two or more medications to reduce inflammation, relieve pain and improve function and mobility.
Corticosteroids are derived from cortisone, a steroid hormone released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. When combined with other pain-killing and anti-inflammatory medications in a corticosteroid injection, they work more effectively and efficiently to treat discomfort. Depending on the condition that is being treated, injections can providepain relief for several weeks up to several months.
At Midwest Hand Therapy, we sometimes administer corticosteroid injections as part of a comprehensive approach to hand and wrist rehabilitation. Depending upon the condition and the particular patient, a corticosteroid injection may accompany hand exercises, hot and cold modalities, and massage.
Many patients that have never had one of these injections express concern regarding the amount of pain they will experience. These injections are very similar to any other type of injection; the initial needle stick is similar to the pain caused by a quick bee sting. There is temporary discomfort while the medication is being injected, but nearly all corticosteroid injection patients agree that a short moment of discomfort is much better than ongoing pain of the wrist or hand!
Corticosteroid injections should only be administered by a licensed physician, and to ensure the best results, patients should visit a doctor that specializes in the specific area being treated. For example: a hand specialist for the hand, fingers, wrist or forearm, and a podiatrist for the foot, ankle or lower extremities.
For more information on corticosteroid injections, or if you are experiencing hand, wrist or finger pain, please contact us at Midwest Hand Therapy.
Broken fingers are one of the most commonly seen traumatic injuries in the emergency room. In fact, finger fractures account for an estimated 10% of all fractures.
Unfortunately, bones within the finger can easily be broken when compared to other parts of the body. Playing sports, punching something, falling on your hands, and hurting yourself on the job are the most common causes.
If you just recently injured your hand you may be wondering if your finger is, in fact, broken. The most obvious indication that you have broken your finger is a visible deformity or, with severe traumas, an exposed bone. Ouch! But, many times the symptoms aren’t that obvious.
Broken finger symptoms can include some or all of the following:
Pain immediately after the trauma
Limited motion of movement
Swelling
Numbness
To a child especially, diagnosing these symptoms in comparison to similar symptoms of injuries such as hairline fractures, sprains, or severe brushing can be very difficult. It is highly recommended that you get an X-ray for a professional diagnosis whenever you suspect a broken bone. A hand specialist will confirm the location and nature of the break.
If the injury is diagnosed as a broken bone, treatment will depend on the type of fracture and the particular location. Most often, broken fingers are treated by realigning the bones and casting or splinting to immobilize the area for several weeks. This permits a prognosis for fast and successful healing. With severe breaks, surgery may be required.
Because complications of a broken finger can result in long-term stiffness, rotation, nonunion, and infection, it is not recommended to try and treat yourself. Always seek out the expertise of a specialist!
If you are experiencing some or all of the symptoms of a broken finger, contact Dr. Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation and consultation: (586) 532-0803.
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