Who is a hand specialist?
A hand specialist is an orthopedic doctor specializing in diagnosing, treating, and preventing orthopedic hand surgeon, wrist, and forearm diseases. They are well-versed in the intricate networks of blood arteries, nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones that comprise the hand and fingers.
Some hand problems and injuries are temporary and can resolve on their own with rest, while others may necessitate further treatment.
When should you see an orthopedic hand surgeon & hand specialist?
Various injuries and illnesses can affect the hand, resulting in discomfort and impaired function. If you have a hand problem that causes pain or prevents you from doing your typical daily tasks, you may need to see an orthopedic hand specialist in Dallas.
Symptoms & Consult a hand specialist
If you have any of the following symptoms, consult a hand specialist:
- Even when relaxing the hand, there remains pain or discomfort.
- You have ongoing discomfort and stiffness when you begin an activity.
- Hand, wrist, and finger range of motion limitation.
- Having a tough time gripping an object because of a weak grip.
- Pain, redness, or swelling.
- Muscle tone loss in hand.
- Everyday tasks, such as combing or making food, cause discomfort or become difficult to perform.
- Rest does not help your symptoms.
- Some symptoms, such as a fracture or dislocation, might signal a dangerous disease that needs immediate care. Severe pain, swelling, bruising, a visible deformity, and an inability to move your hand, wrist, or finger typically can all be symptoms.
- Common hand disorders.
- Many different sorts of accidents and ailments can affect your hand. In certain circumstances, pain, bruising, and swelling can emerge soon after a direct hit to the body. Other diseases can worsen over time and are frequently the consequence of overuse injuries or repetitive motions that put a strain on tendons, nerves, and joints.
Osteoarthritis is frequently caused by wear and strain over time. It degrades the cartilage that covers and cushions the ends of bones, resulting in painful bone-on-bone friction. It causes the body’s immune system to attack the membrane that protects and lines joints, resulting in inflammation, discomfort, and loss of function and movement.
There are a variety of additional illnesses and injuries that can affect the hands, causing discomfort or limiting function, such as:
- Nerve issues (carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome)
- Fractures
- Hand abrasions
- Dupuytren’s syndrome
- Hand and wrist injuries in sports
- Tendon problems and injuries (trigger finger, tendonitis, tenosynovitis, flexor, and extensor tendonitis, flexor and extensor tendonitis, flexor and extensor tendonitis, flexor and extensor)
Treatment
Treatment varies according to the diagnosis and degree of the hand ailment or injury. A hand doctor may frequently attempt non-surgical options first, such as hand rehabilitation, splinting, medicines, injections, and other modalities.
If non-surgical therapies do not work or if there has been considerable damage to the hand that requires repair or reconstruction, surgery may be advised. Tendon repair surgery, joint replacement and reconstruction, fracture repair surgery, nerve repair surgery, replantation of a severed finger or hand, and surgical drainage for hand infections are all orthopedic hand surgeon procedures.
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