Hand and Wrist Pain

Because we use our hands and wrists for practically everything, injuries and issues can make life's most routine tasks challenging. That's why our experts use innovative treatment methods to relieve pain, manage symptoms, and improve your quality of life.

Signs and Symptoms of Hand and Wrist Conditions

If you've been experiencing any of the following symptoms in your hand or wrist, it might be time to talk to a doctor:

• Swelling and pain in the hand, wrist, or forearm
• Stiffness or changes in range of motion
• Difficulty straightening the afflicted hand or wrist
• A sensation of grating or grinding in the affected joint
• The development of cysts on the end joints of your fingers
• Trouble gripping, lifting, or twisting objects without pain
• "Pins and needles" feeling in your fingers
• Burning or warmth
• Pain when twisting or bending your arm

Types of Hand and Wrist Conditions

The hand and wrist contain complex joints, bones, muscles, and ligaments that perform intricate movements on a constant basis. If you have hand or wrist pain, it’s important to consult with a specialist early, before your condition progresses.

At Virtua Orthopedics & Spine, our team is equipped to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a wide range of conditions, such as:

• Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Dupuytren's contracture (when fingers can’t straighten and bend toward the palm)
• DeQuervain's disease (pain affecting tendons on thumb side of the wrist)
• Fractures and sprains
• Ganglion cyst
• Mallet finger (also known as “hammer finger” or “baseball finger”)
• Nail bed injuries
• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Trigger finger

Our Approach to Hand and Wrist Pain

Think about all the things that you do with your hands. Writing, typing, cooking, cleaning, lifting things up, and the fun stuff like playing catch or gardening. Because this is such an important area of the body, our hand and wrist specialists are here to help you return to your everyday activities as soon as possible.

While some hand and wrist conditions can be diagnosed following a simple exam, we might recommend additional screenings to diagnose the root of your issues. These may include:

• Arthrography: We inject a specialized dye into your hand, which will allow our team to better see your joints.
• CT scan: A little more detailed than a traditional X-ray, this test allows us to capture clear images of bones, muscles, and fat in your hand and wrist.
• Electromyogram (EMG): This test measures the electrical activity of your hand and wrist muscles. Essentially, it will tell us if there's any abnormal activity going on.
• MRI: We use large magnets and radio frequencies to capture images of your tendons, ligaments, vessels, and nerves in the hand and wrist.
• Ultrasound: We might order an ultrasound to see how your blood is flowing through your hand. This is really useful in finding issues like cysts.
• X-ray: This common test captures images of your bones and joints. We typically use them to confirm fractures and breaks.

Hand and Wrist Pain Treatment

At Virtua Orthopedics & Spine, we use the latest technology, paired with minimally invasive approaches, to get you the care you need. This could include:

• Lifestyle changes, like switching up the position of your keyboard and other ergonomic suggestions to help with carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Medication, like anti-inflammatory medicine or low-dose oral steroids to help with pain management.
• Injections, like corticosteroids, which can temporarily reduce inflammation and help with pain.
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation featuring a team of therapists who can improve mobility, build strength, and slow the progression of conditions like arthritis.
• Surgery like tendon and nerve repair, and procedures like carpal tunnel surgery. At Virtua Orthopedics & Spine, our board-certified hand & wrist surgeons perform thousands of hand surgeries each year.