Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome arises when a major nerve of the hand - the median nerve - becomes compressed due to decreased space within the carpal tunnel. This extra pressure can come from swelling and inflammation of the contents inside the tunnel. Pressure on the nerve causes nerve symptoms and compressive neuropathy, resulting in sensory changes such as numbness and tingling of the fingers. At late stages, weakness and motor problems with the hand can also occur.

Treatment options depend on your symptoms and severity, and include splinting, steroid injections, or surgery to free the nerve from its tight carpal tunnel.

Ganglion Cyst / Mucous Cyst

A ganglion cyst is a lump on the hand and wrist that occurs near joints or tendons. It may be described as a mass, swelling, or bump. Ganglion cysts are common. They are frequently found in common locations and are often seen on the back of the wrist. They can also be near a finger joint. They may also be felt at the base of the finger on the palm side. They are sometimes seen on the fingertip on the back of the finger.

Treatment options depend on your symptoms and severity, and surgery to remove the ganglion cyst is done as outpatient (day surgery).

Thumb Arthritis

Thumb arthritis is also known as basal joint arthritis. It is occurs in both women and men and degenerative arthritis of the thumb worsens with age. Activities which rely on the thumb may result in pain at the base of the thumb, particularly in an arthritic joint. The activities most people notice as painful include pinching, grasping or gripping. Signs and symptoms of thumb arthritis may include swelling or stiffness at the base of the thumb. As the arthritis progresses, the pain and weakness may increase along with decreasing range of motion at the base of the thumb. As the arthritis advances even further, bone spurs may develop, resulting in an enlarged appearance at the base of the thumb.

Treatment options depend on your symptoms and severity, and include oral medications, splinting, steroid injections, minimally invasive endoscopic procedures, or surgery.

Hand Rejuvenation

Hands lose substantial volume in the natural course of aging and the skin on the hands also develop age spots and become loose with time. Hand rejuvenation treatments can provide a more youthful appearance for the hands to address any cosmetic concerns of the aging hands. 

There are a variety of treatment options depending on the individual patient, and include lasers, skin tightening, injections, fillers, vein stripping, and fat grafting. Come get a consultation today for a personalized care plan to keep your hands looking youthful!

Trigger Finger

A trigger finger, sometimes referred to as stenosing tenosynovitis, can occur in both fingers and the thumbs, which have tendons that help them to bend. The flexor tendons that bend the fingers have a lining on the outside called the tenosynovium. The tendon and lining are covered by a series of thick, soft tissue called pulleys. The tendon and its lining are designed to glide through the pulleys without friction. If the tendon becomes tight within the pulley, the lining and pulley get thickened which then increases pressure on the tendon, causing friction on the moving tendon. This makes it difficult for the tendon to move smoothly and the finger can even become stuck.

Treatment options depend on your symptoms and severity, and include steroid injections or surgery to release the pulley and free the tendon from its entrapment.

De Quervain's Tenosynovitis

Patients with de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis have painful tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. In de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, the tunnel fir the tendons is too narrow, causing inflammation and pain. This can be due to a thickening of the soft tissues that make up the tunnel or an increase in the amount of soft tissue within the tunnel. In this condition, hand and thumb motion can cause pain, especially with forceful grasping or twisting.

Treatment options depend on your symptoms and severity, and include splinting, steroid injections, or surgery to free the tendons from their entrapment.

Finger Sprain

A sprain is a stretching or tearing of the ligaments that hold a joint together. There are no broken bones. The most common structures to be damaged in the finger joint include the collateral ligaments (the “walls” of the joint) and the volar plate ligament (the “floor” of the joint). Ligaments are tough bands of connective tissue that support the joint and prevent it from dislocating. Sprains take a few weeks or more to heal. A sprained finger may be treated with a splint or buddy tape (taping of the injured finger to the one next to it for support). Minor sprains may require no additional support. Complete injury may require surgical treatment for stability. 

Treatment options depend on your symptoms and severity, and include splinting, buddy taping, or surgery to stabilize the ligaments of the finger.