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Month: March 2016

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General Treatments Wrists

How to Use a Compression Bandage on an Injured Wrist

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If you have wrist pain due to a sprain, strain or medical condition like carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis, you may find it helpful to wrap the wrist with an elastic bandage in order to help alleviate the pain. Wrist wrapping is also sometimes done to prevent injuries when participating in certain sports. It is, of course, important to know how to wrap a wrist properly.

Step 1

Make sure you have a bandage of the proper length. If it is too short, you are just going to have to start the process all over again. Begin wrapping at the point farthest away from your heart. This helps to ease swelling in the lower part of the wrist, that can sometimes actually be aggravated by the process of wrapping, and it also encourages the return of blood and lymphatic fluid. So start the first wrap just below the knuckles, covering the palm, and extending around the fingers.

Step 2

Pass the wrap between your index finger and thumb, and then do a few wraps around the wrist, extending upward toward the elbow. This provides the best level of stability, and helps to prevent further injury to the wrist. Each wrap should cover about half of the previous wrap.

Step 3

Reverse the direction. Once you get to the elbow, keep on wrapping until you are back at your hand. If you started the procedure with a bandage that is too short, you can use two bandages. Just place the start of the second one a few inches over the end of the first one, and continue wrapping. When you get to the thumb, make a figure 8 and wrap upwards a bit more.

Step 4

Secure the bandage, using either the clips that were provided with the bandage or a safety pin. You may need some assistance in order to do this.

Step 5

Make sure that the bandage is not too tightly wrapped. If your fingers feel cold, the bandage should be loosened. You should also be able to wiggle your fingers. You want to be sure that the bandage is tight enough to provide support, but not so tight that it interferes with blood flow.

Other Considerations

If you are applying ice to an injured area, make sure that you remove the bandage first. You should find that the discomfort and swelling in the injured area will ease within 72 hours, but if it does not, you should see your doctor. Keep in mind, too, that if you are not sure of the nature of the injury, it may not be wise to self-diagnose and self-treat. Some injuries can actually be aggravated by using an elastic bandage.

Also, make sure that you remove the bandage periodically to allow air circulation to the affected area.

Categories
General Wrists

Preventing Repetitive Stress Injuries in the Wrist

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Repetitive stress can lead to any number of wrist injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis and tendonitis. All have essentially the same symptoms – pain in the wrist, arm and hand. In order to prevent repetitive stress injuries to our wrist, follow these six tips:

  1. Stay Strong

It really is true that if you dont use it, youll lose it. So exercise your wrists regularly to make sure that they remain strong.

  1. Stay Healthy

If your overall health is not good, all areas of your body (including your wrists) will be vulnerable to stress. Exercise regularly, eat a good diet, and maintain a healthy weight.

  1. Change Positions

Sitting in one place for lengthy periods of time can cause muscle strain. This is especially true if your job requires you to use a computer for hours on end. Get up and stretch your wrists as well as the rest of your body.

  1. Keep a Proper Distance

When you work with your hands, you want to keep them a reasonable distance from your body – not too close, but not too far away either. This enables your other muscles (the ones in your back, shoulders and arms) to take on some of the load that you would be otherwise demanding of your wrists. It also encourages good blood flow, and reduces the stress on nerves, tendons and ligaments.

  1. Be Mindful of Your Range of Motion

Your wrists are essentially the same as other joints in your body, in that they are capable of a wide range of motion. Just because you can stretch them to their limit though, that doesnt mean that you should. Make sure that you are not flexing your wrist joints to extremes when you are working. Much of the time, this can cause muscle pulls and hyperextension. Your body is very flexible, but demanding too much can lead to a great deal of stress on nerves and tendons.

  1. Avoid Flexing Upward

Your hand is designed essentially to grip, and a gripping motion is naturally downward. When you are flexing upward, you have less leverage, and your hand has to work considerably harder. This places stress on the leverage points, and can cause damage to the nerves and tendons. Ideally, your fingers and palms should always be somewhere between a gripping position and a flat position – this is why most computer desks have slide-out trays to accommodate a keyboard. If you are reaching upward onto a desktop, your hands are not in a natural position, and it is a recipe for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Keep in mind, too, that using the scroll wheel on your mouse requires upward flexing, so you should use it as little as possible.

Conclusion

Repetitive stress can lead to hand and wrist injuries, and increase your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. You should always try to keep your hands as low as possible, and avoid movements that require flexing your hands upward. If your job requires a lot of repetitive movement, try to change position regularly.

Categories
General Hands

Hand Fractures in Children and Treatment Options

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The symptoms of hand fractures in children do not really differ from those in adults, but treatment methods are often different, simply because a childs bones are still growing, and will heal differently from those of an adult.

Signs of a Broken Bone

Some signs of a broken bone are perfectly obvious. For instance, if a bone is protruding through the skin, that is clearly a compound fracture. Other indications of broken bones can include:

  • Bruising, bleeding or swelling
  • Extreme pain
  • Numbness, tingling, or weakness
  • A joint or bone that looks as if it is misshapen or out of place
  • Difficulty moving the hand

When a child or teenager breaks a bone, most likely there will be significant pain at the break site, and they will find it difficult to move the affected area. Pain and/or loss of movement mean that you should take your child to the emergency room.

Diagnosing Hand Fractures in Children

First, the doctor will examine your childs hand to determine how the bones are lining up when the hand is moved. He or she will also check for related injuries, like damage to the joints, ligaments, tendons, and the tissue under the fingernail. If it appears as though one or more bones are fractured, x-rays will be needed so that the doctor can determine how to proceed with treatment. Usually, x-rays are taken from three different angles so that the breakage can be clearly identified.

A proper diagnosis is extremely important, because a simple break can usually be treated effectively with a cast or a splint, whereas breaks that are more complex may necessitate surgery. Additionally, the bone may be broken near a growth plate. Growth plates themselves cannot be seen on x-rays, but some indications of damage may be present. If this is the case, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another type of scan may be needed to identify damage to the growth plate area.

Healing

Children are considerably more flexible than adults, so their bones could actually bend after breaking, and then straighten out during the healing process. This is known as “remodeling,” and it is actually an advantage that a young person has – because of the remodeling process, the broken bone will require less treatment, and will heal more effectively, than the same type of break in an adult. Some types of fractures, though, may look simple, but actually cause problems that affect bone growth. This is because of the “growth points” that we mentioned previously. In children and teenagers, bone growth happens at these specific points. Often, these growth points occur near the ends of the bones, and if they are damaged, the bone could actually stop growing. This can stop a bone from developing and change the way in which it is functioned. If only a part of the growth point is harmed, then the bone could grow unevenly.

Conclusion

In children, it is very important that fractures be properly identified and treated. Treating a childs hand fracture will require procedures different from those used in treating adults.

Categories
Conditions General Hands

Dupuytren’s Contracture: What You Should Know

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Dupuytrens Contracture is a rare type of hand disorder that tends to take a number of years to develop. It causes the layers of tissues that lay beneath the skin on the palm of the hand to begin to form knots. These knots thicken and can actually cause one or more of the fingers to bend. Once they are bent into this position, it will no longer be possible to straighten them. Since it is impossible to bend the fingers, it will make it difficult to do many normal activities and actions. You would not even be capable of putting on a pair of gloves. Eventually, it will become difficult to grasp large objects.

In most cases, only the ring finger and the pinky will be affected. In very rare cases, it can also affect the thumb and the index finger. The contracture tends to affect older men who have a Northern European heritage.

What Are the Causes?

Currently, the cause of Dupuytrens Contracture is unknown. Researchers have not been able to find any evidence that it is related to hand injuries or any occupations that could cause repetitive stress issues or injuries due to vibration. However, they have found a number of factors that can increase the risk of developing the condition.

Men, as mentioned are the most likely to develop the contracture, and it typically affects those who are 50 and over. The condition also tends to run in families. Those who have diabetes are also at an elevated risk. In addition, smoking can increase the risk of developing Dupuytrens Contracture, as can alcohol.

Talking With a Doctor

Chances are good that you will want to speak with a specialist about this condition. Your primary care physician can refer you to a specialist, who will want to know more about your medical history and how you have been dealing with the condition. For example, they want to know whether there is a history of Dupuytrens Contracture in your family, if youve tried any treatments, and what medications you are taking.

The doctor will also want to know when the symptoms first started. Since this condition comes on slowly, it can be difficult to pinpoint when it began. Let them know if you are in pain, if the condition has been getting worse, and how it currently affects your daily life.

Most of the time, the doctors will be able to diagnose you based on examining your hands. The signs of Dupuytrens Contracture are very obvious.

What Are the Treatments?

Doctors can help to treat the condition in a number of different ways. They may use a needle technique, in which the doctor will insert a needle into the affected area to break up the hardened tissues that is causing the finger to contract. They may also utilize enzyme injections. Those who have advanced stages of the disease can also have surgery to help remove the hardened tissue.

If you suffer from Dupuytrens Contracture, speak with a doctor about your condition to find the best treatment options.

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Stories

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Dr. Aroras office from my first call to schedule my appointment was friendly. Walking in the first day, I felt like I was in a nice atmosphere. Dr. Arora was EXCELLENT in taking great care of my hand injury. He was gentle and very understanding to the concerns I had about my hand. His expertise was admirable and I would recommend anyone with an injury to their hand to his office to be under his care. Because of him, I have healed faster than expected and will make an 100% recovery! Thank you Dr.

Jackie S.

I first thought I was going to have to have painful injections or surgery, but Dr. Arora suggested physical therapy may do the trick. I was doubtful, but I agreed to do it. Now, my pain is gone, and with the help of an ergonomic keyboard at work to keep my hands in the correct position, I am virtually pain free. The therapy strengthened my wrists and shoulders, and built more flexibility into my wrists.

Jerry T.

My experience with this doctor was positive from the outset. Dr. Arora was kind and spent a great deal of time with me. Staff was friendly. The office was nice and bright.

Ariel G.

Very friendly and helpful Great staff!!! Doctor Arora was very professional and did great work. I was very happy with everything!

L B.