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Month: April 2017

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General Hands

Determining if Your Child Has Hand Problems

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Hand problems can range from trivial to disabling. As it is not always easy to judge the severity of a hand injury, getting to a doctor after injuring your hand is prudent. When it comes to your child, it is even more important to diagnose the cause of his or her hand problems as quickly as possible.

Sprains and Dislocations of the Finger

Finger sprains and dislocations are among the most common injuries that cause hand problems. The most frequently injured joint is the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. The PIP joint sits between the first and second finger bones, with the first or proximal fingerbone being the nearest to the hand.

Accidents like jamming a finger while playing basketball can force the joint to bend backward, a condition known as hyperextension. Under normal conditions, the joint has ligaments and tissues that keep the fingers from bending sideways or backward. In a sprain, those tissues are stretched or partially torn, causing swelling and stiffness.

In a dislocation, the tissues are completely torn, and the joint’s bones become separated and misaligned. Like a sprain, a dislocation is accompanied by swelling and stiffness. Since it is not easy to determine the severity of a sprain or dislocation, a child suspected of having such an injury should be taken to a doctor. While splinting and icing a joint can take care of a sprain, a dislocation requires medical intervention to properly realign the joints.

Hand Problems from a Broken Wrist

A broken wrist is a common sports injury, especially in football, but it can occur anytime somebody tries to break a fall with an outstretched hand. The joint most commonly affected is the scaphoid. A child with a fractured scaphoid will have a swollen and painful wrist, but they will still be able to move it. Scaphoid fractures are among the more notoriously hard hand problems to detect, especially during the first week. Our doctor may therefore recommend taking a repeat X-ray after that week.

Hand Problems from Animal bites

As with practically every other part of the human body, some hand problems and injuries can result in infections. Animal bites are a common cause of infections; cat bites are especially infamous for causing an infection. Cats have small and narrow teeth that can penetrate deep into the skin. The resulting small punctures heal deceptively quickly and trap the bacteria from the cat’s mouth under the skin. In some cases, this can result in an abscess. An infected hand will be red, abnormally warm, and swollen. There may also be red streaks near the wound. The child may also have a fever, sweats, or chills.

When to Call for Help

A parent should take their child to visit Dr. Arora if any of the following are true:

  • The child’s hand looks “wrong” and is in a strange shape or position.
  • The child is in severe pain
  • There is a lot of swelling within 30 minutes after an injury
  • The child still has a lot of pain and swelling two days after getting hurt
  • There are signs of nerve damage like tingling, numbness, or weakness
  • There are signs of infection like redness, warmth, fever and increased pain
  • The skin is pale or blue and feels colder than the skin on the uninjured hand.

At Arora Hand Surgery, our skilled and experienced doctor will be able to diagnose the cause and severity of your child’s hand problems. You can rest assured you receive the comprehensive, personalized care you deserve when you choose Dr. Arora. Contact one of our offices in Macomb, Warren, Howell, or West Bloomfield to schedule your consultation.

Categories
Fingers General

How Can I Tell If I Have a Broken Knuckle?

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Your knuckles are an essential part of your hand. They are what give your fingers their dexterity and their ability to move. But as strong and vital your knuckles are, they can still be broken. As you can imagine, having a broken knuckle is not an enjoyable experience. It comes with several different symptoms, such as pain and swelling. A broken knuckle limits your finger’s mobility and prevents you from carrying out a lot of your daily activities.

Most people break their knuckles when they punch something, usually a hard surface. The symptoms associated with a broken knuckle are very similar to those associated with other injuries that you have in your hand.

For many people, the first sign of a broken knuckle is pain. The pain is instant, and it is severe. Contrary to what some believe, you might still be able to bend a broken knuckle. You might even be able to bend it without increasing the pain, but this does not mean that it is not broken. Depending on the location of the break, pain might increase as you try to move the broken knuckle.

The next symptom you are going to experience is swelling. Most people say that their hand starts to swell around 10 minutes after they break their knuckle. As the swelling increases, your ability to move your hand drastically decreases. Interestingly, you may notice that other fingers also begin to swell, not simply the one that is broken.

The next indication is bruising. The level of bruising will depend on the severity of the break. In many cases, you will see bruising almost instantaneously. This is because there is a rapid loss of blood in the area around the knuckle, which shows up as a bruise.

You will probably notice that your hand goes numb as the swelling increases. This is your body’s natural response to the injury. At a certain point, the swelling in your hand may get so severe that the nerves in your fingers become compressed, and any sensation disappears.

There will be visual clues that you have broken your knuckle as well. For example, if you make a fist, you may not be able to see your knuckle because it broken. The lack of swelling and the pain may make you think that your knuckle is not broken, but if it is sunken in, this is a sure sign that it is.

One of the biggest problems after having a broken knuckle is stiffness. Your knuckle is a very complicated joint, and it might not heal entirely. There is also the possibility of an infection after breaking a bone.

We offer many different types of effective surgeries designed to treat a broken knuckle. If you feel you may have a broken knuckle, visit Arora Hand Surgery for an official examination. Dr. Arora will help you explore all of your treatment options and develop a plan tailored just for you. To get help healing a broken knuckle safely and effectively, call our office in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb to schedule your consultation.

Categories
Conditions General Wrists

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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When a person has carpal tunnel syndrome, they will often feel a numbness or tingling in their hands. Their hands will feel weak, and they will not have the control over their hands that they did prior to developing the condition. This is because carpal tunnel syndrome puts pressure on the median nerve, which is located in your wrist. This nerve is essential for proper hand functioning and sensation.

The median nerve, along with other tendons needed for hand movement, run through your carpal tunnel. It is a small space that is located in your wrist. The median nerve controls all of your fingers with the exception of your pinky.

What are the Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The pressure that is put on the median nerve is usually due to swelling. However, it can be anything that makes that carpal tunnel space, where the median nerve and tendons travel, smaller. Some of the most common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

  • Diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Repetitive hand movements
  • Pregnancy

What are the Most Common Symptoms?

Pain, weakness, a tingling sensation and numbness in the fingers are the most common symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. In some instances, people will have pain between their hand and their elbow.

Carpal tunnel syndrome often exhibits symptoms in the middle finger, the thumb and the index finger. You may also feel the sensation in the lower half of your ring finger. Since a different nerve gives the sensation to your pinky finger, it is not affected with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Most people say that they experience the most powerful symptoms at night. The symptoms can be so strong that they cause people to wake up and find relief by shaking their hand.

What Steps Can Be Taken to Diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

With carpal tunnel syndrome, our doctor will physically examine your hands and your arms. He will talk with you about health issues you may have, ranging from arthritis to diabetes. He will likely ask about any recent injuries to your arm, wrist or neck. Our doctor will be keenly interested in knowing about your daily routine. During the examination, our doctor can test your hand for strength, reaction time, sensation and endurance.

When it comes to getting treatment for carpal tunnel, the sooner you start, the better. The sooner you begin treatment, the greater chance you have of preventing long-term damage to the median nerve. The team at Arora Hand Surgery can come up with a customized treatment for you with the goal of eliminating pain and improving sensation and mobility in the affected hand. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our office in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb.

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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.