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Month: July 2017

Categories
Elbows General

What is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?

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The ulnar nerve runs along the ulna bone in the forearm before it enters the hand near the little and ring fingers. The ulnar nerve is one of the largest nerves in the human body, but it has almost no protection. This lack of protection makes the ulnar nerve very susceptible to damage. The most common problem with this important nerve is cubital tunnel syndrome.

Cubital tunnel syndrome is a medical condition that forms when there is too much pressure placed on the ulnar nerve. Constantly using your elbow to lean against a hard surface or bending the elbow for an extended period of time are the two most common causes of cubital tunnel syndrome. While these actions may not seem very serious, they are able to cause damage because the ulnar nerve has almost no padding to protect against direct pressure and stretching. It is also possible to develop cubital tunnel syndrome because of an anomaly in the anatomy of your elbow.

It is very easy to spot the signs and symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome. The medical condition will cause severe pain and numbness in the elbow. You will also likely experience some tingling, weakness and loss of feeling in your ring and little fingers. These issues with the elbow and fingers can make it difficult to close your hand to hold objects. While these symptoms can occur at any time, they will become more severe if the elbow is bent for an extended period of time.

You will need to get properly diagnosed with cubital tunnel syndrome before beginning treatment. The condition can usually be diagnosed with a simple physical examination by our doctor. A nerve test and electromyography may also be done to confirm the diagnosis and look for any serious nerve damage.

Once you have been diagnosed with the condition, it will be time to start treating it. The first thing everyone with cubital tunnel syndrome should do is avoid any actions or activities that place too much pressure on the ulnar nerve and elbow. You must avoid placing your elbow on a hard surface at all times. You may also need to wear a splint at night if you are known to bend your elbow while sleeping.

If these lifestyle changes are not enough to reduce your painful symptoms, then you may need to undergo surgery. The ulnar nerve will be released and moved to the front of the elbow during a cubital tunnel surgery. You may also need to get a portion of your bone removed during the surgery. The surgery will increase the size of the cubital tunnel, which decreases the pressure placed on the ulnar nerve.

Cubital tunnel syndrome surgery is very effective at reducing your painful symptoms. It will likely take several weeks before you see an improvement in your symptoms. Physical therapy can be used to speed up the recovery process, but complete recovery from the surgery will likely take several months.

If you have cubital tunnel syndrome, our trusted doctor can help you at Arora Hand Surgery, conveniently located in Warren, Macomb, West Bloomfield, and Howell. Contact us to schedule your consultation and learn more about your treatment options.

Categories
General Treatments Wrists

Treating Fractures in the Wrist

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The way fractures in the wrist are treated is going to vary a lot depending on where the fracture is and what fracture you have sustained. Many people think that treating a fractured wrist is simple, but it’s not. Fractured wrists can be divided into two categories. They can be displaced, or they can be categorized as non-displaced.

When you fracture your wrist, the pain is intense. The pain is usually felt immediately. There are usually some physical and visual symptoms that show. Many complain of having numbness in their hands, or they may notice that their hands and fingers change color. Your wrist bone might even stick out of your skin.

Understanding how to treat a fractured wrist is important because fractured wrists happen very frequently. It’s estimated that approximately 250,000 people fracture their wrist in the United States on an annual basis. The reason why a wrist fracture happens so frequently is because of the number of ways that we as humans fall. When you fall, be it forward or backward, the first thing you do is put out your hands in order to stabilize yourself. This can lead to injury.

The treatment that you will receive for your fractured wrist is going to vary depending on how severe it is. If it’s just a simple fracture, our doctor may set your wrist and then put a cast on it. He is going to monitor your wrist to make sure that the bone heals properly. A more severe fracture may require a surgical procedure. It’s going to change with each situation.

In the vast majority of circumstances, surgery is not necessary when treating fractures in the wrist. The cast is enough to keep the wrist in place while it heals. You may need to have some form of physical therapy to help you regain your flexibility and your strength in your wrist. It is essential that you follow the instructions provided by our doctor and your physical therapist for optimal results.

As you can see, there is no one-size-fits-all fix when it comes to treating fractures in the wrist. However, with therapy, immobilization and in some cases surgery, a fractured wrist can be treated. When your wrist has completely recovered, you should be able to return to your normal activities.

If you have sustained a wrist fracture, make an appointment at Arora Hand Surgery sooner rather than later. You can consult with our expert at our office in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb to see which treatment is best in your case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

Categories
General

Why Visit a Hand Specialist?

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A hand specialist is a physician or surgeon who concentrates on treating disorders and injuries of the hands and arms. The specialty dates back to World War II when Dr. Sterling Bunnell, a consultant for the US Army, began training his fellow surgeons in how to treat soldiers with arm and hand injuries.

Since a hand specialist is a medical doctor, they begin their training at medical school. They then serve a residency specializing in Plastic, Orthopedic or General Surgery at a hospital. After finishing their residency, they need to take and pass an exam administered by the relevant board. At this point, they are now a board-certified surgeon.

In order to become a hand specialist, the surgeon needs to complete a “Hand Surgery Fellowship,” which is a special program devoted to diagnosing and treating hand disorders. Upon completing the fellowship, the surgeon must pass another exam to earn their Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hand Surgery (CAQ).

Common conditions that our talented hand specialist can treat include the following:

  • Fractures
  • Wrist pain
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Tennis elbow
  • Trigger finger
  • Arthritis
  • Birth defects of the arm and/or hand
  • Sports injuries

Our doctor can treat both adults and children. He provides non-surgical treatments like splints, injections, medication or therapy, as well as surgical treatments.

A patient should see our hand specialist if they have suffered any kind of trauma to their hand, wrist or arm. They should especially get in touch with us if the injury resulted in severed fingers. Our experienced specialist will be able to perform the needed reattachment procedures.

A patient should also see our hand specialist if any of the following are true:

  • They think they have a ganglion cyst
  • They have recurrent pain, tingling or numbness in their hand, arm or wrist
  • Their hands turn colors when exposed to cold

A ganglion cyst is a benign tumor that most commonly develops on the hand or wrist. It contains a clear, jellylike substance, and it may feel spongy or firm. It can appear as one big cyst or a group of small cysts attached to one another by a stalk under the skin.

Are you dealing with issues in your hand or wrist? Talk to Dr. Arora and his team at Arora Hand Surgery, with locations in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, and Macomb, and have your condition evaluated. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get started!

Categories
Conditions Fingers General

Symptoms of Finger Nerve Damage

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Your hand is a marvel of design. The human hand has a level of flexibility and dexterity that no other tool on the planet can match. Even though scientists and researchers are trying to mimic the functions and movements of the hands, the artificial alternatives that they create fall far short from the reality. What makes your hands such a powerful tool is the series of nerves that you have in your hands, as well as nerves located in other parts of your body that are designed to control and provide strength to your hands. As such, if you are experiencing finger nerve damage, you will likely exhibit a number of uncomfortable symptoms.

An example of a nerve in the finger is the radial nerve. This is a nerve that goes under your arm, controlling your triceps muscle. This nerve is also responsible for the twisting moments in your wrist and your fingers. It is what gives parts of your hands their ability to feel things and to have different sensations.

If you injure the radial nerve, you may be left with what is known as radial neuropathy. There are a lot of ways that you could damage this nerve. These include physical trauma, exposure to toxins, or infection. Often times, you will know that you have this form of nerve damage because your hands and your fingers feel numb. They may feel like they are burning, or they may feel like they are tingling. Another indication that you are dealing with this form of finger nerve damage is a weakness in your fingers. You may not be able to move your fingers like you used to, or it may be difficult to twist your fingers. If the nerve damage is addressed, you will see the strength in your fingers return.

There are a whole host of ways that you can damage the radial nerve. They include breaking the bones in your upper arm, sleeping with your arm in a weird or awkward position, pressure put on the back of your arm because you’re sitting in a chair in an awkward position, damage caused by using crutches for an extended period of time, hurting your arm by falling, or having your wrist in a constricted position for an extended period of time.

It is possible to develop finger nerve damage by doing repetitive movements. These can include movements that require you to grasp something while swinging another thing back and forth. There are other conditions that can affect your entire body that might damage your nerves. For example, kidney disease, diabetes, and some forms of inflammation can damage the radial nerve, which can then affect the strength in your fingers.

It’s important to remember that your fingers do not have any muscles in them for movement. All of your finger’s ability to move and their strength comes from your forearm and triceps. When the nerve that controls these muscles is damaged, the effect is felt in your fingers.

If you are experiencing symptoms of finger nerve damage, make an appointment at Arora Hand Surgery as soon as possible. Contact us today at our office in Warren, Macomb, West Bloomfield, or Howell to schedule a consultation and learn about your treatment options.

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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.