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Month: October 2017

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General Wrists

Broken Wrist Symptoms

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If you’ve injured your wrist through a fall or while competing in sports, you may be unsure whether the bones are broken. A Colles’ fracture, which affects the larger bone in the forearm by the wrist, is the most common type of broken bone. This injury most commonly occurs when falling onto an outstretched hand, often during an activity like skateboarding or in-line skating, or in a car accident. Those with osteoporosis are also at a higher risk for wrist fracture. Learn more about the common broken wrist symptoms, when you should seek medical attention, and how this injury may be treated.

Signs of a Broken Wrist

When the wrist or hand is broken, you might experience the following broken wrist symptoms:

  • Severe pain that gets worse when moving or clenching the fist
  • A swollen or bruised appearance
  • Tenderness when touched
  • A bent or deformed appearance
  • Stiffness or limited range of movement
  • Numbness

If you’ve injured your hand and develop those symptoms, see our doctor right away. Delayed treatment for a broken wrist can lead to complications such as decreased grip strength and range of motion, osteoarthritis, or nerve damage.

Treatment for a Broken Wrist

Before addressing the broken wrist symptoms, it is important to first diagnose the issue. To diagnose a broken wrist, our doctor will perform a physical examination of the injury and take an X-ray. If the bones are displaced, he will realign them. The hand will then be held in place with a splint or cast while the broken wrist bones heal. Our doctor will likely recommend over-the-counter medications for discomfort. Physical therapy may eventually be necessary to restore a normal range of motion and reduce stiffness.

Severe breaks may require surgery to hold the bones in place with specialized tools and techniques. This is often the case in fractures where the skin is broken, the bones are likely to move before healing occurs, the surrounding nerves or ligaments are damaged, or the joint is affected.

To facilitate healing, follow our doctor’s instructions. Quit smoking if necessary since it can delay bone healing and decrease bone strength.

When you’re experiencing broken wrist symptoms, the best thing that you can do for yourself is schedule a consultation at Arora Hand Surgery, with offices in Howell, Warren, West Bloomfield, and Macomb. Contact us today to book an appointment and learn about your available treatment options.

Categories
General

Choosing Between the Ideal Hand Surgeons in Michigan

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Your hands are vital to your ability to function normally every day. From holding eating utensils, pens, and pencils to tying your shoes, you use your hands countless times each day for tasks that you may take for granted. When you suffer an injury or illness to your hands, you’ll find that there’s no shortage of hand surgeons in the Michigan area. There are so many reasons why Dr. Arora at Arora Hand Surgery is steps above other hand surgeons. We invite you to schedule a consultation at our office in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb to see firsthand why Dr. Arora is the go-to hand surgeon in Michigan.

What is Hand Surgery?

Hand surgery is any medical procedure that treats conditions of the hands, wrists, forearms, or fingers. It is most commonly performed by highly trained and accredited hand surgeons. Patients of all ages can undergo hand surgery. Hand surgery can be invasive, or it can be minimally-invasive. It all depends on the situation.

Hand surgery is used to treat a host of illnesses and injuries to the hand, forearm, fingers, and wrist. Some of the most common conditions addressed with it include:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Wrist pain
  • Cuts on the finger and hand
  • Sports injuries to the hand or wrist
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

Our experienced hand surgeon in Michigan will diagnose your condition and determine what kind of operation would best suit your needs.

How is Hand Surgery Performed?

Most hand surgeries can be performed relatively quickly and require only minimal cutting. You will first be sedated with a certain type of anesthesia. During the procedure, our doctor will repair the bone, muscle, tendon, ligament, nerves, blood vessels, or other structures that contribute to your illness or injury.

Depending on the type of surgery that was performed, you may be allowed to go home with very little aftercare instructions. Or you may need to follow our hand surgeon’s instructions to the letter to enjoy optimal results. Again, it depends on the situation.

Getting Started

Hand surgery can help you regain normal use of your hands, wrists, forearms, and fingers. The type of surgery that you will undergo depends on the condition from which you suffer. If you have been researching your options regarding hand surgeons in the area, look no further than Dr. Arora at Arora Hand Surgery. During a consultation with us in Howell, West Bloomfield, Warren, or Macomb, our surgeon can diagnose you and recommend the best procedure for you. Contact us today to schedule your appointment in Michigan!

Categories
General Treatments Wrists

Treatment Options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Arora Hand Surgery has locations in Macomb Township, Warren, West Bloomfield, and Howell. It is led by Dr. Avery Arora, who specializes in hand, elbow and wrist surgery. Dr. Arora earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and served both his internship and residency in General Surgery at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. He then earned a Fellowship in Hand Surgery at the University of Colorado’s Department of Orthopedics. He has also earned board certification in both General Surgery and Hand Surgery. Dr. Arora is a member of the American Association of Hand Surgery and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. If you are dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome, Dr. Arora is your go-to doctor.

What Services Does Arora Hand Surgery Offer?

Arora Hand Surgery provides a range of treatments for conditions affecting the hand, fingers, forearm, wrist and elbow. Some of the conditions, like Dupuytren’s contracture, are peculiar to the hand, while others, like skin cancer, are not.

Other conditions that can be treated at Arora Hand Surgery include the following:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Sprains
  • Lateral epicondylitis
  • Arthritis
  • Trigger finger
  • Fractures

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and How is it Treated?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is basically a pinched nerve in the wrist. It is caused by increased pressure on the median nerve. Symptoms include tingling, pain and numbness in the fingers, hand and arm.

Treatment options vary and can depend on the cause. While it is often not possible to determine the exact cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, it is sometimes linked to diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and some thyroid conditions. In this case, treating the disease can at least improve the symptoms.

If there is no known cause, and the syndrome is relatively mild, our doctor may recommend splinting the wrist to keep it straight and relieve pressure on the nerve. The patient may wear the splint at night to relieve any symptoms that are interfering with their sleep. Our doctor may also suggest using the affected hand less. In certain cases, he may recommend a steroid injection to reduce the nerve’s swelling.

In severe or unresponsive cases, our doctor may recommend carpal tunnel release, a surgical procedure in which the ligament that runs across the wrist and the median nerve is cut to make more room for the latter.

Make an Appointment Today

Dr. Arora and his team at Arora Hand Surgery are committed to providing patients in the area with first-class care. If you are dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome or any other condition affecting the hand, fingers, wrist, elbow or thumb, set up an appointment at our office in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb as soon as possible. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

Categories
Conditions General

What is Dupuytren’s Syndrome?

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Dupuytren’s syndrome or Dupuytren’s contracture occurs when scar tissue forms around the tendons that control key finger movements. It typically affects the tendons just beneath the palm of the hand and can make flexing the connected finger or fingers incredibly difficult. As this condition progresses and scarring becomes worse, thickening of the tissues and surrounding fascia will become evident at the surface of the skin by causing the dermis to dimple and pucker. Over time, people can lose the ability to extend their fingers fully, which can, in turn, result in diminished fine motor control, among other functional problems. In rare instances, Dupuytren’s contracture can even develop in other areas where it will affect movement within the feet, or various facial muscles.

The Causes and Symptoms of Dupuytren’s Syndrome

It often takes years for Dupuytren’s contracture to progress. For some people, however, the progression to noticeable surface puckering and severely limited finger movement happens at a much more rapid rate. Sadly, the exact cause of Dupuytren’s syndrome is currently unknown. It does, however, tend to be most common among those with seizure disorders like epilepsy, diabetes mellitus and long-term problems with alcoholism.

It can also be an inherited issue. Patients with parents or other close relatives who suffer from Dupuytren’s contracture tend to have a higher likelihood of developing this syndrome than others, particularly when genetic predisposition is paired with other risk factors. According to research, this disorder is most common in men of Northern European descent who are 50 years of age and older.

While any one of the fingers can be affected by Dupuytren’s syndrome, scarring that impacts the movement of the pinky finger and the ring finger is most common. Some of the early symptoms of this ailment include a small, painless lump at the outer portion of the palm, and the gradual stiffening of the associated fingers. Without intervention, these developments are invariably followed by a noticeable decrease in range of motion. These symptoms are also accompanied by surface evidence of the underlying scarring, given that severe scarring will often cause the skin to dimple and pucker across the affected portion of the palm.

Treatment for Dupuytren’s Contracture

Certain solutions can be injected into the affected area to slow or even reverse the accumulation of scar tissue that’s associated with Dupuytren’s syndrome. This contraction is ultimately the result of an abnormal build-up of collagen within the tissue that lies just beneath the skin on the palm. Injectable treatments may be capable of disrupting the chemical structure of this collagen, thereby breaking it down. As with all progressive ailments like this one, however, the prognosis for treatment outcomes is always best when the problem is identified and addressed in a timely fashion. As such, if you have a family history of this condition or have any other known risk factors, you should seek immediate attention from a licensed professional as soon as any abnormalities in the palms or the skin on top of your palms is identified.

If you are suffering from Dupuytren’s syndrome, our trusted doctor can provide you with the proper treatment plan for your needs at Arora Hand Surgery, located in Howell, Warren, Macomb, and West Bloomfield. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and learn more.

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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.