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How to Promote Nail Regrowth After an Injury

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You can promote nail regrowth after an injury.

It’s easy to take your fingernails or toenails for granted until something happens to them. Just about everyone has smashed a fingernail with a hammer, in a door, or while playing a sport. Or they got their nail caught on something and ripped the nail out. They are left with a little bit of blood under the nail and severe pain. Thankfully, in the vast majority of cases, nail injuries are not super serious. In addition to seeking treatment, there are steps you can take to promote nail regrowth after an injury.

Your nails are unbelievably resilient, so nail regrowth is usually possible. Every 10 days, your fingernails grow one millimeter. As you get older, you may not have as much blood flowing to your nails as you did in youth, and so the rate of growth may decrease slightly.

Since we use our fingers constantly, it’s easy for us to damage our nails. Some people are just susceptible to brittle nails. If you have a job that causes you to use strong chemicals every day or if your job means that your hands are constantly wet, then your nails may be more susceptible to damage or injury. You can prevent some of these injuries by keeping your hands moisturized and using the proper protection for your nails.

When you experience nail injuries, you might notice some white marks underneath your nails. These white marks are temporary and should disappear within a few weeks or months. If the injury is severe, your nail might turn black or purple. This color change is because of blood that has accumulated underneath the nail. As your nail gets better after professional treatment at our office, the black or purple color will go away and the natural color will return.

The black and purple colors caused by an injury should not be confused with melanoma, which also can cause your nails to turn black or brown. If an injury causes your nail to separate from the nail bed, regardless of the type of injury, your nail cannot reattach. Your nail will need to regrow from scratch, and this could take months to a year and a half.

There are some steps that you can take at home to promote nail regrowth after an injury. Our team at Arora Hand Surgery can explain more during a consultation at our office in Warren, West Bloomfield, Macomb Township, or Howell. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.

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Conditions Fingers General

What are the Symptoms of Nerve Damage in the Fingers?

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Since nerve damage in the fingers can give rise to a number of issues, you should be aware of these symptoms of finger nerve damage.

Your fingers are a marvelously designed mechanism for grasping, holding and controlling other objects. You depend on the fingers of your hands to help you function throughout the day. The intricate movements of the fingers are the result of highly fluid nerve reactions. Unfortunately, the nerves in your fingers can become damaged. When these nerves are damaged, this can seriously impair the finger’s ability to function in such an intricate and fluid way. Since finger nerve damage can give rise to a number of issues, the following are some examples of symptoms of finger nerve damage of which to be aware.

Total Loss of Motion

For a finger to be able to move, it must be able to receive nerve signals from the brain. If a finger is unable to move, this could indicate that there is potentially considerable damage to the nerve responsible for the motion of the finger in question. If a nerve is severed, such as when a finger gets chopped off and separated from the hand, this makes it impossible for such a finger to receive the nerve signal to invoke intricate movement. If the nerve pathway cannot be restored, then there is little chance that this finger will ever be able to move again due to the extensive nerve damage incurred when the finger and its nerve were severed.

Numbness and Burning Sensations

The sign that nerve damage is present in your fingers may manifest as some type of numbness or burning sensation. This is generally an indication that you are dealing with some type of neuropathy. This sensation can be a permanent sensation, or it may come and go depending on how your hand is positioned. Certain positions of the hand may impair the signal and nerve functionality more than others. If numbness and burning sensations in your fingers are an ongoing problem, you may need to see a doctor to determine if neuropathy is truly what these symptoms are implying.

Weakness

When you squeeze your fingers around an object, you need to be able to apply pressure over a consistent amount of time. If the pressure applied by one or more fingers varies over time, then the result will be a shaky grip. If this is not being done intentionally, then this could indicate nerve damage that suggests that the finger is getting too weak to maintain the ability to apply a stable force to the object you are attempting to hold.

As you can see, there are many different symptoms of nerve damage in the fingers. The good news is Dr. Arora and his team at Arora Hand Surgery can help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our office in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb Township!

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Fingers General

Fractured Knuckle? Visit Dr. Arora!

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fractured knuckle

There are so many reasons why you should see Dr. Arora at Arora Hand Surgery if you have a fractured knuckle. Your knuckles make movement of your fingers possible, and they help you achieve a certain skill level if you use them to play the piano or the guitar. They also give you the ability to work with your hands. When a knuckle breaks or is injured in some way, your fingers don’t move so well, and you may have pain accompanied by swelling. You won’t be able to use the hand that the broken knuckle is on until you get it treated.

Signs of a Broken Knuckle

The majority of people with a fractured knuckle first notice the injury by the immediate and strong pain it brings. This pain could get worse when you attempt to move the knuckle, but there’s also a chance the pain won’t increase when you move it. Your hand will get swollen in a matter of minutes, and you will be able to move your hand less and less as your hand continues to inflate.

It’s possible that your broken knuckle won’t be visible upon making a fist. If your knuckle recedes, you can be sure it is broken. You will see bruises around the broken knuckle. If the break is serious, the bruising will be as well. The bruises, like the pain, will appear as soon as the knuckle breaks due to blood loss in the vicinity of the break. As the swollen hand gets even more swollen, there may be numbness due to compression of the nerves in the fingers. Stiffness also occurs when you break a knuckle. It might get infected, and it may not completely heal.

Treatment Options

When you come to Arora Hand Surgery with a broken knuckle, our doctor will treat the injury according to the characteristics of the fracture. Treatment will also be based on how old you are, what you do for a living, and how much use of your hand you will need, among other factors. After your hand is examined, the treatment can begin.

Make sure to come to Arora Hand Surgery if you think you have a fractured knuckle or if you are dealing with any other type of issue with the hands, wrists, or elbows. Dr. Arora and his team are at the ready to assist you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our office in Howell, West Bloomfield, Warren, or Macomb.

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Fingers General Treatments

Surgical Reconstruction For A Nail Bed Injury

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Surgical reconstruction is an option for a nail bed injury.

Nail bed injuries are caused when the nail bed is pinched or crushed. This painful injury is commonly caused by the fingertips being shut in a door or struck with a hard object moving at a high rate of speed. It may feel like you are left to deal with the repercussions of your nail bed injury forever, but an option is surgical reconstruction.

A nail bed injury can include damage to the tissue, tendons, nerve ending, bone, skin, pulp and other structures that are around the nail bed. Common signs of a nail bed injury include a painful collection of blood under the fingernail, a cracked fingernail, or a fingernail that falls off. Once a nail bed injury is diagnosed, surgical reconstruction is one of the most effective ways to treat it.

Should the nail bed be destroyed or lost due to injury, a surgeon can reconstruct part of it or the entire thing by surgically grafting parts taken from the other fingers or toes. This can prevent future problems or deformities as the nail bed heals. A split-thickness graft is the type of graft most commonly used to repair a damaged nail bed through surgical reconstruction. This procedure is often used by surgeons when repairing a nail bed that is missing. This process can help to restore the use of a finger that is badly damaged.

Prior to the nail bed reconstruction surgical procedure being performed, it’s important to have a consultation with a member of our staff. An x-ray will likely be taken to determine how much damage has been done to the nail bed. This will help determine what the best next step for you is.

In most cases, all minor injuries are fully repaired, leaving the finger looking and functioning normally. Our team will help you understand what you should be able to expect from your surgical reconstruction for a nail bed injury.

If you are concerned about a possible nail bed injury, contact us today at Arora Hand Surgery and schedule your consultation. We proudly serve Michigan with offices in Warren, Macomb, Howell, and West Bloomfield. Contact us today and let us give you a hand!

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Fingers General

What are My Options for Broken Knuckles?

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Broken Knuckles

While the knuckles contain some of the strongest bones in the body, it is still possible to break them. A broken knuckle will likely cause a lot of discomfort, which will keep you from performing any normal activities with your hand. This is not only probably a massive inconvenience, but it is also very frustrating when you just want to continue living your daily life as normal. Seeking proper treatment is the only way to regain the use of your hand after suffering broken knuckles.

You will likely instantly start seeing symptoms after your knuckles are broken. Common side effects from broken knuckles include pain, stiffness, and loss of flexibility, particularly with the fingers. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms shortly after a hand injury, it is critical for you to see a doctor as soon as possible.

A member of our team of experts will help determine what is the problem with your hand or knuckles, and they will help you decide what the next step is for you. There are a few surgical and non-surgical options for treating broken knuckles.

Just like you rely on your friends in times of need, you knuckles can do a similar thing. A common way to treat broken knuckles is by attaching the finger of the broken knuckle to one of the fingers by it by strapping or taping them together. In some cases, a splint or traditional plaster cast will be also used. This is referred to as “neighbor strapping,” and the fingers are usually left like this for a few weeks. It is important to our specialists that you heal, but your comfort is also a high priority. Make sure to communicate your concerns during your consultation.

For more intense breaks, your hand may require surgery, and the severity of the break will affect the approach and hardware. Common hardware used for treatment are Kirschner wires, also known as K-wires, metal plates, or pins. Hardware is typically used internally, but the most extreme breaks may require external hardware treatment. Our expert team can help determine what is the best procedure for you and your break.

If you’re concerned about broken knuckles and want to take the next step to repair them, contact us at Arora Hand Surgery today to schedule a consultation at one of our Michigan offices. We proudly serve you from West Bloomfield, Warren, Howell, and Macomb. Let us help you today!

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Fingers General Treatments

Finger Nerve Damage Treatment and Diagnosis

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Finger nerve damage treatment can help you regain normal function in your hands, like simply gripping a phone.

Your fingers are invaluable to your ability to function each day. They perform critical tasks like tying your shoes, grasping doorknobs, handling eating utensils, and dozens of other things that you might take for granted. When you suffer nerve damage in your fingers, you quickly realize how important they are to your everyday life. You can regain your function and continue your daily routine without issues by learning what finger nerve damage is and how you can treat yours at Arora Hand Surgery.

As its name implies, finger nerve damage is damage to the nerves in your fingers. This condition can be caused by any number of factors like:

  • Injuries
  • Repetitive stress
  • Diseases like diabetes
  • Poor circulation

Finger nerve damage can affect people of any age, but it especially targets adults who suffer from illnesses like diabetes or work jobs that require them to perform repetitive tasks. However, it is one of the easier nerve conditions to diagnose and treat as long as it is addressed early before it results in permanent damage to the fingers.

Diagnosis

We may use a series of tests to determine if patients suffer from nerve damage in the fingers. We may diagnose you with this condition if you suffer from symptoms like:

  • Pain anywhere in your fingers
  • Tingling
  • Numbness
  • Burning
  • Visible deformities like drooping
  • Limited motion
  • Inability to use fingers properly or at all
  • Underlying disease like diabetes or poor blood circulation

If you have any of these symptoms, you may be diagnosed and treated for finger nerve damage.

Finger Nerve Damage Treatment

Nerve damage in the fingers responds well to a variety of treatment options. Depending on the severity and cause of your nerve damage, you may be advised to undergo a number of treatments. It is recommended that you follow the advice of our doctor if you want long-lasting or permanent relief from your finger nerve damage.

You can learn more about your treatment options for finger nerve damage during a consultation with Dr. Arora and his team at Arora Hand Surgery. We have offices in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, and Macomb. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and get started.

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Fingers General

Determining if You Have a Nail Bed Injury

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nail bed injury

You’ve suffered trauma to your nail. Whether it is your fingernail or your toenail, it can make your life miserable. You might have caught your nail in a door, had something dropped on it or broken a bone that caused damage to your nail as well. One of the first things that you are bound to notice is a lot of pain. If it happens to one of your fingers, it makes it very difficult to perform daily tasks that involve your hands. If it happens to your toes, you may be challenging to walk or to have an active lifestyle. Wearing a shoe on the affected foot can be such a struggle that you can only wear shoes with open toes. You have to be extremely careful about banging an injured nail because it is going to be painful for a long time until it heals. You most likely have a nail bed injury.

How Do You Know if You Have a Nail Bed Injury?

If your toenail or fingernail has been damaged in some way or has received a hard blow, you have probably damaged your nail bed. If blood gathers under the nail or if you have bleeding around the nail, you have nail bed damage. If the nail cracks and falls off, your nail bed has been injured. If the nail is torn from your nail bed, there is no doubt that your nail bed has been damaged by the experience. Bleeding, intense pain, sensitivity and evidence of torn skin are all signs that you have injured your nail bed. You can expect a lengthy healing process following your injury.

What Can You Do for a Nail Bed Injury?

Treatment for a nail bed injury will depend on how severe the damage is. If it’s as simple as blood pooling beneath the nail, the blood may be drained away or additional bleeding may be stopped. If there is any of the nail remaining, the nail can be removed. If there are any types of lacerations to the nail bed, these can be stitched. Once your nail bed has been treated, you can wear a splint on that finger or toe to protect it.

When caring for your injured nail bed at home, be sure to rinse it well, keep it clean with antibacterial soap and apply antibacterial ointment. When you are able, expose it to the open air to promote healing. However, when you are out and about, you need to keep your nail bed covered to keep it clean and avoid infection. It typically takes between three and six months before the nail grows back in.

See Our Doctor About Nail Bed Injuries

If you have been the victim of a nail bed injury, make an appointment to see our doctor for an evaluation at Arora Hand Surgery. Be sure to follow instructions and take good care of your injured nail bed while you are home. Contact us at our offices in Warren, Macomb, Howell, or West Bloomfield today to schedule your consultation and learn about your treatment options.

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Conditions Fingers General

Symptoms of Finger Nerve Damage

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finger nerve damage

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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Fingers General Treatments

Replantation of the Thumb

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replantation of the thumb

Replantation is the medical term for the surgical reattachment of a body part that has been completely separated from the body. It differs from transplants, which also involve attaching a body part to the patient, in that the part comes from the patient. In a transplant, the body part comes from another person. Replantation of the thumb is a common procedure that has helped many people in various situations.

What Does Replantation of the Thumb Involve?

The patient will need to be stabilized and their severed thumb cleaned before it can be replanted. The thumb should be rinsed to remove dirt, grass, etc. In the vast majority of cases, replantation surgery needs to be performed as quickly as possible. Replantation of the thumb can involve several different techniques, and the techniques used will depend on the situation.

The surgeon may need to use grafts or tissue spacers during certain steps of the procedure. Afterwards, the patient will spend some time recovering while the surgical team closely monitors their recovery.

What Does the Recovery Involve?

The amount of use the patient regains depends on how well the nerves grow and reattach themselves. It typically takes about a month for a nerve to grow an inch. The number of inches between the injury and the tip of the thumb can, thus, provide a rough estimate of how long it will be before the patient regains sensation in their thumb-tip.

During the recovery process, the patient should do what they can to encourage circulation to the reattached thumb. Since smoking impairs circulation, they should not smoke. They should also keep their thumb elevated above their heart to boost circulation. It is important to follow our team’s instructions regarding healing for optimal results. The patient may need to undergo physical therapy to restore their range of motion, prevent the joints from getting stiff and keep their muscles from getting atrophied.

Learn More About Replantation of the Thumb

Replantation of the thumb has the potential to significantly improve a person’s quality of life. This is because the thumb is a very important part of the hand, as well as the entire body. Thumbs help us to perform everyday tasks.

Dr. Arora at Arora Hand Surgery in Howell, Warren, Macomb, and West Bloomfield is proud to offer replantation of the thumb. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

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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.