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When to Consult a Hand Surgeon

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Hand Surgeon

Your hand is such a delicate yet intricate marvel of design. That is why the surgeons who operate on your hand need to be highly skilled. Our experienced hand surgeon can help you if you’re dealing with pain as a result of an injury, a congenital defect, or overuse of your hand.

The primary reason why people consult our hand surgeon is because they’ve injured their hand. Hand injuries are exceptionally common simply because we use our hands for everything. It is not rare for a person to hurt their hand with a power tool, break a finger, develop carpal tunnel syndrome, or develop other syndromes that are associated with overuse. Left on their own, injuries to the hand do not get better. This is because regardless of if your hand is injured or not, you are going to keep using it. You’ll keep using your hand until the injury has gotten so bad that you cannot use your hand anymore. You may try at-home treatments, but you are going to reach a point where all of these things fail. When that happens, you should get in touch with our hand surgeon.

There are some degenerative disorders that can affect your hand. One of the more common degenerative disorders that affects people today is rheumatoid arthritis. This condition is disabling. It leaves your hand deformed and makes it difficult for you to straighten your hand out or use your hand normally in everyday actions. Rheumatoid arthritis not only limits the quality of your life, but it also minimizes just how independent you can be. There are different steps that our hand surgeon can take to help individuals dealing with rheumatoid arthritis.

Congenital defects of the hand are also very common. This is because your hands are some of the last things to fully develop in the womb. Hand defects not only limit what a person can do physically, but they can also lead to emotional pain.

The hands and the wrists are unbelievably complex. Before any type of procedure is formed on them, you should have an in-person conversation with our skilled hand surgeon at Arora Hand Surgery. Dr. Arora’s goals are to help improve functionality, help improve aesthetics, and help improve the overall workings of your hand. All of this should lead to a better quality of life overall.

Arora Hand Surgery has offices in Warren, Macomb Township, West Bloomfield, and Howell. Contact us today to schedule a time to consult our hand surgeon!

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Elbows General

What is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?

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Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

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.

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General Treatments Wrists

Treating Fractures in the Wrist

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fractures in the wrist

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!

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General

Why Visit a Hand Specialist?

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hand specialist

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!

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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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Conditions General

Early Signs of Arthritis

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Arthritis

Arthritis doesn’t describe a single disease; it actually describes a group of joint diseases. There are over 100 types, and many are characterized by pain and stiffness in the joints. Some types affect other parts of the body like the skin, eyes or even the heart.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most common type. The symptoms can vary depending on which joints are affected and on the severity of the disease. It most commonly affects the joints in the arms, legs, lower back and hips.

Pain, stiffness and tenderness are the earliest symptoms of osteoarthritis. In the early stages of the condition, the symptoms tend to be worse when the patient is physically active. They then fade when the patient rests. As the disease progresses, the symptoms persist even when the patient is resting.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

This is another common type, and it is caused by an autoimmune disorder that attacks the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis most commonly affects the knees, elbows, hips, shoulders, hands and feet. In its early stages, it resembles other types of arthritis. Unfortunately, the disease’s most characteristic symptoms, like the formation of nodules or the erosion of joints, don’t develop until the disease is fairly advanced.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the smaller joints first, so patients will usually feel pain and stiffness in their hands before their shoulders are affected. Wrist joints are often among the first to be affected, so a patient has trouble bending their wrist backwards even during the early stages of the disease. The patient will also often feel tingling and numbness in their hands and/or fingers. Other early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include fatigue, weight loss and a low-grade fever.

Other Types of Arthritis

Some of the other types, as well as conditions that can be related to the disease, include:

  • Metacarpophalangeal joint
  • Thumb basal joint
  • Kienbock’s Disease
  • Psoriatic
  • Joint replacement surgery

Treatment Options

If you are dealing with this troubling condition, take a moment to get in touch with the team at Arora Hand Surgery. There are treatments available that can help to alleviate your symptoms. We have offices in West Bloomfield, Howell, Macomb, and Warren. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to learn about your treatment options.

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General

Reasons to See a Hand Surgeon

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hand surgeon

We use our hands, our wrists and our forearms all day long. They allow us to perform a wide range of activities. Our hands are a marvel of design. They are unbelievably flexible, but at the same time, they are strong. They allow us to grasp large and heavy objects, but they are delicate enough to allow us to pick up a small needle off the floor. Whether we are driving or working, we use our hands. As such, if you have an issue with your hands, it may be necessary to consult with our hand surgeon.

When the joints and the tendons in our hands are working properly, we can do complicated tasks without even thinking about them. However, when we are experiencing pain or when there is another source of injury in our hands, we are left with a limited range of motion that can make seemingly simple things challenging. Certain tasks become all but impossible.

When this is the case, it might be the right time to visit our hand surgeon. A lot of conditions that affect your hands can get worse if they’re not treated immediately. Some of the same conditions can be permanently corrected as long as they are caught in time.
So, what does a hand surgeon do? Well, a hand surgeon specializes in diagnosing and addressing problems of the hand. They also understand how your forearms and your shoulders work. This is because a lot of issues that might seem like they stem from your hands could actually be problems with your forearms or your shoulders.

Our hand surgeon specializes in surgery, and he is uniquely qualified for the work that he does. However, he is also skilled in using non-invasive techniques when it comes to treating the joints, tendons and muscles in your hands and in your arms.

If you feel pain in your fingers, your wrists or your hands that does not go away after a few days, you may want to speak with our hand surgeon. This is also true if you find it hard to do daily functions that you used to do with ease.

It is especially important to talk to our hand surgeon if you have pain in the joints of your hands that seems like it gets worse when you’re not doing anything. Or if you notice that your hands and your wrists are swollen, contact our office. Anything that limits the range of motion of your hands should be a cause for concern.

Certain symptoms such as redness, fever or inflammation could be a sign that you have an infection in your hand. This should not be taken lightly. The same is true for any injuries or cuts on your hands.

If either of your hands is causing you any trouble, get in touch with the team at Arora Hand Surgery right away. During a consultation at our office in West Bloomfield, Macomb, Howell, or Warren, our experienced and skilled hand surgeon can assess your condition and come up with a safe and effective way to treat it. He will only use surgery as a last resort. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to learn more!

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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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General Hands Treatments

Treating Infections of the Hand

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Infections of the Hand

Infections of the hand can range in seriousness from relatively minor to severe. They are most commonly suffered in the fingertips in the form of a pus-filled infection that keeps the finger from bending down all the way. If an infection of the finger is not taken care of in a timely manner, it can lead to a spread in the infection or even loss of the finger.

Common Types of Hand Infections

The most common kind of infections of the hand takes place in the fingertips, usually along the edges of the fingernail, and is called a paronychia infection. Paronychia infections often start slowly and build up to full-blown infections over the course of two to three days. Symptoms begin with redness and a slightly painful itchiness in the area as well as swelling. As the days go by, the swelling will become worse and there might be a greenish or yellowish bump in the skin on the side of the fingernail. This is the most common type of hand infection caused by bacteria.

Felon infections are somewhat similar to paronychia infections. The fingertips will hurt quite a bit and become swollen. As the swelling gets worse, the skin outside the infection will harden and become painful to the touch. Usually, there is a collection of pus on the bottom palm side of the finger. This pus is usually removed the same way as with paronychia infections. Whether the infection is caused by bacteria or a virus, the treatment for these kinds of infections are almost the same.

Treatment for Pus-Filled Infections of the Hand

In the case of a pus-filled infection like a paronychia infection, the most important part of treatment is to drain the pus in order to stifle the infection. The finger is irrigated with a special solution in order to remove the debris and keep the infection from progressing. The wound is wiped clean with alcohol pads and a topical antibiotic is applied to the wound and, most often, prescribed as well.

Complications Caused by Hand Infections

When the cause of the infection in a hand is not known, lab tests may be necessary to find the cause. Sometimes infections of the hand that tend to recur or move to different regions of the hand might be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

Some people with pre-existing conditions such as those with a weak immune system, diabetes and peripheral arterial disease should get medical attention as soon as possible at the first sign of an infection in the hand. These health conditions might make the infection very serious, causing it to spread to other areas of the body.

At Arora Hand Surgery, we are proud to diagnose and treat various infections of the hand. If you suspect that you have an infection, contact us today to schedule a consultation at our office in Warren, Howell, Macomb Township, or West Bloomfield!

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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.