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When to See a Hand Doctor About Hand or Wrist Pain

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When to See a Hand Doctor About Hand or Wrist Pain

Your hands and wrists are incredibly important to your ability to work and play. Imagine trying to cook a meal, play catch with your kids, or even type up documents at work without the full dexterity and strength of your hands. It’s not a pretty picture, and anyone who’s ever experienced hand or wrist pain – even temporarily – can tell you how difficult it is to grip a soda can, a wrench, or even a pen with that feeling of pins and needles running through your palm and fingers. If this all hits home for you, hopefully this blog gives you a better idea when to see a hand doctor for that hand or wrist pain that refuses to go away.

It can be difficult to tell when to see a hand doctor or hand surgeon is necessary. We know questions such as these can play a role in how quickly someone decides to seek help:

  • Will this pain eventually go away?
  • Can I heal this on my own?
  • Do I really want to know what’s wrong?

We’ve seen many cases where a patient pinched a nerve in their hand, for example, and while it did heal on its own over a period of several weeks, the pinched nerve was indicative of a larger, more chronic problem. In general, if there are questions and a decreased ability to live your normal day-to-day life, we recommend calling a top hand doctor for an appointment immediately. Michiganders, here are some specific cases that absolutely warrant a call to your local Michigan hand specialist:

 

Prolonged Tingling or Numbness

Tingling and numbness – the feeling like your hand has gone “to sleep” – may be early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. If you hold your hands in a position that’s not ergonomically correct for long periods of time, you can compress the carpal tunnel, through which the main nerves to your hand travel. If those nerves are pinched, serious and permanent damage can be done.

If you notice your hands falling asleep regularly, or you get that pins and needles feeling for longer than a few moments, it’s time to call a hand doctor such as Dr. Avery Arora. Getting a proper diagnosis by a hand specialist now could save you a lot of pain and potentially a surgery that could have been avoided.

If you develop carpal tunnel and other repetitive motion injuries in the hands and wrists early, you can usually treat them with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, etc.), an ergonomic brace or stabilizer, and/or physical hand therapy.

 

Joint Pain in Your Hand or Wrist

Having trouble bending or flexing your fingers or your wrist? It’s time to call a hand doctor immediately. This may be a sign of either rheumatic arthritis or osteoarthritis, either of which can be treated, but, again, treatment is much more effective and much less invasive if you catch it early. For example, if you wait until you have lost function in your hands, you may never recover that function or you may need surgery to regain it.

When to See a Hand Doctor About Hand or Wrist Pain

Swelling in Your Hand or Wrist

Swelling in the wrist joints or in the joints of your fingers could be due to arthritis, but it could also be a symptom of a repetitive motion injury. Repeating the same motions can put increased strain and stress on the muscles and ligaments of your hands and wrists, which can then become inflamed, causing swelling, tenderness, pain, and/or numbness. Talk to your hand doctor right away to treat swelling in your hands, wrists, and/or your elbows before it becomes a bigger problem than it already is.

If you’ve been putting off speaking with a hand doctor about a hand, wrist, or elbow issue that has been bothering you, it may be time to get in touch with top MI hand surgeon Dr. Avery Arora. You can schedule an appointment at one of his four offices in West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb, or Howell, Michigan.

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Hands

Protecting Your Hands: The Most Dangerous Ingredients in Your Kitchen

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The Most Dangerous Ingredients in Your Kitchen

When you think about avocados, what comes to mind? Healthy eating? Delicious guacamole? To hand doctors, we see a hand threat that we’ll never be able to unsee again. You may be surprised that avocados (and bagels!) cause thousands of hand and finger injuries every year. That’s why we’ve decided to address the issue of identifying the most dangerous ingredients in your kitchen and how you can protect your hands when preparing food.

The avocado-slicing fiasco.

As popularity in America of this fruit has sky-rocketed over recent years, so have hand injuries related to it. According to a 2019 article in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, there were over 27,000 avocado-related knife injuries between 2013-2017.

If you’re reading this and realizing you’re not sure what the safest way is to cut an avocado, watch this video.

 

The bagel plague.

Similar to avocados, bagel injuries are also common in the kitchen. In 2008, a study found that nearly 2000 emergency room visits a year resulted from reckless bagel cutting techniques and cream cheese spreading techniques. The worst accidents were from eaters holding the bagel while cutting it in half, resulting in slashing open the palm (ouch!)

Here’s another video, this time, showing you how to safely handle bagels in your kitchen.

 

Other dangerous injury-evoking foods.

There are many other common ingredients that can also be finicky to prepare, so exercise caution with:

  • Slicing and peeling carrots, potatoes, and onions.
  • Cutting chicken or any thicker meats.
  • Hot water or hot oil that can easily splash and burn you.

The Most Dangerous Ingredients in Your Kitchen

We recommend replacing unstable cutting boards, dull knives or knives that are loose within their handles, and any other kitchen utensils that are no longer in their best form.

Here at Arora Hand Surgery, we care about your health. If you have injured your finger, hand, wrist, or elbow in the kitchen, visit an emergency room immediately. After recovery, if you feel there is a need to meet with a hand specialist, visit Dr. Avery Arora, Michigan’s top hand surgeon, at one of his southeast Michigan offices located in West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb Township, or Howell. We are here to help.

 

 

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Fingers Hands

Is My Finger Permanently Bent? | Dupuytren’s Contracture: What You Should Know

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Dupuytren’s Contracture

If you have fingers that look as if they bend permanently toward your palm, there’s a strong chance you have Dupuytren’s Contracture, a rare type of hand disorder that tends to take a number of years to develop. Many individuals mistake this condition for trigger finger, but the main difference is that Dupuytren’s Contracture affects the tissue while trigger finger involves the tendons. If you’re wondering “Is my finger permanently bent?” then continue reading to learn more about this condition.

Dupuytren’s Contracture has many names, some of which are:

  • Vikings disease
  • Contraction of palmar fascia
  • Dupuytren disease
  • Dupuytren’s contracture
  • Familial palmar fibromatosis
  • Palmar fascial fibromatosis
  • Palmar fibromas

This condition causes the layers of tissues that lay beneath the skin on the palm of the hand to begin to form knots. These knots thicken and can cause one or more of the fingers to bend, creating difficulty to perform normal, day-to-day tasks such as putting on gloves or grasping larger objects.

Dupuytren’s Contracture

In most cases, only the ring finger and the pinky are affected. In very rare cases, though, the condition can also affect the thumb and the index finger. An interesting fact is Dupuytren’s Contracture tends to affect older men who have a Northern European heritage.

 

What Is the Cause of Dupuytren’s Contracture?

Currently, the cause of Dupuytren’s Contracture is unknown. Researchers have not been able to find any evidence that it is related to hand injuries or any occupations that have repetitive stress issues from vibration. However, they have found a number of factors that can increase the risk of developing the condition.

  • Men, as mentioned before, are the most likely to develop the contracture, and it typically affects those who are 50 and over.
  • The condition also tends to run in families, indicating it could be genetic.
  • Those who have diabetes are also at an elevated risk.
  • Smoking can increase the risk of developing Dupuytren’s Contracture, as can alcohol.

 

Is My Finger Permanently Bent?

Once your fingers are bent from Dupuytren’s Contracture, it will no longer be possible to straighten them back to how they were before. Here at Arora Hand Surgery, we understand that this fact may be hurtful and jarring to hear.

However, we want to assure you that there are ways to reduce the effects of this condition through Dupuytren’s Contracture hand therapy, collagenase injection (a special enzyme that can soften and weaken larger lumps), needle injections that break up the hard tissue, or even Dupuytren’s Contracture hand surgery.

Speaking with a doctor is the first step in understanding how to proceed so that the condition can be reduced or even eliminated for several years.

 

Talking with a doctor.

You will want to speak with a hand specialist about this condition, so refer to your primary care physician who will then refer you to a local specialist. A hand specialist such as Dr. Avery Arora will want to know more about your medical history and how you have been dealing with the condition. Some questions Dr. Arora would ask would be:

  • Is a history of Dupuytren’s Contracture in your family?
  • Have you tried any Dupuyren’s Contracture treatments?
  • What medications are you taking?
  • When did the symptoms first start?
  • Are you experiencing pain?
  • Has the condition been getting gradually worse?
  • How does it affect your lifestyle?

Here at Arora Hand Surgery, we care about your health. If you are feeling finger, hand, wrist, or elbow pain, visit Dr. Avery Arora, Michigan’s top hand surgeon, at one of his southeast Michigan offices located in West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb Township, or Howell.

 

 

 

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General Hands

Keeping Your Hands Safe When Using Power Tools

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power tool safety

Injuries related to power tools are on the rise, largely due to the increase in DIY aficionados who take on projects after the holiday season. Things have slowed down and it’s too cold to go outside, so out comes the good ol’ “honey do” list. Before you get started, let’s talk about keeping your hands safe when using power tools this winter so that you can avoid hand injury treatment.

Professionals, although not immune to accidents, generally know that keeping their hands safe when using power tools comes from in-depth training and experience. However, an ambitious yet inexperienced person whose optimism may overshadow his or her risk assessment, may encounter dangers that are important to be aware of.

Table Saws

The table saw is probably the most dangerous power tool you can use. Equipped with a ten-inch blade spinning at 3500 revolutions per minute and an edger operating at over a hundred miles per hour, improper use of this tool can be a recipe for disaster. Always keep your hands away from the saw blade and edger. When feeding a piece of wood through the saw, push it using another piece of wood – never your hand. The momentum of your sawing movement may inadvertently and unexpectantly lead your hand toward the saw and then it’s too late to correct the mistake.

In any given year in the United States, approximately 60,000 injuries are due to table saw use. 3,000 of them result in amputation. We hate to paint such a grim picture of you, but we cannot stress how important it is to be careful when using this tool.

 

Nail Guns

Nail guns work by using compressed air to deliver a nail into a piece of wood at a pressure of approximately 120 pounds per square inch. Even a small nail gun can be very dangerous. About 42,000 injuries are reported annually, and 40% of those injuries are incurred by well-meaning do-it-yourselfers. In addition to puncture wounds to the hands and wrists, nails have often been delivered to other parts of the body too.

When using a nail gun, you should always make sure that it is in sequential mode as opposed to contact mode. This does add another step to the process since you need to pull the trigger instead of just depressing the muzzle but doing so can prevent injury. And obviously, keep your hands away from anywhere that a misfire could cause a nail to exit unexpectedly from the wood.

 

Chainsaws

power tool safetyWe probably don’t have to tell you the kind of damage that a chainsaw can do to your hands, arms, or other parts of your body. A chainsaw is very dangerous when used improperly and without the use of protective gear.  Over 30,000 chainsaw injuries are reported yearly in the United States, and the typical injury requires over a hundred stitches.

Now, if you’re thinking you can forego the protective gear, because after all, it is expensive, think about those 100+ stitches. Now, think about the fact that a pair of protective chaps costs about as much as one stitch in your hospital emergency room. Invest into proper gear, such as heavy duty gloves, so that you won’t have to be Googling “hand doctor near me” after a failed log cutting attempt. Here’s a helpful video on other chainsaw safety tips.

 

Circular Saw

It seems as if practically everybody owns a circular saw, but most people have no idea how to properly it. Most injuries are caused by people bracing a piece of lumber against their knee which is the most common method for injury that we see here in our offices. Other injuries are caused by using the saw with one hand while holding the wood with the other. You should always clamp the wood, so that you can keep both hands on the saw. We also highly recommend using a sawhorse for further insurance.

Power tools are among the greatest conveniences of modern life, but when handled improperly, they can be dangerous one-way tickets to hand and wrist injuries.

Here at Arora Hand Surgery, we care about your health. If you are feeling hand, wrist, or elbow pain, visit Dr. Avery Arora, Michigan’s top hand surgeon, at one of his southeast Michigan offices located in West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb Township, or Howell.

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Conditions Hands Wrists

Catch the Early Signs of Arthritis in Your Wrists and Hands

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early signs of arthritis

Very little in the world can make you feel older or more helpless than developing arthritis in your hands, body parts we often times take for granted. Fortunately, while there is no known cure for either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, if you catch the early signs of arthritis in your wrists and hands, treatment is possible. Hand Doctor Avery Arora can recommend ways to keep your hands and wrists flexible and strong for years to come.

First, let’s discuss the two types of arthritis and how they differ from one another. Then, we’ll get into the signs and symptoms that indicate the following:

  • if you’re developing arthritis
  • when to see a hand doctor
  • what kinds of treatment are available to you

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis v. Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that adversely affects the cells in your body that keep your joints coated and lubricated, whereas osteoarthritis is the “wear and tear” arthritis. The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, it seems to be linked to certain genetic components in association with environmental factors, including bacterial or viral infections.

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is caused by aging joints, obesity, and/or trauma to a joint (or joints). Osteoarthritis can affect just one joint or many. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect joints symmetrically. So, if you have fairly uniform symptoms in both of your hands and/or wrists, it is more likely that you have rheumatoid arthritis than osteoarthritis. To be absolutely sure, though, it’s best to talk with a your hand doctor for a proper diagnosis.

 

What Are the Symptoms of Arthritis?

If you exhibit any or all of the following symptoms, it is likely that you have arthritis in your hands and/or wrists, and it’s time to call the hand doctor:

  • Stiffness, pain, and/or swelling in the fingers, hands, and/or wrists
  • Warm hand or wrist joints, especially if they’re tender to the touch
  • Finger joint deformities
  • Numbness and/or tingling in hands and fingers
  • Pain, stiffness, and/or swelling that lasts more than an hour

Arthritis in the hands can be a serious problem, especially if you use your hands for your work. Whether you work in an office or a garage, pain and stiffness in your hands and wrists can mean major issues for your job. So, if you exhibit any of these symptoms, call a hand specialist immediately. This disorder will not just go away if left untreated.

 

Arthritis Treatment

Depending on how severe your arthritis is, your doctor may prescribe one of many treatment options. For mild arthritic pain, nSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin) may be effective enough to relieve pain and swelling. Some patients require a special wrist brace to stabilize the joints and keep them in the proper position so as not to cause any more damage.

Dr. Arora, Michigan’s top hand surgeon, may also recommend a change of diet and stress management, physical therapy, and/or rest and exercise. In some cases, surgery is necessary, but this can often be avoided if the disorder is caught and treated early. If you suspect that you’re suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, make an appointment with your hand doctor today.

Here at Arora Hand Surgery, we care about your health. If you are feeling hand or wrist discomfort and worry that it may be the first signs of arthritis, visit Dr. Avery Arora at one of his southeast Michigan offices located in West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb Township, or Howell.

 

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Hands

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – What Is It? And How Is It Diagnosed and Treated?

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carpal tunnel syndrome treatment in MI

Over the past couple of decades, due to a nationwide rise in computer (and now Smartphone) usage, carpal tunnel syndrome has become a household term. We’ve been warned for years of the importance of using the proper posture and hand positions when typing, texting, scrolling, and/or swiping on our laptops and mobile devices. If we don’t, we’re told we will inevitably develop carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) down the road… but what is carpal tunnel syndrome exactly?

While the term gets tossed around a lot, there’s often not a lot of explanation given as to what this syndrome actually is, how it is diagnosed, or how it is treated. Because of this, a lot of people assume that any hand or wrist pain incurred from typing or texting must be carpal tunnel syndrome. In this article, we’ll set the record straight on carpal tunnel and how it differs from other office work related injuries to the hands and wrists. Then we’ll discuss how it’s treated and when you should see a doctor or hand surgeon.

 

What Is Carpal Tunnel?

First of all, the carpal tunnel is a passageway inside your wrist, on the palm side, the function of which is to protect the tendons that run to your fingers and the major nerve that runs to your palm. So, yes, you have a carpal tunnel, but that doesn’t mean you have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the carpal tunnel is compressed, and that nerve is pinched. Early symptoms include numbness, and the syndrome eventually leads to weakness in the hand(s). It is so strongly associated with office work because the carpal tunnel can be compressed if you type with your hands at an angle, with your wrists resting on the desk or keyboard at a lower elevation than your palms.

How Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnosed?

If you experience hand or wrist pain or numbness after you’ve been typing or texting, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome, but you may also have another type of repetitive motion injury from your posture and hand position while typing. It’s important to get a professional diagnosis because self-diagnosis and at-home treatment could actually make things much worse if you are wrong about your condition.

To avoid a lot of pain and suffering, see your doctor immediately if you are experiencing tingling, numbness, or pain in your hands or wrists. Your general practitioner should refer you to a qualified hand surgeon who can help you. When you go in for diagnosis, your doctor may:

  • Perform a physical exam on your hand(s) to determine whether you’ve lost strength or suffered nerve damage
  • Take an x-ray of the affected area to rule out other possible causes of the pain or discomfort, such as an injury or arthritis
  • Use an electromyogram to test check for muscle damage and/or conduct a nerve conduction study to test for nerve damage

All of these tests will help to determine whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome or another problem with your hand and/or wrist. Carpal tunnel treatments include partial or total immobilization and stabilization of the wrist, hand therapy, and prescribed nSAIDs like ibuprofen or corticosteroids. If the condition progresses, surgery may be necessary, but if your problem is diagnosed and treated early, your orthopedic surgeon should be able to help you with non-invasive treatments.

Here at Arora Hand Surgery, we care about your health. If you are feeling hand or wrist discomfort and worry that it may be carpal tunnel syndrome, visit Dr. Avery Arora at one of his southeast Michigan offices located in West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb Township, or Howell.

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Hands

Yard Work and Gardening Shouldn’t Be Painful. Here’s What’s Happening if You’re Doing Them Wrong.

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Yard Work and Gardening Shouldn’t Be Painful. Here’s What’s Happening if You’re Doing Them Wrong.

There are two types of people in this world: those that look forward to spring and summer yard upkeep and those who dread it like the plague. It probably goes without saying why it’s dreaded by some; the activity itself can be draining and sometimes even leave you in pain. Yard work and gardening shouldn’t be painful, though. Aside from investing into helpful tools such as garden kneeling pads and wireless weedwhackers, here are some other ways to avoid pain during yard work and gardening.

 

The gardening and yard work actions that are causing pain.

When you’re working in the yard and garden, the aches and pains are exacerbated by the bending, crouching, grasping, and repetitive one-handed tasks. The problem with these actions is that you begin doing them incorrectly because the incorrect way feels “easier” – at least, it does in the beginning. Some examples of incorrect ways of movement are:

 

  • Exclusively twisting to the left if you’re right-handed (and vice versa)
  • Raking or digging with only the dominant hand
  • The ever-popular action of lifting heavy weight with the back instead of the legs

 

Ways to prevent gardening and yard work pain.

The trick to completing a weekend’s worth of outdoor upkeep and only feeling the satisfying dull ache of a hard day’s work without the pain is to learn the proper way to use your body and to know your limits. Our very own Dr. Avery Arora, a hand surgeon in the Detroit, Michigan area, says, “Your body will feel so much better when you fix the way you’re working. We encourage you to train the mind to do it correctly, and then you’ll find the body will follow suit.”

Yard Work and Gardening Shouldn’t Be Painful. Here’s What’s Happening if You’re Doing Them Wrong.

 

It’s all about examining the cause of the problem and then stopping it. Some tips that may help reduce future pain include:

 

  • Replace crouching and kneeling with the “armchair” position, pictured above.
  • Take breaks regularly. During your break, walk around and stretch your whole body, including your hands.
  • Engage all muscles by rotating arm and leg work. If you favor working one side of your body, slowly try completing the work with the other side. The non-dominant side may work a little slower, but that’s okay.

 

Gardening and yard work is, without a doubt, a workout. If you consider a three-to-four-hour workout pretty extensive, remember to apply that same thought to your outdoor tasks as well. Work your body’s limit just the way you would in a gym, and then start again another day.

 

Here at Arora Hand Surgery, we care about your health. If you feel as if you’ve suffered a hand, wrist, or elbow injury due to gardening or yard work, visit Dr. Avery Arora at one of his southeast Michigan offices located in West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb Township, or Howell.

 

 

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Elbows Hands Wrists

Common Ping Pong Injuries & How to Prevent Them

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preventing table tennis hand injuries

For a game that is generally considered to be mild on the activity spectrum of sports, ping pong boasts a fairly strong injury record among its players. Here at Arora Hand Surgery, we see injuries resulting from the game pretty regularly, but the good news is, our patients’ injuries are usually treatable and have quick recovery times. In this blog, we’ll talk about common ping pong injuries and how to prevent them.

Due to its abrupt and bursts-of-movement nature, ping pong’s common injuries usually occur to the limb that holds the paddle. In the upper extremities, the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints are the most vulnerable injury spots, with ankles coming in at a close second.

 

How dangerous is ping pong?

As one of the most popular sports in the world, this all-age sport is generally considered to be on the safer side of extracurricular activities. When injuries do occur, it’s usually in players who perform at high levels of athleticism and play very regularly. When pain begins to occur, we see that it’s due to bad stroke habits, hitting too hard, and not warming up correctly.

What should you do when you feel pain?

First, we want to clarify that when muscles contract regularly, tenderness is to be expected. However, if you notice that the tenderness or “ache” has evolved into a dull or sharp pain, we encourage you to stop playing and see a physician immediately if the pain does not go away after 24 hours.

What are the most common injuries from ping pong (or table tennis)?

There are several injuries that occur from ping pong, the following are the ones we see the most often at our office:

Tennis elbow – a painful condition identified by inflammation of tendons that connect the hand to the elbow. This is usually caused by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm.

Wrist sprain – this occurs when the strong ligaments that support the wrist stretch far beyond their limits or actually tear from a twisted force.

Rotator cuff injury – these account for around 10% of the injuries we see from ping pong. They are caused by progressive wear and tear of the tendon tissue over time.

How to prevent ping pong or “table tennis” injury:

  1. Choose a lighter racket.
  2. Wear stabilizing wristbands.
  3. Warm up!
  4. Learn about the energy linking cycle and how it can prevent injury in the sport of ping pong.
  5. Stop playing when an ache has progressed into a pain.

ping pong hand injuries

Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ping pong, or table tennis, injuries are very important for your safety. If you think you’ve suffered an injury or want to know more about hand, wrist, and elbow injury treatment options, make an appointment to see Dr. Arora, the hand specialist himself, at his West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb Township, or Howell office.

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General Hands Treatments

Scar Removal & Treatment: How Dr. Arora Minimizes the Appearance of Hand Scars

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The type and extent of a scar will determine the best hand scar removal and treatment options, as represented by this image of a scar on a man's hand.

Most patients ask us about any potential scarring on the hands or wrists prior to undergoing surgery, and their concerns are understandable. The truth is that most hand surgeries may result in some minor scarring. In most cases, however, we find that dramatically better than having to live with the pain, discomfort, and appearance of the initial condition, and most patients definitely agree.

The good news is that most hand scars after surgery are very minor, almost unnoticeable. Even when they are slightly more pronounced, our hand doctor offers scar removal and treatment options that can minimize their appearance.

Dr. Arora can also minimize scars due to injury or minor burns, as well as some skin imperfections that were present at birth.

Why Scars Form

Most of us know what scars are and likely have one or more. Before we get into how scars are treated, however, let us talk about why scars form in the first place. We think it’s rather fascinating, actually, and it just goes to show how smart our bodies really are!

Scars are essentially the body’s natural Band-Aid or stitches. They form as a part of the healing process after your skin has been cut, burned, scratched, or otherwise injured. The skin repairs itself by growing new tissue in gaps, and that tissue pulls the wound together. Without the body’s natural ability to grow this new tissue to “stitch” the skin back together, your body would be at risk of infection, expansion of the injury, permanent damage, or worse.

Scar Removal & Treatment Options at Arora Hand Surgery

The type and extent of a scar will determine the best scar removal and treatment options, especially in the case of burns. If a scar is associated with damage to tissues beneath the skin, including the nerves and tendons, other treatment options may be necessary. If the scar is superficial, meaning it’s only on the surface of the skin, treatment can be effective.

Several different procedures are commonly used to minimize the appearance of scars.

Scar Massage or Vibration

Massaging the area with petroleum jelly, cocoa butter, or hand lotion can loosen the skin. The area should be massaged in the direction of the scar for 10 minutes twice a day. After about 3 months, you should start to see some results.

Exercises

We know. … Suggesting controlled exercise programs for scars seems counterintuitive. You’re trying to reduce the scars, after all, not beef them up or give them more endurance!

But think of it as telling your body, “Hey, you don’t have to panic and build up all this extra tissue. I’m taking care of it in a different way. See what I’m doing to help you?”

And of course, we’re not talking about weightlifting or cardio. The exercises are based on stimulating nearby joints and tendons to keep them gliding smoothly under the skin.

Pressure Therapy

Pressure therapy is typically used right after surgery or after a burn. Applying a pressure garment over dressings to a wound while it’s healing can minimize the appearance of scars, or at least help keep them flatter.

Silicone Gel

Placing a thin layer of silicone gel over the area serves as a bandage, and the gel can remain on the hands throughout the day. If Dr. Arora recommends this scar treatment remedy for you, the gel should be used for at least 12 hours per day for a minimum of three months.

Injections or Surgery

Burn scars or other injuries may require surgical treatment. (Serious, high-degree burns may need to be treated at specialized burn centers, such as those at the University of Michigan and the Detroit Medical Center’s Detroit Receiving Hospital.)

Treatment options include:

1. Collagen injections/fillers

Some skin care professionals can inject collagen into the area to create a smoother appearance.

2. Scar revision surgery

Scar revision surgery attempts to minimize a scar to make it less visible as well as blend in with the surrounding skin.

3. Skin grafts

Natural skin or a synthetic material can be used to fill skin at the area, or the surgeon would remove the scar and then replace the skin with the synthetic material.

4. Excision

Scars are cut out and removed during a surgical procedure, although this may leave a smaller scar in this place.

5. Laser surgery

Unlike excisions, laser surgery does not involve cutting out the scar. Instead, a fractional laser light is used to break down scar tissue and trigger healthy new tissue to form at the site.

6. Dermabrasion

Offered by some dermatologists and plastic surgeons, dermabrasion is an exfoliating technique that uses a rotating instrument to remove the outer layers of skin.

Not all these injections or surgeries are available through Arora Hand Surgery, although we can recommend other skin care professionals who may be able to assist you. These techniques are also not ideal for every patient; it depends on the types of scars you have and how deep they are, as well as a combination of your preferences and Dr. Arora’s recommendations. Talk with Dr. Arora, a dermatologist, or a plastic surgeon to see if any of these options are suitable for you.

If you want to know more about wrist and hand scar removal and treatment options, make an appointment to see the hand specialist at his West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb Township, or Howell office.

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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.