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General Hands Treatments

Benefits of Undergoing Hand Surgery in Michigan

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Michigan

Deciding to undergo hand surgery is a serious decision. You want to make sure that you take the time to find the right doctor for you. You need your hands for so many tasks in life. You want them to be working at full capacity as soon as possible. You need to turn to a trusted source like Dr. Arora. You want a surgeon who concentrates on the hands in order to ensure that nothing is missed. Choose to undergo hand surgery at our office in Michigan and you will have more freedom once again.

Why Choose Hand Surgery?

The thought of having surgery can fill you with anxiety. It’s fear of the unknown that causes anxiety. When you choose to have your procedure performed by our talented surgeon in Michigan to address your concerns with your hand, you can have peace of mind. Trust that you will have a surgeon who understands the intricacies of the hand, someone who will help you to find the answers you need in order to have a successful experience.

Experience Relief with the Right Hand Surgeon

Once you have had an evaluation at our office in Michigan, you will be given recommendations regarding your treatment options. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have and find out all of the details about the procedure. You will be made a top priority when you come in for your procedure. Once our surgeon has corrected the issue with your hand, you will be given special instructions in order to make sure your recovery process goes as smoothly as possible. With time and patience, you will reap the benefits of your procedure.

Learn More About What Hand Surgery Can Do for You

If you have a problem with your hand that can only be solved with surgery, you need a hand surgeon in Michigan who can get positive results for you. Make an appointment to have a consultation at Arora Hand Surgery. For your convenience, we have two Michigan-based locations in Warren, West Bloomfield, Howell, and Macomb Township. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

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General Hands Treatments

Addressing Hand Tendon Problems

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If you have hand tendon problems that need to be addressed, make an appointment to see our hand surgeon in Howell, Warren, West Bloomfield, or Macomb Township.

If you suffer from hand tendon problems, it can get in the way of doing what you want to do in life. You may find yourself experiencing a lack of flexibility that makes it difficult to perform everyday tasks. A hand tendon problem could cause a visible change in the shape of your hand that makes you more self-conscious. Worst of all, it may cause you to experience chronic pain. If you have a problem that is affecting your hand tendon, Dr. Arora and his team could help you.

What are Your Options?

The first step is to diagnose the issues that you are experiencing with your hand tendons. Think of tendons like ropes that form connections between different muscles throughout your body. They run through your hands, connecting to the muscles in your fingers and your wrists. Problems with the tendons in your hands can cause a variety of issues in your life. You may find that you can’t bend your fingers properly and lack your usual flexibility. Your wrist may not bend easily either. This can make it difficult to hold on to objects, open objects, write, or do many activities that are a part of your daily routine.

One of the most common problems to affect the tendons in your hands is inflammation. Inflammation causes your tendons to become painful and swollen. Tenosynovitis is another type of inflammation that focuses on the sheath that encloses your tendons in your hands. If you overuse your hands, place strain on them, or experience some type of injury, you may experience this type of inflammation that also causes pain, swelling, and a lack of flexibility.

Once there is an understanding of why you are experiencing hand tendon problems, our team of professionals can find answers for you.

Learn More About Your Treatment Alternatives

After your hand tendon problems have been properly diagnosed at Arora Hand Surgery, you may be prescribed non-invasive treatments first. If these options are not effective, various procedures may be necessary in order to correct any damage that has occurred, make more room for tendons that have become swollen, or make any other changes that can help you to effectively manage your condition. With the proper treatment, you can eliminate pain and have increased flexibility once again. Don’t let your hand tendon problems get in the way anymore. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our hand doctor’s office in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb!

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Conditions General Hands

What are Dupuytren’s Contracture Syndrome Risk Factors?

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Dupuytren's Contracture Syndrome risk factors

Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition that causes deformity of the hand over time. With this syndrome, a layer of tissue grows under the skin of the palm, eventually creating a thick, knotted cord that pulls the fingers and causes them to bend. While there’s no cure for this condition, treatment can slow its progression and minimize its interference with everyday activities.

What Causes Dupuytren’s Contracture Syndrome?

While doctors aren’t exactly sure what causes this condition, certain groups of people are at a higher risk for developing Dupuytren’s contracture. It most commonly occurs in men older than age 50; while women can also develop this syndrome, their symptoms are typically less severe than those experienced by men. It’s also more common among individuals of European descent, as well as among those who have family members with this condition. Diabetes, smoking, and alcohol intake are also risk factors for this syndrome.

What are the Characteristic Symptoms of Dupuytren’s Contracture?

People with this condition first notice that the skin of their palm seems thicker. Over time, this evolves into knobs of tissue and puckering and dimpling of the skin. The condition is not usually painful, although the affected area may be more sensitive to touch. Over time, the fingers (most often the pinky and ring fingers) are pulled toward the palm.

How is Dupuytren’s Contracture Treated?

For many people with this condition, progression is so slow that treatment is not required at first. If the changes to your fingers make it challenging to perform your daily tasks, however, certain treatments can help alleviate its effects by breaking up the hardened tissue under the palm. Of course, we can go over the details of these treatments with you during a consultation at our office.

Learn More Information at Our Office

If you’re experiencing the symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture syndrome, schedule an evaluation at Arora Hand Surgery. We’ll be happy to recommend treatment options that can restore normal movement to your hand.

For your convenience, Arora Hand Surgery has locations in West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb, and Howell. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to learn more information about your treatment options!

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General Hands Treatments

What is Dupuytren’s Contracture Surgery?

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Dupuytren’s contracture surgery

Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition in which small nodules develop in the connective tissue in the palm. The nodules can eventually form cords of tissue that extend from the palm up one or more fingers, and the resulting structure pulls (contracts) the affected finger towards the palm. It can affect one or both hands, and one or multiple fingers per hand. It is not a life-threatening or painful condition, but it can cause serious disability, especially if it affects the thumbs. This is where Dupuytren’s contracture surgery can help.

What Causes Dupuytren’s Contracture?

The cause appears to be primarily genetic. It mostly affects people of Northern European descent who are in their 50s and 60s, although some cases have been reported in children and the elderly. Men are more likely to be affected than women. It is possible that smoking, diabetes, and certain medications may trigger the condition in susceptible people, but this hasn’t been proven for sure.

What are the Treatment Options?

For mild cases, injections into the cords or insertion of a needle to slice through the cords can correct the condition. For severe cases, however, a minor surgical procedure known as Dupuytren’s contracture surgery is necessary to restore normal function to the hand.

Any individual experiencing difficulty in using a hand due to this condition should consider surgical treatment. Dupuytren’s contracture surgery isn’t typically recommended for individuals who are not experiencing impairment. Removal of the nodules and cords prior to impairment will not prevent the condition from progressing to impairment because new nodules and cords will simply recur. Even after surgical treatment, new nodules and cords can form and it may be necessary to perform additional procedures.

After the surgical site has healed, most patients require a regimen of physical therapy to restore full use of the hand, particularly if more than one finger or the thumb had been affected. Some patients with severe cases may require months of physical and occupational therapy before regaining full hand function.

You can get all the facts about your treatment options, including Dupuytren’s contracture surgery, during an initial consultation with Dr. Arora at Arora Hand Surgery. We have offices in Warren, Howell, Macomb, and West Bloomfield. Contact us today to book your appointment!

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General Hands

Broken Hand Symptoms

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broken hand symptoms

There are 27 small bones in the hand. If there is a small break or fracture in one of these bones, then it can be extremely difficult and painful to use your hand. Since we rely on our hands to perform almost every task, you do not want to lose the use of a hand for too long because of a broken bone. The best way to ensure that you can quickly restore functionality to your hand is by seeking immediate treatment any time you believe that you may have a broken hand. There are some key broken hand symptoms that can indicate that you should visit our specialist as soon as possible.

There is absolutely no reason to avoid proper treatment for a broken hand because it should be very easy to notice that there is something seriously wrong with it. It usually takes an acute injury to break a bone in your hand. Some of the most common causes of broken hands are falls, sports injuries and accidentally crushing your hand. All these injuries will instantly cause pain, so they should be impossible to ignore.

In addition to the injury itself, the distinct broken hand symptoms also make it extremely easy to diagnose. A broken hand will cause you to experience swelling, bruising and intense pain. These symptoms will make it extremely difficult to move your fingers or grasp an object. In addition, the overall weakness in your broken hand will greatly limit your ability to perform normal tasks.

If you are struggling to use your hand after an accident or injury, then you need to get the hand checked out by our specialist as soon as possible. Permanent damage to your hand is the last thing you want to happen because you did not seek medical treatment. Once you arrive for your appointment, you will get an X-ray of your hand. This will allow our doctor to diagnose the problem and figure out the best treatment. Our specialist may also ask questions about the injury and feel your hand for a more accurate diagnosis.

Most broken hands will be treated with a splint to stabilize and immobilize the hand. The splint will remain on your hand until the broken bones are able to fully heal. Broken hands are known to throb at night, so you will be given pain medication to make it easier to sleep. You will also want to keep the broken hand elevated as much as possible while recovering. This will help reduce your pain and swelling.

Since every injury is different, it is hard to know exactly how long it will take to recover from your broken hand. If you follow all of our doctor’s instructions, then you should have a smooth recovery. Once the broken bones have fully healed, you will regain most, if not all, of the functionality in your hand.

If you are experiencing some of the more characteristic broken hand symptoms, you should seek medical care as soon as possible from our trusted specialist at Arora Hand Surgery in Warren, Howell, West Bloomfield, and Macomb. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment and discuss your broken hand symptoms with Dr. Arora.

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General Hands Treatments

Hand Injury? See a Hand Surgery Specialist in Southeast Michigan

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Hand Surgery Specialist

A hand surgery specialist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats disorders and injuries involving the hand, wrist and forearm. As such, hand specialists need to be able to treat the muscles, bones, skin, tendons and ligaments in the hand and neighboring area.

Most patients are referred to a hand specialist by their primary care physician.

What kind of training does a hand surgery specialist need?

A hand surgery specialist, also known as an orthopedic hand surgeon, is trained to perform surgery on the hand, wrist and forearm. They also learn how to treat injuries, diseases, deformities and congenital defects.

Like all medical doctors, hand specialists begin their education by going to medical school. After that, they serve a residency for five to seven years during which they study general surgery, orthopedic surgery or plastic surgery. After completing their residency, the hand specialist will undertake a fellowship devoted to hand surgery.

Hand surgeons often seek board certification, and they need to be certified twice. They will first need to be certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery. Only after earning the certification in general surgery can a hand specialist seek certification in hand surgery. To get that certification, the hand surgeon needs to take an exam administered by either the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery or the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

What does a hand specialist treat?

Common conditions treated by a hand specialist can include the following:

  • Fractures
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Arthritis
  • Sports injuries
  • Trigger finger
  • Tennis elbow

What is a ganglion cyst?

A ganglion cyst is a benign tumor and the most common growth that develops on the hand. While they can develop in different locations, they usually appear on the back of the wrist. The ganglion cyst grows out of tissues like a ligaments or joint linings, and it is filled with a slippery and viscous fluid.

While researchers have not found a definitive cause for ganglion cysts, they have observed that the cysts develop after repeated stresses to a joint. Ganglion cysts are most common in young people between 15 and 40 years old, and they are more common in women than in men.

Small ganglion cysts are generally harmless, but bigger ones can cause pain and muscle weakness by pressing on a nerve and affect appearance.

There are many ways to treat ganglion cysts ranging from simply watching to see if it goes away on its own through immobilizing the joint to surgically removing the cyst.

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow, more formally known as lateral epicondylitis, is a type of tendonitis that affects the outside of the forearm. It is caused by repetitive overuse that causes the tendons near the elbow to develop small tears. Those tears can cause inflammation and make it painful and difficult to grip or lift objects. Untreated tennis elbow can become chronic. Our hand surgery specialist can provide you with the proper course of treatment depending on your needs.

If you have suffered a hand injury, visit our trusted hand surgery specialist at Arora Hand Surgery, located in Howell, West Bloomfield, Macomb, and Warren. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and learn more!

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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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Conditions General Hands

Addressing Vascular Disorders in the Hand with Compression

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Vascular Disorders

Most vascular disorders do not happen in the upper extremities. Most people have these disorders in their legs or in their feet. However, when vascular disorders do happen in your upper extremities, they are often serious and, if not quickly treated, can lead to lasting problems.

Your arteries are designed to bring oxygen-rich blood from your heart and send it to your hands and fingertips. The veins in your hands and fingertips then take that blood back to your heart so that it can be re-oxygenated and the process continues. In your wrist, there is a pair of arteries that have the job of providing oxygenated blood to your hands. If something causes these arteries to malfunction, you may need to address the vascular disorder using compression.

There are a number of vascular disorders that can affect your hand. The medical community has divided these into five primary groups. They include:

  • Traumatic
  • Occlusive
  • Tumors
  • Vasospastic
  • Compressive

When vascular problems affect your hands, you’re going to notice a number of symptoms. The primary symptom you will experience is pain. A less obvious symptom is a change in the color of your fingertips. When there’s a problem with the flow of blood to your hands, you may develop ulcers that do not heal on their own. Being in a cold environment may be unbearably painful, and you may have a constant sensation of numbness or tingling, especially in your fingertips. Some individuals will experience a localized swelling around the affected blood vessels. Compression treatment may be advised as a way of improving the blood flow in your hands.

Our doctor is going to be able to identify and evaluate the vascular problems that you have by doing a physical examination of you. He will also examine you to see if there are signs of swelling, if your veins are swollen and if there is any discoloration. He will likely check the temperature of your hands as well.

The most common cause for vascular disorders in the hand is trauma. For example, if you get stabbed in your hand with a knife, it may damage your blood vessel. Even a cut that appears to be minor or innocuous can lead to some serious damage.

The same applies to a blunt force injury. Depending on the location of the injury, your blood vessels may swell, which can lead to blood clots. The result of this is that blood will not be able to flow to your fingertips, making them turn white, making them cold and making them very painful. Other injuries that could lead to vascular problems in your hands may not be as serious, but can still prevent blood flow.

During a consultation at Arora Hand Surgery, Dr. Arora may talk to you about available compression therapies that are designed to encourage proper blood flow into your hand. The extent of the therapy you will need and the length of the treatment will vary depending on the injury you have experienced. Contact us today to book an appointment at our office in Warren, Macomb, Howell, or West Bloomfield.

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General Hands

Things to Consider When Treating Hand Injuries

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hand injuries

We use our hands for so many things. A lot of the actions that we do with our hands are automatic. We don’t even think about it. We will gesture or grab something before we even realized that we’ve done it. Just about every person on the planet will sustain some type of injury to their hand at some point in their life. As such, they start to consider their treatment options and want to know what to expect when treating hand injuries.

Some of the injuries that we can have in our hands are directly related to the frequency with which we use them or the motions that we perform with our hands. A lot of people have overuse injuries or wear and tear injuries. Most people will hurt their hands or hurt their fingers while they’re playing sports, engaging in recreation, while on the job, while doing repairs at home or if they fall.

When you play contact sports, your hands are usually the first part of your body to suffer an injury. This is because when you fall, you automatically put your hands out trying to protect yourself from the fall. Children hurt themselves either because of not being aware of their surroundings or because they stick their hands in places where they should not.

Since there are so many ways that you can hurt your hand, it is impossible to give an exhaustive list of treatments that are available, as well as what exactly to expect while treating hand injuries. In most cases, a hand or wrist injury is going to be treated by using first aid techniques. This includes using brace, a splint or, in some cases, a cast. Depending on the severity of your hand injury, our doctor may recommend that you visit a physical therapist. The goal of a physical therapist is to help you restore the mobility of your hand, the flexibility of your hand and its strength.

Depending on the location and the severity of the damage, treating hand injuries may include some form of surgery. Since we are prone to hurt our hands on a daily basis, some people ignore hand injuries, putting off going to the doctor for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, the longer you ignore a hand injury, the more severe the treatment needs to be. This underscores the importance of an individual visiting our office immediately after sustaining a serious hand injury.

During a consultation with Dr. Arora at Arora Hand Surgery, you can learn more information regarding what to expect when treating hand injuries. We have locations in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, and Macomb. Contact us today to book an appointment to learn about your treatment options!

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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.