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“I Slipped on the Ice and Hurt My Wrist”

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I Slipped on the Ice and Hurt My Wrist

Winter brings icy challenges to the residents of southeast Michigan, and one of those challenges is navigating the ice-covered roads and sidewalks. The risk of ice-induced falls and injuries increases dramatically this time of year and we’re seeing it for ourselves in patients coming in since the recent snowfall. So many make an appointment with Dr. Avery Arora, our Top Doc hand surgeon, and reveal, “I slipped on the ice and hurt my wrist.” The solution? Read on to learn more about what you can do with this injury and others.

Types of Winter Injuries 

The Twisted Wrist:
  • Common hand-related injuries from winter falls include wrist sprains or fractures.
  • Check for arm crookedness to determine a potential fracture; seek emergency care if confirmed.
  • If there’s no crookedness, it’s likely a sprain; self-treat with ice, elevation, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.
  • If the pain persists, you may require an X-ray to rule out a fracture and should schedule an appointment with a hand doctor immediately.

I Slipped on the Ice and Hurt My Wrist

The Elbow Joint Injury
  • Swelling in joints like the elbows may indicate an internal injury.
  • If severe swelling happens immediately and won’t go down, seek prompt medical attention.
  • If you’re able to move the joint without numbness, monitor for improvement over a few days.

 

The Tailbone and Hip Fall
  • For tailbone injuries, treat at home with ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Consider a donut pillow if sitting is painful; healing time varies.
  • For hip injuries, know that an inability to walk suggests a potential break; seek immediate medical attention. If you’re walking with minimal pain, that indicates possible bruising; treat at home and monitor.

 

The Head Hit
  • Arguably the worst injury of them all, if you’ve fallen on ice and hit your head, it’s important to determine if you have a concussion immediately.
  • Mild concussion symptoms include headache, difficulty concentrating, nausea, and irritability.
  • Severe concussion symptoms include numbness, vision issues, slurred speech, or severe vomiting and require immediate emergency attention.

 

Ice Fall Prevention Tips

  • Avoid falling by walking in areas with minimal ice. We know that’s obvious advice, but you’d be surprised at how many people tell us they fell because they weren’t paying attention. Stay alert, focused, and intentional when walking outside – your body will thank you for it.
  • Invest into proper footwear with good traction to wear when walking on icy surfaces. If you live in Michigan and you still don’t own boots with good traction, it’s about time you bought some. It’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll be navigating snow every winter, so it’ll be well worth it!

If you suspect you have suffered a winter-related injury in Michigan, there are many reputable hand doctor options from the Ascension or Beaumont healthcare systems or you can seek assistance from a qualified medical professional at a private practice. Arora Hand Surgery, led by Dr. Avery Arora, a specialist in upper extremity problems and a top Michigan hand doctor, has helped countless individuals alleviate their hand, wrist, and elbow related pain. You can contact the practice, with four locations in West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb, and Howell, at (888) 392-4263 or schedule your consultation online through the website.

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The Most Common Crippling Hand Disease That You’ve Never Heard Of: Dupuytren’s Contracture

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Dupuytren’s Contracture or “Viking finger”

The hands are often times the most taken-for-granted parts of our body. It is only when they start malfunctioning that you recognize how compromised your life can become without their full function. One common and crippling hand disease that you’ve never heard of is the culprit for many men and women over the age of 45, and it’s called Dupuytren’s Contracture or “Viking finger.”

 

Signs of Dupuytren’s Contracture

Also known as Dupuytren’s disease, this condition shows itself with signs such as a tightening feeling in your hands, hand cramping for no apparent reason, and/or the bending of a finger toward your palm. The tightening you’re feeling is in the fascia of your hands. Fascia are fibrous tissues that are located inside the palms of your hands, and progressive tightening can eventually result in difficulty using the hand along with an unsightly, claw-like appearance as your fingers begin to curl inward.

 

Diagnosing Dupuytren’s Contracture

As you might expect, diagnosis of Dupuytren’s contracture is done by examining the hand. During the examination, Dr. Arora will usually find a tender nodule in the neighborhood of the third or fourth finger in the palm. Initially, this nodule may cause pain, but eventually it will go away as the fingers begin to curl inward.

In order to effectively confirm or rule out Dupuytren’s contracture, a hand doctor such as MI hand surgeon Dr. Arora, will take down your complete medical history to determine if there is anything in your medical background that could be connected with the condition.

If you consume excessive amounts of alcohol or if you have diabetes or epilepsy, you are at a higher risk for Dupuytren’s contracture, although these are simply factors that go hand-in-hand (no pun intended) with Dupuytren’s contracture.  The true cause of the condition is not known.

What is known is that the condition appears to be hereditary, it appears more commonly in men than in women, and usually appears after the age of 45. There also appears to be a genetic component but having the genetic makeup that is present in Dupuytren’s contracture sufferers does not necessarily mean that you will develop the condition. Approximately 5% of Americans have Dupuytren’s contracture. In about half of cases, both hands are affected. Interestingly, when the disorder affects only one hand, it is twice as likely to be the right hand.

Treating Dupuytren’s Contracture

If the condition is identified before the fingers start to curl inward, injection of a corticosteroid can relieve the symptoms. It is important to note, though, that this will simply ease the symptoms – it will not halt the progression of the condition.

Occasionally, Dupuytren’s contracture will go away without treatment, but sometimes at some point surgery may be required. Even after surgery, hand function may be limited. This is because removing the diseased fascia is not an easy procedure – the fascia protects a multitude of blood vessels, nerves and tendons, so the hand surgeon has to err on the side of caution.

viking finger

The Final Word

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture, it is important that you see a competent hand surgeon such as our very own, Dr. Avery Arora a hand surgeon in metro-Detroit, in order to determine if the cause is actually Dupuytren’s disease or due to another condition. You can then work together to agree on a course of treatment, which could include corticosteroid injections, hand therapy, and/or surgery. Although Dupuytren’s contracture does sometimes simply go away without treatment, that is the exception and not the rule.

If you believe you are suffering from this disease, 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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Most Common Types of Hand Surgery

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Most Common Types of Hand Surgery

There are many different types of hand surgeries to treat injuries and common conditions such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more. Medical advances over the years have made hand and wrist surgery safe and reliable, so if you’re a candidate for hand surgery and are wondering if your surgery ranks in the most common types of hand surgery in the US, take a look at our list to find out.

Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs after a period of time where there has. been ongoing compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. The condition results in pain that can potentially be relieved by surgery. Surgery aims to reduce the compression or the pressure on the nerve.

After the relatively simple procedure, patients are discharged the same day as the operation. After the operation, treatment recommendations include waiting to do heavy tasks or repetitive motions for at least a month. Complete recovery usually takes less than a month following the operation and allows a patient to eventually resume normal tasks. This is one of the most common surgeries performed by Dr. Avery Arora, a Michigan hand doctor.

Most Common Types of Hand Surgery

Dupuytren’s Contracture Fasciectomy Surgery

Dupuytren’s disease is when an abnormal tissue growth forms on the deep tissue of the fingers or the palm of the hands. Although the presence of the tissue does not cause pain, it may make the fingers curl, leaving the fingers unable to stretch out completely. Surgery releases the fingers by removing the tissue that causes the curling of the fingers. The method developed into an outpatient procedure, and healing is about two weeks long.

Two weeks after the surgery, patients may already regain some level of functionality in their hands. Therapy helps in most cases to ensure that hand function and movement will return close to normal.  A newer form of treatment is simple injection with XIAFLEX. This is a new drug that digests the abnormal tissue growth. Dr. Arora is well-versed with this treatment and may offer it to qualified patients.

 

Trigger Finger Release Surgery

“Trigger finger” occurs when the finger bends normally without any problem but cannot straighten due to the tendon becoming stuck. In other words, the finger remains curled. Surgery for “trigger finger,” releases the tendon from the tendon sheath that makes the tendon stuck. This is performed as an outpatient procedure. Recovery is quick and takes about two weeks with normal healing and good care.  You may not even require surgery and often a steroid injection can remedy this condition. Talk over your suggested treatment plan for this condition with Dr. Arora.

 

Tendon Repair Surgery

The hands and the wrist have two groups of tendon: the flexor tendons which allow the fingers to flex so that the hands can grip and curl, and the extensor tendons which allows the fingers to open up. Both these groups of tendons may rupture due to arthritis or the rubbing of the tendon on the bone. Surgery can repair the tendons.

After tendon repair healing takes about 6-12 weeks. Therapy ensures that the tendon will return to normal function. Full recovery from the surgery in most cases occurs in three months with good care and general good health of a patient.

 

If you believe you are suffering from one of these conditions, 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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Looking for a Hand Surgeon in Michigan? Here are a Few Tips that May Help

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Searching online is one step toward finding the best hand surgeon in Michigan near you, as represented by this image of a woman's hands near a computer.

As you are looking for a hand surgeon in Michigan, you may find yourself overwhelmed with questions. Knowing what to look for is the first step toward finding the best hand specialist in Michigan for you.

Following are a few factors you should look into as you are researching your options.

6 Factors to Consider When Searching for the Best Hand Surgeon in Michigan for You

  1. Review your options online.

You can find many hand doctors near you by completing a simple online search, but it’s important to then narrow down your options. Review each physician’s website as well as the reviews on sites like Facebook, Google, and Yelp.

  1. Ask for word-of-mouth referrals.

As noted by Invesp, 88% of consumers placed the highest level of trust in word-of-mouth recommendations from people they know. And there’s a reason for that. Word-of-mouth is genuine and real, and there’s no need to wonder about the integrity of the individuals who are providing the input. For that reason, one of the best ways to find the best hand surgeon in Michigan to treat your particular concern is to ask people you trust about doctors they may have seen in the past.

  1. Make sure the hand specialist can address your specific concerns.

As you are reviewing a physician’s website, make sure the doctor has experience in treating what you believe is your particular condition. For instance, if you are experiencing pain in your wrists and suspect it might be carpal tunnel syndrome, look for a hand surgeon in Michigan who has expertise in carpal tunnel syndrome treatment.

  1. Find a hand doctor who accepts your insurance.

Take some time to contact each potential hand doctor’s office and/or your insurance provider to find a doctor who accepts your insurance. If you need a referral to see a hand specialist, consider your primary care physician’s suggestions. Your primary care provider likely has plenty of knowledge regarding nearby hand surgeons’ expertise and patient care standards.

  1. Look for a hand specialist near you in southeast Michigan.

While distance is far from the most important factor in finding the best hand surgeon in Michigan for you, it’s still important. If you expect that you will need surgery, you will likely need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. You may have follow-up appointments as well. Most importantly, in some cases you will need physical therapy after your surgery, so finding a hand specialist near you is convenient.

  1. Research a specialist’s credentials to ensure he or she is qualified and experienced.

When you are trying to find a hand doctor, the physician’s level of experience matters. The more experience a physician has, the more likely he or she has identified what works and what doesn’t, and that means more optimal treatment for your hand, wrist, or elbow condition.

Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Arora

Once you have completed your search for the best hand surgeons in Michigan for you, we have no doubt that Dr. Avery Arora will appear at the top of your list. With offices in Oakland County, Macomb County, and Livingston County, Dr. Arora treats virtually any conditions of the hand, wrist, and elbow.

For diagnosis and treatment of your condition, schedule an appointment to see the doctor in Warren, West Bloomfield, Macomb Township, or Howell.

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General Hands Uncategorized

Smoking & Your Hands: 16 Statistics, Factors, and Facts You Might Not Realize

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Smoking affects your hands in numerous ways, including premature aging of the skin on your hands and a slower ability to heal after cuts. This is an image of a smoker's hands with a lit cigarette.

Even though cigarette smoking has greatly declined in recent years, nearly 40 million U.S. adults still smoke, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. We don’t need to rehash all the dangers of smoking as it relates to your overall health, as we’re sure you have heard them time and time again. What the media might not talk about as much, however, is how smoking affects your hands.

Some of the effects of smoking on your hands are obvious, such as the scent and the stains. You almost couldn’t ignore those if you tried.  And then there are the effects you might certainly feel but not associate with smoking at all.

Consider the following facts, according to sources such as the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

1. Studies show that smokers have decreased blood flow in the skin of their fingers as compared to non-smokers.

2. Smokers have increased vascular resistance, which means the vessels are tighter, most likely because smoking increases the amount of adrenaline in the body.

3. Scleroderma patients who smoke have a four times higher chance of having vascular problems in the fingers.

4. Skin wounds heal slower in fingers exposed to cigarette smoke and nicotine.

5. Smokers are twice as likely have wounds that will not heal.

6. Smokers are twice as likely to have wound infections.

7. Smokers are almost twice as likely to develop infections in the hands.

8. The skin of your hands may wrinkle and age prematurely. This is because the chemicals in cigarette smoke damage collagen and elastin, which are responsible for making the skin look supple, firm, and healthy.

9. Hand fractures may take longer to heal in smokers vs. non-smokers.

10. Smoking can lead to general tingling, numbness, and pain in your hands.

11. Smokers who have conditions such as diabetes may have even greater tingling, numbness, and pain in their hands.

12. The flame from a cigarette lighter may accidentally burn the tips of your fingers.

13. Congenital hand problems such as extra fingers or fused fingers are more common when the child’s mother smoked while pregnant.

14. Dupuytren’s contracture is more common in smokers.

15. Complex regional pain syndrome may be more likely in smokers.

16. Smoking is a risk factor for psoriasis.

In addition to all these possible effects on your hands, elbow pain may also be more common in smokers.

But here’s the good news: When you stop smoking, many of these effects can be reversed, minimized, or prevented. At the very least, quitting smoking may stop the progression of these effects on the hands.

If you do experience chronic hand pain for any reason, make an appointment to see Dr. Arora in Warren, Howell, Macomb Township, or West Bloomfield.

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General Uncategorized

Up and Running: Arora Hand Surgery Opens Office in Warren, Michigan

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Arora Hand Surgery's newest office is in Warren, Michigan.

We’re finally getting all settled into our newest office, located in Warren, and we hope you love it as much as we do!

Patients from our St. Clair Shores location, which is now closed, are welcome to visit our hand specialty team at our new office at 28295 Schoenherr Road, Suite B. Located between 12 Mile and I-696, the location is convenient for residents of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.  The phone number remains the same: (586) 209-3210.

You may also visit us at any of our other offices, located in Oakland, Macomb, and Livingston counties.

  • 7011 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 220, in West Bloomfield
  • 1225 S. Latson Road, Suite 380, in Howell
  • 46591 Romeo Plank Road, Suite 133, in Macomb Township

No matter which location is most convenient for you, you can feel confident in our state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, testing procedures, and friendly, caring team. We will make every effort to keep you informed, comfortable, and safe before, during, and after appointments and treatments.

By the way, since we’re telling you about new changes at Arora Hand Surgery, have you met our new physician assistant, Ashley Delzer (PA-C)? With more than 10 years of experience as an orthopedic surgery physician assistant, she is working hand-in-hand with Dr. Arora to provide our patients with comprehensive diagnoses and treatment. Ashley will be assisting with injections, X-rays, casts, and follow-up and post-operative visits.

When you visit our hand surgery office in Warren or any of our other locations, be sure to say hi! She’s looking forward to getting to know you all better!

Contact us if you want to know more about our new office or any of our services.

 

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General Uncategorized

Occupational Therapy Rewards: Building Personal Connections that Make an Impact

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Lodia is a certified occupational therapist at our hand surgery practice.

Occupational therapist Lodia’s first traumatic amputation experience taught her profound lessons that she carries with her decades later.

After an M-80 firecracker exploded in his hand, a 13-year-old patient’s index finger and thumb were amputated, but Lodia’s support helped him rebuild his strength.

And she found lifelong friends in the process.

Personal Connections

The boy’s rehabilitation spanned about three months, and today Lodia recalls that she learned so much from this experience.

“By discharge, he had regained full use of his hand despite the partial loss of his index finger and thumb,” Lodia recalls. “His mother came to every therapy session even while in her third trimester of pregnancy. The three of us got to know one another very well. A couple of months after his discharge I received a note that the mother had her baby girl.”

This news also came with what Lodia considers an incredible honor.

“She named her after me,” Lodia said. “I still have the notes with her name, birthdate, and weight. I took this as the highest compliment possible.

“In addition to honing my therapy skills, I realized that the personal connections made with patients/families are one of the biggest rewards of being an occupational therapist.”

Occupational Therapy as a Career

Lodia always knew she wanted to go into the medical field and had volunteered in the field in high school.

“I observed a variety of disciplines, but occupational therapy really impressed me,” she said. “The therapy was so purposeful and specific for getting the patient back to their highest level of function, and OTs are trained in the psychological as well as the physical impacts of injury/disease.”

She also was very inspired by the orthotist she met at the Detroit Medical Center.

“The specialty of hand therapy allows me to treat patients and fabricate splints — two things I really enjoy doing,” she said.

Fabricating splints allows her to be creative and inventive, which she describes as an “awesome adjunct to therapy.”

With 31 years of experience as an occupational therapist, Lodia says she loves the diversity of her caseload, as well as the close interaction with the physician.

Lodia has been the occupational therapist at Arora Hand Surgery for about a year, and she has enjoyed building relationships with her new patients.

“The best part of my job is the personal growth that I have gained through the years from interacting with patients of all ages and experiences,” she said. “I have had the pleasure of teaching and guiding them throughout their rehab process while learning so many lessons from them.”

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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.