Sunday, January 18, 2015

Flexor Tendon Injuries Cause Stiffness In Hands & Fingers

Hand is a very important part of our body with which we perform quite a number of activities. Any injury to the hand may make it difficult for us to carry out these activities like holding, carrying, throwing, gripping etc. Our hands and fingers are prone to different types of injuries and the most common types of injuries that require hand surgery is torn tendons. The flexor tendons of our finger or thumb to bend towards the palm. Damages to the tendons can cause stiffness in the hands or fingers, or a total inability to move. Minor Flexor Tendon Injuries will cause pain making it difficult to do any everyday task difficult. However, tendon damages cause a major pain.

Flexor tendons connect the muscles to the bone and are present all through our body. Our finger movements are controlled by these tendons and hence injuries of them hurt mobility. These tendons can be damaged due to various reasons like injuries, diseases or suddenly torn by everyday actions. Finger fractures can be one of the main reasons of tendon tearing. Many people suffer from some minor damage probably without even realizing it. Minor damages to the tendons are repaired by the body itself but if the pain persists, then you need a hand surgery.

With flexor Tendon Injuries, you will find that every daily activities creating a sharp pain in your arm. This will also make your finger movements difficult. If you injure your tendons then you should consult a doctor without wasting any time. Some doctors will directly recommend surgery to reattach the tendons to the bones. With the development of medical practices, a new procedure known as called "tendon transfer" involving taking it from other parts of the body and is used to repair the torn tendons. Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment procedure is determined by the surgeons.

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Skier's Thumb Weakens the Gripping Strength of your Thumb

Our fingers are vital part of our hand which facilitates many works like holding, eating, griping, throwing etc. Any injury to the fingers may hamper our day to day work. An injury caused to the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) of thumb joint is known as skier's thumb. One suffers from this condition if there is any twisting and tearing of the UCL. If you injure your UCL, it will make your thumb's griping strength weak and will also cause loss of functioning. This injury makes the thumb joint unstable or loose.

Most of the time this injury occurs during skiing accidents and this is the reason why it is called as skier's thumb. However, this does not mean that it occurs only to the skiers. Anybody can suffer this injury who falls on an outstretched hand with a force on the thumb extending it away from the index finger. Some of the most common causes of this injury are direct injury to the thumb, when the thumb extends away from the palm, skiing accidents etc. If you are affected with this injury then you will suffer from pain, tenderness, swelling, bruising etc.

Apart from this injury, there are many other finger injuries. A fracture is a common injury. Some of the frequently reported injuries are ligament and tendon injuries. One of the most common tendon injury is known as a mallet finger. It is also described as dropped finger and one suffers from this when he either tear or cut his tendon from the bone. This injury is common with the people who are involved with sporting activities. Sometimes you happen to overstretch or torn your tendon leading to pain and swelling of your finger. You can reduce the pain and help your finger heel quickly by using a splint that supports and keep the finger still.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Dr. Jeffrey Budoff - One of the Best Orthopaedic Surgeon In Texas

Graduated Cum Laude from Harvard University and honors from Cornell Medical School, Dr. Jeffrey Budoff has done his specialisation in open and arthroscopic surgery of hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. He has done his residency in orthopaedic surgery and has scored tests scores that were among the highest in the nation. His mainly focus on restoring function and eradicating pain with the least insidious method possible. He has a record of treating people successfully without surgery. In case, surgery is required he use the newest, least invasive surgical procedures minimizing pain and time of healing.

Many orthopedic surgeons today are specialized in treatment of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons are required to have a particular set of traits that places them apart from other surgeons. They should have knowledge of every single aspect of the musculoskeletal system and must be ready to perform surgeries to repair any injuries or damages as well as improve any functions. Dr. Budoff is one of the most reputed Orthopedic Surgeon in Texas with good physical strength, mental strength and flexibility. He is known for both surgical and non-surgical treatments to treat musculoskeletal trauma, sports injuries, infections etc.

Orthopaedic science is the cure to all orthopaedic needs including fractures, bone implantation, etc. Orthopedic surgery is surgical correction, done to treat any bone defect. Today, many orthopaedic instruments known as orthopaedic implants are used in a surgery. These are external instruments, which are inserted into the body during a surgical process, and this is done with an aim to set the damaged bone right. Surgeons use these implants to correct the damaged bone and to bring it back into shape and functionality. If you are looking for an orthopaedic surgeon in Taxes then Dr. Budoff is one of the best doctors available. He is equipped with all the updated means and methods of treatment.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Distal Radius Fractures If Not Treated Well May Cause Severe Pain

Fracture is the medical term used for broken bones and most of the fractures of the forearm usually occur near the wrist (at the distal bone end), in the middle of the bone or near the elbow ie, at the proximal bone end. Radius and ulna are two of our forearm bones and they are at risk for growth plate fractures because they are made of cartilage. Majority of the forearm fractures involve wrist-end bone and thus are termed as the Distal Radius Fractures. One may fracture his forearm from a fall onto an outstretched arm, fall from a bike or an accident etc.    

One naturally place their hand on the ground when falls off or is thrown from a bike in order to control themselves and thus it is the most common mechanism of injury. Falling on a stretched out hand can cause numerous types of injury leading to broken bones or fractures. One of the most common fractures suffered by many is known as distal radius fracture. Distal radius is the large bone of the forearm that articulates with the smaller carpal bones in the wrist. The fracture will cause pain in the forearm slightly away from the wrist. If you have a severe break in your bones and if the bones are displaced then you will require immediate medical help to avoid further problems.     

A broken wrist causes pain and swelling and if not treated well may lead to wrist arthritis. It also causes a deformity, causing the wrist look bent due to pain and swelling. This will further restrict you to carry out your day-to-day work. Thus, it is important to see a doctor for a diagnosis. The first thing doctor will do is take an X-ray of your forearm to identify the severity of the fracture in order to recommend the correct treatment.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Subscapularis Tears Deters Easy Movement of the Hand

Shoulder is an important part of our body that connects the head to the rest of the body and thus it is the most overworked part of all the body parts. The popular saying, “The weight of the world is on our shoulder”, signifies the heavy weights that we carry on our shoulders. We carry school bag, laptop bag or sports bag over the shoulder and this is possibly the starting point of various pain and muscles tears. Subscapularis is one of the four muscles that make up the rotator cuff and is located in the front of the shoulder.

It is the most powerful muscles of all the rotator cuff muscles and it helps the shoulder joint to move and create powerful motions including internal rotation. Subscapularis Tears are generally rare. Most of the injuries of the shoulder include either supraspinatus tendon located at top of the shoulder or the infraspinatus tendon in the back. Traumatic events like a sudden fall are one of the main causes of Subscapularis tendon injuries. Surgery of the shoulder for its total replacement may sometimes leave the subscapularis with tear and wear.

The rotator cuff includes four muscles and is located at the upper end of the human arm. Its main function is to help the arm for lifting and rotating. Inflammation and pain of these muscles causes the Rotator Cuff Tear and injury. Some of the most common conditions that cause trouble to the shoulder joint include Rotator cuff tendonitis, tear and rotator cuff impingement syndrome. Treatments for this shoulder condition are available depending on the severity of the pain. Treatments for Rotator cuff tear involve rest, anti-inflammatories, painkillers, physiotherapy, steroid injections and surgery.

Initially doctors recommend rest and medicines to the patients with rotator cuff injuries. But in case of severe pains, surgery is suggested by the doctors.

Monday, October 20, 2014

SLAP Lesions Cause Pain and Soreness in The Shoulder

Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior is commonly known as SLAP. The rim of cartilage found in the shoulder socket is called the labrum. An injury or tear to this part of our body is termed as SLAP lesions. This injury typically results from excessive use, trauma and accidents like falling onto your stretched out hand. A person can experience more pain if already suffering from this injury with activities like throwing or even reaching overhead. He may also feel pain and soreness in the shoulder while bending the elbow or turning the wrist.

The shoulder of an individual with SLAP Lesions, may also click or snap with hand movement or may feel like being dislocated. One can diagnosis the injury through a physical examination of the shoulder and a contrast MRI scan. Most of the people with SLAP injuries respond well to -invasive or non-surgical treatment. Hence, it is the first option recommended by the doctors for any patient. Once you injure your shoulder, doctors initially recommend to rest I order to help ease symptoms. Your doctor to alleviate inflammation and pain may also prescribe you some medication.

One of the most common causes of shoulder pain is rotator cuff injury. This injury involves the tear of one or more tendons of the four rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder. The cuff is responsible for alleviating the glenohumeral joint and rotating the humerus outward. When our shoulder is injured these functions can be compromises and thus we may be deterred from doing many activities. Tear to the tendons may occur suddenly due to fall and cause intense pain giving immediate weakness to the upper arm. If you have a rotator cuff injury, it is advisable to visit a doctor as it can cause further damage and can get larger over time if you keep it using despite of increasing pain.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Dequervain’s Tendinitis- A Painful Condition Experienced in Hand


Hand is a major part of our body that has many functions like holding things, writing, eating and many other things. A small injury to our hand might lead to difficulty to do the mentioned functions. Every one of us has had minor problems with a finger, hand or wrist. We may not have any problem with our body movements but everyday wear and tear or overuse, we may develop certain symptoms or pain. We may also experience finger, hand or wrist problems due to injuries or aging. One of the sharp pains of the wrist is DeQuervain’s Tendinitis. It is caused when the tendons situated near the thumb are swollen and irritated. 

You may suffer hand problems due to various causes including injury and diseases. However, most of these causes can be treated and relieved. DeQuervain’s is a common condition that causes hand pain. In this condition, the pain may develop gradually or sometimes it may be sudden. If you have DeQuervain’s Tendinitis, then movements like making a fist, holding things, or turning the wrist may be painful. 

Another condition that may cause hand pain is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It is one of the most common nerve disorder causing pain in palm and some fingers of the hand, wrist or forearm. Patients with this condition feel the pain more at night than during the daytime. It may also cause weakness, tingling, and numbness in the hand. One may particularly feel the pain in the thumb, index finger, and the middle finger. This condition makes holding things difficult. 

Today, in the medical field a number of treatments are available for these hand problems and painful conditions. Some of the most common treatments include resting the hand and wrist, using anti-inflammatory or analgesic painkillers, injections, physical therapy etc. However, doctors recommend surgery if the symptoms exist for six months or more.