The Most Common Syndromes Involving the Hand, Arm and Wrist

There are several kinds of problems that cause pain in the hand, arm, wrist and fingers. Of the lot, carpal tunnel syndrome, pronator syndrome and ulnar tunnel syndrome are quite significant. 

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that involves tingling, numbness etc. of the hand and arm. It is usually caused due to a pinched nerve in the wrist. Several factors contribute to this syndrome including a few underlying health issues, different patterns of hand use and the anatomy of the wrist. Luckily, proper treatment relieves the numbness and tingling, eventually restoring hand and wrist function. 

Pronator syndrome is a nervous system disorder that causes weakness, pain and numbness in the elbow, upper arm and hand. The syndrome is normally caused due to the compression of the median nerve by either muscles or ligament-like structures present in the forearm. Well, if treated appropriately, the symptoms of this particular syndrome generally resolve. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary. However, these days, there are several non-invasive surgeries performed by expert orthopedic specialists. 

Ulnar tunnel syndrome is another condition involving the hand. It occurs owing to the compression of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. Generally, the ring and small fingers become numb. Symptoms are quite similar to cubital tunnel syndrome symptoms because the same ulnar nerve is involved; however, ulnar tunnel syndrome seems to be less common. Ulnar tunnel syndrome is probably caused by a mass like a ganglion cyst or due to the fracture of an adjacent wrist bone. Nevertheless, by resorting to a reliable medical facility, the symptoms can be treated successfully.

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex - Injury, Signs & Symptoms

The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is located in the wrist between the ulnar bone end and the carpals. It is a complex structure and is a major function is stabilising, cushioning and smooth movement at the radioulnar joint of the wrist. It has an extended triangular shape and consists of –

• The triangular fibrocartilage disc.
• Ulna meniscus.
• Ulnar collateral ligament.
• Several carpal ligaments.
• Extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon sheath.

You can tear your triangular fibrocartilage complex TFCC from various activities like playing sports, fall with an extended arm etc. The TFCC tear can cause pain in the wrist. Other symptoms of this injury include pain on the side of the pinky finger, tenderness on the wrist back. You will experience extreme pain if you bend your wrist sideways. You will also suffer from swelling in the wrist and loss gripping strength. 

In most of TFCC injury, traditional treatment works wonders. This treatment involves adding a splint to your wrist for approximately 4 weeks. After this period a removable splint is added allowing you to move your wrist slowly. Other treatments include anti-inflammatory medication, electrotherapy, mobility and strengthening exercises. 

Another problem that your wrist may suffer is the Kienbock's disease. It is also known as avascular necrosis of the lunate, occurs when the lunate bone in the wrist is damaged due to loss of blood supply. It is a rare and incapacitating disease that can lead to chronic pain and dysfunction. An Australian radiologist Robert Kienböck first mentioned the disorder and thus it got its name after him. 

The National Institutes of Health stated that affected will at first have the feeling of sprain in their wrist. It is progressive disease and hence its symptoms do not fade ways easily. However, the progress of Kienbock's disease is different from patient-to-patient. Initially, the patient suffers from swelling and pain but later the entire mechanism of the wrist is affected.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome- A Painful Condition of Hand Caused By A Strained Nerve

Hand and arm suffer various conditions due to different reasons and one of such condition is Carpal tunnel syndrome. It is a condition that causes symptoms like numbness, tingling and pain in hand or arm. A strained nerve in the wrist mainly causes it. You may suffer from this condition due to various factors such as the structure of your wrist, a few basic health problems and probably patterns of hand use. Carpal tunnel is located on the palm side of the wrist and protects a primary nerve of our hand along with nine other tendons that facilitate fingers to bend. Firmness of the nerve leads to deadness, itchiness and, ultimately, we suffer from hand weakness; and this is what is characterised as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Another condition that our hands suffer is termed as Pronator syndrome. It is a disorder of the nervous system that creates pain, weakness, and insensitivity in the upper arm, elbow, and hand. The main nerve (median nerve) at times is compressed by the muscles and/or ligament-like structures in the forearm and thus causes this condition. The pressure on the median nerve lessens its function causing pain and other symptoms. The compression of the nerve may be cause by swollen or scarred tissue, or soreness of the nerve due to infection. The initial treatment to get rid of this condition engages keeping your arm or hand in rest from doing any activity that aggravates the symptoms. 

Ulnar tunnel syndrome is another painful condition that we suffer in our hand or wrist. It is caused by the compression of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. This nerve is found on the pinkie-finger side of the wrist. You may suffer from symptoms like weakness, deadness and tingling, and pain in the ring finger, pinkie finger, or both. You should avoid activities that cause these symptoms. Applying ice and wearing a splint may relieve you from the pain.

Dr. Jeffrey Budoff - Recommended As a Reputed Orthopedic Surgeon in Texas

Dr. Jeffrey Budoff is an orthopedic surgeon whose focus is to restore function and eradicating pain with the least invasive procedure possible. He has successfully treated his patients without surgery. However, he use the most latest and invasive surgical procedures if any patient requires a surgery and thus minimizes the pain and time of healing. With his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Budoff specializes in open and arthroscopic surgery of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. He is also a trained surgeon for endoscopic carpal and cubital tunnel release, sports injuries, fractures, and dislocations.

To understand Dr. Budoff’s role as an orthopedic surgeon better, it is important to know what Orthopedic surgery is. It is a surgical procedure used by the doctors for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. Arthritic pain, sports injuries, fractures, tumors and other degenerative diseases are some of the health issues which require this surgery. At present, surgeons often recommend this surgery, as people are increasingly suffering from diseases and conditions such as chronic arthritis or sports related injuries. It has become a major surgical procedure dealing with bones, joints, tendons, nerves, muscles and tissues.

If you are looking for an Orthopedic Surgeon in Texas, then you can consult Dr. Budoff for your all your musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. However, you can follow the below cited steps in order to find a reputed surgeon in your area. 

• Ask for recommendation from your primary health provider as they are sure to know the best orthopedic surgeons in the area. You can also ask for recommendation from your friends or relatives who have undergone similar procedure. 
• You can also check out the surgeons online since many web databases provide search features. These websites provide information on various surgeons who are reputed and expert in their field from among whom you can easily choose the best. 

Mallet Finger- Finger Deformity That Bends the Finger

Our hands are important parts of our body as they act as tools with which we can control all our work as well as our environment. With the constant use of our hands we are bound to get variety of injuries like cuts, bumps, and bruises. Most of these injuries heal without any medical attention. But, there are a few injuries, if perceived as minor initially, can become severe afterwards if left untreated. One of these injuries can be named as Mallet Finger; it is a deformity of the finger in which the tendon that straightens it, is damaged. 

The tendon of a finger is damaged when a ball or any other object hits it and forcibly bends it. The force of the blow tears the tendon and sometimes it may even pull away a bone along with the tendon making it difficult to straighten the finger. If you suffer from this deformity, initially you will suffer from pain and swollen distal IP joint and you won't be able to straighten your finger. If you experience such finger problems than you can treat this with various procedures. Doctors offer various treatments like exercise, splints and surgery for correcting mallet finger. Keeping your finger in rest will also help it to heal quickly.       

If finger injures are not treated well, can sometimes lead to major injuries. Though our bones in the hand are small, we should not treat a broken or fractured finger as a minor injury. The bones in our finger let us perform specialized functions like holding, grasping, carrying things, throwing etc. If a finger fractures, it can make your whole hand out of alignment preventing it to do the day to day work. If you ignore the fracture, your finger may remain stiff and swollen causing pain. Some of the symptoms of the broken finger bone are swelling, tenderness, bruising, inability to move, pain etc.

Suffering From a Swollen Thumb? Check for De Quervain's Tendinosis

Human body consists of tendons, tough tissues that connects muscle to bone and is responsible for withstanding tension. Sometimes, the tendon around the thumb gets irritated and swollen due to various reasons and this condition is known as De Quervain's tendinosis. The word tendinosis in itself means the swelling of the tendons. Swelling and compression of the tendon can cause pain and tenderness around the thumb and you experience the pain while forming a fist, trying to grip something and when trying to turn your wrist. 

However, the exact cause of this condition is not yet known, its cause is considered as any activity that depends on repetitive hand or wrist movement. These activities include doing household chores or working in the garden, playing, lifting things etc. All such activities can even worsen the pain in a person suffering De Quervain's tendinosis. This condition can further lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in a person. It is a condition of hand and arm that causes numbness, tingling, weakness and other symptoms and is caused due to the pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. Various factors including structure of the wrist, certain health problems and possibly patterns of hand use contribute to this condition. 

Carpal tunnel is a thin passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments. It is located on the palm side of the wrist protecting the main nerve of hand and the nine tendons that help bend fingers. Compression of the nerve due to pressure causes numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand. Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome usually occur in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger. You can get relief by keeping your hand movement at rest. However, people suffering from this condition can get relieved with quick and proper treatment and can easily restore wrist and hand function actively. 

Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome - A Painful Condition Leading To Trigger Finger

Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome is a painful condition of your hand and is caused when the median nerve that extends down the arm, across the elbow, and into the hand gets compressed. Median nerve is one of the main nerves branching from the brachial plexus. Injury to the hand such as joint dislocation or fracture can tear or inflame the ulnar nerve making it swollen and thus gets trapped causing pain. Injuries to your hand can cause due to accidents, falling etc and further cause the condition called ulnar nerve entrapment. The symptoms of this condition include: 

• softness along the inside of the elbow 
• tingling and deadness in little and ring fingers 
• difficulty hand movements. 
• lack of griping power, muscle weakness 
• pain within the border of the shoulder blade

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should immediately contact a physician. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential to control the pain and fast recovery. Though mostly the problem is in the elbow area, people experience pain in the hand and fingers because ulnar nerve controls movement and sensation there. Both sensory and motor skills are affected causing Trigger finger, a painful condition related with a clicking sensation during finger extension, or locking in a closed position during gripping activities.

The index, middle and ring fingers are common to this condition and the clicking is clearly heard upon while bending the fingers to make a firm grip. Suffering from this condition cannot make firm grips while holding something as he finds it difficult to stretch or bend his fingers properly. Trying to stretch or hold something will cause pain leading the patient to the doctor. The popping or the clicking of the finger is the characteristic of trigger thumb and it worsens in the morning upon waking up. With passive stretching of hand and fingers, we can avoid this condition.