5 Reasons to See a Surgeon for Hand Pain
About 15 million people with arthritis experience severe joint pain.
If that applies to you, you should see a surgeon. While other methods could alleviate pain and discomfort, surgery can be one of the best methods for long-term relief.
Why should you see a surgeon for hand pain and/or stiffness? What can surgery do for painful hands?
Keep reading to learn more.
1. Animal Bites
Animals bites can cause joint pain in two ways — first, because of the lesion from the bite, and second, because of potential infection. Bitten patients may experience several uncomfortable symptoms, including osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone that can cause joint pain.
After an animal bite, you should always seek professional medical help to avoid risks such as infections. But if you did wait and you’re now experiencing joint pain and stiff hand joints, see a hand surgeon immediately. Osteomyelitis surgery will drain infected pus, remove dead bone in the infected area, and prescribe antibiotic treatment.
2. Hand Fractures
Those that engage in riskier physical behavior, such as construction work or contact sports, are more likely to fracture their hands. Either way, hand fractures can result in inflammation and infection, and serious injuries might need an operation.
During surgery, patients’ bones may be realigned to heal correctly. Surgical screws and plates can keep bones in place, and bone grafts fill in bone gaps.
3. Nerve Injuries
Mild nerve damage can be treated with rest and physical therapy. But severe nerve injuries can result in drastically reduced mobility and function. This can debilitate people’s quality of life and independence.
Surgeons will stitch together cut nerves. Damaged nerves may also be replaced with healthy nerves from a different part of the body or undergo neurolysis.
4. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Frequently straining your hands can result in carpal tunnel syndrome. Other than joint pain, sufferers experience hand/finger numbness and joint weakness.
Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is called “carpal tunnel release.” Successful carpal tunnel release operations will make incisions around the carpal tunnel ligament. They can alleviate nerve pressure by cutting through the median nerve.
5. Hand Dislocations
There are several ways people can dislocate their hands, including intense physical activity and contact sports. Patients with dislocated hands may also experience bruising, hand deformity, acute joint pain, and swelling.
Like hand fractures, surgery can realign the bones to heal correctly. It can also require surgical hardware such as plates and screws to hold bones in place.
Treat Your Hand Pain ASAP!
Pain and stiffness in hands and chronic pain can be debilitating to one’s ability to sustain their livelihood. But with a surgeon’s support, you can make long-term changes to how your hands feel.
At Idaho Shoulder to Hand, we understand how hand pain and stiffness affects patients’ quality of life. That’s why we offer advanced diagnostic and treatment solutions for patients with injured shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands. Make an appointment with us today for joint relief!
