What do YOUR hands say?
Our hands are an intricate marvel of the human body. With 27 bones in each hand and wrist it’s no surprise so much can go wrong for so many people.
We often think of injuries to athletes or common clumsy mishaps when a hand is injured. It’s not just athletes who come to us for problems with their hands and wrists. Every day, people of all backgrounds share challenges of pain in the hand or wrist. Think about the different occupations that might develop some form of hand/wrist pain and how it could affect their lives:
- String musicians
- Administrative workers using laptops
- Cashiers using a laser scanner at check-out
- Custodians
- Homemakers
- Gardeners/Landscapers
- Mechanics & assembly workers
- Accountants
- Butchers
- Food preppers
In reality, we are all at risk for hand or wrist issues at some point in our lives. One of the more common complaints we see at Sarasota Orthopedic Associates is carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a result of overuse and presents with a tingly feeling or numbness, typically a result of pressure on a nerve in the wrist. Tendinitis will appear with a weakness, discomfort, and/or limited movement. DeQuervain’s has the tendons swollen on the thumb side of the wrist. Trigger Finger presents on a finger that is difficult to bend or straighten and you may see a bump on the palm near the affected finger. You may have heard the condition Dupuytren’s, which a fibrous thickening of tissue causing a finger (or fingers) to curl up. Let’s not forget cysts and arthritis. Oh my … so many things to go wrong!
Not all hand conditions require treatment, particularly if there is no associated pain or impairment to your daily activity. It’s always a good idea to be safe and see a physician if you have a specific concern. Ultimately, when you do need treatment, not to worry, we have you covered. Gregory Farino, MD is our hand and wrist physician treating hand/wrist disorders in conjunction with our Certified Hand Therapists at each of our three locations. Our commitment at Sarasota Orthopedic Associates is to get our patients back on their feet, back to work, back in the game, and back to life!