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Living with De Quervain’s Disease

Your hands help you accomplish many tasks throughout the day, from the simple act of brushing your teeth to picking up a child, writing a check, or using a keyboard. When you are in pain, normal daily activities may not seem easy. De Quervain’s disease is a condition that limits your ability to engage in the normal tasks that require the use of your hands, but there are options and treatments that can help you regain a life without pain. 

What is De Quervain’s Disease?

De Quervain’s disease is a painful inflammation in the tendons of the wrist that extend the thumb. Tendons in the wrist are covered by a protective sheath, or a tunnel. Healthy tendons in the wrist have room for normal movement and activity, but when the tendon is swollen or injured, the tendon rubs against the inside of the tunnel that attaches to the thumb. Repetitive motion causes increased irritation inside the tendon sheath, resulting in thickening and swelling in the wrist, and ultimately restricting normal movement. 

De Quervain’s

Symptoms of De Quervain’s Disease

De Quervain’s disease symptoms can develop gradually over a period of time, or can occur suddenly. The pain starts at the base or back of the thumb, and may radiate up the forearm or extend to other fingers. You may also experience nerve symptoms, as the nerve close to the inflamed tendons becomes irritated. 

The Impact of De Quervain’s Disease 

As De Quervain’s disease progresses, moving your thumb becomes more painful and difficult, and is worse with normal activities such as gripping items, pinching (such as grasping a pen or pencil for writing), or picking up and carrying a small child. 

Untreated, De Quervain’s disease will continue to cause difficulties with daily activities as it limits your wrist’s range of motion, and prohibits your ability to use your hand and wrist in a normal manner. 

Are you at risk?

De Quervain’s disease is more common in women between the ages of 30 and 50, and is sometimes associated with pregnancy. Repetitive activity that requires the use of the hands and wrist, such as frequent lifting, requires the use of the thumbs as leverage when lifting, causing repeated strain on the tendons. De Quervains can also be caused by jobs or hobbies that involve repetitive hand and wrist movement. 

The Importance of Prompt Treatments

When you are in pain, you are not at your best. Treating your condition in a timely manner means you can return to your normal activities sooner than later. It’s important to see a physician as soon as you realize your pain does not subside with rest, ice, or over the counter medications. 

Treating De Quervain’s disease early means your symptoms should improve in 1-2 months. However, women with pregnancy-related De Quervain’s may see symptoms disappear after delivery or after breastfeeding, with or without treatment. You depend on your hands for so many daily activities – depend on timely treatment for your De Quervain’s. 

Treatment Options

The main focus of treatment for De Quervain’s is reducing the inflammation of the tendons, increasing the range of motion of the thumb, and avoiding a recurrence. There are multiple options for treatment, all of which can be discussed during your consultation at Fitzmaurice Hand Institute:

 Taking non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet with appropriate supplementation 

Wearing splints (helps to keep the thumb and wrist straight, limit movement, and rest the tendon), particularly at night

Applying ice to the affected area

Avoiding repetitive movements

Participating in physical or occupational therapy

Getting steroid injections

Undergoing surgery

Conservative treatment methods may resolve your pain and swelling, but if your De Quervain’s disease is chronic or does not respond to these treatments, your physician may recommend surgery. Surgery involves opening the sheath surrounding the inflamed tendons to allow them to move freely without causing further pain or swelling. Our surgeons use the patented EndoTech® Endoscopic De Quervain’s Release surgical procedure to help you return to a pain-free life. This technique is only available at Fitzmaurice Hand Institute as a less invasive option to help patients return to a pain-free life.

De Quervain’s disease does not have to limit you from enjoying life. Surgery does not have to be invasive to be effective. The surgeons at Fitzmaurice Hand Institute are highly trained and can provide you with the relief you need so you can return to a pain-free life – within a much faster recovery time than traditional surgical techniques. 

Why Fitzmaurice Hand Institute is the Ideal Place for De Quervain’s Disease Treatment

Our orthopedic hand surgeons have trained on our exclusive EndoTech® Endoscopic De Quervain’s Release procedure. This minimally-invasive technique was developed by Dr. Fitzmaurice to treat a variety of hand and wrist conditions. Treatments offered by the experts at Fitzmaurice Hand Institute will improve your quality of life and allow you to regain normal movement in your wrist and hand. Living without pain is truly a possibility. Call us to schedule an appointment today.

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5 Ways to Relieve Arthritis Pain This Winter

With winter underway, cold weather pain and arthritis can diminish your quality of life. Although cold doesn’t directly cause arthritis, it can exacerbate joint pain in the fingers, wrists, and throughout the rest of the body. The Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Scottsdale and Gilbert suggests these five ways to manage your arthritis pain during the winter months.

1. Stay Active

Physical activity is always important in managing arthritis pain, but it’s particularly essential during the winter months. Exercise is widely regarded as the most effective non-drug treatment for osteoarthritis patients seeking to alleviate joint pain and improve mobility. Exercise is effective for pain relief and for increasing energy and muscle strength.

Low-impact exercise will help maintain the health of your joints. Try swimming indoors in a warm pool, brisk walking, stretching with yoga or Pilates, or weight training to stay fit and active. You can also find many good hand exercises and stretches that focus on keeping these joints loose and pliable.

Adults with arthritis and no other significant health problems can participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and two strength-training sessions per week. Consult your physician before beginning an exercise program, especially if you’re experiencing pain or have been sedentary for an extended time.

2. Eat Healthy Foods

While diet alone can’t cure arthritis, certain foods have been shown to reduce inflammation, strengthen bones, and boost the immune system. Salmon, tuna, mackerel, and trout are all high in omega-3 fatty acids, which aid your body in fighting inflammation. Garlic, turmeric, cherries, and broccoli have also been shown to have numerous health benefits.

Consume a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins. Avoid processed foods and foods high in saturated fat and sugar. Talk to your doctor if you have food sensitivities to determine the best course of action. 

A balanced diet based on whole, unprocessed foods will help you maintain a healthy weight and ensure that you’re getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

3. Keep Warm

Staying warm during the winter months will not only make you more comfortable in general, but can also help alleviate joint pain. Dress in layers and make sure your hands, as well as your knees and hips stay warm since these areas are prone to joint pain. Fingerless gloves might be the perfect solution that allows your fingers to keep working while your hands remain toasty.

Curling up with electric blankets and heating pads while relaxing can feel great. Moist heating pads are beneficial. Because moist heat penetrates the skin and muscles more deeply, it’s more effective in soothing your painful joints. Wearable heating pads are convenient when you’re on the go.

Be careful with any heating device if you have nerve damage from a condition such as diabetes. 

4. Stay Hydrated

Hydration is always essential, but it’s especially important during the winter months. While most people think about drinking water more often when the weather is warm and sunny, dry air makes you feel tired, achy, and dehydrated during the winter. 

If you don’t enjoy the taste of plain water, try adding a slice of lemon or lime to dress up your glass. Sipping a cup of hot tea during the winter is also an excellent way to stay hydrated. Additionally, bone broth and soup are warm, soothing, hydrating options. Aim for approximately eight glasses of liquid per day—more if you are active or exercising.

5. Add Some Supplements 

It’s helpful to take vitamin D supplements during the winter months when we don’t get as much sun exposure. Vitamin D deficiency increases the severity of pain in patients with rheumatoid or other inflammatory arthritis and can also increase pain sensitivity. Women and men alike should aim for 600 IU of vitamin D daily, obtained through supplements or fortified foods such as cereal or cod liver oil.

Vitamin C-rich foods have been associated with an increase in new collagen production, according to research. Collagen is a necessary component of cartilage, which is frequently damaged as arthritis progresses.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been demonstrated to have an anti-inflammatory effect. However, be sure to inform your doctor if you decide to try omega-3s, as they may increase your risk of bruising or bleeding.

Green tea is excellent for arthritis because of its anti-inflammatory properties, which may help alleviate inflammatory pain.

6. Take a Dip 

To help relieve arthritis pain, many spas and salons offer heated paraffin dip treatments for your hands and feet: If you prefer to do it yourself at home, paraffin kits are generally less than $30. 

For a similar soothing effect, you can try lavender slippers and gloves, which can be warmed in the microwave and used repeatedly. Warm water can also help alleviate joint and muscle aches. Take a luxurious soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts and essential oils.

7. Consider Support 

Compression gloves apply additional pressure to your hands and fingers, relieving pain and swelling. Consider wearing gloves that contain copper or other anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving elements. Lavender gloves can also be used to alleviate pain and stiffness.

Compression gloves function similarly to compression socks by squeezing the joints to increase blood flow, and some even assist in trapping heat to keep your hands warm. 

Schedule Your Consultation With Fitzmaurice Hand Institute Today

You don’t have to travel to our Scottsdale and Gilbert, AZ, office for a consultation. Request a video consultation and meet with one of our board-certified surgeons from the convenience of your own home. 

If you’re concerned that the cause of your winter joint pain is something other than the cold, we can help. Injuries and joint damage are painful and should be treated immediately. Schedule a consultation online or call (480) 470-3129. We’re here to help you stay pain-free any time of the year. 

The post 5 Ways to Relieve Arthritis Pain This Winter appeared first on Fitzmaurice Hand Institute.

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Different Hand Injuries and Tips to Accelerate Healing

The post Different Hand Injuries and Tips to Accelerate Healing appeared first on Fitzmaurice Hand Institute.

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What is a FOOSH Injury?

If you lose your balance and fall, you may suffer what is known as a FOOSH injury. The word FOOSH is an acronym for “fall onto an outstretched hand.” People instinctively try to break a fall with their arms and hands, but this can lead to injuries to the upper extremities.

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Scottsdale and Gilbert, we understand the importance of your hands and their vulnerability to injury due to constant use. With our cutting-edge therapies, we’ll help you return to your regular activities as quickly as possible. Below is information about FOOSH injuries, treatment, and prevention.

What is a FOOSH Injury?

In the United States, FOOSH injuries are among the most common orthopedic injuries. The severity of a FOOSH injury is determined by the force of the fall, whether you have any pre-existing medical issues, and the type of surface you fell on. A FOOSH injury can affect the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, or even the shoulder. Common symptoms are swelling and pain, or a sprain, strain, or bone break. 

What Causes a FOOSH Injury? 

Active people who participate in sports where falls are common, such as mountain biking, skiing, skating, and football, are prone to FOOSH injuries. However, anyone can sustain a FOOSH injury if they fall on a hard surface and try to brace themselves with their hands or arms. 

Factors contributing to FOOSH injuries can include lack of coordination or balance, poor visual depth perception, drowsiness or disorientation caused by medications or other substances, certain footwear, and the presence of tripping hazards. 

Common FOOSH Injuries

Falling onto an outstretched hand can result in a variety of injuries, including:

Scaphoid fracture

Distal radius fracture

Radial or ulnar styloid fracture

Radial head fracture

Scapholunate tear

Distal radioulnar joint fracture

Hook of hamate fracture

Synovitis

Cellulitis

Collarbone or shoulder injury

These injuries can be identified and diagnosed by the presence of pain and swelling, a medical examination, range of motion tests, and diagnostic imaging.

How are FOOSH injuries diagnosed?

We begin a FOOSH diagnosis with a range of motion evaluation. First, we will ask the patient to bend the arm to evaluate how well the patient can move it. Additionally, we will assess the force required for the patient to move the arm in various directions. 

The next step in diagnosis is often an x-ray examination with fluoroscopy, which allows for three-dimensional mobility of the joint while images of the bones, soft tissue, and joint space are taken. We might also gather CT scans and MRIs to get a better look at the bones and soft tissue.

How are FOOSH injuries treated?

Treatment of FOOSH injuries depends on the type and severity of the injury. Mild bruising from a FOOSH injury can be managed with home care, but many FOOSH injuries require medical treatment. 

Home remedies

Ice, elevation, and rest are the best home remedies for a FOOSH injury. If you believe your injury is more severe than a mild bruise from impact, you can splint the injured area to stabilize any fractured bones or torn ligaments and ease discomfort until you can get medical attention. 

Manage pain and swelling by applying ice to the wounded area and using anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen, until you can get into our office for a full assessment and diagnosis.

Medical treatments

Some FOOSH injuries can be treated by splinting, bracing, or casting the injured hand, arm, or wrist for up to six weeks.  This immobilizes the injured area, giving it time to heal completely.  

Surgery may be required for more severe FOOSH injuries. Surgery may be recommended for fractures specifically, and may involve reconnecting the fractured ends of a broken bone. This process could entail bone grafting, the placement of metal rods, or other surgical techniques. 

The delicate bones and ligaments of the hands and wrists may become stiff as the injury heals, and physical therapy may help strengthen them and restore function. We will recommend the best program for you to restore full function of the limb over time. 

When to see a doctor

If you are experiencing severe pain in your hand, wrist, or arm after a fall, you may choose to visit an emergency room or contact our office regarding our urgent care services. Persistent discomfort, bruising, swelling, fever, a clicking noise, or restricted range of motion are indicators of a potentially serious injury requiring medical attention.

Bone and muscle bruises may also require medical attention. If your pain doesn’t subside after a few weeks, see a doctor for a full assessment and treatment recommendations.

Recovering from FOOSH injuries

Physical therapy can help you regain full range of motion and return to your normal activities. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to aid your recovery and demonstrate the correct way to wear supportive devices such as slings, splints, or braces while your injury is healing. These exercises will also build strength as well as range of motion, to ensure full restoration of the limb.

How long does it take to recover from a FOOSH injury?

Complete recovery may take up to two months or even longer, depending on the specific injury. We will create a treatment plan for you and let you know what you might expect as you go through the healing process. 

Tips to Prevent FOOSH Injuries

Creating a safe environment and maintaining adequate strength and balance can help prevent FOOSH injuries.

Try these safety precautions:

Secure throw rugs so they don’t slip when stepped on.

Remove floor clutter to reduce tripping hazards.

Exercise caution when carrying objects.

Install grab bars in your shower or bathtub.

Practice balance exercises to improve your stability.

Schedule An Appointment 

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute, we’re passionate about advancing care and helping others. If you suspect you might have a FOOSH injury, don’t wait until the pain becomes intolerable. Consult a hand surgery professional to get the treatment you need and avoid long-term damage. To book an appointment, contact the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Scottsdale or Gilbert today.

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How to Prevent Golfer’s Elbow

Despite what its name suggests, golfer’s elbow is not a condition exclusive to golfers. While it’s a fact that golfers are at a higher risk of developing the common orthopedic condition, golfer’s elbow affects plenty of people annually, with many patients having never played the popular sport.

Athlete or not, sports enthusiast or casual spectator, we strive to always provide the best, most appropriate, and most effective care for all patients who walk through the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute’s doors. Double board-certified, fellowship-trained hand surgeon, Dr. Michael Fitzmaurice has developed new treatment techniques, which our hand surgeons that have trained under Dr. Fitzmaurice now utilize. These innovative treatments for the upper extremities improve surgical visualization and have hastened recovery time for many patients in Scottsdale and Gilbert, AZ. 

  What is Golfer’s Elbow? 

Known as medial epicondylitis, golfer’s elbow causes pain, tenderness, and inflammation in the tendons that connect the elbow to the forearm. The pain originates from the inside of the elbow (side closest to the body) and may radiate into the forearm.

Those who have golfer’s elbow might have:

Stiffness in the elbow

Pain and tenderness on the inner side of the elbow or forearm. There could be pain while doing certain movements like swinging a golf club or making a fist

Weakness in the wrists and hands

Numbness or tingling in the fingers (usually in the ring and little fingers)

  Causes of Golfer’s Elbow 

Damage to the muscles and tendons that control your wrist and fingers that help you grip, flex your wrist, or rotate your arm causes golfer’s elbow. Excessive or repetitive stress – especially improper throwing or hitting, forceful wrist and finger motions, and poor conditioning can contribute to pulls and tears in the tendons, leading to golfer’s elbow.

Any wrist, hand, and forearm movement that you often perform can lead to golfer’s elbow. Besides golf, many occupations and activities can lead to golfer’s elbow, including:

Racket sports – improper techniques used when playing sports like tennis can cause tendon injuries. Using a racket that is too light or heavy can also cause golfer’s elbow.

Throwing sports – archery, football, baseball, and javelin that require lots of throwing motions can cause injuries when the pitching technique is incorrect.

Weight training – improper techniques for lifting weights can overload the muscles and tendons, leading to injuries.

Repetitive movements – forceful and repetitive motions that are common in fields such as carpentry, construction, and plumbing can cause golfer’s elbow. 

  Golfer’s Elbow vs. Tennis Elbow

Both golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow are overuse injuries caused by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm. Both are also forms of epicondylitis, an inflammation of tendons that attach to the elbow. The main difference between the two conditions lies in the inflammation’s location. 

Golfer’s elbow affects your medial epicondyle (inside the elbow), as well as the tendons and muscles that allow you to flex your wrist and contract your fingers, such as for gripping objects. Tennis elbow, on the other hand, affects your lateral epicondyle (outside the elbow) and the tendons and muscles that allow you to stretch your wrist backward and enable you to spread your fingers. 

Symptoms of both conditions are similar but occur on opposite sides of the elbow and arm. Tennis elbow causes pain and tenderness outside of the elbow, while those with golfer’s elbow will experience the same discomforts on the inside of the elbow and down the arm. Those who have golfer’s elbow are also more likely to experience tingling or numbness in the fingers.

  Golfer’s Elbow: Prevention Tips

The following are steps you can take to prevent golfer’s elbow:

Stretching and strengthening exercises – warm up your muscles by walking or jogging a few minutes before working or exercising. Eccentric exercises will also help strengthen the muscle while it’s relaxed (not tight), and stretching techniques will help with mobility. Using light weights or squeezing a tennis ball can help strengthen your forearm muscles, as well as help your muscles absorb the energy from sudden, physical stress. Ask your physical therapist about suitable exercises for building up the appropriate muscle groups.

Use the proper form – regardless of your sport, consult with an instructor to ensure that you have the correct form to avoid overloading your muscles and developing injuries.

Use the right equipment – you might want to consider using lighter graphite clubs instead of heavier golfing irons. In tennis, be sure your racket fits you. Using a racket with a heavy head and small grip may increase your risk of elbow injuries.

Use proper lifting techniques – for any sport or activity that involves lifting motions, keep your wrist stable and rigid to minimize the force to your 

elbow.

Listen to your body – the best way to avoid an overuse injury is to not overuse specific tendons and muscles. Know when to rest, and do not push through the pain. At the first sign of pain, take a break. Give your body ample time to rest and recover between activities.

Change things up – try doing a variety of activities to prevent repetitive motion and strain on your elbow tendons. By trying different activities, you not only give your arms a break, but you are also strengthening other less frequently used muscles and enhancing overall fitness.  

How to Treat Golfer’s Elbow 

Experiencing golfer’s elbow pain should not mean having to give up your sport, hobby, or profession. Appropriate treatment, including therapy you could do at home, can help get you back in tip-top shape.

Rest – you must limit your arm use and take a break from repetitive activities that could worsen your symptoms. Continued use of inflamed muscles and tendons may only worsen your condition.

Ice – applying ice on the affected area will help reduce swelling and inflammation. Apply ice packs to your elbow for 15-20 minutes at a time, 3-4 times a day for several days. However, never apply ice directly on the skin. Wrap the ice pack in a thin towel before application.

Splint or Brace – your therapist or doctor may recommend using a counterforce brace on your affected arm to help reduce strain on muscles and tendons. 

Exercises – stretching exercises for the forearm muscles can help reduce strain on the elbow tendons. Progressive loading of tendons using specific strength training exercises can help prevent stress too. You may consult with a physical therapist to properly assist and accelerate your recovery.

Anti-inflammatory medications – over-the-counter medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce pain and inflammation around the area.

Anti inflammatory diet and supplementation – As a member of the anti-aging society, Dr Fitzmaurice has developed a powerful anti-inflammatory diet and appropriate supplementation regimen which offers greater improvement than typical over-the-counter medications without the side effects.

If conservative treatments don’t work at alleviating pain, or if your golfer’s elbow symptoms are getting worse, your physician may recommend the following treatment options:

Cortisone injections – steroid injections may help reduce inflammation and provide pain relief for more severe injuries. 

Platelet-rich plasma therapy – uses injections of a concentration of a patient’s own platelets as a natural healing system to enhance injury response and accelerate recovery of injured tendons and ligaments.

Surgery – if symptoms last longer than 6 to 12 months, it is time to consider looking at surgical options that will repair the damaged tendon. Surgery is a largely successful treatment option for golfer’s elbow.

  Why Fitzmaurice Hand Institute is Your Best Choice for Treatment

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute, we are committed to performing surgery that is optimally effective at providing relief and restoring function. With advancements in science and medicine, surgery has become less invasive while offering both the patient and surgeon numerous advantages. Since the hand, wrist, and elbow have nerve structures and complex anatomy involved, minimally invasive approaches have proven particularly helpful for improving outcomes and reducing downtime. 

Dr. Fitzmaurice has developed a patent-pending system, known as the EndoTech® Endoscopic Golfer’s Elbow Release, using minimal incisions and local anesthetic. This is much quicker than traditional open procedures. The minimally invasive system combines the benefits of an open technique with the quick recovery time and minimal pain associated with endoscopic techniques. 

EndoTech® allows for complete visualization of the entire band of tissue, ensuring that a complete release can be performed. The system also allows for smaller incisions (less than 1 cm) in the treatment area which means less associated pain, faster recovery, and higher patient safety. 

  Seek Golfer’s Elbow Treatment Today

If you suspect that you might have golfer’s elbow, don’t wait until the pain becomes unbearable and the damage becomes significant. Consult with a hand surgery expert and get the treatment you deserve. Contact the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Scottsdale and Gilbert to schedule an appointment.

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5 Ergonomic Tips to Prevent Hand Injuries

Typing on a keyboard and operating a mouse are common ways to spend our days today, but when done incorrectly and repeatedly, these seemingly small gestures can damage the wrist and hand and result in injuries. Enter ergonomics, the concept of fitting a workplace to reduce the physical stress and its resulting injuries. Ergonomics focuses on more efficiently designed workspaces and equipment to protect a worker’s physical health. 

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Scottsdale and Gilbert, we understand how your hands are your most valuable tools. Because you use them extensively, they are also prone to injury. With our state-of-the-art treatments, you can rest assured you will achieve optimal results and the ability to return to life, work, and activity as quickly as possible. Below, we also share tips on how to set up a healthy workstation to reduce your risk for hand injuries:

Invest in an Ergonomic Chair

An ergonomic chair should support your lower back by enabling you to keep an upright and relaxed arch position. By maintaining good posture, you are keeping your bones and muscles properly aligned, preventing strain in your joints and ligaments. Your chair’s height should enable you to rest your feet firmly on the ground, while your thighs are somewhat parallel to the floor. Using a footrest will also help reduce the pressure on your lower back. You’ll know your posture is correct when sitting up straight with a neutral spine position allows you to relax your shoulders without having to slouch.

Collect the Best Tools 

While moderation in using any device is ideal for preventing any repetitive strain injuries, work will still demand you to rely on these gadgets. However, there are ways to minimize physical stress while using your computer. The first step is using the right tools.

An ergonomically designed keyboard, such as one that is split or V-shaped, will better fit your natural wrist position. By minimizing unhealthy wrist extension, you help reduce the risk of developing repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.

A gel pad or wrist rest that sits in front of your keyboard may provide more wrist support as well. Any support given to the wrists and forearms can help ease muscular tension from the neck, shoulders, and arms, as well as prevent unnecessary pressure on any other parts of the body.

Just like the keyboard, a computer mouse comes in different sizes and designs. Try them out in the store if possible, to make sure they are comfortable to use. A mouse that is too large may lead to over-gripping, while a mouse that is too small may cause over-pinching. A good mouse typically has a curved hump on top to comfortably fit your palm’s underside. Ideally, you should limit wrist movement while using a mouse and focus on keeping your wrist straight with only your forearm moving. If you find that using your mouse causes wrist strain, consider using a trackball. These devices work efficiently without you having to move your wrist at all. You’ll only need your fingertips while using it.

If you’re a frequent phone user, use a headset to avoid any awkward movements when you must type or do other tasks while talking. A pair of Bluetooth wireless earbuds with a microphone should help protect elbows and allow you to handle calls hands-free.

Set Up a User-Friendly Work Station

It is important to take a comprehensive and holistic view of your workstation. Aside from keeping all your necessities (keyboard, mouse, documents, and supplies) no more than 16-18 inches away to avoid awkward movements while reaching for them, you also have to think about your desk, chair, and monitor. UCLA describes steps for setting up your workstation:

Chair – The seat’s height should allow you to place your feet flat on the floor and your knees equal to, or slightly lower than your hips. The backrest should be at a 100°-110° reclined angle. Adjust the armrests so that your shoulders are relaxed. If your armrests are in the way, remove them.

Keyboard – The keyboard should be directly in front of you. Adjust the keyboard’s height so that your shoulders are relaxed, your elbows are in a slightly open position (100° to 110°), and your wrists and hands are straight.

Monitor, Documents, and Telephone – Adjust the monitor and source documents so that your neck is in a neutral and relaxed position. Center the monitor directly in front of you above your keyboard, and position the top third of the monitor at your seated eye level. Position source documents directly in front of you, between the monitor and the keyboard, using an in-line copy stand, and place your telephone within easy reach. 

Take Breaks, Do Stretches

Couple your workstation with good work habits. No matter how ergonomic your workstation is, prolonged and repetitive motions may take a toll on your body. Taking frequent breaks and doing stretching exercises will help prevent stress and fatigue.

The UCLA article suggests taking short, 1-2 minute stretch breaks every 20-30 minutes. And after each hour of work, you should take a break or switch to a different task for at least 5-10 minutes. During your lunch break, try to get away from your desk.

Here are a few examples of hand exercises you can do, as described by Ergonomic Trends.

Shake It Out 

Begin with your hands out in front of you and palms facing the floor

Slowly shake your hands by letting your wrist go limp

Continue for 10-15 seconds

Repeat up to three times

Fist to Fan

Begin with your hands in front of you and palms facing downwards

Make a fist with both hands

Open the fist halfway, so your finger is bent at the knuckles. Hold for two seconds.

Open your hands fully, so all five fingers are straight and spread wide apart. Hold for 2 seconds.

Re-make a fist, and repeat the routine.

Repeat the routine five times

Thumb Touches

Hold your hands outwards with your palms facing the ceiling

With your right hand, slowly bring your thumb to touch the tip of every finger

Repeat on the other hand

Return to the starting position

Repeat five times with both hands

Basic Wrist Stretch

Hold your right hand out in front of you with the palm facing upwards

Grip all four fingers with your opposing hand

Gently pull the fingers down towards the floor

Hold the stretch for ten seconds, then release the hand back to the starting position

Repeat with the left hand, holding for ten seconds

Repeat the exercise five times

Treat Symptoms Early

The best approach to potential hand and wrist injuries is always awareness. Be conscious of your work habits and pay attention to your body. If you begin to experience any lingering finger, wrist, or elbow pain, see a hand specialist in Scottsdale and Gilbert. It’s common for people to attempt to work through the pain, hoping it will go away. But the pain often gets worse over time. Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary since symptoms can often be relieved with simple home remedies such as resting or wearing a wrist splint when treated early.

Schedule An Appointment 

Come see what makes us different and let us help you get the relief you need. At The Fitzmaurice Hand Institute, we are passionate about helping others and advancing care. If you suspect that you might have a repetitive strain injury, don’t wait until the pain becomes unbearable and the damage becomes significant. Consult with a hand surgery expert and get the treatment you need now. Contact the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Scottsdale and Gilbert to schedule an appointment.

The post 5 Ergonomic Tips to Prevent Hand Injuries appeared first on Fitz Hand.

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5 Common Hand Injuries for Musicians

Musicians are like athletes. They have to constantly train their muscles, which involves plenty of hours dedicated to the demands of practice, rehearsals, and performances. Musicians, therefore, require a level of physical endurance that may lead to strain on certain body parts, particularly the hands. They are susceptible to musculoskeletal injuries or disorders which could impact a musician’s quality of life. But with a preventative plan in place, and prompt treatment if problems do arise, you can protect your hands and ensure a long and successful career.

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Phoenix, we understand how injuries and nerve disorders can result in permanent damage when left untreated. This is why we are passionate about helping others and advancing patient care. Our board-certified surgeons believe that with the hand’s complex anatomy, minimally-invasive approaches and techniques have proven particularly helpful for improving outcomes and reducing downtime. Below, we list 5 common hand injuries musicians may experience, including treatment options that will help you get back to your life more quickly and with optimal results.

Tendonitis

Pianists and other musicians can practice for many hours on end, making them prone to developing tendonitis. This condition occurs when the tendons in the hands (typically at a joint such as the wrist) become inflamed from overuse or repetitive motion. A musician may start experiencing fatigue or weakness after a short time of playing and may lead to severe pain and swelling that makes it almost impossible to play the instrument.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 

Percussionists commonly experience carpal tunnel syndrome as well. Drummers, for instance, repeatedly flex and extend their wrists while playing, causing the median nerve to compress or become pinched. In effect, tendons around the nerve will swell and result in tingling, numbness, pain, or a burning sensation at the base of the palm.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Guitarists and other musicians who play stringed instruments often keep their elbows in a bent position, and are likely to develop pain and a tingling sensation usually centered on the inside of the elbow. Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the ulnar nerve which passes through the inner middle elbow becomes compressed. In addition to elbow pain, those who suffer from the condition may also experience numbness and a burning sensation on the little finger and the inner half of the ring finger which may affect performance.

De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is a common injury associated with an overused wrist during the repetitive strumming of a guitar. Combined with an over-cocking action, strumming sessions may lead to irritation of the wrist tendons at the base of the thumb which is aggravated by gripping a hard object. It results in swelling at the tunnel or sheath surrounding the tendon, further exacerbating hand pain and fatigue.

Thumb Arthritis

Guitarists often suffer from pain at the thumb where strength and power are required to perform well. Thumb arthritis results from the breakdown of joint cartilage and the underlying bone. It typically affects the basal joint, which is near the wrist and thumb’s fleshy part. Normally, this joint allows the thumb to swivel and pivot, but arthritis prevents a musician from even pinching or grasping the instrument. 

How to Prevent Hand Injuries

While you may seek treatment for your injuries as they occur, it is still best to focus on preventing them in the first place. This helps prevent delays in playing time, loss of career opportunities, and the inability to do what you love. Here are several things you can do to prevent overuse problems that may lead to hand injuries:

Practice body awareness – achieve a better sense of your posture, movement, and the position of your body. Try to understand the difference between normal fatigue and discomfort versus injury-associated pain.

Warm-up and cool down before and after practicing or playing – this could include stretches for the fingers, hands, arms, back, and neck, as well as breathing exercises.

Consult with a certified hand therapist – these professionals have the knowledge and training to recognize and treat hand and upper extremity issues. They can help you evaluate your playing posture and techniques, study your routines and habits, pay attention to what needs to be addressed, and develop a personalized prevention program that suits your needs.

Rest/take breaks – give your hands adequate rest by taking frequent breaks when practicing or performing. Be sure to also get enough sleep and develop techniques to manage stress and anxiety.

Live a healthy lifestyle – maintain a healthy diet and limit caffeine and nicotine consumption as these can make tissues and nerves more susceptible to injury.

Treatment Options

The treatment for hand injuries varies from one patient to another and depends on the degree and duration of the condition suffered. In cases where the pain and numbness are slight, conservative treatment may be enough to provide relief. Examples include:

Ice – Swollen tendons can be treated with ice to relieve any pain and reduce swelling.

Splints – Splints can help areas such as the wrist rest in the most neutral position possible. When the wrist bends, for instance, it can exert pressure on the median nerve and aggravate pain and other symptoms for those with carpal tunnel syndrome. Splints will help prevent a finger or wrist from bending and applying pressure to the swelling tendon or nerve.

Medications –  Steroid injections help reduce inflammation, pain, numbness, and other symptoms associated with hand injuries. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) may also be prescribed

When these conservative treatments don’t work and the condition becomes more chronic, different treatment options may be considered.

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute, our regenerative medicine experts offer regenerative cell therapies for the treatment and alleviation of joint and nerve pain. At our hand and wrist center in Phoenix, we provide patients with a cell treatment called AdipoRejuvenation® (NeuroRejuvenation® for nerve related pain and ArthroRejuvenation® for joint pain).

During an AdipoRejuvenation® procedure, local anesthesia is administered to a patient and a mini liposuction is performed to remove the necessary fat cells. From here, the fat is placed in a centrifuge which concentrates the healthy portion of the tissue to enhance recovery. These cells are then expertly administered into a patient’s joints, ligaments, or near nerves ultimately providing pain relief and a higher quality of life.

Surgery is ideal when you still suffer symptoms after a couple of weeks or months of non-surgical treatment. Furthermore, surgery is usually recommended when your severe symptoms prevent you from doing your daily activities. While surgery has typically involved a larger incision and weeks of recovery time, Dr. Fitzmaurice has developed a minimally invasive technique to safely and effectively treat hand injuries. When surgery is indicated the outcome and patient satisfaction is enhanced with the addition of these AdipoRejuvenation procedures to further improve the success rate and minimize recovery of surgery. 

His EndoTech® system is the most advanced treatment option for hand and wrist conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. This unique procedure combines the advantages of an open technique (such as excellent visualization) with the significant improvement in recovery and minimal pain seen with endoscopic techniques. The EndoTech nerve release enables complete visualization of the entire band of tissue causing pressure, ensuring that a complete release can be performed. Aside from visibility, the system also allows for smaller incisions (less than 1 cm) in the treatment area, less associated pain, faster recovery with much less downtime, and higher patient safety.

Schedule an Appointment

Dr. Fitzmaurice understands the many complications that you may experience from practicing and playing instruments for hours and the concern you have when your hands are letting you down. He has helped many musicians achieve pain relief and return to full function, allowing them to continue participating in their passion. If you are a musician who has been experiencing uncomfortable to unbearable pain, contact the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Phoenix to schedule a consultation with an expert hand surgeon.

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Summer is Here: Are Your Hands Ready?

We know the warmer weather holds the promise of sunny days ahead, and this means it’ll be time for your favorite summertime activities such as gardening, playing tennis and golf, or decluttering your home. But are your hands in top shape? If shoveling snow this winter reminded you of your hand injury or condition, then seek treatment now so you can enjoy all the activities that come with summer.

Helping you gain the upper hand this summer is the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Phoenix. We provide state-of-the-art treatment for hand and wrist pain. We strive to always offer the best and most appropriate care for our patients and are committed to providing treatment optimally effective at providing relief and restoring function with a minimally invasive approach.

What’s Keeping You from Your Favorite Summer Activities? 

You may be experiencing pain or discomfort in your hands that is keeping you from your favorite outdoor hobbies and sports. Common injuries and conditions you may have include:

Repetitive motion injuries 

Among the most common issues affecting the hands are repetitive strain injuries. Jobs, sports, and other activities that require repetitive hand movements can cause injuries. Some of these include:

Tennis elbow – caused by overusing your forearm due to repetitive or strenuous activity, like tennis

Carpal tunnel syndrome –  people at risk, are those with jobs or activities that involve the same hand movements, particularly repetitive finger-use that’s associated with extreme wrist motions, vibration, high force, and long-term use

Trigger finger/thumb – people who perform repetitive activities or forceful gripping are also more susceptible to soreness at the base of the finger or the snapping and locking of the finger

Tendonitis – tendon swelling and inflammation can occur dues to strain from motions for a prolonged period (e.g., typing, playing sports like tennis or volleyball, performing specific exercises, practicing a musical instrument, or operating machinery at work) 

All these hand conditions can lead to swelling, pain, weak grip strength, and numbness, which can prevent you from gardening, playing racquet sports, or even lifting your children during playtime at the park.

Arthritis

Thumb joint arthritis is one of the most common causes of hand pain. When the cushion-like cartilage inside the joint breaks down over time, this pain occurs. Arthritis can be debilitating because of severe pain and swelling, making it difficult to perform simple tasks such as opening jars, turning doorknobs, or gripping—making many summertime activities almost impossible to perform.

Protect Your Hands

Whether you’re planting hydrangeas, playing a doubles match with your friends, or repainting the walls in the garage, there are precautions to consider to protect your hands from injuries:

Wear gloves – Summer cleaning and gardening may be in full swing, but be sure to wear the correct pair of gloves. Pick gloves such as cotton-lined rubber gloves to protect your hands from being exposed to harsh chemicals found in cleaning products. For gardening, pick a pair that offers extra protection for knuckles, palms, and fingertips and has adjustable or snug elastic wrists. Gloves with mild compression may also help soothe arthritic pain.

Wear a brace – Wrist braces aren’t just used to treat pain and injuries. You can wear them to prevent injuries as well. Wrist braces are designed to protect, support, or restrict the movement of the wrist. By stabilizing the wrist, braces ensure no excessive movement, allowing you to perform your activities with more ease. Furthermore, activities won’t interfere with your existing hand conditions’ healing process when wearing a brace.

Apply arthritis creams – When applied to the skin, the salicylates in arthritis creams can reduce inflammation, swelling, and irritation, decreasing pressure and pain in the joints. These creams provide temporary but effective relief, especially on joints close to the skin, like those in the hands.

Strengthen Your Hands

Strengthening, stretching, and range-of-motion exercises can help improve hand function and prevent the chance of injury and reinjury. When done properly, these exercises can benefit those who are experiencing pain, stiffness, and swelling. From finger and thumb stretches to grip strengtheners, these exercises are simple enough to do at home or at the office, but they can tremendously contribute to your overall wrist and hand health. Specific hand exercises and routines that can help keep your hands strong and healthy can be found on the Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence website. It is recommended to repeat these hand workouts two or three times a week and add more exercises as you go.

Use the Best Equipment 

Even if using top-of-the-line tools, always wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp blades. Lightweight tools with built-in safety locks and soft-grip handles are ideal. And to make your tasks easier, be sure your tools are sharp and well-oiled before use. What’s the point of using tools if their dull quality is making you do extra work? Use tools whenever possible, so you don’t have to put your hands through unnecessary stress.

Get Proper Treatment 

There are times when a visit to a hand specialist is crucial. If you are experiencing pain that won’t go away or pain that gets worse and does not respond to at-home treatments, seek medical attention. Hand surgeons like Dr. Michael Fitzmaurice are qualified to give accurate diagnoses and have the skill and experience to treat all concerns related to the wrist and hand exclusively. Our team can prescribe medications, recommend exercises, and perform surgery. 

Dr. Fitzmaurice, however, is constantly pushing to expand the precision of hand surgery in Phoenix. With his minimally invasive approach, he has innovated new techniques that improve visualization, enable complete treatment, and most of all can help you get back to your life more quickly and with optimal results. His EndoTech® system provides the safest and most advanced treatment option for hand conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The procedure combines the benefits of an open technique with minimal pain and improved recovery time associated with endoscopic procedures. Aside from visibility, the system also allows for smaller incisions (less than 1 cm) in the treatment area, less associated pain, faster recovery with much less downtime, and higher patient safety. 

Strengthen Your Hands This Summer

We understand the hands are your most used tools and are also the most frequently injured part of the body. It’s a challenge to keep the hands safe and healthy, especially when you are already suffering from conditions such as arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. To learn more about how you can protect your hands or determine your best treatment options, contact the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Phoenix to schedule an appointment.

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5 Tips for Avoiding Hand Arthritis Pain

If you have arthritis, you probably know all too well the effects of cold on stiff fingers, whether from a cool, rainy day or a blast of air conditioning when you walk indoors. The inflamed tissues and joints in your hands feel the effects of cold more than the rest of your body does.

Whether you wish you had enough mobility and comfort to work in your garden, play a game of badminton, or just want to be pain-free for day-to-day life, we’re here to help you at the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute. We’ve compiled a list of five tips to help you avoid hand arthritis pain when temperatures drop. 

1. Stretch It Out

Whether your arthritis is limited to the thumb or affects other fingers and joints, keeping your tendons, muscles, and ligaments limber is key to maintaining mobility. A team of researchers from the United Kingdom developed an online stretching and strengthening program for hand arthritis called mySARAH (Strengthening and Stretching for Rheumatoid Arthritis for the Hand). 

The mySARAH 12-week online program is free. Study participants reported that the training program improved their pain levels. If you can’t access the online course or would rather not participate, you can design your own hand-stretching and strengthening program with the following exercises:

Make a tightly clenched fist. Release. Repeat 10 times on each hand.

Hold fingers outstretched. Bend thumb toward palm. Hold for 2 seconds. Release. Do the same for your other fingers. Repeat on other hand.

Hold fingers straight. Bend thumb toward base of pinky. Hold for a second or two. Repeat 10 times on each hand.

Hold hand straight. Then curve fingers and thumb together to form an “O.” Hold for a few seconds. Release. Repeat whenever your hand feels stiff.

Place pinky-side of hand on table. Stretch thumb upward. Close fingers onto palm. Hold for a few seconds. Release. Repeat 10 times on each hand.

Place palm on table. One by one, lift and hold a finger up for a second or two. Repeat twice on each hand.

Hold out your arm with your palm facing down. With the other hand, press the back of the outstretched hand, moving the fingers toward your inner arm, stretching the top of your wrist. Hold for a few seconds. Repeat 10 times on each hand.

2. Cover Up

Keeping the hands at a comfortable temperature is even more important for people with hand arthritis. Even in the middle of summer, air conditioned offices may require hand coverings to protect fingers from the chill. Lightweight coverings, even fingerless gloves, may make a difference when the temperature drops indoors. 

3. Watch What You Eat

Yes, your hands care about what you include in your diet. Your cartilage, tendons, muscles, and ligaments all need the right kind of nourishment to stay strong and healthy. Give your hands (and body) a break by filling up with nourishing foods and skipping the types of mouth-entertainments that cause inflammation and arthritis pain.

Load up on:

Fresh vegetables

Leafy greens

Low-glycemic fruits

Healthy proteins

Healthy fats

Avoid:

Sugar

High-fructose corn syrup

Processed meats

Processed foods

Alcohol

Other inflammatory foods

Not sure what to buy? A good strategy is to limit your grocery shopping to the perimeter of the store, where the fresh vegetables, meats, and fish are kept. Avoid aisles with their tempting boxes and bags with misleading labels such as “healthy” or “all natural.” If it comes in a box or bag, it’s probably not that nourishing.

4. Take your meds

If your rheumatologist prescribed medications to control inflammation and pain, make sure you don’t forget to take them throughout the busy summer season. Refill your prescriptions regularly so you won’t be caught short.

5. Give your hands some TLC

Compression gloves put extra pressure on your hands and fingers to relieve pain and inflammation. It’s like giving your hands a squeeze (without squeezing). Consider gloves that contain copper or other elements that can reduce pain or inflammation, too.

If your hands hurt and you don’t want to take oral medications, try out topical creams that contain pain-numbing ingredients, such as capsaicin or salicylates. Some creams even contain lidocaine, an anesthetic.

Consider Surgery

While these tips can help control arthritis pain, if you’ve lost mobility in your thumb, fingers, or wrists, or suffer chronic pain, it may be time to consider surgery. Now might be the time to consider a trip to Arizona for a consultation and diagnosis. If our surgeons think you’d benefit from surgery, we offer same-day surgery, too, so you’ll have time to enjoy your stay in our beautiful state.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

You don’t have to travel all the way to our office for a consultation. Schedule a video consult and meet with one of our surgeons wherever you are. Now is the time to start your journey away from pain and into comfort.

The post 5 Tips for Avoiding Hand Arthritis Pain appeared first on Fitz Hand.

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How Hand Pain Can Seriously Affect Other Parts of Your Body

While hand pain can range from a dull ache to sharp pain, it may also radiate into other body areas. Even without the presence of an injury, hand pain may be a sign of a chronic health condition that may interfere with your body’s ability to regulate sensations and circulation to your extremities. When left untreated, hand pain can negatively impact your ability to perform simple daily tasks as well as your quality of life.

To avoid crippling pain or, worse, permanent nerve damage, seek treatment from a hand specialist. Our surgeons at the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Phoenix can help you get the relief you need. Dedicated to your comfort and needs, we offer state-of-the-art hand and wrist treatments that can help you achieve the fastest, most complete relief and return to full function with a minimally-invasive approach.

Overcompensation Elsewhere

When you can’t use a particular extremity, whether due to pain or numbness, it’s only natural that other parts of the body will have to compensate for the condition. This is why pain in the finger can radiate into other fingers, the entire hand, or up to the forearm. When you’re refraining from using a painful finger and its surrounding areas have to overcompensate, this can lead to misalignment and cause further strain on the muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments.

Mental Health Risks

While some will experience discomfort and pain that only lasts for a few weeks, some may experience unbearable pain that can go on for several months or longer. Chronic pain can negatively affect a person’s well-being and is often associated with other health conditions such as anxiety and depression. A study even explored how PTSD and depression affect general health status after a hand injury. Experiencing pain or the inability to use a critical body part is more than physical. Depression is one of the most common mental health problems facing people with injuries and chronic pain, and mental health problems serve as another roadblock on the path to recovery. While physical pain is more visible from the outside, mental health should also be a priority during the healing process.

Hand Pain Can Point to Issues Elsewhere

The hand pain you are experiencing may not be directly related to your fingers, hand, or wrist and could be signs of an underlying health condition. For instance, the tingling sensations you feel running down your arm and into your hands may actually generate from a condition affecting your neck. A herniated disc or spinal stenosis, for example, can affect the nerves that are responsible for sending signals down your arms and hands. If you are experiencing any numbness or tingling in your arms and hands, it is best to also have your neck evaluated.

Other medical conditions can cause finger, hand, or wrist problems. Experiencing pain or tingling in the fingers or hand (especially the left hand) may be symptoms of a heart attack, and being pregnant may cause swelling, numbness, and tingling that often go away after delivery. It is therefore important to monitor your symptoms to decide if and when to seek a medical evaluation.

Hand Ailments That Can Affect the Rest of Your Body

There are many causes of hand pain. But if your symptoms are not from an injury or an accident, other causes of debilitating pain that can affect the rest of your body include:

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a progressive and painful condition that occurs when the tendons become inflamed, a nerve compresses, or when there is swelling in the carpal tunnel (the narrow structure in your wrist). You may experience a sharp pain from the hand into the forearm and sometimes even up into your shoulder. This causes loss of grip strength or worse, loss of sensation and compromised hand mobility.

Trigger finger causes stiffness, pain, and the sensation of locking or catching when you bend your finger. Over time, the joint can become locked into a bent position, making everyday activities like holding a glass or typing on a keyboard uncomfortable and difficult.

Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs after the ulnar nerve in the elbow becomes overly compressed or stretched. This results in numbness or tingling in the ring and small fingers, pain in the forearm, and weakness in the hand. More severe symptoms include weakness affecting the hand (especially the two outermost fingers), decreased ability to grip objects, muscle wasting, and claw-like deformity in the hand.

Tennis elbow is a painful condition caused by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm due to an inflammation of the tendons attached to the bone on the outside part of the elbow. Tennis elbow pain can range from a dull, intermittent ache to debilitating pain that can make the simple act of gripping a coffee mug difficult.

Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition that affects a layer of tissue that lies under the skin of your palm. Because the fingers of one or both hands become pulled into the palm, Dupuytren’s contracture makes it challenging to grasp large objects, shake hands, or wash hands.

De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist. Any swelling of the tendons and/or thickening of the sheath will increase friction and pain with particular thumb and wrist movements, particularly in picking up or grasping objects.

Thumb arthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects the hands. It usually occurs at the joint at the base of the thumb, where the thumb meets the wrist. Decreased range of motion and grip strength and swelling and pain throughout your hand may occur. You may find it difficult to open jars or to twist open a doorknob.

While lumps and masses found on the hand are usually benign, problematic conditions may exist. Masses that develop in the hand and wrist areas can become painful, impacting everyday tasks such as driving, working, and sports. On the other hand, Neuroma is a benign growth of tumors commonly comprised of nerve cells and typically form following an injury to a nerve and can be very painful, especially those in scar tissue near the skin, limiting the range of motion.

How to Treat Your Hand Pain Now

You can schedule a telemedicine or in-person consultation with one of our surgeons in Phoenix. We will provide a diagnosis and the appropriate care plan. Our expert team always aims to provide the highest standard of care. We have developed state-of-the-art techniques that are improving hand surgery. Our surgeons also developed the EndoTech®, a minimally invasive system for treating the upper extremities, improving surgical visualization and speeding up the recovery process. This revolutionary instrumentation results in less pain, and a rapid return to activity and has an outstanding surgical success rate.

Seek Hand Pain Treatment Today

The Fitzmaurice Hand Institute is designed to make receiving treatment as convenient as possible. With our surgery center and an urgent clinic on-site, all exclusively focused on hand and wrist treatments, you’ll receive the best care possible. To learn more about your hand pain treatment options or schedule a consultation, contact our Phoenix office.

The post How Hand Pain Can Seriously Affect Other Parts of Your Body appeared first on Fitz Hand.

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5 Reasons to Wear Wrist Splints

Your wrists are one of the hardest-working joints of your body as your hands and arms are responsible for a wide range of tasks and activities every day. When your wrists stop working efficiently or it becomes painful to move them, the impact on your daily life can be profound. While there are many options for treating sore wrists, splints have become a popular component of an overall treatment plan for many.

The Fitzmaurice Hand Institute provides innovative treatments for hand and wrist pain in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Our commitment to giving patients a quick return to their normal activities has driven our surgeons to pioneer minimally invasive techniques and procedures that improve visualization, reduce surgical impact, and speed up recovery, leading to optimal results. While conservative treatment can be a good place to start, we are ready to take your treatments to the next level with state-of-the-art options proven to produce positive results. 

What are Wrist Splints?

Wrist splints are a popular option for individuals who are dealing with both acute and chronic injuries and conditions involving the wrist and hand. Splints are available from a wide range of sources today, prompting some people to wonder when these devices might be recommended. We have five common instances when wrist splints might be the right choice for you. 

1. Treat Repetitive Motion Injuries

Repetitive motion injuries are those that occur as a result of damage that builds over time, such as carpal tunnel. Common activities that lead to repetitive motion injuries include: 

Typing on a keyboard 

Using a computer mouse or game controller 

Stocking store shelves 

Using the same tools over and over 

Playing some instruments 

Working on an assembly line 

When you perform these activities daily, they can damage the muscles, tendons, and nerves. Symptoms might include pain, numbness, tingling, stiffness, or weakness. When used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, wrist splints offer the support needed in the injured area to allow time for healing to take place. 

2. Stabilize Fractures 

A wrist splint may also be used in place of, or after, a cast when a bone in the wrist or hand is fractured. The splint offers the stabilization necessary for the bone to heal fully, while allowing the wearer to remove the splint for bathing. A wrist splint may be a more comfortable option than a cast, when a splint is the appropriate treatment option. These splints tend to be a bit more firm than the types used for repetitive motion injuries, to ensure the bone remains in the proper position as it heals. 

3. Allow for Sufficient Healing Time

Soft tissue injuries are those that involve the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and they can occur with a fall or with repetitive motions. These injuries can take a significant amount of time to heal, which can be frustrating when you are dealing with them. When the soft tissue injury involves the wrist and hand, a wrist splint can aid in the healing process by keeping the injured area stable throughout recovery. In some cases, we may advise you to wear the splint when performing the activity that caused the injuries. Splints can also be helpful at night, preventing motion of the injured area while you are asleep. 

4. Protect Wrists and Hands During Repetitive Tasks

In some cases, you can stop a repetitive motion injury before it starts by providing the wrist and hands the appropriate support while performing the activity. In these cases, we may recommend a wrist brace rather than a splint. Braces tend to be softer and more comfortable, making them a good choice if you plan to wear them long-term as part of a preventative plan. The braces still offer sufficient support so you can perform your tasks with less risk of a soft tissue injury over time. If you have injured your wrist in the past, this support can help you avoid reinjuring the joint. 

5. Provide Support During Sports Training

Like someone who stocks shelves or uses a computer all day every day, athletes know that proper support can prevent injuries during their activities as well. Wrist braces can ensure you maintain proper form during exercise, while preventing over-extension or over-exertion of the joint that could lead to injury over time. These firm, elastic braces are more flexible than the standard wrist splint, but offer the support necessary to keep joints healthy throughout workouts and competitions. 

When Wrist Splints Aren’t Enough

Although wrist splints can be helpful in both treating and preventing some injuries, they will not “cure” an injury that has already occurred. When conservative treatments like splinting and physical therapy do not provide the desired outcome, Dr. Michael Fitzmaurice and his team offer additional treatments to help patients recover from their injuries and restore their quality of life. 

Find the Best Treatment for Your Joint Issues in Phoenix

At Fitzmaurice Hand Institute, we specialize in minimally-invasive surgical procedures, including the revolutionary EndoTech treatment that we can perform on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia. Patients are typically able to return home the same day as surgery to recuperate in familiar, comfortable surroundings. If conservative treatment is not helping your carpal tunnel, trigger finger, or Duputren’s contracture, contact our office today to see how we can help.

The post 5 Reasons to Wear Wrist Splints appeared first on Fitz Hand.

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3 Reasons You Should Get Your Carpal Tunnel Treated Now

Don’t wait to protect your hands and wrists. If you are experiencing intermittent tingling or numbness in your fingers, it is best to seek treatment now. If left untreated and the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome progress, you may lose the coordinated movement of your fingers, or worse, have permanent nerve damage. The earlier you get treatment, the better the outcome will be. From conservative measures to surgery, there are many effective treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome. Don’t ignore your symptoms and wait until the condition disrupts your daily life.

The Fitzmaurice Hand Institute provides state-of-the-art treatment for hand and wrist pain in Phoenix. We are passionate about providing the best care for our patients, including carpal tunnel syndrome treatment options optimally effectively providing relief and restoring hand function. Our commitment to giving patients a quick return to their normal activities has driven Dr. Fitzmaurice to pioneer minimally invasive techniques and procedures that improve visualization, reduce surgical impact, and speed up recovery, leading to optimal results. So, if you suspect you have carpal tunnel syndrome and you’re delaying your treatment, you may want to consider the following reasons why getting treated earlier is best.

1. Carpal Tunnel Can Cause Permanent Damage 

As carpal tunnel syndrome becomes more severe, you may experience weakened grip strength because the muscles in your hand are beginning to shrink. Eventually, you’ll most likely lose overall strength in your affected hand, making it difficult to perform activities that require fine motor skills. Picking up small objects, writing, holding a spoon, or fastening a button become challenging chores. And as the median nerve begins to lose function because of the increasing pressure around it, you could also end up with permanent nerve damage and lose function in your hand.

2. Earlier Treatment Is Easier

The earlier we diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, the easier it is to treat. For mild symptoms, conservative treatments, most of which you can do at home, maybe enough to provide relief. Remedies include:

Resting the hand

Application of cold packs

Hand exercises

Wrist splints

Over-the-counter pain medications

Corticosteroid injections

NeuroGen nerve support supplement

3. Enjoy A Better Quality of Life 

You need your hands more than any other part of your body to complete your daily tasks. By treating carpal tunnel syndrome, you get to relieve pain and nighttime symptoms that disturb your sleep, as well as restore hand and wrist functions. Numbness, weakness, coordination, and strength in the hand will improve, allowing you to quickly return to regular life, work, and other favorite activities.

How the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute Can Help 

The philosophy behind The Fitzmaurice Hand Institute is a simple one: Strive always to provide the best, most appropriate, and most effective care for every person who walks through our door. Depending on the severity of your carpal tunnel syndrome, we can treat it non-surgically or with surgery. If conservative treatments such as pain medications, wrist splints, and corticosteroid injections don’t relieve symptoms, we may recommend surgery. 

In Phoenix, we offer the fastest, most complete relief and return to full function. Using a minimally invasive approach, Fitzmaurice pushes to expand hand surgery precision by innovating new techniques. These innovations led to the most advanced treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome. He developed EndoTech®, a minimally invasive system that combines the benefits of an open technique with the quick recovery time and minimal pain associated with endoscopic procedures. The EndoTech nerve release allows for complete visualization of the entire band of tissue causing pressure, ensuring that we can achieve a complete release. The system also allows for smaller incisions (less than 1 cm) in the treatment area, which means less associated pain, faster recovery with much less downtime, and higher patient safety. 

Our regenerative medicine experts at the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute offer various stem cell therapies, or what we refer to as NeuroRejuvenation®, to treat and alleviate joint pain. It involves obtaining fat cells from a patient through a mini liposuction procedure. Stem cells are then separated from the other tissues and expertly administered into a patient’s joints and ligaments, ultimately providing pain relief and a higher quality of life without the need for invasive surgery.

Patients receive the best care possible at the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute. We have two operating rooms at our facility specially designed for our hand procedures and our minimally invasive endoscopic equipment. Our facility allows us to accommodate same-day procedures and provide you comfort and safety in a warm and calming environment.

Seek Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment Today

If you suspect that you might have carpal tunnel syndrome, don’t wait until the pain becomes unbearable and the damage becomes significant. Consult with a hand surgery expert and get the treatment you deserve. Contact the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Phoenix to schedule an appointment.

The post 3 Reasons You Should Get Your Carpal Tunnel Treated Now appeared first on Fitz Hand.

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Top Arizona Hand Surgeon Reveals How Fall Weather Can Affect Your Hand Injury

Dropping temperatures would often signal the time for cozy sweaters and warm beverages, along with visions of pumpkin-carving and leaves brilliantly changing colors. But for many people who are living with hand conditions and injuries, cold weather means increased pain in their joints. While there is no clear scientific explanation to support this claim, freezing temperatures along with low barometric pressure seems to increase discomfort.

Whether your pain is caused by an injury or a condition such as arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, there are ways to effectively manage the intensity of stiff, achy joints, making the chilly weather more bearable. Furthermore, there are longer-term solutions that may also reduce pain, especially if the joint pains are symptoms of an underlying condition. Dr. Fitzmaurice of the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Phoenix, AZ is a double board-certified, fellowship-trained hand surgeon who provides the best possible care because he has a passion for helping others. In his quest to provide the very highest standard of care, Dr. Fitzmaurice has pioneered several new techniques and procedures that improve visualization and reduce surgical impact, leading to optimal results with a rapid return to life, work, and activity.

How Cold Weather Can Aggravate Your Hand Injury

While you may complain of joint pain more often during fall and winter than other seasons of the year, there is inadequate scientific research to justify why this is. Most people who have chronic joint disorders, however, will agree that there is a link between cold weather and joint pain. 

The following are possible reasons for cold weather-related joint pain:

Inactivity – cold weather will often make you less active, and long periods of inactivity can lead to bone and joint stiffness, which causes you to feel more pain.

Thickening of joint fluid – similar to how oil keeps a vehicle running smoothly, you have joint fluid that keeps your system lubricated and acts as a shock absorber. Much like oil, cold weather can cause joint fluid to move more slowly, affecting its overall function. This can cause stiff and creaking joints, resulting in pain that feels as though it is seeping deep into your bones.

Changes in barometric pressure – when the atmospheric pressure drops and the weather becomes colder, the lower air pressure pushes less against the body, causing the expansion of tissues. This can put pressure on the joints, resulting in pain. Cold weather and atmospheric pressure changes can also cause increased nerve sensitivity and poor blood circulation.

Increased sensitivity of joint nerves – cold weather can make your pain receptors more sensitive, making you feel more significant pain. If your condition is caused by an injury, the nerves in your joint can be hypersensitive to changes in weather due to adhesions, scarring, and inflammation.

Keep Your Injuries Safe in the Cold

There are ways to curb an injury’s pain in the cold, helping improve day-to-day functionality and protecting those vulnerable joints.

Rest – you can promote healing by not using the injured hand until the pain goes away.

Stay warm – dress in layers, use electric blankets, and keep your home heated. Staying warm may help reduce pain and keep you more comfortable.

Stretch – gently stretch the injured muscle, tendon, or ligament, or as advised by your doctor.

Exercise – when allowed by your doctor to exercise, reduce the duration, intensity, and frequency of workouts until your injury is completely healed.

Prevent swelling – if you have arthritis in the hands, use well-fitted gloves or Oedema gloves to help provide gentle compression, reduce swelling, and improve stability.

Take pain medications and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs – painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol will help provide relief, but be sure to first consult with your doctor before taking any pain medication.

What are Chronic Cold Hands? 

Cold sensitivity is a common complaint following hand injuries. This may be especially true for those with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). There are two reasons for this condition: injured soft tissues or an inflammation that traps parts of the wrist and hand (pinched nerves), creating pressure on the blood vessels. When blood circulation is restricted, hands will get cold more quickly in cold weather. Therefore, along with numbness and tingling in the hand or arm, cold hands is a symptom of CTS. However, those with CTS will often experience chronic cold hands even in mild weather.

With limited blood flow, the hands not only become chronically cold, but they can also lack nutrients, leading to loss of feeling, clumsiness, and weakened grip strength.

If you are experiencing symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it is best to be checked and treated by a top hand surgeon because symptoms can worsen and last a long time. Dr. Fitzmaurice is always pushing to expand the precision of hand surgery in Phoenix, AZ by innovating new techniques that improve visualization and enable more complete treatment using a minimally-invasive approach, helping you get back to your life more quickly and with optimal results. The sooner you get diagnosed and treated for CTS, the easier it can be treated.

Managing Pain When the Temperature Drops

Pain relief is possible. There are some lifestyle changes you can make to help manage joint pain during cold weather. In addition to pain medication, the following recommendations may help reduce your pain:

Stay active – Try to keep moving. By exercising your joints, you get to increase blood circulation and help reduce stiffness. Doing a few stretches will also keep your joints strong and limber. By building up muscle and bone strength, you are reducing pressure on your joints and making them less prone to injuries. During colder days, take your workouts indoors. You can use weights and resistance bands, or follow low-impact at-home cardio, yoga, or strengthening routines online. But keep in mind to respect your personal limits and to not overdo it.

Stay warm – In addition to bundling up with layers of clothing, try hot water bottles, heating pads, and warm baths and showers to help relax muscles and ease stiff and painful joints.

Get a massage – targeted massage therapy will help relax the muscles, improve blood circulation, and lubricate the joints.

Eat well – a nutrient-rich diet will not only prevent weight gain (extra pounds will only put added stress on painful joints), but it will also promote joint and overall health. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon will help reduce inflammation in the joints, while dark, leafy greens rich in Vitamin K like spinach will help strengthen bones. Vitamin C-packed foods such as tomatoes and oranges can help prevent pain and cartilage loss associated with arthritis.

Stay healthy – by getting enough sleep, not smoking, and maintaining a positive outlook/mood (keeping your mind engaged with activities you enjoy), you get to help maintain the body’s resting level of inflammation at a lower level.

Treat Your Injuries Before the Cold Hits 

Preparation is key. If you are already aware of any injuries or if you’ve noticed persistent pain, swelling, inflammation, and other new symptoms that can’t be relieved by conservative treatments, seek medical attention. By getting treated early, you may be able to relieve joint pain symptoms or even eliminate them, decrease the likelihood of other complications, and avoid more invasive surgical procedures.

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute, treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome and other hand injuries may include:

Wrist splints to help keep the wrist in the most neutral position possible

Corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation, pain, numbness, and other symptoms

Stem cell therapies for the treatment and alleviation of joint pain

EndoTech® –a minimally-invasive instrumentation system that provides the most advanced visualization of any endoscopic hand surgery technique

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute, our team strives to always administer the best, most effective care for our patients. We are committed to treating joint pain, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other hand, wrist, and elbow conditions by providing treatment that is optimally effective at providing relief and restoring hand function, helping you get back to regular life as quickly as possible.

Schedule A Consultation Today

Never dread the cold weather again by getting your hand injury or joint condition checked and treated. To learn more, contact the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Phoenix, AZ or call (480) 719-4750.

The post Top Arizona Hand Surgeon Reveals How Fall Weather Can Affect Your Hand Injury appeared first on Fitz Hand.

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Arizona’s Best Hand Surgeon Explains The Worst Female Hand Injuries

When you think about hormones, you probably associate them with your reproductive system and don’t think much about how they affect the rest of your body. But women’s hormones change the way their bones and muscles form and age and may make them prone to a variety of stress- and repetitive-movement—related hand injuries. At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona, our team has expertise in preventing and treating female hand injuries.

How estrogen affects your hands

Your ovaries make most of the sex hormones known as estrogens, though your adrenal glands and fatty tissue produce small amounts of them, too. Estrogen has many tasks, including triggering the release of a ripened egg each month during your menstrual cycle. 

Estrogen also helps you build strong skin, muscles, and bones. The hormone even regulates energy metabolism in the muscles themselves and influences the viability and health of muscle cells.  

Female athletes may be more prone to hand injuries and other sports injuries because training for more than 12 hours per week can trigger a phenomenon called the “female athlete triad”:

Insufficient nutrition (due to calorie restriction)

Changes in the menstrual cycle (due to hormonal imbalance)

Bone loss (i.e., osteoporosis)

Women who trigger the female athlete triad may lose their periods for months or years at a time. Without sufficient estrogen, they start to develop some of the changes normally associated with menopause, such as brittle bones and increase their risk of stress fractures and broken bones.  Cutting back on training and improving nutrition can reverse the female athlete triad. 

Even if you’re not an athlete, you may develop hand problems when you’re pregnant or after childbirth, because of hormonal fluctuations that affect your soft tissues and bones. As you move past your 30s and into perimenopause and menopause, your estrogen levels decrease. This leads to muscle wasting and osteoporosis, which happens very quickly after menopause. As the muscles in your hands grow weak or atrophy and your bones become more brittle, you’re more prone to injure or fracture your hands.

If you’ve noticed changes in your skin and muscles due to aging and menopause, talk to your OB/GYN about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).  Restoring youthful levels of estrogens and other hormones improve the quality and strength of your muscles and bones, and also helps you look and feel younger. 

How what you do affects your hands

Any kind of repetitive motion increases your risk of hand injuries. Playing musical instruments, playing tennis professionally or as exercise, engaging in care-taking activities such as giving massages, or enjoying hobbies such as gardening or painting demand that you repeat the same movements over and over. The constant stress on aging muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints eventually wear them out and cause inflammation. The inflammation can compress nerves or degrade the cartilage in joints, leading to neuropathies or arthritis.

Dr. Fitzmaurice recommends performing hand, finger, and wrist exercises before and after engaging in repetitive tasks or motions. Exercises strengthen your muscles and tendons, plus increases blood flow to your hands to keep your tissues nourished and to flush away toxins that could cause inflammation. Ask Dr. Fitzmaurice about the types of warm-up and cool-down exercises you should do to keep your fingers, hands, and wrists safe.

Treatments for female hand injuries

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute, we’ve noticed that more women present with the following conditions. Being aware of these potential injuries can help you get treatment at the early stages, to improve your outcome.

de Quervains tendinitis 

Repetitive grasping and rheumatoid arthritis may cause inflammation in your first dorsal compartment — a tunnel that houses the tendons that run along the thumb side of your wrist. The main symptom is pain when you move your wrist or thumb.  Dr. Fitzmaurice developed a minimally invasive procedure called the EndoTech® Endoscopic De Quervain’s Release to release the thickened tendon tunnel, allowing your tendons to move freely and painlessly again immediately after surgery. You can return to work within a week.

Thumb arthritis

You’re more likely to develop arthritis in your thumb after the age of 40. Symptoms include pain when gripping objects or opening doors, and aching pain at the base of the thumb. Treatments include anti-inflammatory medications or minimally invasive surgery to remove bone spurs and reconstruct the joint. Dr. Fitzmaurice also uses minimally invasive EndoTech surgery to deliver regenerative cells to resurface the joint and repair cartilage, resulting in a success rate of more than 94%.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

When swollen tendons press against the median nerve in your wrist, which runs through a narrow tube called the carpal tunnel, your hand and fingers may feel weak, tingling, or numb. Women often develop carpal tunnel in the last stages of pregnancy due to hormonal changes that cause inflammation and swelling. Dr. Fitzmaurice restores painless motion to your wrist, fingers, and hand with steroids, regenerative medicine, and minimally invasive EndoTech® surgery that releases the inflamed carpal tunnel. 

Schedule A Hand Consultation At Our Scottsdale Office 

Take care of your hands and stay aware of changes in your skin, muscles, and bones that could raise your risk for a hand injury. Contact the helpful Fitzmaurice Hand Institute to learn more about preventive exercises, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and minimally invasive EndoTech procedures with regenerative medicine that restore painless function again.

The post Arizona’s Best Hand Surgeon Explains The Worst Female Hand Injuries appeared first on Fitz Hand.

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You Don’t Need to Play Tennis To Get Tennis Elbow

Despite its name, tennis elbow is not reserved just for tennis players. This painful condition that is characterized by the inflammation of the tendons in your elbow often occurs due to the overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons around it. This means people with jobs that require repetitive motions of the arm such as plumbers, carpenters, butchers, and painters are all susceptible to developing tennis elbow.

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute, we strive to always provide the best, most appropriate, and most effective care for all patients who walk through our doors. Double board-certified, fellowship-trained hand surgeon Michael J. Fitzmaurice, MD, has become a leader in minimally invasive hand surgery. For symptoms that don’t respond to conservative treatments, Dr. Fitzmaurice will offer a better alternative to traditional surgery. His innovative treatment for the upper extremities which improves surgical visualization and hastens recovery time has helped many patients, right here in Phoenix, Arizona.

Other Causes of Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow typically develops over time. Repetitive motions can cause strain on the muscles, leading to the constant tugging of the tendons, which can cause tears in the tissue. Aside from manual work that involves repetitive lifting and turning of the wrist (e.g., plumbing, painting, or bricklaying), tennis elbow can also develop from daily activities such as:

Gardening

Using scissors

Knitting 

Slicing/cutting tough food

Swimming

Sports that involve high amounts of throwing movements like tennis, racquetball, squash, fencing, and weight lifting

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of tennis elbow are recurring pain or burning on the outside of the elbow and weakened grip strength. The pain can begin at the elbow and travel down the arm, toward the wrist. The outside of the elbow is also tender to the touch. Although the tissue damage occurs in the elbow, you are likely to feel pain when performing certain activities with your hands. You may experience pain when you:

Turn a door handle

Grip or lift an object

Make a fist 

Shake hands

Treatment Options for Tennis Elbow

Most patients experience successful healing with nonsurgical treatments. These include:

Rest – a break in any activity will give the arm proper rest. Resting will allow tears in the tendon attachment to heal.

Anti-inflammatory medications – these medications will help alleviate inflammation and pain.

Bracing – wearing a band over the forearm muscle below the elbow will help reduce tension, allowing the tendon to heal.

Physical therapy – players of racquet sports are advised to strengthen their shoulders, upper arms, and abdominal muscles. Strengthening exercises can help reduce the wrist tension during shoulder and arm movements.

Range of motion exercises – these exercises will help reduce stiffness and increase flexibility. These are typically performed 3-5 times a day.

Cold therapy – icing the elbow will help reduce any pain and swelling. It is recommended to be done for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days, or until the pain is gone.

Steroid injections – a strong anti-inflammatory is injected directly into the area to reduce inflammation and pain.

Surgical Treatment 

For severe cases of tennis elbow with symptoms that last longer than 6 to 12 months, your doctor may recommend surgery. Dr. Fitzmaurice offers the most advanced treatments and regenerative techniques available to help his patients recover from hand injuries and nerve and tendon conditions in Phoenix, Arizona. He and his staff are dedicated to providing the best care possible using the most minimally invasive treatment options. Specifically, the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute offers the EndoTech® Tennis Elbow Release. The procedure involves:

The debriding of tissue using a very small incision.

The releasing of tight bands over the muscles using a specially designed endoscopic instrument.

Studies have shown that this technique’s remarkable visualization significantly decreases surgical risks, with zero complications to date in more than 4000 procedures performed. EndoTech® results in the least amount of pain and the fastest recovery compared to other surgical techniques. This allows for a much higher success rate and a greater overall patient outcome.

Accompanying the procedure is a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment to achieve even better results. PRP treatment is designed to initiate the healing response in an area that is stubborn to heal, such as a torn tendon. The procedure involves taking a small amount of blood from the patient which is spun down using a centrifuge machine. This provides a concentrated source of PRP that is then injected into the area where there is poor blood supply. PRP therapy helps decrease inflammation and pain associated with tendon and soft tissue conditions, as the blood platelets and their growth factors significantly optimize the healing process. PRP will not only slow down the deterioration of the damaged tendon but will also improve the overall strength and function of the tissue.

Schedule Your Tennis Elbow Treatment TodaySeek treatment if you are experiencing pain or are suffering from tennis elbow. To learn more about your treatment options, schedule an appointment with Dr. Fitzmaurice at the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

The post You Don’t Need to Play Tennis To Get Tennis Elbow appeared first on Fitz Hand.

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What is Carpal Boss and How Can it Be Treated?

Do you have a small bump on the back of your hand? You may have a condition known as carpometacarpal boss, or carpal boss for short. It is an overgrowth of the bone which isn’t usually worrisome unless your wrist becomes swollen and causes you pain. If these masses of bone growth become problematic, especially if it’s affecting your dominant hand, treatments ranging from steroid injections to surgery may be recommended.

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Scottsdale, AZ, double-board certified, fellowship-trained hand surgeon Michael J. Fitzmaurice, MD provides his patients with treatments and procedures that are optimally effective at providing relief and restoring function. Dr. Fitzmaurice is one of the most experienced hand surgeons in the world, helping patients reduce downtime and improve their outcomes with minimally-invasive procedures.

What is Carpal Boss?

Carpal boss is a condition that manifests as a firm, bony lump that appears on the back of your hand or wrist, just below the index or middle finger where it connects to the carpal bones (the eight small bones that make up your wrist). It develops when the cartilage lining thins out, which in effect, encourages the production of new bone in that area. The result is a visible overgrowth of bone. These masses are often curable. Recurrence can occur but the bumps almost never become cancerous.  The worst cases will involve the carpal boss, causing pain and restricted mobility leading to complications like tendon rupture, inflammation, and degenerative joint disease.

What Causes Carpal Boss?

While the exact cause is unknown, carpal boss is usually associated with:

Traumatic injury

Repetitive wrist motion (e.g., golf and other racquet sports)

Frequent mechanical stress on the wrist

Conditions such as osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendon damage, and congenital issues

Carpal boss can occur at any age, but most frequently affects individuals between the ages of 20 and 40. Both men and women can develop carpal boss.

Symptoms

The main symptom of carpal boss is a hard, bony mass on the back of the hand or wrist. It can occur in either one or both hands or wrists. Other signs include:

Pain when moving your wrist up or down

Snapping of tendons that straighten the fingers over the carpal boss (may be painful)

The bump is sometimes tender or painful to the touch

The dominant hand is usually affected

Treatment

If your carpal boss is not painful and does not affect your hand function, leaving it alone will not cause any harm. But if you feel pain and experience a loss of mobility on the hand or wrist, there are treatment options that will help. Dr. Fitzmaurice can meet with you in his Scottsdale office in Arizona to accurately diagnose your condition and explore the best treatment option. Carpal boss is often confused with other conditions like a ganglion cyst (tumor) or a bone spur, so it is best to have a hand specialist rule them out with an X-ray or ultrasound.

Non-surgical treatments for carpal boss include:

Wearing a wrist splint to immobilize your wrist and to let it rest

Taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce the swelling

Icing the affected area to contract the blood vessels and reduce inflammation

Administering steroid injections to reduce pain and inflammation 

If the pain or limited mobility is already interfering with your hand function or your ability to participate in sports and hobbies, Dr. Fitzmaurice will first recommend conservative treatments. If these steps don’t help, Dr. Fitzmaurice will recommend surgery to remove the excess bone.

Surgery for carpal boss is a common procedure that can be performed by Dr. Fitzmaurice in Scottsdale, AZ. His experience and commitment to the highest level of patient care have led him to develop state-of-the-art techniques that are improving hand surgery. Dr. Fitzmaurice is the innovator behind the EndoTech® minimally-invasive system for the treatment of the upper extremities. This new,  patent-pending system provides the most advanced visualization of any endoscopic hand surgery technique. Its leading-edge technology allows Dr. Fitzmaurice to see all the internal anatomy with extreme clarity, allowing the procedures to be performed in the safest and most effective manner possible. This revolutionary new instrumentation, which will only need 1-2 tiny incisions, offers an outstanding success rate with less pain downtime. EndoTech® is also used to treat other hand and arm conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and thumb, and tennis elbow. 

At the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute, we’ve combined everything into one location. Our exam rooms, operating rooms, and urgent care center are all exclusively focused on hand and wrist treatment, and were designed to make treatments as convenient and comfortable as possible.

Schedule Your Consultation With a Hand Surgery Expert 

If you’d like to remove the unsightly bump on your hand, as well as the pain and inconvenience associated with it, contact the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona. A leader in minimally-invasive hand surgery, Dr. Fitzmaurice and his non-invasive approach will help you achieve optimal results that will allow you to quickly resume your normal activities. To learn more, schedule a consultation with us today.  Next, find out why hand exercises are an important habit for preserving the function of the hand.

The post What is Carpal Boss and How Can it Be Treated? appeared first on Fitz Hand.

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Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndromes: What’s the difference?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy (i.e., pinched nerve) condition in the human body. Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common. 

If you have symptoms such as tingling or numbness in your hand or fingers, do you have carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome? Depending on the location of your symptoms, you could have either…or both.

Michael J. Fitzmaurice, MD, an innovative and leading expert in minimally invasive hand surgery explains the difference here. He treats both carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome at the Fitzmaurice Hand Institute

in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Carpal tunnel syndrome isn’t just about typing

Although carpal tunnel syndrome first developed a widespread reputation due to its afflicting workers who spent a lot of time on computer keyboards, typing is just one cause, and not necessarily the most common one.  Any repetitive hand or finger motions can be the culprit in carpal tunnel syndrome, particularly those that require force and may even cause the hands and fingers to vibrate, such as:

Hammering

Using power tools

Gardening

Golfing

Playing a musical instrument

Butchering

Doing assembly-line work

However, you can also develop carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of trauma, such as an accident. You’re more likely to develop it as you age and your tissues degrade. 

When you develop carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve that runs from your arm to your thumb and other fingers gets compressed in your wrist. The nerve runs through a bony structure called the carpal tunnel, which is designed to protect both the nerve and other tissues, such as the ligaments and flexor tendons that service your hand and fingers. 

If you repeat the same hand, finger, or wrist movements over and over, those tendons and ligaments get irritated and swollen. The swelling presses against the median nerve, so that it becomes irritated and swollen, too. That’s when you start to feel symptoms in your thumb, fingers, wrist, and arm, such as:

Pain

Numbness

Tingling

Weakness

Burning sensations

Shock-like sensations

Inability to grasp

Dropping things

Although you can feel symptoms anywhere along the arm, wrist, and fingers, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome if you feel symptoms in your:

Thumb

Index finger

Middle finger

Ring finger

As soon as you notice symptoms, stretch your hand, wrist, and fingers. Stop repetitive motions, if possible. If your symptoms persist, you may need a brace to support your wrist, and anti-inflammatory medications to relieve swelling and pain. 

Carpal tunnel syndrome tends to worsen with time if you don’t treat it. To avoid permanent nerve damage and dysfunction in your hand, wrist, and fingers, Dr. Fitzmaurice may recommend minimally invasive EndoTech® surgery that alleviates pressure on the median nerve.

Cubital tunnel syndrome’s no joke

Cubital tunnel syndrome is caused when your ulnar nerve is trapped and compressed in the cubital tunnel that protects the nerve and other tissues in your elbow joint. The ulnar nerve is the nerve in your elbow that gave rise to the term “funny bone” because when you accidentally hit your elbow joint, the nerve sends out “funny” sensations, like tingling and pain.

If your ulnar nerve gets compressed, irritated, and inflamed, though, those sensations of pain and tingly are far from funny. You can irritate and compress your ulnar nerve by engaging in repetitive activities involving your arm, such as:

Swinging a racquet or club

Playing an instrument

Driving

Reading a book

Anything that requires a bent elbow

As with carpal tunnel syndrome, you can also develop cubital tunnel syndrome after a traumatic accident or as a consequence of aging.

Cubital tunnel syndrome causes symptoms that are similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, which is why Dr. Fitzmaurice recommends getting an evaluation and diagnosis. If you have cubital tunnel syndrome, you may experience sensations in your arm and fingers, such as:

Pins and needles sensations

Pain

Shooting pain down the arm

Numbness

Inability to grasp an object

You’re more likely to have cubital tunnel syndrome if you have symptoms in your:

Forearm

Ring finger

Little finger

Cubital tunnel syndrome rarely causes symptoms in the elbow itself, which is why you might confuse it for carpal tunnel syndrome without an accurate diagnosis. If you have the symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome, stop the repetitive motions if possible and rest your arm and hand. If your symptoms persist, contact us for an evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Dr. Fitzmaurice may recommend a brace to stabilize your elbow and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to alleviate swelling and pain. As with carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome gets worse without treatment. Eventually, you could permanently damage your ulnar nerve and cause muscle wasting in your hand and fingers. 

Getting a diagnosis and treatment

If you have pain, numbness, or tingling anywhere along your arm, wrist, hand, or fingers, Dr. Fitzmaurice first conducts a detailed examination and takes imaging studies to determine whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, or both. To prevent further damage to your median or ulnar nerves, he may recommend:

Stretching exercises

Physical therapy for strengthening

Stem-cell therapy to rejuvenate tendons, ligaments, and nerves

Corticosteroids to alleviate swelling

Wrist or elbow splints

EndoTech carpal tunnel surgery

EndoTech cubital tunnel surgery

Dr. Fitzmaurice is a leader in developing and instituting cutting-edge therapies to repair damaged nerves and other tissues. He innovated a NeuroRejuvenation process that uses autologous (i.e., self-donated) stem cells to heal damaged tissues and nerves. He also developed the minimally invasive, EndoTech surgeries that release ligaments that cause nerve compression. EndoTech is far less invasive and has a faster recovery time than traditional surgery. If you have symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome, contact our Scottsdale, Arizona office for a consultation with Dr. Fitzmaurice today.

The post Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndromes: What’s the difference? appeared first on Fitz Hand.