Hand Surgery for Arthritis and Syndromes

If you are dealing with pain, numbness, or deteriorated function of your hands, it is a scary time in your life. Regardless of your age or profession, to lose the ability to make a fist, twist a knob, open a jar, or write a simple note is physically and mentally painful because you should be able to perform any one of these functions. On one hand, arthritis is a known contributor to joint swelling, pain, and deterioration. There are four common ways that arthritis can influence the form and function of the inner makeup of your hands and rob you of function, until you see a surgeon specialist. On the other hand, the three recurring syndrome that cause a need for hand surgery occur as the result of compressed nerves in the wrist or damaged nerves anywhere between the spine and the hand. These syndromes include: carpal tunnel syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, and cubital tunnel syndrome.

The arthritis conditions that can be impacted by hand surgery affect the base of the thumb joint, the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints found at the base of every finger, osteoarthritis which deteriorates the cartilage over the joints of the hands, and, last, rheumatoid arthritis which affects the whole body through the cells that allow smooth movement between the joints. Depending upon the type of arthritis that you are dealing with, it can cause deep pain affecting your hinge joints that allow you to open doors and jars or move small things like pealing a stamp or flicking a lamp switch. This is when help is needed in order to move forward with use of your hands. The type of arthritis must first be identified according to clinical observation. In its earliest stages you may be outfitted with a splint or brace. You may also be recommended for physical therapy. However, for many of these conditions, a surgical reconstruction of the joint can provide complete alleviation of the pain.

Further, the syndromes that cause a need for hand surgery are all painful conditions that, if left unattended, can weaken the muscles and diminish function of the hands as well. They can result from other nerve damage conditions in the hand or even joint conditions such as the ones listed above. Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome involves opening the tunnel to allow space for the swollen nerves, for example.

A hand surgery specialist can apply surgical or non-surgical applications to improve your quality of life. They can provide you with supportive devices in order to ease some of the pain and afford you some normalcy. Or, they can open your hand and remove the source of your pain and replace it with prosthesis that allows return of movement as well. Recover can take several months but in replace of the pain the arthritis or syndrome once caused, the physical therapy sounds like a welcomed alternative.