"We usually don't treat these because they are largely cosmetic," Dr. Rozental says.Īrthritis in the joint closest to the fingertip may be limited to painless bony overgrowths called Heberden's nodes. "Although there isn't a cure for arthritis, there is a lot we can do to relieve pain and improve function," Dr. Treatment for arthritis of either joint usually begins with an NSAID to reduce pain and inflammation and splints to immobilize the joint. Two of the most common problems with arthritis occur at the joints nearest the fingertips and those at the base of the thumbs. If cortisone treatment doesn't help, minor surgery, in which a needle or thin scalpel is used to open the sheath, can help the tendon go through the joint more easily. Although the injections may need to be repeated two or three times, the treatment is successful about 60% of the time. Trigger finger can also be treated with cortisone injections. If your finger locks only occasionally, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may alleviate the inflammation. You may hear a popping sound as your finger unlocks. Your finger may lock in either a straight or flexed position, and you may have to use your other hand to bend it or pry it open. When a tendon or the sheath surrounding it is inflamed and thickened, the tendon can't move through the joint smoothly, and it can become stuck as the finger flexes. The muscles that operate your fingers are located in your lower arm and are connected to your finger bones by long tendons that glide through the finger joints like a clothesline running through a pulley. "However, surgery can still prevent the condition from getting worse, although the improvement may not be as great as you'd like," she adds. "If you get to the point where your hands are constantly numb and weak, it's probably too late to reverse the nerve damage associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, even with surgery," Dr. The surgery is done under a local anesthetic with sedation and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Surgery to release the tunnel can be performed through small incisions that allow the surgeon to see the nerve directly, or endoscopically, in which a tiny camera relays an image of the nerve. If you have these symptoms, you should get an evaluation sooner rather than later, Dr. When the numbness and pain are intermittent, surgery is typically very effective in relieving symptoms and preventing progression. In mild cases, carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated with a nighttime brace or cortisone injections. This causes numbness and often pain in your fingers, especially at night. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the transverse carpal ligament, which forms the roof of the tunnel, thickens, narrowing the space and compressing the median nerve. The median nerve and several tendons pass through the carpal tunnel, a channel formed by bones and cartilage that runs from your forearm to your hand. Ordinarily, she specializes in helping people get relief and regain function lost because of more common hand and wrist disorders like those listed below. Rozental was in the national spotlight last year for saving the hand of a man injured in the Boston Marathon bombings. Tamara Rozental, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School. "Many conditions can be treated conservatively, and when surgery is necessary, you can often use your hands immediately afterward," says Dr. There are a host of treatments that can alleviate pain and improve function with minimal recovery time. Yet you don't have to accept discomfort and disability as a consequence of aging. If you've ever awakened with numb hands, had your finger lock while filling out a crossword puzzle, or tried in vain to open a jar, you know what it's like to have your hands fail you. Hand pain and stiffness, often tolerated without medical attention, can be successfully treated.
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