Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome the Same as Trigger Finger?

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Article featured on Movement Orthopedics

Are you one of those people whose occupation involves flexing of the wrist day in and day out? If so, you may be at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. But did you know that there’s another condition that you could be susceptible to if your job involves repetitive hand movements? It’s called trigger finger.

So, what’s the difference between these two conditions? Keep reading to find out.

What Is Trigger Finger?

Also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, trigger finger occurs when a tendon in any of the fingers (including the thumb) becomes inflamed and unable to easily glide through its sheath – the thin layer of tissue surrounding a tendon. Prolonged inflammation can lead to the formation of nodules in the tendon, which ultimately renders the affected finger unable to freely bend and straighten.

The symptoms of trigger finger can range from mild to severe, and can become worse over time. If you have trigger finger, you will likely experience any or some of the following symptoms:

  • Clicking, popping, or snapping sensation when moving your finger
  • Difficulty carrying out basic hand movements, especially those that involve gripping
  • Locking of the finger in a bent position (can suddenly pop straight)
  • Pain and tenderness at the base of your affected finger
  • Stiffness in your finger (mostly noticeable in the morning)

Treatment

Your hand specialist will likely first take a conservative approach to treating your trigger finger. Your doctor may recommend that you rest your hands, wear a splint, and/or perform stretching exercises.

If your symptoms continue unabated, your hand surgeon may give you a cortisone shot to control the inflammation and allow the tendon to glide freely.

If your symptoms don’t respond to nonoperative treatment, your hand surgeon may recommend surgery, in which they will make an incision in the palm area of your hand to access the tendon sheath and cut it to give the tendon more room to move. Another option is percutaneous release, in which your doctor will use a needle to break up the constricting tissue around the tendon sheath, thereby allowing the tendon to move.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve – which provides sensation and motor function for the wrist, hand, and forearm – is compressed and unable to function properly.

CTS is also a progressive condition. However, unlike trigger finger, CTS is apparently neuropathic in nature, causing pain, shock-like sensation, numbness, and weakness, all of which can radiate up the forearm and make fine motor skills difficult.

Treatment

Rest, wearing wrist splints, and anti-inflammatories are the common nonsurgical treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome. If none of these provide adequate relief, your hand surgeon may administer cortisone injections to alleviate the inflammation and swelling.

If your symptoms persist despite a lengthy course of nonsurgical treatment, your hand specialist may recommend surgery. Carpal tunnel surgery involves your doctor severing the transverse carpal ligament to allow for more space in the carpal tunnel and consequently relieve pressure on the median nerve.

New Mexico Orthopaedics is a multi-disciplinary orthopedic clinic located in Albuquerque New Mexico. We have multiple physical therapy clinics located throughout the Albuquerque metro area.

New Mexico Orthopaedics offers a full spectrum of services related to orthopedic care and our expertise ranges from acute conditions such as sports injuries and fractures to prolonged, chronic care diagnoses, including total joint replacement and spinal disorders.

Because our team of highly-trained physicians specialize in various aspects of the musculoskeletal system, our practice has the capacity to treat any orthopedic condition, and offer related support services, such as physical therapy, WorkLink and much more.

If you need orthopedic care in Albuquerque New Mexico contact New Mexico Orthopaedics at 505-724-4300.

Is My Hand Pain from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Something Else?

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Article featured on Spine-Health.
We all wake up sometimes with a numb and tingly hand. But ongoing hand pain and numbness can be a disabling problem that requires diagnosis and treatment.
Here are 3 of the main causes of hand pain and numbness—and tips for how you can tell them apart.

Medical illustration of the palmar view of the hand. Transverse carpal ligament, flexor tendons, and median nerve are labeled.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

When hand pain is experienced, it’s common to first suspect carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition is caused by the narrowing of a bony passageway in your wrist, which irritates or compresses the median nerve that runs through it.
Symptoms tend to be in the thumb, index finger, or middle finger, along the path of the median nerve. The pain may wake you up at night or be worse in the morning. In the early stages, shaking your hand may bring relief.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Another possible cause of hand pain and numbness is rheumatoid arthritis.
Hand pain from rheumatoid arthritis tends to be different from carpal tunnel syndrome in 2 main ways:

  1. It causes pain and stiffness in the large knuckles or joints of the wrist, rather than along a nerve path.
  2. Its pain is symmetrical, meaning it will affect both hands simultaneously.

Cervical radiculopathy caused by spine conditions

While it may not seem obvious, your hand pain and/or tingling may actually be caused by a problem in your neck.
The nerves that give sensation to your hands originate in your cervical spine. When one or more of the 8 nerve roots that exit the cervical spine become irritated, it causes pain and other neurological symptoms down the nerve path. This is known as cervical radiculopathy.
The most common conditions that can trigger radiculopathy include:

  • Cervical herniated disc
  • Cervical spinal stenosis
  • Cervical degenerative disc disease
  • Cervical osteoarthritis

Cervical radiculopathy pain can be mildly achy or sharp and stabbing. It can also cause numbness and/or pins-and-needles tingling sensations. Symptoms can affect different sections of the hand depending on what level of the spine is the source of the irritated nerve.
Since carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical radiculopathy can both affect the median nerve, it’s important to note one key difference: Carpal tunnel syndrome pain will only affect the hand and wrist. Cervical radiculopathy from the C6 spine level (where the median nerve originates) will often cause pain and symptoms along the arm and in the bicep, as well as in the hand.
Aside from these 3 causes, hand pain can also be caused by a variety of other conditions, including diabetes and nutritional issues.
The best way to tackle hand pain that doesn’t resolve is to see your doctor, who can diagnose the correct cause and start a treatment plan. Many conditions that cause hand pain are more easily treated if they’re caught early.

New Mexico Orthopaedics is a multi-disciplinary orthopedic clinic located in Albuquerque New Mexico. We have multiple physical therapy clinics located throughout the Albuquerque metro area.
New Mexico Orthopaedics offers a full spectrum of services related to orthopedic care and our expertise ranges from acute conditions such as sports injuries and fractures to prolonged, chronic care diagnoses, including total joint replacement and spinal disorders.
Because our team of highly-trained physicians specialize in various aspects of the musculoskeletal system, our practice has the capacity to treat any orthopedic condition, and offer related support services, such as physical therapy, WorkLink and much more.
If you need orthopedic care in Albuquerque New Mexico contact New Mexico Orthopaedics at 505-724-4300.

What is Cubital and Radial Tunnel Syndrome?

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Article featured on WebMD

Cubital tunnel syndrome and radial tunnel syndrome aren’t as familiar as their better-known relative — carpal tunnel syndrome — but they also can cause severe pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the hands and arms.
The common cause of all these nerve compression syndromes is increased pressure — usually from bone or connective tissue — on a nerve in the wrist, arm, or elbow. In most cases, cubital tunnel syndrome and radial tunnel syndrome can be managed with conservative treatments. But more severe cases may require surgery to reduce pressure on the affected nerve.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: Causes and Symptoms

Cubital tunnel syndrome — also known as ulnar neuropathy — is caused by increased pressure on the ulnar nerve, which passes close to the skin’s surface in the area of the elbow commonly known as the “funny bone.” You’re more likely to develop cubital tunnel syndrome if you:

  • Repeatedly lean on your elbow, especially on a hard surface
  • Bend your elbow for sustained periods, such as while talking on a cell phone or sleeping with your hand crooked under your pillow
Sometimes, cubital tunnel syndrome results from abnormal bone growth in the elbow or from intense physical activity that increases pressure on the ulnar nerve. Baseball pitchers, for example, have an increased risk of cubital tunnel syndrome, because the twisting motion required to throw a slider can damage delicate ligaments in the elbow.
Early symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome include:

  • Pain and numbness in the elbow
  • Tingling, especially in the ring and little fingers

More severe symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome include:

  • Weakness affecting the ring and little fingers
  • Decreased ability to pinch the thumb and little finger
  • Decreased overall hand grip
  • Muscle wasting in the hand
  • Claw-like deformity of the hand

If you have any of these symptoms, your doctor may be able to diagnose cubital tunnel syndrome by physical examination alone. They also may order a nerve conduction study and a test called electromyography. Electromyography is a procedure in which electrodes placed into muscles and on the skin measure the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them, to confirm the diagnosis, identify the area of nerve damage, and determine the severity of the condition.

Radial Tunnel Syndrome: Causes and Symptoms

Radial tunnel syndrome is caused by increased pressure on the radial nerve, which runs by the bones and muscles of the forearm and elbow. Causes include:

  • Injury
  • Noncancerous fatty tumors (lipomas)
  • Bone tumors
  • Inflammation of surrounding tissue

Symptoms of radial tunnel syndrome include:

  • Cutting, piercing, or stabbing pain at the top of the forearm or back of the hand, especially when you try to straighten your wrist and fingers.

In contrast to cubital tunnel syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome, radial tunnel syndrome rarely causes numbness or tingling, because the radial nerve principally affects the muscles.
Just as with cubital tunnel syndrome, if you have any of these symptoms, your doctor may be able to diagnose radial tunnel syndrome by physical examination alone. They also may order electromyography to confirm the diagnosis, identify the area of nerve damage, and stage the severity of the condition.

Treatments for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and Radial Tunnel Syndrome

Cubital tunnel syndrome often can be managed conservatively, especially if electromyography reveals that there is minimal pressure on the ulnar nerve.

Mild cases of cubital tunnel syndrome often respond to physical therapies such as:

  • Avoidance of undue pressure on the elbow during daily activities
  • Wearing a protective elbow pad over the “funny bone” during daily activities
  • Wearing a splint during sleep to prevent over-bending of the elbow

In cases where splinting doesn’t help or nerve compression is more severe, about 85% of patients respond to some form of surgery to release pressure on the ulnar nerve. These include surgeries that:

  • Result in simple decompression of the ulnar nerve
  • Shift the nerve to the front of the elbow
  • Move the nerve under a layer of fat, under the muscle, or within the muscle
  • Trim the bump of the inner portion of the elbow — the medial epicondyle — under which the ulnar nerve passes

If you undergo surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome, recovery may involve restrictions on lifting and elbow movement, and rehabilitation therapy. Although numbness and tingling may or may not quickly improve, recovery of hand and wrist strength may take several months.

Conservative treatments for radial tunnel syndrome include medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce soft tissue swelling, corticosteroid injections to relieve inflammation and pressure on the radial nerve, and wrist and/or elbow splints to reduce irritation of the radial nerve.
Some patients also may benefit from ergonomic education to reduce the effects of repetitive stress, nerve-gliding exercises, stretching/strengthening exercises, and other interventions such as heat, cold, and ultrasound.
If these conservative measures fail to provide relief after three months, your doctor may consider surgery to reduce pressure on the radial nerve. Surgery is often recommended in severe cases, particularly those in which the wrist becomes weak or droopy or it becomes difficult to extend the fingers.

New Mexico Orthopaedics is a multi-disciplinary orthopaedic clinic located in Albuquerque New Mexico. We have multiple physical therapy clinics located throughout the Albuquerque metro area.
New Mexico Orthopaedics offers a full spectrum of services related to orthopaedic care and our expertise ranges from acute conditions such as sports injuries and fractures to prolonged, chronic care diagnoses, including total joint replacement and spinal disorders.
Because our team of highly-trained physicians specialize in various aspects of the musculoskeletal system, our practice has the capacity to treat any orthopaedic condition, and offer related support services, such as physical therapy, WorkLink and much more.
If you need orthopedic care in Albuquerque New Mexico contact New Mexico Orthopaedics at 505-724-4300.

Everything You Should Know About Repetitive Strain Injury

Everything You Should Know About Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

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Article Featured on Healthline.com

What is repetitive strain injury?

A repetitive strain injury (RSI), sometimes referred to as repetitive stress injury, is a gradual buildup of damage to muscles, tendons, and nerves from repetitive motions. RSIs are common and may be caused by many different types of activities, including:

  • using a computer mouse
  • typing
  • swiping items at a supermarket checkout
  • grasping tools
  • working on an assembly line
  • training for sports

Some common RSIs are:

Keep reading to learn more about this type of injury.

What are the symptoms of RSI?

RSI frequently affects your:

  • wrists and hands
  • forearms and elbows
  • neck and shoulders

Other areas of your body can also be affected.

Symptoms include:

  • pain, ranging from mild to severe
  • tenderness
  • swelling
  • stiffness
  • tingling or numbness
  • throbbing
  • weakness
  • sensitivity to cold or heat

Symptoms may begin gradually and then become constant and more intense. Even with initial treatment, symptoms may limit your ability to perform your usual activities.

What are causes and risk factors for RSI?

RSI can occur when you do repetitive movements. Those movements can cause your muscles and tendons to become damaged over time.

Some activities that can increase your risk for RSI are:

  • stressing the same muscles through repetition
  • maintaining the same posture for long periods of time
  • maintaining an abnormal posture for an extended period of time, such as holding your arms over your head
  • lifting heavy objects
  • being in poor physical condition or not exercising enough

Previous injuries or conditions, such as a rotator cuff tear or an injury to your wrist, back, or shoulder, can also predispose you to RSI.

Desk jobs are not the only occupations whose workers are at risk for RSI. Other occupations that involve repetitive movements and may increase your risk include:

  • dental hygienists
  • construction workers who use power tools
  • cleaners
  • cooks
  • bus drivers
  • musicians

How is RSI diagnosed?

If you have even mild discomfort completing certain tasks on your job or at home, it’s a good idea to see your doctor to talk about RSI. Your doctor will ask you questions about your work and other activities to try to identify any repetitive movements you do. They’ll also ask about your work environment, such as whether you work at a computer or have an ergonomic work station. They’ll do a physical exam as well. During the exam, they’ll perform range of motion tests and check for tenderness, inflammation, reflexes, and strength in the affected area.

Your doctor may also order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound to assess tissue damage. An electromyography (EMG) may be ordered to check on nerve damage.

For mild damage, your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist. If the damage is severe, they may also refer you to a specialist or surgeon.

How is RSI treated?

The initial treatment for RSI symptoms is conservative. This may include:

  • RICE, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation
  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), both oral and topical
  • steroid injections
  • exercises, which may be prescribed as part of a physical therapy treatment plan
  • stress reduction and relaxation training
  • wrapping the area or securing it with a splint to protect and rest the muscles and tendons

Your doctor and physical therapist can also suggest adjustments to your work station, such as readjusting your chair and desk if you work at a computer, or modifications to your movements and equipment to minimize muscle strain and stress.

In some cases, surgery may be necessary.

What’s the outlook for RSI?

Your outlook with RSI depends on the severity of your symptoms and your general health. You may be able to use conservative measures to modify your work routine and minimize pain and damage. Or, you may have to stop certain tasks at work for a while to rest the affected area. If other measures don’t work, your doctor may recommend surgery for specific problems involving nerves and tendons.

Tips for preventing RSI

If you sit at a desk, follow the traditional advice from parents and teachers: Sit up straight and don’t slouch! Good posture is the key to avoiding unnecessary stress on your muscles. This takes practice and mindfulness. There are also many exercises you can do to improve your posture.

  • Adjust your work station to promote good posture and comfort.
  • Sit in a chair that gives you support for your lower back and keep your feet flat on the floor or on a foot rest. Your thighs should be parallel to the ground, and your hands, wrists, and forearms should be aligned. Your elbows should be in line with your keyboard to avoid strain.
  • Avoid sitting cross-legged.
  • If possible, spend some of your computer time at a standing desk. Slowly increase the amount of time you stand, aiming for 20–30 minutes each hour or more.
  • Place your computer monitor about an arm’s length away from you. The screen should be at eye level so you’re looking straight ahead.
  • If you’re on the phone a lot, use a headset to avoid straining your neck, shoulders, and arms.

Taking frequent breaks from your desk throughout the day is as important as having an ergonomic workstation.

  • get up to stretch or walk around
  • do shoulder stretches at your desk
  • march in place
  • wiggle your fingers and flex your wrists

Those may sound like little things, but mini breaks can make a big difference in preventing RSI.

If your work is not at a desk, the same principles apply. Maintain good posture, figure out the least stressful positions for the repetitive tasks required, and take frequent mini breaks. If you have to stand a lot, use an antifatigue mat. Use extension poles for cleaning tools to avoid straining your arms, and lift heavy loads properly. If you use tools, take breaks throughout the day to stretch and flex your fingers and wrists.

Most occupations have been studied in detail and have guidelines for reducing worker stress while doing specific tasks. The National Education Association, for example, has a handbook on RSI that provides tips for teachers, drivers, food workers, custodians, and others.

New Mexico Orthopaedics is a multi-disciplinary orthopaedic clinic located in Albuquerque New Mexico. We have multiple physical therapy clinics located throughout the Albuquerque metro area.

New Mexico Orthopaedics offers a full spectrum of services related to orthopaedic care and our expertise ranges from acute conditions such as sports injuries and fractures to prolonged, chronic care diagnoses, including total joint replacement and spinal disorders.

Because our team of highly-trained physicians specialize in various aspects of the musculoskeletal system, our practice has the capacity to treat any orthopaedic condition, and offer related support services, such as physical therapy, WorkLink and much more.

If you need orthopedic care in Albuquerque New Mexico contact New Mexico Orthopaedics at 505-724-4300.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Overview

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Article Featured on PPP

This common condition is caused by pressure on the nerve that runs through the wrist, causing pain and weakness in the hand and wrist.

By Andrew Friedman, MD and Julie Hodapp, MD

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful, progressive condition that can cause tingling and numbness in your hand and wrist. It can also cause a sharp, piercing pain that shoots through your wrist and up your arm. Carpal tunnel syndrome is possibly the most common and treatable nerve disorder experienced today. It affects 4 to 10 million Americans, with middle-aged and older individuals, as well as females, more likely to develop the syndrome, according to the American College of Rheumatology.

The condition is caused by pressure on a nerve called the median nerve that runs from the forearm into the palm. The nerve runs through a small space in the wrist called the carpal tunnel.

The median nerve controls movement and feeling in the thumb and first three fingers (but not the little finger). Pressure on the median nerve can come from swelling, or anything that causes the carpal tunnel to become smaller. Some people are born with an increased risk because their carpal tunnels are smaller. This trait runs in families.

There are many risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome, including:

  • Injury to the wrist that causes swelling. Bone dislocations and fractures can narrow the carpal tunnel and put pressure on the median nerve.
  • Assembly line work, such as manufacturing, sewing, cleaning, or meat, poultry or fish packing
  • Mechanical problems in the wrist joint
  • Repeated use of vibrating hand tools
  • Diabetes, which makes the nerves more susceptible to compression
  • Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. In an autoimmune disease, the body’s immune system abnormally attacks its own tissue. This causes widespread inflammation, which can affect the carpal tunnel.
  • Development of a cyst or tumor in the carpal tunnel

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 10 types of employment with the highest total number of carpal-tunnel-related events are:

  1. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
  2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
  3. Painters, construction and maintenance
  4. Highway maintenance workers
  5. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
  6. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
  7. Construction laborers
  8. Maids and housekeeping cleaners / Industrial machinery mechanics
  9. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
  10. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

While many people associate carpal tunnel syndrome with computer use, the risk is much lower in computer users than in people whose work involves heavy labor.

In most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, there is no single cause. Carpal tunnel syndrome is more likely in women than in men. This may be due to the smaller size of a woman’s carpal tunnel. Hormonal changes may also play a role. The condition usually develops in a person’s dominant hand.

In pregnant women, carpal tunnel syndrome may occur in both wrists. The syndrome usually goes away on its own after delivery, but symptoms can continue for 6 months or more.

In some people, carpal tunnel syndrome is a minor inconvenience, while in others, it becomes disabling. If a person’s carpal tunnel symptoms are mild and don’t last long, the condition often improves on its own. If a case is severe and untreated, the muscles at the base of the thumb may whither, and a person may permanently lose sensation.

Carpal tunnel treatment generally begins with a conservative approach, including rest, corticosteroid injections and splinting. Surgery may be recommended for people whose carpal tunnel syndrome does not improve with more conservative treatment.

New Mexico Orthopaedics is a multi-disciplinary orthopaedic clinic located in Albuquerque New Mexico. We have multiple physical therapy clinics located throughout the Albuquerque metro area.

New Mexico Orthopaedics offers a full spectrum of services related to orthopaedic care and our expertise ranges from acute conditions such as sports injuries and fractures to prolonged, chronic care diagnoses, including total joint replacement and spinal disorders.

Because our team of highly-trained physicians specialize in various aspects of the musculoskeletal system, our practice has the capacity to treat any orthopaedic condition, and offer related support services, such as physical therapy, WorkLink and much more.

If you need orthopedic care in Albuquerque New Mexico contact New Mexico Orthopaedics at 505-724-4300.

Do I Need Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Do I Need Carpal Tunnel Surgery?

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Article Featured on WebMD

Most of us use our hands almost every minute of the day without ever giving it a second thought. But if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, the pain, numbness, and tingling in your fingers get your attention. Treatments like wrist braces and corticosteroids can help, but in more severe cases, you may need surgery.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on your median nerve. This is what gives you feeling in your thumb and all your fingers except your pinky. When the nerve goes through your wrist, it passes through the carpal tunnel — a narrow path that’s made of bone and ligament. If you get any swelling in your wrist, that tunnel gets squeezed and pinches your median nerve. That, in turn, causes your symptoms.

Whether you’ve decided to have surgery or are still thinking about it, you should know what to expect.

When Would My Doctor Suggest Surgery?

Over time, carpal tunnel syndrome can weaken the muscles of your hands and wrists. If symptoms go on for too long, your condition will keep getting worse. If any of these sound like your situation, your doctor might suggest surgery:

  • Other treatments — like braces, corticosteroids, and changes to your daily routine — haven’t helped.
  • You have pain, numbness, and tingling that don’t go away or get better in 6 months.
  • You find it harder to grip, grasp, or pinch objects like you once did.

What Are My Surgery Options?

There are two main types of carpal tunnel release surgery: open and endoscopic. In both cases, your doctor cuts the ligament around the carpal tunnel to take pressure off the median nerve and relieve your symptoms. After the surgery, the ligament comes back together, but with more room for the median nerve to pass through.

  • Open surgery involves a larger cut, or incision — up to 2 inches from your wrist to your palm.
  • In endoscopic surgery, your surgeon makes one opening in your wrist. He may also make one in your arm. These cuts are smaller, about a half-inch each. He then places a tiny camera in one of the openings to guide him as he cuts the ligament.

Because the openings are smaller with endoscopic surgery, you may heal faster and have less pain. Ask your doctor which operation is best for you.

Results and Risks

Most people who have carpal tunnel surgery find that their symptoms get cured and don’t come back. If you have a very severe case, surgery can still help, but you may still feel numbness, tingling, or pain from time to time.

Risks come with any operation. For both types of carpal tunnel release surgery, they include:

  • Bleeding
  • Damage to your median nerve or nearby nerves and blood vessels
  • Infection of your wound
  • A scar that hurts to touch

What’s the Surgery Like?

First, you’ll get local anesthesia — drugs to numb your hand and wrist. You may also get medicine to help keep you calm. (General anesthesia, which means you will not be awake during surgery, is not common for carpal tunnel syndrome).

When the operation is finished, your doctor stitches the openings shut and puts a large bandage on your wrist. This protects your wound and keeps you from using your wrist.

Your doctor and nurses will keep an eye on you for a little while before letting you go home. You’ll likely leave the hospital the same day. Overnight stays are rare.

How Long Does It Take to Heal?

You may get relief from symptoms the same day as your surgery, but complete healing takes longer. Expect to have pain, swelling, and stiffness after the operation. Your doctor will let you know what medicines might help. You may have some soreness for anywhere from a few weeks to a few months after surgery.

Your bandage will stay on for 1-2 weeks. Your doctor may give you exercises to do during this time to move your fingers and keep them from getting too stiff. You can use your hand lightly in the first 2 weeks, but it helps to avoid too much strain.

Slowly, you can get back to more normal activities, like:

  • Driving (a couple of days after surgery)
  • Writing (after a week, but expect 4-6 weeks before it feels easier.)
  • Pulling, gripping, and pinching (6-8 weeks out, but only lightly. Expect 10-12 weeks before your full strength returns, or up to a year in more severe cases.)

Your doctor will talk to you about when you can go back to work and whether you’ll be limited in what you can do.

Will I Need Occupational Therapy?

If you do, your doctor will suggest it once your bandage comes off. You’ll learn exercises to improve your hand and wrist movement, which can also speed up healing.

Some people find that their wrists aren’t as strong after surgery as they were before. If this happens to you, occupational therapy can help increase your strength.

New Mexico Orthopaedics is a multi-disciplinary orthopaedic clinic located in Albuquerque New Mexico. We have multiple physical therapy clinics located throughout the Albuquerque metro area.

New Mexico Orthopaedics offers a full spectrum of services related to orthopaedic care and our expertise ranges from acute conditions such as sports injuries and fractures to prolonged, chronic care diagnoses, including total joint replacement and spinal disorders.

Because our team of highly-trained physicians specialize in various aspects of the musculoskeletal system, our practice has the capacity to treat any orthopaedic condition, and offer related support services, such as physical therapy, WorkLink and much more.

If you need orthopedic care in Albuquerque New Mexico contact New Mexico Orthopaedics at 505-724-4300.