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Hand, Wrist & Upper Extremity Insights
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Options
Why numbness in the thumb, index and middle fingers can come from pressure on the median nerve at the wrist.
Recent articles
Practical guidance for patients
23 articles
- Surgery & Recovery
When Does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Require Surgery?
Surgery is one option for carpal tunnel syndrome, but the decision depends on symptoms, examination, nerve health and what has already been tried.
6 min readRead article - Hand & Finger
What Is Trigger Finger and How Is It Treated?
Trigger finger is a tendon-gliding problem that can cause painful clicking, catching or locking at the base of a finger.
5 min readRead article - Hand & Finger
Trigger Thumb: Symptoms and Treatment Options
Trigger thumb is similar to trigger finger but affects the tendon and pulley that control thumb motion.
5 min readRead article - Hand & Finger
Thumb CMC Arthritis: Why the Base of the Thumb Hurts
The joint at the base of the thumb carries high loads during pinch. Arthritis there can make ordinary tasks painful.
6 min readRead article - Wrist
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis affects two thumb tendons as they pass through a tight compartment on the thumb side of the wrist.
5 min readRead article - Nerve Conditions
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: Why the Ring and Small Fingers Go Numb
Cubital tunnel syndrome affects the ulnar nerve as it passes behind the inside of the elbow.
6 min readRead article - Wrist
Ganglion Cysts of the Wrist: When Should You See a Hand Surgeon?
A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled lump near a joint or tendon. Many are harmless, but a painful or changing lump deserves an assessment.
5 min readRead article - Injuries & Trauma
Distal Radius Fractures: Understanding a Broken Wrist
A distal radius fracture affects the forearm bone near the wrist. Treatment depends on alignment, joint involvement, stability and the person’s needs.
7 min readRead article - Injuries & Trauma
Hand and Finger Fractures: When Is Surgery Necessary?
The need for surgery depends on the fracture’s position, stability, joint involvement, rotation and effect on hand function.
6 min readRead article - Hand & Finger
Tendon Injuries of the Hand: Symptoms and Treatment
A cut or rupture can interrupt the tendons that bend or straighten the fingers. The position of the hand at injury and the movement that is lost are important clues.
7 min readRead article - Nerve Conditions
Peripheral Nerve Injuries of the Hand and Arm
Injured nerves can cause numbness, burning pain, weakness or loss of movement. The level and type of injury guide the plan.
7 min readRead article - Wrist
Wrist Arthritis: Symptoms and Treatment Options
Wrist arthritis can follow wear, injury, fracture or inflammatory disease. Treatment is guided by the joints involved and the function that matters most.
6 min readRead article - Hand & Finger
When Should You See a Hand Surgeon?
You do not need to know the diagnosis before asking for help. Persistent pain, numbness, weakness, deformity or lost function can be enough reason to be evaluated.
6 min readRead article - Second Opinions & Revision Surgery
When Should You Get a Second Opinion Before Hand Surgery?
A second opinion can be useful when the diagnosis is uncertain, surgery is complex or the expected trade-offs are difficult to understand.
6 min readRead article - Second Opinions & Revision Surgery
Persistent Pain After Hand Surgery: What Can It Mean?
Pain after surgery can reflect normal healing, stiffness, nerve sensitivity, recurrent disease or another problem. A careful reassessment separates those possibilities.
7 min readRead article - Second Opinions & Revision Surgery
What Is Revision Hand Surgery?
Revision hand surgery addresses a persistent, recurrent or new problem after previous treatment. It begins with diagnosis, not with a presumption that another operation is needed.
7 min readRead article - Second Opinions & Revision Surgery
Recurrent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome After Surgery
Symptoms after carpal tunnel surgery can be persistent, recurrent or new. Those patterns have different possible explanations and treatment plans.
7 min readRead article - Second Opinions & Revision Surgery
What to Expect When Seeking a Second Opinion From a Hand Surgeon
A second opinion is a structured review of the diagnosis, prior treatment, options and expected trade-offs-not simply a search for a different answer.
6 min readRead article - Injuries & Trauma
Complex Hand Trauma: When More Than One Structure Is Injured
Severe hand injuries often involve several tissues at once. Treatment protects life and the hand first, then rebuilds the structures that affect function.
7 min readRead article - Injuries & Trauma
Complex Wounds of the Hand and Upper Extremity
A wound that exposes bone, tendon or hardware needs more than a covering. It needs a reasoned plan for blood supply, protection and function.
6 min readRead article - Surgery & Recovery
How Hand Surgery Recovery Is Planned
Recovery is not only the time until the incision closes. It is a staged plan for tissue healing, motion, strength and the activities that matter to you.
6 min readRead article - Surgery & Recovery
Questions to Ask Before Hand Surgery
The best preoperative conversation is specific: what is wrong, what can improve, what might remain and what recovery will require.
5 min readRead article - Surgery & Recovery
Hand Microsurgery and Reconstruction: What the Terms Mean
Microsurgery uses magnification and fine instruments to repair structures such as nerves and blood vessels that are too small to handle accurately with the naked eye.
6 min readRead article
The Blog is organized around patient questions, not procedure names. For condition-specific information, visit Conditions & Treatments. For urgent symptoms after an injury, seek prompt medical care.