Hand Specialist | All You Need To Know

Who Is A Hand Specialist?

A hand specialist is an orthopedic doctor who specialized in the hand, wrist, and forearm. The hand specialists are experts in the disease and conditions of the hand.

The hand specialists may not only experts in hand but also both limbs.

There are so many vessels, nerves, and microstructures in our hands. We use our hands almost every time unless we are sleeping. So, it’s common to have an injury, disease, or condition in the hand. In that condition, you’ve to visit a hand specialist for treatment.

Where To Find A Hand Specialist?

If you are in an emergency, do not waste your time finding a hand specialist. Call emergency health care, they’ll provide you the essential primary treatment and take you to the hand specialist.

If you are noticing something unusual in your hand or a minor injury, hurts, or something like that, go to the orthopedic department of the nearest hospital. There you can easily consult a hand specialist. You can also make an appointment online.

Read Hand Surgeon

Hand Specialist Vs Orthopedic Hand Specialist

It’s reasonable to think, orthopedic hand specialist is an expert in the bone of the hand, on the other hand, hand specialists are experts in vessels, nerves, and other anatomical structures and pathology of the hand.

But the reality is different. Hand specialists and orthopedic hand specialists both are the same. The orthopedic hand specialist treats the hand’s disease, condition, and injury. Therefore, orthopedic hand specialists don’t do surgery on the hand. If your hand injury is severe and needs surgery then your hand specialist would refer you to the hand surgeon.

When To Visit A Hand Specialist?

If you feel any pain, discomfort, or anything unusual in your hand, you should visit a hand specialist. There can be some pain or unusual feeling on the hand and naturally goes away after one or two days. But if you are uncertain about it, don’t hesitate to consult the doctor.

A Late patient is hard to save. Your condition may become worst if you late to reach the doctor. There are some signs which indicate that you should visit a hand specialist.

• Pain or discomfort of the hand
• Stiffness of the hand
• Cannot extend or flex the fingers or arm as before
• Loss of sensation
• Redness, swelling is visible
• A weak grip, pain while gripping something
• Pain while extending or flexing the arm
• The pain extends toward the elbow and shoulder
• Tingling
• Loss of muscle or skin tone of the hand
• Your condition isn’t improving after one or two days.

All of those symptoms can be the sign of both minor or major disease or condition. Visit your hand specialist. The hand is quite a complicated organ with lots of vessels and nerves. If the condition becomes worst you may not use your hand or arm again.

So, it’s always better to visit a doctor than to wait at home.

Common Disease and Conditions of the Hand

We have to use our hands frequently throughout the day. Our hands are not that protected and it’s quite easy to have an injury. In some damages, the symptoms arise instant. Such as a direct blow on the hand. In other cases, it may take some time to arise symptoms. But sometimes, it is the worst, because symptoms arise when the situation reached a critical phase.

Arthritis can also appear in the hand. You may already know that there are two types of arthritis;

1. Osteoarthritis
2. Rheumatoid arthritis

Both types of arthritis can appear on the hand.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage of the bones tear out or worn. Those cartilages work as a cushion between two bones. As the cushion was torn out, there is friction between bones and that hurts.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the antibody of our body attacks the natural cells of the body. In the hand, it kills the natural lining of the bones.

There are so many diseases and conditions that can affect the hand. Some of them are;

• Nerve compression
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Sports injuries
• Carpal bone/ phalanges injuries
• Tingling finger and numbness
• Dupuytren’s disease
• Tendonitis and other tendon and tendon injuries

There can be some intravascular disease in the hand as well. These conditions can lead to necrosis and sometimes limb paralysis.

Emergency Hand Conditions?

• Excessive bleeding
• Sudden numbness
• Stiff fingers
• Pain emerges from finger to shoulder
• Any sign of necrosis or infection
• Major injury
• Fracture or dislocation

Treatments You Get From The Hand Specialist

Treatment varies according to the condition. Some conditions can be treated non surgically by medication. Some treatments may need therapy or surgery. So, there can be three types of treatment methods;

• Medication
• Therapy
• Surgical treatment

Some conditions need all three types of treatment. Some may resolve with one or two methods. Your hand specialist will choose the best option for you.

Consultation With The Hand Specialist

Your hand specialist will ask you some questions and examine your hands as well as other organs if needed. You have to bring your previous medical certificates with you. Your doctor may ask you about your family history of hand disease. You better sure about it before going to the doctor.

During the physical examination, a hand specialist will check the tenderness of the hand by slightly pressing, make sure you are not hiding your pain. You would be asked how this injury occurred if you go there for an injury. Mention every point how the accident or injury works. If the injury is caused by metal, you may be given a tetanus shot.

Your hand specialist may recommend you some tests to do. These can include;

• X-ray
• Blood Tests
• CT Scan
• Magnetic Resonance Angiography

Health Specialist Summary

Hand specialists are orthopedic doctors who are experts in the diagnosis and treating different hand diseases and conditions. Hand specialists and orthopedic hand specialists are the same. But the hand surgeon is not the same, because some of the hand specialists do the surgery him/herself, only they are hand surgeons.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Last Updated on February 15, 2022 by Learn From Doctor Team