What is it?
As this injury can often occur when catching a baseball, it is sometimes called baseball finger or mallet finger. It is an injury that occurs to the fingertip that is caused by a sharp blow, or a jamming injury, to the fingertip. In this condition, the tendon that is responsible for straightening the tip of the finger is damaged, and you may not be able to straighten your finger.
What are the symptoms?
Pain and swelling at the end of the finger are the most common symptoms, coupled with an inability to straighten the finger completely. This could become a permanent condition if treatment is not sought early enough.
How is it diagnosed?
A doctor who specializes in the hands, wrists and shoulders is the best person to diagnose this condition. The doctor will examine your finger and review your symptoms. An X-ray may be taken to rule out the presence of a fracture. Frequently, the tendon will pull off a piece of the bone to which it is attached at the end of your finger. Most injuries of this nature can be healed through rehabilitation. But if a large fracture of the bone has occurred, or the joint is misaligned, surgical repair may be required.
How is it treated?
Assuming there is no fracture, the finger will need to be straightened and placed into a split to keep it stabilized. This splint may need to be worn up to 6 weeks. This will allow the tendon to reattach to the finger or, if a piece of bone has been pulled off, to allow the bone to heal. The finger will most likely be swollen, so ice packs should be applied for 20 to 30 minutes 3 to 4 times per day, or until the pain is gone. Your hand should be elevated on a pillow when you are lying down, or placed on the back of a chair or couch if you are sitting. Most injuries of this nature can be healed through rehabilitation.
When can I return to my sport or activity?
In general, the longer you have symptoms before you begin rehabilitation, the longer the time period of recovery. Returning to your sport or activity will be determined by your rate of healing, rather than a set number of days or weeks. If you return too soon you may worsen the injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Each person recovers at a different rate. The goal of rehabilitation is to get you back to full function as soon as it is safe for you to do so.
It is important for you to wear the splint for your mallet finger for at least 6 weeks after the injury. If you wear the splint as the doctor has recommended, you may be able to return to your activities sooner. Not wearing the splint could lead to permanent damage and deformity to the finger.
How can I prevent this injury?
Usually the direct blow that causes mallet finger is accidental, so often these types of injuries are not preventable.
If you or someone you know is experiencing pain, stiffness, numbness or tingling in the hands, wrist, arm or shoulder, seek a consultation from Dr. Rehman. She will provide a full evaluation and workup to determine the exact cause of the problem, and her team of hand therapists will implement a comprehensive program to help you attain full recovery, range of motion and strength in the affected area. Contact Dr. Rehman today for more information. 586-532-0803
Every day another glorious gardening catalog arrives, sparking dreams of the gorgeous gardens we will have in the spring and summer. The planning is great fun, but don’t let hand pain stop you from getting your gardens in shape for a knockout blooming season. A bit of preventive planning and you’ll be gardening to your heart’s content.
Avoid Overdoing It. Too much of one repetitive motion can cause a flare up in hand pain, and it will typically happen after about 45 minutes of continuous activity. Break gardening tasks (weeding, digging, transplanting) into smaller blocks of time and take frequent rests to keep flare-ups to a minimum.
Update Your Tools. Look for gardening tools with bigger handles that are easier to grip. Or, wrap the handles with pipe insulation or foam to make them easier to grip. Electric tools can also ease hand, wrist and arm strain, although the vibration from prolonged use can irritate arthritis, so make sure to take frequent breaks. Use gloves with heavy padding for heavy grasping tasks.
Drink Water. Stay well hydrated to minimize stress not only on your fingers and wrists, but on all of the joints in your body.
Avoid Too Much Stooping and Reaching. Whenever possible work at waist height and avoid excessive overhead work. Use a planting table and a garden bench in place of squatting or stooping. Get good long-handled pruning shears or trimmers to keep large bushes looking nice.
Repetitive Motion Disorders
Many people experience hand, wrist or finger pain during the course of their lifetime. If this is not obviously a result of traumatic injury, like a jammed finger or wrist sprain, it may be a repetitive motion disorder, or RMD. There are a range of RMDs and the discomfort associated with them can range from a mere annoyance to debilitating pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is not always treated with surgery. In fact, there are many workplace and lifestyle changes that can be made to help cope with the condition, which can range from annoying to painful. But, you don’t have to put up with carpal tunnel syndrome; you have options.
Odd things happen to our joints and our appendages as we get older. Sometimes these quirks can be ignored, and they work themselves out. But other times, it is best to take heed of what the body is trying to tell us.
Trigger finger is one such condition. Initially it may begin with stiffness of the finger in the morning. Typically it occurs in your dominant hand, with one finger involved, but sometimes multiple fingers or the thumb are affected.
Later, you will begin to notice a clicking or popping sensation when you move your finger. You may notice tenderness or a bump at the base of your palm.
As the condition progresses, the finger will pop back from a bent position, much like a trigger releasing. When the condition is at its worst, you may not be able to straighten the finger at all.
Why is this happening?
Tendons allow the fingers to move, and attach the muscles of the hand to the bones in the hand. These tendons are covered by a protective sheath. When this sheath become irritated or inflamed, the normal gliding motion of the muscles is impeded. Sometimes a nodule or bump can form, and this protrusion can get caught on the edge of the tendon sheath. When it breaks free, the result is the popping or clicking of trigger finger as the finger straightens.
Who is at risk?
Women aged 40 to 60 are more at risk of developing this condition than men. People whose occupations or hobbies require repeated gripping are more likely to be affected, and individuals with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to develop trigger finger.
The good news
Most treatment for trigger finger involves conservative methods such as resting the hands, applying cold packs and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. For more advanced problems, a corticosteroid injection may be performed, and specific occupational therapy exercises prescribed for remediation. Sometimes splinting of the finger is used, to keep the finger in the extended position at night for up to six weeks.
If the condition is severe, surgery could be required. This is typically performed in an outpatient operating room, and patients go home the same day. The surgeon makes a small incision in the palm of the hand, to cut the tendon sheath to allow the nodule to move freely. Most people can move their fingers freely following surgery, but soreness will be noticeable in the palm. Most of the recovery is complete within a few weeks, but physical therapy and exercises may be required to return the hand to full function over a period of several months.
How can I know for sure?
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms of trigger finger, reach out to a qualified orthopedic doctor, such as Dr. Rehman, for a full and complete evaluation. The hands and fingers are delicate appendages, and it is best to consult with a doctor who specializes in this area of the body. Dr. Rehman and her team of hand therapists are the best qualified to diagnose and prescribe treatment to return your hand to full range of motion and strength. And as always, early intervention is most likely to generate the most favorable outcome. Contact Dr. Rehman for more information or with questions. 586-532-0803
After one of the hottest summers on record, the cooler weather of fall is a welcome relief. Breezes blow, days are sunny, and homeowners’ thoughts turn to getting their castle ready for the blasts of winter. Gardens need to be put to bed, siding needs cleaning, windows need caulking and the leaves and abundant acorn crop need raking.
But injuries caused by strains or too many repetitive tasks in a short time span can occur.
The first step is to pace yourself. You can’t get it all done in one day, or even one week. Work for two or three hours, and then rest until the next day. Pay attention; if your hands or wrists start to feel numb or are tingling, you should stop the activity and come back to it later or the next day. Try to get leaf rakes that are the proper size for you, and that have ergonomically designed handles.
Do some warm-up stretches before you start, especially if you are not an active person. Lifting the arms overhead, bending side to side, toe touches or forward bends can help loosen up arms, back and legs for the demands of fall clean-up. A five to ten minute warm-up period will help to generate heat in your body. This in turn helps to make the tendons, ligaments and other connective tissue more pliable and less prone to injury.
Even when walking about your neighborhood, beware of fallen leaves. They can disguise holes or uneven pavement, and they are very slippery when wet. In the earlier hours of the day, patchy frost may form in shaded areas, making dangerous slippery spots. Falls onto an outstretched hand can damage the bones, ligaments and tendons in the hand and the wrist. The hand is comprised of 27 bones, and even a slight injury to one of these can be painful and require proper medical attention.
If you or your family are dealing with pain, stiffness, lack of mobility or numbness /tingling in the hands, wrist, arm or shoulder, reach out to Dr. Rehman today. Upper body injuries that are incorrectly diagnosed or left untreated can cause permanent damage. Seek a thorough examination and comprehensive treatment program by a Board Certified Osteopathic doctor with a team of rehabilitation experts. Call Dr. Rehman’s office today at 586-532-0803 to learn how she and her team can help.
Sports injuries and on-the-job injuries are unpredictable and sometimes unavoidable. Volleyball, football, baseball, basketball, gymnastics; most sports involve some degree of risk. A sharp blow to the finger, whether from a pop fly, a hurtling volleyball, a hammer, or landing on the hand incorrectly can cause a fracture.
The hand is comprised of many bones, and each finger in the hand is made up of three small bones called phalanges. Damage can occur to any one of these bones. Typical symptoms of a broken finger are immediate pain with swelling and bruising. It will be difficult to move the finger, and the finger may appear deformed if the joint is dislocated or the bone is displaced. Numbness and tingling may be present if nerve damage has occurred. Needless to say, if the injury is severe and the bone is visible through the skin, a trip to the Emergency Room is required immediately. Serious problems with infections or bones that heal out of alignment can occur with any finger break.
Especially in children, these types of injuries can be difficult for the lay person to differentiate from a serious sprain or strain. An X-Ray is the definitive diagnostic tool to determine whether a break has occurred, and your doctor or a special hand surgeon will perform this procedure. Once diagnosed, treatment usually consists of realigning the bones and splinting or casting to immobilize the area for several weeks for the bones to knit back together. Initially the doctor may also recommend keeping the hand elevated above the heart to reduce swelling and pooling of blood, and to ice the affected area for 20 minutes 3 to 4 times a day until the pain is gone. Depending on the age of the individual, over the counter or prescription anti-inflammatory medications may also be prescribed to reduce swelling and pain.
Once the cast or splint is removed and the phalange has healed, stiffness and immobility may be present. Specially-trained Occupational Therapists, known as Hand Therapists, will create a treatment program including exercises, stretching and other modalities to assist in regaining full range of motion and strength in the hand. Faithful performance of the exercises, using the proper alignment, will result in the most favorable outcome.
We rely on our hands for everything we do! Injuries to the hand that aren’t treated properly can have long-term effects, including disfigurement and immobility. Most broken fingers heal well with the above-described measures, but if the break is in multiple locations, or very severe, surgery may be required. In this case you especially need a hand specialist, who understands the complexities involved in repairing damage to the hand. Reach out to Dr. Rehman and her team of professionals today if you are experiencing hand, arm, wrist or shoulder pain. Click here to contact her office, or call 586-532-0803 for more information.
With the changes in schedule summer brings, sometimes it’s difficult to keep up the exercise routines we’ve committed to. With a little bit of creativity, you can stay in shape and entertain your kids at the same time. A bonus: the more flexible and strong each family member is, the less likely they are to be injured in a sporting event.
Morning Family Stretch
Set aside five to ten minutes each morning for the whole family to do some stretching exercises. Stretching helps to get the blood flowing and warms up the muscles for the activities of the day. Make this a daily routine for your family; it is healthful and a quiet bonding experience to help balance the hectic life most kids have.
Kids Make Great Dumbells (and their giggling will keep you going)
Try this Russian Twist: While seated on the floor with your knees bent, hold your child in front of you, engage your core and twist from side to side. Repeat 10 to 20 times. This is a great one for arms and abs.
Squat Press: Stand while holding your child in front of you with your feet hip distance apart, arms extended, but elbows not locked. Slowly lower into a squat like you are sitting in a chair and then slowly stand back up straight. Be sure to keep your knees in line with your ankles. Repeat this 10 to 15 times. Great for the arms and lower body.
Throw a Dance Party
Push the furniture out of the way, round up your family’s favorite tunes, and crank up the speakers for a blast of exercise that will get everyone involved. Dancing is super fun and a great cardio workout. Make one afternoon or evening a week your “Dance Party Night” from now till the kids go back to school.
Family Competition
We’re all about competition in our culture, and most kids are involved in at least one organized sport by the time they are a few years old. Motivate your family by setting weekly goals, and create a chart and point system that helps your family track their activity or eating habits throughout the day. See who can be the healthiest!
All these suggestions should help, but if you or your child are injured in one of your organized sports—or at the company baseball game—be sure to reach out to Dr. Rehman and her team of rehabilitation professionals. Specialists in hand, arm and shoulder rehabilitation, they can help resolve tendonitis, golfer’s or tennis elbow, hand and wrist pain, and many other conditions. To learn more, contact Dr. Rehman’s office at 586-532-0803 today!
The quintessential game of summer in America is baseball, and we all have our favorite Tiger. Kids and adults alike love to engage in the sport, and baseball teams and games abound – from organized Little League events to the match-up between competing departments at the company picnic. It’s all fun and games, but accidental injuries can happen, and then what?
A forceful blow to the tip of a finger – as can occur when catching a flying baseball—can create an injury called Mallet Finger (also sometimes known as Baseball Finger). When this injury occurs, the tendon attached to the end of the fingertip is damaged by the blunt force trauma of the flying baseball. Often, the finger cannot be extended fully, and pain, redness, tenderness and swelling are also present.
The hands and wrists are comprised of delicate bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles, all working together to allow the hands to perform the finest of movements. If an injury like this occurs, choose a specially-trained hand doctor, an orthopedic surgeon, to evaluate your condition and prescribe the right treatment. Reach out for treatment soon after the injury occurs, to make sure you can attain a full recovery and the injury does not become permanent.
A physical exam will be conducted, and sometimes an X-Ray may be needed to insure the bones in the finger are not fractured. Treatment typically involves straightening the finger and placing it into a split to keep it stabilized. This splint may need to be worn up to 6 weeks. This will allow the tendon to reattach to the finger or, if a piece of bone has been pulled off, to allow the bone to heal. The finger will most likely be swollen, so apply ice packs 20 to 30 minutes 3 to 4 times per day, or until the pain is gone. To reduce pain and swelling, elevate your hand on a pillow when you are lying down, or place it on the back of the chair or couch if you are sitting. Physical therapy exercises may be prescribed, and the more faithful you are in performing these, the sooner you can expect to heal.
You should expect to wear the splint for at least 6 weeks after the injury. If you wear the splint as the doctor has recommended, you may be able to return to your activities sooner. Not wearing the splint could lead to permanent damage and deformity to the finger.
Contact Dr. Rehman and her team of specialists today if you are experiencing pain or tenderness in your hands, wrists, arm or elbow. She is an orthopedic doctor who specializes in treating these areas of the body, and is a Board Certified and experienced hand surgeon, in the event that surgery is required. Call her office today at 586-532-0803 for more information.
Our hands and wrists are ultra-sensitive structures, and they can be easily damaged, resulting in pain, tingling, stiffness, weakness, numbness and swelling. The causes of these myriad symptoms may be obesity, which puts pressure on the tendons and ligaments, and the channels through which they run, or other factors such as an injury, stress or overuse. Arthritis can play a role in tendon and nerve damage, as can diabetes.
Tendon and nerve damage can often be reversed and healed if proper treatment is sought early on. Non-invasive methods will often result in success, thereby avoiding more invasive procedures.
Some of the more common approaches are:
Activity modification
The application of ice and rest
Anti-inflammatory medications
Steroidal injections
Splinting or immobilizing the area
Specialized exercises to strengthen or stretch the area
Being aware of the overuse of your hands and wrists, and warming them up before sports or repetitive activities can help avoid damage to tendons and nerves. If you work at a computer for long hours, keep your posture erect and your wrists straight, using an ergonomic keyboard or even splints. If you perform other repetitive tasks with your hands, take a break every hour and do the following:
Rest your forearms on the edge of your table or desk and bend your wrists and fingers back toward you; hold for 5 seconds.
Gently press your hand against your table or desk, spreading the fingers, and hold for 5 seconds.
Clench your fists tightly, hold for 5 seconds, then release, fanning out the fingers. Do this 5 times.
If pain, numbness, tingling, warmth or stiffness are present in your hands, wrists, arms, elbow or shoulder, seek out an experienced, Board Certified osteopathic doctor such as Dr. Rehman for a thorough work-up and a comprehensive treatment plan. The sooner you start, the more likely you will be to achieve healing and freedom from unpleasant feelings in your hands and joints.
Ganglion cysts show themselves as lumps or bumps on the hands or wrist. The most common locations are the top of the wrist, the palm side of the hand, the base of a finger on the palm side and the top of the end joint of a finger. These cysts can be painful, but often they occur and don’t display any symptoms.
The cause of ganglion cysts is for the most part unknown, although cysts that occur at the far joint of a finger may have an arthritic bone spur associated with them.
Cysts occur on top of a joint or tendon, and are basically a sac filled with a thick, clear, colorless jelly-like substance. Sometimes they will go away on their own, but if discomfort is associated with them, it is best to seek professional treatment.
Problematic symptoms you should watch for are:
Pain
Numbness
Weakness in the hands or fingers
If these symptoms are present, the cyst may be pressing on a nerve or tendon in the hand or the wrist.
If the cyst is not causing pain or other complications, it can often be treated with aspiration. A sterile needle is inserted into the sac, and the fluid is removed in a simple in-office procedure. Following this, a steroidal compound is often injected to reduce inflammation; the patient will then wear a splint to stabilize the area until healing is complete.
If pain or numbness are present, sometimes surgery is required to remove the cyst. The areas of the wrists and hand are exceedingly delicate, and it is best to choose a surgeon with extensive experience who specializes in hand surgery. Dr. Rehman is a Board Certified Doctor of Osteopathy, and employs a team of professionals who assist her patients with a full recovery after surgery.
If you are experiencing a cyst that does not go away on its own, contact Dr. Rehman today for a full evaluation and a comprehensive treatment plan.
Going for that pop fly can be a game changer, but so can a finger injury. Getting the tip of your finger hit by a speeding ball can be painful and put an end to summer fun, if not diagnosed and treated properly.
Not just restricted to baseball, this type of injury is known in the medical community as “mallet finger”. It happens when the tip of a finger is hit with some force by any blunt object, and it can result in the tendon being partially or completely torn. One of the key indicators of this injury is the inability to fully extend the finger – the last joint will appear bent or will fold in toward the palm. Pain or swelling at the tip of the finger, or numbness at the tip can also be symptoms.
It is important to seek proper medical attention immediately after such an injury. Those who don’t risk having the inability to extend their finger become a permanent condition. Typically splinting of the finger will be employed, thus allowing the tendon to heal. X-rays may be needed to make sure a fracture is not present and to insure the joint is properly aligned for healing. If either of these conditions is present, surgery could be required.
Always seek out a Board Certified orthopedic doctor such as Doctor Rehman, for a full evaluation and comprehensive treatment plan. Her team of specialists each has more than ten years of experience rehabilitating conditions of the hand, arm and shoulder. A full recovery is your desired outcome, and you will have the best chance to achieve that by working with Dr. Rehman and her team. If you are experiencing pain in the hand or fingers, contact Dr. Rehman today.
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