Thumb pain is very common in my patients. When the thumb is painful or injured, it becomes very difficult to use the hand. During normal life, we take our thumbs for granted. When the thumb is not working properly, we then realize how important it is. Opening jars, turning door knobs, and buttoning shirts can […]
Injuries to the fingertips are very common. The injury can range in severity from a minor laceration to a complete amputation of the fingertip. This can occur from a misplaced hammer strike, a crush in a car door, or a laceration from a sharp object. Early treatment of fingertip injuries can improve the results. The […]
Numb hands are common at night. Numbness and tingling in the hands can wake you from sleep. These symptoms could be signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most prevalent compression neuropathy in the hand and arm. This is basically a type of pinched nerve in the wrist. Patients feel tingling […]
One of the most common causes of thumb and wrist pain is due to tendonitis. DeQuervain’s tendonitis is a type of tendonitis which common in young mothers. This causes pain on the thumb side of the wrist. The pain is worse with movement of the thumb and wrist at the same time. Opening jars, turning […]
Lumps and bumps are common in the palm of the hand. Patients should seek evaluation by a trained physician to make the diagnosis. Below are the most common causes of lumps in the palm. Ganglion Cyst The most common cause of a hand lump is a ganglion cyst. These are fluid filled sacs which come […]
The funny bone is neither funny nor a bone. The source of pain when someone “hits their funny bone” is actually related to a nerve on the inside of the elbow. This nerve is called the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve is one of the three important nerves which control the hand. It supplies feeling […]
Carpal tunnel release surgery is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States. Over 90% of patients are pleased with the results, and they would recommend the surgery to a loved one. Most patients have decreased hand numbness, no night-time hand tingling, and less pins and needles hand pain. Many of my […]
Osteoarthritis is very common. It seems that all people get arthritis if they live long enough. Some people get arthritis at an earlier age than others depending on genetics, injuries, inflammation, and “wear and tear”. Below are xrays of patients with hand osteoarthritis. Look for decreased joint space between the bones as well as bone […]
Dr. Erickson cares for patients with hand, wrist and elbow injuries. He evaluates patients at the Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center in Raleigh, NC. He emphasizes conservative, non-operative care in most cases. Dr. Erickson only recommends surgery when necessary or when non-operative treatment has not provided relief. He works closely with hand therapists to improve […]
Capital City Surgery Center (CCSC) was recently named the #1 Ambulatory Surgery Center in North Carolina! Dr. Erickson and his partners are proud of the national and state recognition. He performs the majority of his outpatient surgeries at CCSC. Dr. Erickson has financial interest in the surgery center. Read more here.
