Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome commonly report numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and fingers. The thumb, index, and middle fingers are usually affected the most. Some patients notice that the hand feels cold, swollen, “asleep” or describe “poor circulation” in the fingers. Symptoms can awaken patients at night with “pins and needles” pain […]
This article was published in the Triangle Physician Magazine, February 2014 issue. Dupuytren’s disease is a benign, fibroproliferative disorder affecting the hands of many adults. The condition is characterized by abnormal deposition of collagen within the palmar fascia of the hand leading to development of nodules and cords in the palm. As the pathologic fibrous […]
Gout is a common type of inflammatory arthritis characterized by a red, hot, swollen, extremely painful joint. Gout frequently affects joints in the big toe, ankle or knee. Gout can also involve the fingers, wrist and elbow. A “gout attack” usually starts all of the sudden and the pain increases rapidly. Often the symptoms begin […]
Article published in the The Triangle Physician Magazine, November 2013 Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, progressive degenerative joint disorder which can cause pain, impaired mobility, and decreased health-related quality of life. As our population ages, there has been increased public interest in effective treatment options for OA. Total joint arthroplasty (joint replacement) is a well-established […]
If you recently injured your finger and are wondering if it is broken, the best thing to do is get an x-ray to find out. You can get x-rays in your physician’s office, urgent care, or local emergency room. Many breaks or fractures in the fingers can be misdiagnosed as “just a sprain” or a […]
Trigger finger, also known as “stenosing tenosynovitis,” is a condition affecting any of the fingers or thumb in the hand — not just the index finger. Symptoms occur when there is friction between the flexor tendons of the fingers or thumb and the sheath which surrounds the tendons. Instead of gliding smoothly through the sheath, […]
Most people are aware of the harm that smoking causes to the heart and lungs. Fifty years ago the U.S. Surgeon General released the landmark report linking tobacco use and lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. Since then, cardiologists, pulmonologists, and primary-care physicians have helped to educate the public about the risks. However, the negative effects […]
Tennis elbow is one of the most common causes of elbow pain that I see in our office. Despite the name, the majority of my patients are not tennis players! People from all walks of life can be affected – including office employees, construction workers, and weekend warriors – but tennis elbow is most often […]
We have all had the experience of “hitting the funny bone”: that painful buzzing, tingling, and numb feeling in the pinky finger when you hit the wrong spot on the inside of your elbow. Fortunately, it usually takes a few minutes for the feeling to go away on its own. But what if the same […]
If you recently hurt your wrist and the emergency room or urgent care doctor told you that you broke a bone in your wrist, I am sure that you have a lot of questions. While you are waiting for your follow-up appointment with an orthopedic surgeon, you may be wondering several things including: do I […]
