When to Seek Care When Your Hands Are Hurting

The hands are one of the most significant parts of the body. A hand injury can impact the things we do in our everyday lives, from preparing food and driving your car to typing a text!  When your hands are hurting, what should you do?  Find out from orthopedic hand surgeons Glen Jacob, MD and Gonzalo Sumarriva, MD of St. Luke’s Orthopedic Care.

Q: In what ways can a hand surgeon help you? 
Dr. Jacob: Hand surgeons treat various conditions related to problems with the hands and forearms, from tendonitis and broken bones to arthritis of the hands and other chronic conditions. 

Dr. Sumarriva: The most important thing we do is restore our patient's use of their hands so they can get back to doing the activities they enjoy to just simple tasks around the house. Our goal is to improve our patient’s quality of life. 

What are the most common conditions you treat?
Dr. Jacob: Besides fractures of the fingers and wrists, the most common conditions are carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tendonitis and thumb arthritis. Carpal tunnel is caused by a compressed nerve in the wrist, and can cause weakness, pain, and disturbances of sensation in the hand and fingers. A finger that gets stuck in a bent position is a trigger finger.

When and why should I see a hand surgeon? 
Dr. Sumarriva: See us when your symptoms bother you enough that you need to do something about it. All we do is hand surgery, so we have the expertise and keep abreast of innovations. 

Dr. Jacob: In addition to pain relief, we help reduce numbness in the hands. Numbness causes people to drop objects and prevents them from doing common tasks like cooking and shopping. Even patients with significant sensory loss can improve. 

Why should someone come to St. Luke's, and to you, in particular?
Dr. Sumarriva: I take the time to ensure we find the best option for each patient, whether it's injections, bracing, therapy or surgery. The care at St. Luke's is fantastic. The culture is patient-focused, and the facilities are amazing!

Dr. Jacob: I'm fortunate to be in a situation where I can make decisions on patient care based on what I think is right for the patient. A fracture doesn't necessarily need surgery. Often, there are other ways to treat it. I make a point to involve the patient and explain different options. If someone's function is almost normal, there's no reason to do surgery.