Don’t settle for anything less than the best hand surgeon.
If you are searching for the best hand surgeon in Mission Viejo, look no further than Orange County Orthopedic Center. Our center provides patients with access to the top orthopedic surgeons in southern California, and offers a high quality of care.
- Our orthopedic surgeons possess a wide range of specialties and expertise
- We focus on treating the whole patient
We see patients for all types of orthopedic issues in all areas of the body. Some of the most frequently encountered orthopedic troubles are related to the hand and wrist. This is partly due to the fact that you use your hands for nearly every activity, ranging from the mundane to intensive sporting activity. These leaves plenty of chances for your hands to become injured or overused, and it is hard to provide your hands with complete rest.
Some of the hand issues that we see include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Arthritis of the hand, thumb, or wrist
- Ganglion cysts
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Fractures
- Sprains
- Nerve injuries
When should I see a doctor for hand problems?
In general, it is a good idea to contact our office for any type of hand concern. There are orthopedic conditions and issues that require early intervention and treatment in order to prevent chronic pain or further damage.
It is a good idea to contact a doctor if you notice any sudden changes to your hand, such as a lack of mobility, numbness, discomfort, strain, etc. A consultation can help pinpoint the cause of your discomfort.
f you injure your hand, you can apply ice for 20 minutes at a time to keep swelling down. For simple hand injuries, further treatment might not be necessary. However, it’s possible that the injury can be more serious than you assume. For this reason, you should contact our office after any hand injury in order to be checked by the best hand surgeon in Mission Viejo, just in case.
How are hand problems diagnosed?
Sometimes, a physical examination is all that is needed to diagnose hand problems. At our center, the best hand surgeon in Mission Viejo can ask you questions about when your pain started, what you think causes it, and if there are any certain activities that make it worse or better. The doctor might check your reflexes, strength, and range of motion to try and determine the cause of your pain and discomfort.
Imaging tests may be necessary to find out the severity or extent of your condition or injury, or to rule out other possibilities to reach a diagnosis if a simple examination doesn’t present the full picture. Imaging tests can include x-rays and MRIs.
The diagnosis and consultation stage is a very important part of your care, because it helps you to get one step closer to finding relief. Without a proper diagnosis, you are at risk of trying treatment methods that will not be effective in the long run. It’s important to cooperate with your hand doctor and mention any information that you think could be helpful for your diagnosis so that you can find relief more quickly. Working together, you and your orthopedic hand doctor can help you resume normal activities sooner.
Can I treat hand issues at home?
For some conditions, your best hand surgeon in Mission Viejo will suggest things that you can do at home to help manage your condition or injury. Sometimes, these approaches will be all that you need to find relief, but often these suggestions are meant to coordinate with the medical approaches that will be taken at our orthopedic office.
Your orthopedic doctor might suggest aspects of the R.I.C.E. method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) for some hand issues. There are also different stretches and exercises that you can try at home to restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion.
For some conditions, like carpal tunnel syndrome, wearing a brace can help relieve discomfort. Your doctor will let you know if there is a brace, splint, or other stabilization home equipment that you can use to find relief or continue with your normal activities.
It is most important to follow all of your doctor’s suggestions carefully for both at-home and in-office treatment in order to find complete relief from your symptoms. Usually, more than one solution is needed to completely resolve your injury or orthopedic condition.