Most people often do not appreciate the use of their hands until they are not adequately and correctly working. Conditions of upper extremities can cause struggle in everyday tasks. A simple task such as typing a simple email and even getting dressed up in the morning for work becomes difficult chores. Dr. Kristopher Downing in La Jolla is an experienced upper extremity specialist who treats problems affecting everything from your fingertips to your shoulders so that you can enjoy your daily activities and go on with life uninterrupted.
Conditions
Many people worldwide are involved in lifting work, engineering work, and sports that involve throwing movements. These people, therefore, are susceptible to the following shoulder and elbow injuries;
Arthritis: It is a condition that causes swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joints and body supporting structures such as tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones in the hands.
Carpal tunnel syndrome: The median nerve in your wrist becomes compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel causing pain.
Congenital anomalies: The absence of extra fingers due to problems with the body system
Fractures result from broken bones due to high force impact, physical stress, and medical conditions such as osteoporosis.
Sprain and strain are due to stretching and injuries of muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the upper extremities.
Shoulder tendonitis: It is the inflammation of the tendons causing swelling and discomfort.
Rotator cuff injury: It is the tearing of the shoulder’s four cuff muscles.
Shoulder dislocation: An injury that causes the arm bones to pop out of the shoulder socket.
Cubital tunnel syndrome: Occurs when the ulnar nerve becomes compressed at the elbow causing pain and numbness.
Epicondylitis: Overuse injuries that affect the tendons in the elbow.
Treatment
Treatment options involve conservative physical and occupational therapy, anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid medication, and minimally invasive procedures. After diagnosis through MRI, Joint fluid analysis, blood tests, ultrasounds, and X-rays, the following procedure is used to alleviate the pain;
Arthroplasty: Removal of a portion of the shoulder while replacing with an artificial implant to reduce pain and restore mobility and rotation range.
SLAP repair: Reattachment of the torn labrum to the shoulder socket bone.
Excision: Removal of ganglion cysts that are fluid-filled lumps that develop along with tendons and joints of wrists and hands.
Trigger digit release: The opening of a narrow tendon pulley at the base of the thumb or finger affected by the trigger digit to alleviate pain.
Shoulder resurfacing: Replacement of the humeral joint with a metal cap to preserve the bone of the proximal part of the humerus.
Endoscopic carpal tunnel release: The procedure relieves pressure on the median nerve, alleviates carpal tunnel syndrome, and restores normal sensation to the hands.
Arthroscopic shoulder surgery: It is used to repair the rotator cuff, labrum, ligament, shoulder dislocations and removes bone spurs and inflamed tissues.
Plasma-rich platelet: Your body is injected with your plasma to stimulate healing and provide the nutrients needed.
Lipoaspirate therapy: It is the injection of pericytes from your fat tissue into the damaged area to repair the damaged area.
Talk to your upper extremity specialist today
Conditions affecting the upper extremities can cause excruciating pain and make simple tasks become chores. Upper Extremity Specialists offers comprehensive evaluation and treatment to let you go on with your daily activities without a hitch.
