Category: Hand & Wrist
Why does my forearm hurt?
Kelly woke up on Saturday morning with a ripping, tearing feeling in her left forearm. She didn’t remember hitting or straining her arm in any way that would cause intense pain
To relieve her discomfort, Kelly moved her arm into different positions. But the sensation continued. Whether she held her hand at her side or put it over her head, the ripping ache did not stop. Later in the day, Kelly realized her arm the pain increased when she typed or drove her car.
According to Dr. Pamela Glennon, one of the hand-and-arm experts at Bone & […]
What are bone spurs?
You’re reading your X-ray results, and you see,” Enthesophyte seen at the plantar fascia region.”
Of course, you immediately boot up your computer and search the Internet to find out what an “enthesophyte” is. You find that it’s a type of bone spur.
These small bony calcium growths can occur anywhere in the body but are most common in the feet, spine, fingers, hips, knees, and other joints. Since most bone spurs form in response to osteoarthritis, they are more common in people who are 60 years old or older.
But bone spurs also grow in response to […]
Avoid these six common snow shoveling injuries
Shoveling snow isn’t particularly difficult, but it is fraught with injuries.
In 2018, the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that medical professionals treated 137,000 people for snowblower or snow shoveling injuries.
Some people will hurt their hands and wrists; others will injure their back and shoulders. A few will experience life-changing injuries through a serious fall or heart attack.
If you’re older than 50 years old and are prone to shortness of breath or chest pain, talk to your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough to shovel snow.
To avoid some of the more common […]
Are you losing your grip?
Most of us do as we get older. That jar lid that was easy to twist off in your 20s and 30s may cause you to grimace and groan in your 50s and 60s.
Hand strength is crucial to daily life. Whether you’re turning on the faucet or holding a fork, the actions require a firm and steady grip.
A loss of grip strength may lead to the loss of independence and your ability to live on your own.
Why do we lose our grip as we age?
The muscles in your hand determine the effectiveness of your grip. […]
Would an ergonomic assessment help you enjoy less stress while working from home?
Have you noticed a pain in your neck, back, shoulders, knees, or hands since the pandemic started?
It may be your workspace:
- A low chair strains your knees.
- A poorly positioned monitor leads to neck pain.
- The wrong seat height or chair pitch can create painful back conditions.
- Incorrect keyboard placement causes pressure and pain in the wrist.
Sitting for hours with your body in the wrong position plus the stresses and strains of working from home, and you have a recipe for tight muscles and pain.
Ergonomics is the study of designing equipment to work with the […]
What’s so special about hand therapy?
According to Marybeth Ezaki, MD, past president of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, hand therapy “can make the difference between success and failure in complex hand surgical cases.”
Hand therapy became a specialty to address the unique and specialized treatments needed to restore the complex arm movements from the shoulders to the wrists, hands, and fingertips.
Hand therapists have expert knowledge of hand and arm anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. They use proven therapy methods to increase the movement of the hand, forearm, or wrist after a person experiences a movement-limiting illness, injury, or surgery.
Certified hand therapists (CHT) […]
Are you at risk for avocado hand?
If you peel or cut avocados, you may be at a higher risk for avocado-hand injury.
So many people have visited emergency rooms recently for hand injuries related to this palm-sized creamy fruit, that “avocado hand” is now a diagnosis.
How do avocados cause hand injuries?
Well, it’s not actually the avocado. It’s the knife used to cut, peel, and pit the fruit.
Because of its small size, most people hold avocados in their hands to peel and pit them. Using a sharp knife and a little force, people pierce the tough outer skin.
Sometimes the blade slices through the […]
What is Dupuytren’s Contracture?
Dupuytren’s disease is a condition described as an overgrowth of collagen in the fascia, the thin layer of connective tissue under the skin. Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in the body that supports bones and connective tissues and provides elasticity for the skin. One-third of the body’s protein is thought to be some type of collagen.
What are the initial symptoms of Dupuytren’s Contracture?
When the condition first appears, symptoms are noticeable but do not cause pain. Small bumps or nodules may appear on the palm close to the base of the ring and small fingers. […]
Hoop it up!
From the jump ball that starts the game until the final buzzer, basketball sends ten players sprinting and dribbling up and down the court to sink a basket.
All the jumping, running and changing direction can take its toll on players’ bodies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Statistics Reports, based on 2011 to 2014 data, basketball injuries topped the list of injuries (343,000) for people between the ages of 15 and 24 and ranked third (264,000) for players who were 25 years old and older.
Basketball’s fast-pace puts players at risk for many types […]
Meet James Messerly, DO
Dr. James Messerly, DO, is a board-certified family and sports medicine specialist who provides primary orthopaedic care to people of all ages. Dr. Messerly joined Bone & Joint in 1995, as the clinic’s first non-surgical orthopaedic provider.
Dr. Messerly provides non-surgical treatment for foot and ankle conditions, hand and wrist injuries, elbow and shoulder conditions, hip pain, neck and back pain, knee injuries and muscle pain and tightness. In addition to general orthopaedic care, Dr. Messerly also treats concussion and other sports medicine related injuries.
Dr. Messerly received his medical degree from the Des Moines University College of […]
