In doing everyday chores, we often rely on our hands to do most of the work. It is often the busiest part of our body that we depend on to do our daily tasks. Because of this, there are moments that we experience numbness, swelling or pain. If you think this is normal, then maybe it’s time you consult a doctor.
But how do you know when is the right time to get it checked by a hand specialist in Singapore? How can they exactly help you?
Here is everything you need to know about a hand doctor in Singapore.
What Does a Hand Specialist Do?
Your hand comprises a complicated network of muscles and several types of connective tissues; hence, for numerous causes, hand discomfort can occur. You may experience tingling sensations or any abnormalities when your hand is overused or if there is any injury you might not be aware of.
An orthopaedic doctor specialising in diagnosing, treating, and preventing hand, wrist and forearm diseases is a hand specialist in Singapore. A hand specialist can assist address a range of common conditions occurring and affecting hands.
A hand doctor in Singapore, often known as a surgeon for hand and upper limb, is to help in decreasing or removing discomfort to improve manual mobility and functionality. They are specialist in assessing if any of your bones, ligaments, and tendons are injured and in need of treatment.
Hand surgery in Singapore may depend on assessments and conditions. However, they usually treat numerous problems without hand surgery and offer treatments in their clinics with a non-surgical therapy approach unless necessary.
What Conditions Does a Hand Specialist Treat?
Hand Infections
This condition is often due to bites, either human or animal, and penetrating trauma. Hand infections are more frequent in people who have comorbidities previously present to smokers and diabetes. However, it can also be present in any age bracket.
You may experience weak hands or some stiff feeling and loss of tissues. The treatment provided by a hand specialist in Singapore may also depend on the causes. The causes can be bacteria brought by direct bites on the skin.
It is highly recommended to consult a hand doctor in Singapore, even with a slight scratch from cats, to cleanse the bacteria that might become severe.
Trigger Finger
It is also known as stenosing tenosynovitis. It occurs when your fingers are locked in a bending position that restricts the movements that cause you discomfort.
The trigger finger occurs when the sheath gets narrow, producing a tightening around the tendon. It leads to acute irritation and swelling, which can result in a nodule or bump formation. This will make your finger find it hard to straighten and hence impede future mobility.
Some individuals may report a painful click or snap feeling when the finger is flexed. You may also have difficulties bending or straightening your finger.
It is possible that if the trigger finger is not treated, the condition will deteriorate and may even cause another finger to become locked in a bent or straight posture.
Arthritis of Hand
This is also called Osteoarthritis. It usually affects the wrist, distal finger joints, and thumb base due to the inflammation of hand joints. Hand arthritis is most commonly degenerative, i.e. ageing, wear and tear. The wear and tear on the cartilage caused by regular activity cause the bones to rub.
Post-traumatic causes and inflammatory causes include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and seronegative arthritis. Manual arthritis symptoms differ from person to person since it mostly depends on the specific joints or activities that an individual conducts.
You may experience or observe frequent symptoms such as discomfort, stiffness, and loss of joint movement. If you are experiencing any of this, it is suggested to visit a hand doctor from a trusted clinic in Singapore to assess your situation.
Swelling in the Hands
Ganglion cysts are non-malignant tubes that most often grow around your tendons or joints. These cysts can frequently be located on the top and palm of the handle or the base of the palm’s fingers. Ganglion cysts are usually spherical or oval with a jelly liquid.
Certain ganglion cysts may cause discomfort or numbness if they push against a nearby nerve, while others may cause joint movement to be restricted due to their placement.
Contracture
This is also known as Dupuytren’s disease, a malformation of the hand that often develops over time. The illness damages a layer of tissue beneath the palm’s skin. The ring and small fingers of the two hands are often afflicted.
Under the skin, tissue knots grow, eventually forming a thick cable capable of pulling one or more fingers into a bent posture. This condition is due to diabetes, too much alcohol intake, genetics and male who are over 40.
In difficult situations, or if left untreated, this disorder may develop to hand defects affecting the function of the hand.
When to Visit a Hand Specialist
It is highly recommended that you visit a hand doctor in Singapore.if you are experiencing any problem or abnormality such as pain, discomfort, discolouration, pinching problems or any tingling sensations that already last for about three days.
Non-surgical orthopedists or hand specialists in Singapore are a great beginning point for patients with no definite diagnosis and can effectively treat numerous orthopaedic issues without operations. However, if your diagnosis could require hand surgery in Singapore, it is essential to look for an orthopaedic surgeon.
If you are also feeling additional pain in your wrist, you may consult a wrist specialist in Singapore to evaluate your condition.
Early diagnosis and therapy often yield the best results, let alone a shorter path to pain reduction. It is advisable to take careful notes of your symptoms and their causes.
Choosing the right and trusted hand doctor in Singapore is important. Getting the proper diagnosis and evaluation is needed to make sure you’re receiving the right treatment.
If you are experiencing any of those conditions, try visiting Advanced Hand, Wrist & Nerve Centre for more details.
