Services

Hand Pain, Wrist Pain and Elbow Pain

The Hand…….it’s one of the most important ways we navigate through life and is one of the most intricate parts of the human body. It’s no wonder that when something goes awry it can cause such disruption in our lives. 

The hand and arm are incredibly interconnected, with that said an injury that involves one part of your arm can sometimes cause symptoms at the other end or vice versa. For example, many people who have symptoms of carpal tunnel may also experience elbow pain, shoulder pain or neck pain. And if you have numbness and tingling in any of your fingers it is likely from nerve irritation but it may not be coming from your hand or elbow...it could be from your neck.  Don't let this get missed by having therapy focused to the hand region only. It is crucial to have a skilled physical therapist evaluate your cervical spine, shoulder, elbow and hand to determine the source of the issue and treat it appropriately to not waste your time and money. Your physical therapist will be able to provide the most experienced examination and provide the most effective treatment for what may be causing your shoulder, elbow or wrist symptoms. 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

One of the most common conditions people talk about.  Typing, writing and jobs that require repetitive lifting continue to be a threat for developing the condition known as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). The debilitating syndrome is named for the tunnel that the median nerve travels through in your wrist. Overly stressing the median nerve can lead to aching in the wrist and that numbness and tingling in the fingers associated with CTS. Often, hormone fluctuations can put patients more at risk for CTS, so pregnant women, and women between the ages of 34-60, may be more likely to experience these symptoms. However, this nerve can be pinched in a few other areas along its path from the neck into the hand so it is crucial to determine where that compression is coming from.

Early intervention — a few sessions of therapy may help get your symptoms under control and ultimately avoid surgery. Certain movements and positions can make these symptoms worse or better so education is the key. Also very specific exercises can help as well as addressing the inflammation surrounding that nerve may also be helpful.

Another common injury is the wrist sprain/strain. Children and adults who do sports are most at risk or anyone that decides to throw themselves on the ground (by accident of course) can get wrist pain. Many physicians will tell you just to rest and ice…..while this may be important it’s most important to treat this sooner than later as if left untreated it can lead to nagging symptoms and a more chronic problem. If the wrist pain is due to more of a repetitive problem it’s crucial to look at the patient’s body mechanics while performing the activity to determine the root of the problem and treat it holistically.

Additional Conditions

We treat numerous conditions affecting the hands, wrists and elbows. Among them are:

  • Tennis/Golfers elbow
  • Arthritis
  • Fractures
  • Joint pain
  • Tendon injuries/repairs
  • Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
  • Biceps ruptures

How are these conditions treated?

The first step in dealing with a hand, wrist or elbow injury is evaluating the source of the problem. Many patients will have seen a physician and provide you with a diagnosis, we then will work together. However, if you have not yet seen a physician for what is concerning you, your physical therapist is able to evaluate you, discuss your condition and point you in the right direction if they feel further treatment is necessary. Our physical therapist has direct access and does not require a prescription from your physician so treatment can get started early!

At that point the first priority is to help get your symptoms under control. We do this with a variety of manual therapy techniques and possibly some modalities if appropriate. We also want to determine the root of the problem to help prevent it from recurring and address any range of motion or strength deficits you may be experiencing so that you can get back to doing what’s important to you.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss any concerns you may be having and determine if therapy is the best fit for you.

Hear from some of our patients who we treated for Hand Pain
Cindy is absolutely wonderful to work with. I am a huge advocate for physical therapy but I wanted to see someone who can address all the pain I was experiencing and not just one specific area. I...
 Cindy is absolutely wonderful to work with. I am a huge advocate for physical therapy but I wanted to see someone who can address all the pain I was experiencing and not just one specific area. I like how I got 1:1 attention for a full hour. I noticed an improvement almost immediately. She's extremely personable and so smart. Sessions with her are worth every penny and I look forward to coming back whenever I need a little tune up. 
Richelle W
Canton, CT
I have had such a great experience with Cindy. She is kind, easy to talk to and extremely knowledgeable in her field. She goes out of her way to do whatever she can to help you. I couldn’t say...
 I have had such a great experience with Cindy. She is kind, easy to talk to and extremely knowledgeable in her field. She goes out of her way to do whatever she can to help you. I couldn’t say enough about her. I would recommend her to anyone. She is outstanding! 
Carrie
Submitted on website directly
I had been having trouble with my knees for over a year. I had to stop running altogether and was having trouble doing the WOD's at the gym. I had been to two surgeons, cortisone shots and physical...
 I had been having trouble with my knees for over a year. I had to stop running altogether and was having trouble doing the WOD's at the gym. I had been to two surgeons, cortisone shots and physical therapy already and didn't know what else to do. Surgery wasn't an option and I wasn't ready to give up. I read an article about BodyFit and Cindy and decided to give it a try. I was hesitant at first because BodyFit is out of network for my insurance and I didn't know if it would be any different from what I already had done. It was definitely worth it! I signed up for a series of treatments and my knees started feeling better. The pain I experienced everyday and especially at night started to go away. I am working on adding more exercises that I never thought I would be able to do again. Cindy is very knowledgeable and really listens to you. She sets up a plan customized just for you. I never felt rushed and she never looked at the clock. She only takes one person at a time. Most importantly, she truly wants to help you and get you back to whatever it is you are trying to do. My knees are still a work in process but I feel I wouldn't have come this far without her help. 
Kris K
Submitted on website directly
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