The median, radial, and ulnar nerves are the three main nerves that control both the sensory and motor functions of the hand. Injury to any of these nerves can cause shooting hand pain, numbness, muscle weakness, twitching, and, in some cases, loss of function/sensation.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you will greatly benefit from the expertise of an orthopedic doctor, particularly one who specializes in the diagnoses and treatment of conditions and injuries that affect the nerves, blood vessels, bones, joints, and soft tissues of the hand.
Read on to learn about how an orthopedic doctor can help you effectively restore your normal hand function if you sustained a hand nerve injury.
Confirming a Diagnosis
Nerve injuries can recover slowly, and thus, it is essential to get prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent permanent nerve damage.
To correctly diagnose a hand nerve injury, your orthopedic doctor will perform a thorough evaluation, which includes a review of your medical history and symptoms as well as physical and neurological examination of your hand. Your doctor will test its sensation, strength, and range of motion to determine the extent of your nerve injury.
Your doctor may order additional tests, such as:
- A nerve conduction study, to measure how well a nerve works and to locate the site of injury;
- An electromyography (EMG) test, to measure your muscles’ electrical activity during rest and during movement (Decline in muscle activity indicates nerve injury.);
- Imaging test/s (e.g., X-rays, CT scans, and/or MRI), to determine whether there is a fracture and to help confirm a diagnosis.
Treating Your Hand Nerve Injury
Nerve injuries can range from first-degree nerve injuries (which only affect the myelin sheath, a layer that forms around nerves) to fifth-degree nerve injuries (which indicate that a nerve is completely severed). Treatment will depend on your diagnosis and the severity of the nerve damage.
For minor injuries, the following conservative interventions may be enough to bring symptom relief and facilitate healing:
- Resting and regularly monitoring the affected area
- Pain medications
- Bracing or splinting
- Hand therapy
For severe nerve damage, however, surgical repair may be necessary. The type of surgery required will depend on the degree of injury and the size of the gap between separated nerve ends.
Your orthopedic doctor may recommend any of the following procedures:
- An end-to-end closure involves carefully stitching the two endings of a severed nerve together. This type of surgery is often appropriate for nerve endings that only have a small gap.
- Nerve grafting involves harvesting a nerve section from another place in the body, and then stitching the injured nerve endings together to bridge the gap. This type of surgery may be required for nerve injuries that have a large gap, such as those caused by burns.
- Conduit-assisted nerve repair bridges the gap between two nerve endings when nerve tissue is not available. Nerve conduits can either be biological or synthetic. Examples of biological nerve conduits include veins, muscles, collagen, laminin, and fibronectin.
Facilitating a Successful Recovery After Your Surgery
Immobilization and hand therapy are both recommended following hand nerve surgery to promote a successful recovery. The main goal of therapy is to improve blood flow, movement, muscle tone, function, and sensation in your hand. You will need to wear a splint to keep your hand immobilized for several weeks, as you gradually restore its mobility and function.
Your orthopedic doctor will closely monitor your progress in recovery, which can take time and will vary, depending on your age, and severity, and location of your nerve damage. Your orthopedic doctor will discuss these with you to set your expectations.
Orthopedic Doctor in Lutherville, Maryland
For the highest quality of care for your hand nerve injury, visit us at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder in Lutherville, Maryland. Our board-certified orthopedic doctors hold outstanding credentials from the most prestigious medical institutions in the country and have helped numerous patients of all ages successfully recover from their upper-extremity injuries and conditions.
To arrange a consultation with one of our orthopedic doctors, call us today at (410) 296-6232, or you can request an appointment online.
We have several satellite offices throughout Maryland: in Baltimore, Bel Air, Clarksville, Eldersburg, Pasadena, and Westminster.
