Your hands are sophisticated and fragile instruments. The nerves, tendons, muscles, and bones in the hand allow for robust, detailed, and precise actions. But everyday use can expose them to injury or overuse that leads to discomfort.
Hand pain can be due to:
Chronic health conditions
Inflammation
Nerve damage
Repetitive motion injuries
Sprains and fractures
Many conditions contributing to hand pain can be treated without surgery. Depending on the cause of your hand pain, you may benefit from medications, exercises, or lifestyle changes. If you need surgery, we can usually treat hand and wrist complaints on a day case basis.
Hand & wrist services at Blackrock Health
Blackrock Health is home to some of the most established private orthopaedic faculties in Ireland. We carry out minimally invasive surgeries in hi-tech facilities across all our hospitals. We offer comprehensive musculoskeletal care, with dedicated inpatient orthopaedic wards. If you have day-case surgery, our team will care for you in our comfortable day wards.
We offer a full range of orthopaedics, including consultation, diagnosis, treatment, and aftercare. Our orthopaedic consultants are internationally recognised and conduct thousands of procedures every year. Our hospitals have expert multi-disciplinary teams with access to colleagues in other related specialties, such as plastic surgery. We use the latest technology, from real-time imaging to robot surgery.
Our specialist team
Our team includes:
Clinical nurse specialists
Hand therapists
What hand and wrist issues do our consultants treat?
Surgery is often needed to treat hand and wrist conditions. This will be performed by a specialist hand surgeon, who may be either an orthopaedic surgeon or a plastic surgeon. There are many common conditions that require hand surgery. These include:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Dupuytren's Contracture.
Ganglion cysts
Delicate hand surgery is also needed to repair damage caused by injury or accident. This can include repairing nerves or tendons or fixing hand and finger fractures with metal plates and screws.
Finally, surgery can help treat hand and wrist arthritis through joint replacement
How will our team diagnose the cause of your hand and wrist pain?
An experienced clinician will be able to diagnose most hand problems with a physical examination. They will listen carefully to your symptoms and examine the hand or wrist that is giving you discomfort.
Imaging diagnostics and tests will be used to further identify the problem. These can help show fractures, bursitis, arthritis, and other issues that may be causing discomfort or pain.
Our radiology departments work closely with the hand & wrist team. Together, they aim to make a swift diagnosis and create the best treatment plan for their patients. Here are some of the tests available to help diagnose the cause of your hand and wrist pain.
CT scan
A CT scan allows doctors to see detailed images of structures within the body to help identify sources of pain. They can provide more information about underlying conditions like arthritis or ligament tears.
Electromyography (EEG)
This test measures muscle electrical activity along with nerve conduction. It is measured with electrodes inserted into muscles near the hand or wrist. This test can help detect any abnormalities that might be causing pain.
MRI scan
An MRI may be ordered to rule out other potential causes of hand or wrist pain like tumours or fractures that cannot be seen on an X-ray.
Nerve conduction studies (EMG)
This test measures nerve function. It allows doctors to determine whether there is nerve damage or compression that could contribute to hand or wrist pain.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound is used to identify soft tissue abnormalities such as cysts or ganglions. It can also identify structures causing pressure on nerves in the hand and wrist.
X-ray
An x-ray can be used to diagnose the potential causes of pain or stiffness in a patient's hand or wrist. It is used to assess the bones for fractures, and to check for chronic conditions such as arthritis.
What kind of treatments could you be prescribed?
Hand therapy intervention can include:
Exercises
Exercise is provided specifically for rehabilitation post injury. This follows a detailed assessment by the hand therapist. Exercise is important as part of successful rehabilitation post injury or surgery. Exercise can also be used to maintain function and strength.
Hand therapy
Any injury to the hand or wrist can affect how you function in everyday life. This can include home life, work, and leisure activities. Your Hand Therapist will advise and guide you on how to return to these activities successfully throughout your recovery.
Manual therapy techniques
Are used to improve mobility, function and to reduce swelling.
Oedema (Swelling) management
Swelling post injury or surgery can affect the movement and function in the hand. Effective management can reduce swelling and aid recovery.
Scar management
Scar tissue is a natural part of the body’s healing process. Scarring can lead to reduced function in the hand or can lead to a sensitive, painful, or unsightly scar. Your therapist will assess and guide you with effective care for your scar.
Splinting
Splints can be fabricated from thermoplastic, neoprene, or plaster of Paris. Splinting offers a costumed bespoke design to protect and position an injury to facilitate healing. Splinting can also be used to rest painful joints, promote movement, prevent deformity, and enable functional use of the hand. Your therapist will discuss with you and provide a splint suitable for your clinical indications.
Wound care
The hand therapy team is skilled in wound care. This includes cleaning, dressing, removal of sutures and advice on wound management. All wound care is provided as per hospital protocols to reduce risk of infection and facilitate healing.
What is a hand therapist?
A hand therapist works in our physiotherapy department and treats any patient requiring intervention specific to the hand. They carry out a specialised detailed assessment and develop a treatment plan, typically after injury, disease, or deformity that has affected the hand. The aim is to help patients return to functional use of their hands.
At Blackrock Health, our hand therapy team works closely with our surgical consultants. This allows them to plan effective, timely rehabilitation after surgical intervention.
Conditions treated include (but not limited to):
Fractures
Nerve Injuries
Nerve compression syndromes
Tendinopathies
Tendon injury
Arthritis
Dislocations
Wrist/ finger/ thumb instabilities
Hand pain
Carpal tunnel pain
Trigger finger
What are the benefits of hand therapy?
Hand therapy can rehabilitate weakened or injured muscles, ligaments and tendons in the hands and fingers. This type of therapy typically helps to improve overall range of motion and reduce stiffness and pain. When successful, hand therapy can increase dexterity and restore full hand function.
During treatment, the patient will receive targeted exercises and therapies. These will be specifically designed to strengthen the patient's damaged hand tissue. The therapist may also use massage, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, or other treatments.
Hand therapy can be provided by two kinds of specialists, who often work together. The first is a registered occupational therapist. The second is a chartered physiotherapist who specialises in the rehabilitation of the hands and wrist. Hand therapy's high degree of specialisation needs advanced post-graduate education and clinical experience. A hand therapist can evaluate and identify problems and then provide advice tailored to the patient. This can cover exercise, preventative care, aids to daily living, and ergonomic consultation.
FAQ's
At Blackrock Health Private Hospitals in Dublin, we understand that a visit to our hand and wrist facility can be a stressful experience.
To help ease your concerns and provide clear information, we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions specific to our hand and wrist services. Our goal is to care for our patients and to make your visit as smooth and reassuring as possible, ensuring you receive the support you require, both promptly and efficiently.
What are the treatment options for hand injuries and conditions?
Treatment options for hand injuries and conditions vary depending on the specific diagnosis and severity of symptoms. They may include rest, immobilisation with splints or casts, physical therapy, medications (such as pain relievers or anti-inflammatories), steroid injections, minimally invasive procedures, or surgery.
When is surgery recommended for hand conditions?
Surgery may be recommended for hand conditions that do not improve with conservative treatments or for injuries that require surgical intervention to restore function and stability. Common reasons for hand surgery include fractures, tendon injuries, nerve compression syndromes (such as carpal tunnel syndrome), arthritis, and soft tissue injuries.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome, and how is it treated?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition characterised by compression of the median nerve in the wrist, leading to symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and fingers. Treatment options may include wrist splinting, activity modification or carpal tunnel release surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve.
What is trigger finger, and how is it treated?
Trigger finger is a condition in which one of the fingers gets stuck in a bent position, causing pain, clicking, or locking when attempting to straighten it. Treatment options may include rest, splinting, steroid injections, or percutaneous release surgery to release the constriction in the affected tendon.
What is involved in hand rehabilitation after surgery
Hand rehabilitation after surgery aims to restore strength, mobility, and function in the hand and fingers. It may include exercises, stretching, manual therapy, scar management, Edema control, sensory re-education, and functional activities to improve grip strength, dexterity, and range of motion.
How long does it take to recover from hand surgery?
Recovery time after hand surgery varies depending on the type of procedure performed, the severity of the condition, and individual factors such as age and overall health. Some patients may experience significant improvement shortly after surgery, while others may require several weeks or months to achieve full recovery and return to normal activities.
What are the risks and complications associated with hand surgery?
Risks and complications of hand surgery may include infection, bleeding, nerve damage, stiffness, weakness, scar formation, reduced sensation, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), or recurrence of the original condition. It is essential to discuss potential risks and benefits with your surgeon before undergoing any hand procedure.
Accessing our services
You can access our hand & wrist services easily with a referral letter from your GP and can then enjoy world-class clinical care and comfort. Over 75% of our rooms are single occupancy, with dedicated day-case wards, to help you make a quicker recovery in a safe environment. We aim to provide you with best outcome, and to restore your quality of life.
How do I get this?
If you are awaiting a diagnosis from your GP, you may need a referral letter before you make an appointment. If you are referring for a physiotherapy consultation, you can contact us directly. Please see our Request Appointment Form here.
Is this insured?
Not all services are covered by health insurance. To find out if you're covered, please check your health insurance before your visit. You can do this on our health insurance Cover Check page here, or by contacting your health insurer.
How do I pay?
If you do not have health insurance or your health plan does not cover the full cost, you will need to pay the balance due before your treatment or procedure. You may be able to claim back some fees on your insurance. To pay an excess not covered by your insurance or any other inpatient fees, please visit our payment page here. If you have any queries about paying for your care, please contact the finance team in your hospital.
