C. Noel Henley, MD

Hand and Upper Extremity Specialist

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Nonsurgical Treatment

Many, if not most, hand and arm conditions can be treated without surgery. This page gives you some details of nonsurgical (nonoperative) methods used to treat hand and arm problems. There are many issues to consider when trying to decide if nonoperative management is best.

Rest

Sometimes the best treatment for a painful condition is to stop or change the way you use the hand or injured part. This may unfortunately mean stopping or slowing down activities that you enjoy or are passionate about. Treatment may require a limitation on certain activities at work designed to protect the hand or arm.

Medicine

The most commonly prescribed medicine for painful conditions of the hand and arm is a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These may include Tylenol (acetaminophen), Alleve (naproxen sodium), and Advil (ibuprofen). Tylenol is processed by the liver and the other medicines processed by the kidneys primarily. If you have known liver or kidney problems you may not be able to take these medicines safely. Additionally, they can be hard on your stomach and in the worst cases, may cause stomach upset or even bleeding. If you begin taking them and they upset your stomach or cause any other new symptoms, stop the medicine right away and call your doctor.

Prescription strength topical medicines are now available that may be safer for your stomach and more effective for small areas of pain. These medicines are absorbed directly through the skin.

Soaks

Soaks in warm or comfortably hot water two or three times daily can give some relief from arthritis or tendonitis pain in the hands or wrists.

Splinting

When painful joints and tendons are prevented from moving, this usually helps the pain and can let the body start healing injured tissues. Splints can either be custom made or purchased “off the shelf” at a store or doctor’s office. Either way, the splint should be comfortable, snug, and not too tight.

Therapy

A well-trained therapist can be an important part of recovery from painful conditions or injury. Dr. Henley may prescribe one or several visits with a therapist during your treatment.

Injections

Steroid, or cortisone, injections involve injecting small amounts of powerful anti-inflammatory medicine mixed with local anesthetic into a joint or tendon lining.

Click here for more information on injections.

Remember, common things happen commonly and rare things rarely occur. Know what the possible complications might be, but don’t make them more serious than they actually are. Know yourself and act accordingly.

EDUCATION PAGES

click on the links below to start learning:

  • arthritis: base of the thumb
  • arthritis: osteoarthritis
  • carpal tunnel syndrome
  • trigger finger
  • ganglion cysts
  • tennis elbow (epicondylitis)
  • wrist fractures
  • cubital tunnel syndrome
  • deQuervain's tendonitis
  • elbow fractures
  • olecranon bursitis
  • fingertip injuries
  • hand fractures

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Call our office today at 479-521-2752 to make an appointment with Dr. Henley

Featured Articles

Mallet Finger Injury

“my finger doesn’t work”“my finger is bent”“my finger won’t straighten”“my finger is drooped” These are several of the most common things I hear when patients come in with a mallet finger.  A mallet finger is the name for a ruptured (torn) tendon at the tip of the finger. A tendon rupture is where a tendon […]

Bad Thumb Arthritis – What Does It Look Like?

The video below shows a patient’s thumb moving back and forth. As you’ll see, most of the range of motion is at the MP (metacarpophalangeal) joint. This is abnormal – in a normal thumb, the majority of the motion is through the CMC (carpometacarpal joint, at the base of the thumb). When the CMC joint […]

Forearm Fractures In Kids – What Parents Need To Know

Bones in children are different from bones in adults. They break differently and they respond differently to injury. Some fractures occur both in adults and kids – some fractures occur only in children. Forearm fractures occur in both, with some important differences. This article will cover some of the basics of forearm fractures in kids. […]

Fingertip Ganglion Cysts – Mucous Cysts

The most common tumor in the finger is a ganglion cyst. A ganglion cyst is simply a fluid-filled sac. It can be visible from the outside or buried deep underneath the skin. Sometimes it causes symptoms like soreness and pain; other times patients have no idea it’s there. What is a mucous cyst? Ganglion cysts […]

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