What kind of doctor treats nerve damage in hand?

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.

What kind of doctor do you see for nerve damage in hand?

If your doctor suspects you may have a form of peripheral neuropathy, they may refer you to a neurologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the nerves.

How do you treat nerve damage in the hand?

If I injure the nerves of my hand, what kind of treatments can I expect? Nonsurgical treatment of nerve injuries can include rest, splinting, icing, and physical therapy. If the nerve has been severed, then surgery will be necessary to rejoin the disconnected ends and restore function and feeling.

Can orthopedics diagnose nerve damage?

Orthopedic doctors and surgeons frequently utilize a combination of a physical exam and diagnostic imaging tools to identify the affected nerves and develop a treatment plan accordingly.

What is a doctor that specializes in hands?

An orthopedic hand surgeon has been specially trained to diagnose and treat problems of the hand, wrist, and forearm, and many are also experts in caring for shoulder and elbow issues.

Treating nerve damage in hands or upper arms | Ohio State Medical Center

What do rheumatologist do?

Rheumatologists are doctors who diagnose and manage chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatic conditions can affect people at any age. Those under 16 are generally treated in paediatric rheumatology services, before starting to transition to care within adult rheumatology settings.

Is a hand surgeon the same as an orthopedic surgeon?

An orthopedic surgeon specializes in medical and surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system. This includes all bones, muscles, tendons and joints. A hand surgeon is a sub specialist in treatment of the hand and often the upper extremity as well.

Can nerve damage in hands be repaired?

Occasionally, the nerve is bruised, and may heal on its own in time. However, if a nerve is cut or crushed, it may need surgical treatment in order to help improve or restore function to the hand or arm.

How do they test for nerve damage in hands?

A nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test — also called a nerve conduction study (NCS) — measures how fast an electrical impulse moves through your nerve. NCV can identify nerve damage. During the test, your nerve is stimulated, usually with electrode patches attached to your skin.

What is a nerve specialist called?

A neurologist is a specialist physician who diagnoses and treats conditions of the brain, spinal cord and nerves.

Does an MRI show nerve damage?

Nerve damage can usually be diagnosed based on a neurological examination and can be correlated by MRI scan findings. The MRI scan images are obtained with a magnetic field and radio waves. No harmful ionizing radiation is used.

How does a neurologist check for nerve damage?

By measuring the electrical activity they are able to determine if there is nerve damage, the extent of the damage and potentially the cause of the damage. Frequently the neurologist will recommend common, noninvasive neurological evaluations such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) testing.

How long does nerve damage in hand take to heal?

If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of 'rest' following your injury. Some people notice continued improvement over many months.

How do neurologists treat nerve pain?

Multimodal therapy (including medicines, physical therapy, psychological counseling and sometimes surgery) is usually required to treat neuropathic pain. Medicines commonly prescribed for neuropathic pain include anti-seizure drugs such as: Gabapentin (Neurontin®).

How can I tell if I have nerve damage?

How do you diagnose nerve damage?

Can a CT scan show nerve damage?

Answer: Damaged nerves cannot be seen on a regular X-ray. They can be seen on CAT scan or MRI, and in fact, MRI is recommended for examining details of the spinal cord.

How painful is an EMG?

Is an EMG test painful? EMG testing may result in some discomfort, but it is usually well tolerated without any need for pain medication.

When should you see a neurologist?

See a neurologist if you or a loved one experience any of the following but have not been diagnosed with a seizure disorder like epilepsy: Violent shaking. Uncontrollable stiffening of the body, especially the arms and legs. Staring spells (the person isn't connecting or responding, or seems to be daydreaming)

What does nerve pain in hand feel like?

Numbness & Tingling — The patient may experience loss of sensation in the hand, including feelings of numbness and/or tingling. Shooting Pain — The patient may experience episodes of shooting pain in the affected area, whether temporary or prolonged in nature.

What nerves affect hands?

Three nerves control function in our hands: the median, ulnar, and radial nerves. Each of these nerves is responsible for both sensory and motor function in different parts of the hand. The median nerve.

How is nerve damage treated?

Correcting nutritional deficiencies. Changing medications when drugs are causing nerve damage. Physical therapy or surgery to address compression or trauma to nerves. Medications to treat autoimmune conditions.

When do you need hand surgery?

The most obvious reason to seek surgery for your hand is if you have pain or immobility that prevents you from using your hand. In fact, any inability to use your hands as you normally would is a sign that something isn't quite right with your hand structure or functionality.

What are surgeon hands?

Hand surgeons are orthopaedic, plastic, or general surgeons who have additional training in surgery of the hand. To become members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, hand surgeons must take a full year of additional training and must pass a rigorous certifying examination.

How long does it take to recover from hand surgery?

Generally, it takes 2 to 4 months before the typical patient experiences enough recovery to return to work. Ultimately, it can take several months to more than a year to recover 100 percent, but this is not usually necessary before one can return to living a relatively normal life.