Wrist Pain Solutions

The wrist and hands are very prone to injuries from overuse or trauma. Common pain syndromes include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, ligament injuries including Scapholunate ligament and Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex injury (TFCC).

The use of our hands, wrists and in particular our thumb is essential in our activities of daily life and injury and subsequent pain in the wrist and hands can be very debilitating and interrupt work and school activities. Recovery from wrist and hand injuries can be slow and painful and difficult since it is hard to rest these areas, and there is no single wrist pain remedy. Fortunately, wrist and hand injuries are particularly responsive to regenerative medicine therapies.

The wrist and hands are very prone to injuries from overuse or trauma. Common pain syndromes include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, ligament injuries including Scapholunate ligament and Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex injury (TFCC).

The use of our hands, wrists and in particular our thumb is essential in our activities of daily life and injury and subsequent pain in the wrist and hands can be very debilitating and interrupt work and school activities. Recovery from wrist and hand injuries can be slow and painful and difficult since it is hard to rest these areas, and there is no single wrist pain remedy. Fortunately, wrist and hand injuries are particularly responsive to regenerative medicine therapies.

Common types of wrist & hand injuries include:

Osteoarthritis of the Thumb
Osteoarthritis can particularly affect the base of the thumb causing pain and stiffness. It is a degenerative joint disease. It tends to strike women more than men in their 50’s or 60’s. Osteoarthritis of the thumb causes limitations in one’s ability to grasp and hold objects reducing quality of life. Symptoms can include pain when moving the thumb, grasping objects, tenderness at the base of the thumb, swelling, enlargement or bony appearance at base of the thumb and decreased range of motion.
Carpal Metacarpal (CMC) Joint Injuries
The Carpometacarpal (CMC) joint connects the thumb to the wrist. It gives humans their identifying dexterity. This joint is located at the very base of the thumb, and is subject to large physical stresses throughout life. Trauma, arthritis and postmenopausal weakening of the ligaments that attach to the joint can all lead to the joint becoming unstable and lead to pain especially with pinch and grasping actions. It will cause limitations in one’s ability to grasp and hold objects reducing quality of life. Symptoms can include pain when moving the thumb, grasping objects, tenderness at the base of the thumb, swelling, enlargement or bony appearance at base of the thumb and decreased range of motion.
Scapholunate Ligament Injury (SLI)
The scapholunate ligament connects two small bones, the scaphoid bone and the lunate one at the base of the wrist. If the ligament is injured then the bones can separate resulting in painful loss of grip strength. This injury is seen from falling on to an extended wrist, in motor vehicle accidents from holding onto the steering wheel, and in athletic injuries in skiers from falling. SLI injuries cause pain and lead to weakness, wrist instability and more pain.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The Carpal Tunnel occurs when the space where tendons and the Median nerve run through compresses the nerve. If the tunnel becomes inflamed the structures that pass through it can be compressed and injured. This can be from repetitive movement such as typing, or repeat motions seen in factory workers. Symptoms can include a tingling in the thumb and first 3 fingers, numbness, shock like pain, weakness and decreased ability to grip objects. Women are affected more than men and can become more prominent during pregnancy.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is particularly responsive to HydrodissectionHydrodissection is a technique used for peripheral nerve entrapments and involves using a saline solution to separate the nerve from the surrounding tissue structure freeing up the nerve and reducing pain without the need for surgery. Dr. Krasnick performs hydrodissection for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with the use of ultrasound guidance which allows him to be highly accurate.

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC)

The Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex is a collection of ligaments, tendons and cartilage that sits between the two arm bones (ulna and radius) on the small finger side. Injury to this area causes pain along this side of the wrist. This area is particularly vulnerable to injury. The TFCC is an important stabilizing structure in moving the wrist, rotating the forearm and supporting the forearm when the palm is gripping an object.

There are two types of TFCC injuries:

  • Type 1. These tears result from physical injury, such as when a person overextends or over-rotates their wrist, or when they fall on their hand with it extended.
  • Type 2. Also called chronic tears. This occurs gradually and can result from damage due to aging or an underlying condition, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms include clicking or popping sound, stiffness, swelling, weakness, pain and limited range of motion in the hand and wrist.

THE KRASNICK SOLUTION

How can Dr. Krasnick help you recover and restore naturally to health without drugs or surgery?

Wrist Ultrasound

EXAM & DIAGNOSIS

Before a patient can be treated for wrist and hand pain, a correct diagnosis must be made.

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First, Dr. Krasnick will obtain a detailed history and perform a thorough physical examination. Frequently a musculoskeletal ultrasound will be done to understand where your wrist and hand pain is coming from. If you have any imaging studies such as X-rays, MRI or CT Scans, please bring the actual images to the appointment for Dr. Krasnick to review himself.

Injection Treatment

TREATMENT PROGRAM

Once a diagnosis is made, a comprehensive treatment program will be determined.

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This may include regenerative medical treatments such as: Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Stem Cell Therapy, Prolozone™, Neural Prolotherapy (Lyftogt Technique®) and Hydrodissection. None of these treatments contain any drugs, steroids, narcotics or NSAIDs, are performed in the office and do not require surgery. Dr. Krasnick performs injections under ultrasound guidance, so he is highly accurate in injecting the treatment to the exact location needed. These treatments allow the body’s own natural healing powers to recover and restore to health.

Balanced Diet

HEALTH & WELLNESS

To optimize treatment, we focus on the whole patient and not just the wrist or hand pain.

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This means Dr. Krasnick will investigate, discuss and make recommendations about your health and wellness. Important factors in order to optimize outcomes include cellular health. This entails optimizing your nutrition and diet to ensure you are getting the proper macro and micronutrients. Simple changes in diet and addition of vitamins and supplements can go a long way to improving outcomes. Dr. Krasnick will also focus on functional movement, which includes strength and flexibility. We know the body, especially, the musculoskeletal system acts as a whole and therefore pre- and post-treatment exercise or physical therapy will be recommended. Of course treatment and attention to the injured structure (joint or surrounding ligaments and tendons) will be discussed in detail, with specific post-procedure protocols when needed.

A procedure is not always needed and when possible trying to solve the problem with other noninvasive and holistic approaches will be sought as a hand and wrist pain solution.

None of the regenerative treatments contain any drugs, steroids, narcotics or NSAIDs, are performed in the office and do not require surgery. Dr. Krasnick performs injections under ultrasound guidance, so he is highly accurate in injecting the treatment to the exact location needed. These treatments allow the body’s own natural healing powers to recover and restore to health.

If you are looking for a non-surgical, drug-free, natural, alternative pain treatment for your wrist and hand pain, then contact us at (734) 585-5653 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Krasnick.

OVERVIEW OF WRIST & HAND INJURIES

Osteoarthritis of the Thumb

More About This Condition
Osteoarthritis can particularly affect the base of the thumb causing pain and stiffness. It is a degenerative joint disease. It tends to strike women more than men in their 50’s or 60’s. Osteoarthritis of the thumb causes limitations in one’s ability to grasp and hold objects reducing quality of life. Symptoms can include pain when moving the thumb, grasping objects, tenderness at the base of the thumb, swelling, enlargement or bony appearance at base of the thumb and decreased range of motion.

Carpal Metacarpal (CMC) Joint Injuries

More About This Condition
The Carpometacarpal (CMC) joint connects the thumb to the wrist. It gives humans their identifying dexterity. This joint is located at the very base of the thumb, and is subject to large physical stresses throughout life. Trauma, arthritis and postmenopausal weakening of the ligaments that attach to the joint can all lead to the joint becoming unstable and lead to pain especially with pinch and grasping actions. It will cause limitations in one’s ability to grasp and hold objects reducing quality of life. Symptoms can include pain when moving the thumb, grasping objects, tenderness at the base of the thumb, swelling, enlargement or bony appearance at base of the thumb and decreased range of motion.

Scapholunate Ligament Injury (SLI)

More About This Condition
The scapholunate ligament connects two small bones, the scaphoid bone and the lunate one at the base of the wrist. If the ligament is injured then the bones can separate resulting in painful loss of grip strength. This injury is seen from falling on to an extended wrist, in motor vehicle accidents from holding onto the steering wheel, and in athletic injuries in skiers from falling. SLI injuries cause pain and lead to weakness, wrist instability and more pain.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

More About This Condition

The Carpal Tunnel occurs when the space where tendons and the Median nerve run through compresses the nerve. If the tunnel becomes inflamed the structures that pass through it can be compressed and injured. This can be from repetitive movement such as typing, or repeat motions seen in factory workers. Symptoms can include a tingling in the thumb and first 3 fingers, numbness, shock like pain, weakness and decreased ability to grip objects. Women are affected more than men and can become more prominent during pregnancy.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is particularly responsive to Hydrodissection. Hydrodissection is a technique used for peripheral nerve entrapments and involves using a saline solution to separate the nerve from the surrounding tissue structure freeing up the nerve and reducing pain without the need for surgery. Dr. Krasnick performs hydrodissection for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with the use of ultrasound guidance which allows him to be highly accurate.

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC)

More About This Condition

The Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex is a collection of ligaments, tendons and cartilage that sits between the two arm bones (ulna and radius) on the small finger side. Injury to this area causes pain along this side of the wrist. This area is particularly vulnerable to injury. The TFCC is an important stabilizing structure in moving the wrist, rotating the forearm and supporting the forearm when the palm is gripping an object.

There are two types of TFCC injuries:

  • Type 1. These tears result from physical injury, such as when a person overextends or over-rotates their wrist, or when they fall on their hand with it extended.
  • Type 2. Also called chronic tears. This occurs gradually and can result from damage due to aging or an underlying condition, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms include clicking or popping sound, stiffness, swelling, weakness, pain and limited range of motion in the hand and wrist.

Traditional treatments. Have you tried them and still have pain?

Traditional treatment for wrist and hand pain includes use of pain medications, physical therapy, steroid injections and surgery. Steroids can weaken the immune system and reduce your ability to fight infections, raise blood sugar, weaken bones or worsen osteoporosis and cause weight gain. Repeated use of steroids can worsen glaucoma or cause cataracts. Cortisone injections, though may provide temporary relief and can help when there is an inflammatory condition, can be harmful, especially when they are repetitively given. Repeated injections will cause tissue (tendon, ligament, cartilage) breakdown and can lead to further or accelerated degeneration and tearing of these structures.

Non-Steroidal-Anti-Inflammatory-Drugs (NSAIDS) such as Ibuprofen, Advil and Motrin can temporarily relieve pain, but also reduce the cells that are needed to repair damaged tendons and ligaments and this can lead to more instability and pain! NSAIDS can also lead to bleeding in the stomach, ulcers and kidney damage. Narcotics are also used but can lead to side effects of constipation and drug dependency. For some patients, surgery is considered, but has greater risks such as infection or more pain.

Steroids & Ibuprofen

Let us help you make progress toward physical rejuvenation.