Baseball Finger

Baseball finger is a condition resulting from a ball hitting the tip of your finger, causing it to bend down beyond its limit. This bending tears the tendon controlling movement of your finger. The tip of the finger cannot be straightened out or will hang down abnormally if the tendon is torn or detached. In some cases, the force can pull away tiny pieces of the bone or dislocate the joint

Symptoms

o Tenderness, swelling, or redness on the tip of the finger
o An open wound along with a tendon tear, which may lead to infection in the hand.

Treatment

o Immediate application of ice
o Elevating the hand above the level of your heart
o Surgery in the case of an infection or damage to the bone

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for baseball finger will ensure a full and speedy recovery.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome refers to pain occuring in the hand when the surrounding tendons, ligaments, and muscles compress the median nerve. The carpal tunnel, which is the passageway where the median nerve is located, is very narrow and the nerve can be irritated from multiple causes.

Symptoms

o Burning, tingling, and numbness in the palm of the hand and fingers
o Decreased grip strength
o Decreased sensitivity to hot and cold

Treatment

o Rest and ice
o Immobilization of the wrist
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
o Cortisone injections when necessary

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome will ensure your full recovery.

Sprained Finger

Sprained Finger is a common injury in sports involving the bending of a finger gripping a ball, causing damage to the ligaments. Collateral Ligaments of a finger are normally affected by this condition.

Symptoms

o Pain when bending finger
o Swelling around joint
o Restriction in mobility of joint
o Instability of the joint

Treatment

o Rest and ice the joint
o Tape the finger joint for support

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for a Finger Sprain will ensure your full recovery.

Gamekeepers Thumb (UCL injury)

Gamekeepers thumb is an acute injury to the ulnar collateral ligament. The injury is caused via stress being placed on the ligament by repetitive usage of the thumb. If stretched far enough the ligament will tear and surgery may be necessary.

Symptoms

o Pain over the base of thumb
o Swelling over the base of thumb
o Weakening of the grip

Treatment

o Rest and ice
o Brace or wrist splint

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for gamekeepers thumb will ensure your full recovery.

Jammed Fingers

Strong impacts to the fingers can cause a joint to become swollen and cause extreme pain. These injuries need to be treated rather quickly in order to minimize the swelling and decrease the recovery time.

Symptoms

o Pain and swelling in joint
o Loss of motion of injured finger

Treatment

o Ice immediately after injury on 15 minute intervals
o Test movement after swelling subsides

If movement is restricted or painful consult an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for a jammed finger.

Tenosynovitis (De Quervain’s Tendinitis)

Tenosynovitis (De Quervain's Tendonitis) occurs when the tendons located near the base of the thumb are irritated or restricted. Pain can be felt on the side of the wrist closest to the thumb. Tenosynovitis involves the sheath that encompasses the tendon. The swollen tendon presses on the tendon sheath restricting movement and causing pain.

Symptoms

o Swelling on thumb side of the wrist
o Catching/snapping sensation felt when moving the thumb
o Numbness on back of thumb or index finger

Treatment

o Rest and ice
o Splinting when necessary
o Ultrasound
o Cortisone injections when necessary

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for tenosynovitis (De Quervain’s tendinitis) will ensure your full recovery.

Ulnar Neuropathy

Ulnar neuropathy is the irritation of the ulna nerve, most common in cyclists. The entrapment of this nerve in cyclists is located in the wrist, due to high compression from the hands constantly being on the handlebars.

Symptoms

o Tingling and numbness in the pinky and ring fingers
o Weakening of grip
o Deterioration of muscle in advanced stages

Treatment

o Rest and ice
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
o Cortisone injections when necessary

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for ulnar neuropathy will ensure a full and speedy recovery.

Wrist sprain

Wrist sprain are common injuries, and normally are the result of falling and bracing the body for impact. When a wrist sprain occurs it stretches the ligaments of the wrist, causing pain and swelling.

Three different levels of wrist sprains can occur.
Grade 1 is a mild injury with minor stretching of the ligaments, but not tearing or fringing on the tissues.
Grade 2 involves partial tears or minor tears in the ligaments.
Grade 3 is a severe sprain normally resulting in complete tears of the ligaments in the wrist.

Symptoms

o Pain in wrist with movement
o Swelling in or around the joint
o Burning and warm sensation in the wrist

Treatment

o R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) method
o Anti-inflammatory medications when necessary
o Bracing
o Immobilization

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for wrist sprains will ensure a full recovery and minimal complications.

Wrist Tendinitis

Wrist Tendinitis, Also known as tenosynovitis, occurs when the tendons in the wrist are irritated or restricted due to the crossing over bone or other tendons. Wrist Tendinitis involves the sheath that encompasses the actual tendon. Pain can be felt in the wrist and surrounding areas where the tendon sheath is inflamed. The swollen tendon presses on the tendon sheath forcing it to become thicker and hindering the sliding of the tendons.

Symptoms

o Swelling
o Catching/snapping sensation with movement
o Numbness in fingers

Treatment

o Rest and ice
o Splinting when necessary
o Ultrasound
o Cortisone injections when necessary

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for wrist tendinitis will ensure a full recovery and minimal complications.