Hand

Hand doctors are specialists who treat and care for patients who have a range of hand and finger conditions. These doctors have insights that allow them to understand how hand conditions may affect other parts of the upper extremity, such as the wrist, elbow, or shoulder.

Some hand issues may be acute or short-term and not require surgery, such as a fractured finger due to a fall. Other hand conditions may be chronic, such as arthritis. But with help from a hand doctor, the pain can be reduced and better managed, which contributes to a better quality of life.

Other issues might best be treated by a hand surgeon using hand surgery, such as a surgery called carpal tunnel release, which is used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, or a different surgical procedure to correct something like a finger deformity. Because of their skills and knowledge, hand surgeons understand the treatment options that are available and can recommend the one that is best for a particular patient. Patients with hand pain can benefit from the ability and experience of a specialty-trained hand doctor.

Should You See a Hand Doctor?                                                              

It may be time to see a doctor if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Clicking or grinding sound when moving the fingers
• Finger or thumb pain
• Moving the hand or fingers triggers wrist pain
• Numbness and tingling in the hand, wrist, or both
• Pain that is focused in the palm of your hand
• Pain that travels into the wrist
• Problem moving or flexing the fingers
• Swelling or stiffness

These problems may indicate that you are dealing with a hand injury or condition, such as:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• De Quervain syndrome
• Dupuytren's contracture
• Flexor tendon injury
• Fracture
• Ganglion cyst
• Kienböck's disease
• Mallet finger
• Nerve conditions
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Tendon injuries
• Trigger finger

Specialized Hand Care You Can Trust in Bristol, Elizabethton & Johnson City

At Appalachian Orthopedics, we offer three convenient locations: Bristol Regional Medical Center, Elizabethton and Johnson City. Our specialty-trained hand doctors at Appalachian Orthopedics, Dr. Jason Brashear, Dr. James Goss, Dr. John Holbrook, Dr. Gabriel Hommel, Dr. Matthew Lamagna, Dr. Bart McKinney, Dr. John Phillips, Dr. Larry Waldrop, and Dr. T. Lisle Whitman, have a full understanding of the anatomy of the hand and wrist and are dedicated to delivering an exceptional level of hand care. They will apply their expertise directly to your situation and can guide you toward treatments that help reduce pain and restore you to optimal health. Our surgeons always carefully consider nonsurgical options first before recommending surgery. Early on, they may take X-rays so they can further study the hand and wrist and surrounding structures to determine which nonsurgical treatment may be right for you, such as physical therapy or injections. If hand surgery is ultimately needed, rest assured that our orthopedic experts will use their advanced skills along with our state-of-the-art technology to perform a surgical procedure that can help reduce or eliminate your pain and help you gain the use of your hand again.

Working alongside our hand surgeons, our licensed physical therapists provide a full and comprehensive set of outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation services. They treat each patient's problem individually through an evaluation to design a specific treatment plan with the overall goal of restoring function and enhancing one's quality of life.

If your hand pain is keeping you from living an active life, we're proud to offer access to an orthopedic specialist whenever you need it. Schedule an appointment online or call our Bristol Regional Medical Center, Elizabethton, or Johnson City location for a consultation with one of our expert hand surgeons to diagnose and treat your hand issue.

For those acute hand injuries that can't wait, we also offer the following ways to be seen today: 

• Walk into one of our Orthopedic Urgent Care clinics at our Bristol Regional Medical Center or Johnson City office. No appointment needed.
• To be seen by a doctor on the same day, call your desired office.
• Chat with an orthopedic specialist 24/7, 365 days a year with our free OrthoCareNow service.