A hand specialist is an orthopedic doctor who specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders in the hand, wrist, and forearm. They have a profound understanding of the complex networks of blood vessels, nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones that make up the hand and fingers. They can work with individuals of all ages who have a hand injury or condition, are experiencing problems with mobility and function, or who have ongoing pain.

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Some hand conditions and injuries are short-term and will go away on their own with rest, but others may require further treatment. Contact your hand specialist if you experience the following symptoms:

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• Pain or discomfort, even while resting the hand

• Ongoing pain and/or stiffness when you start an activity

• A reduced range of motion in the hand, wrist, and/or fingers

• A weak grip or difficulty when holding an item

• Pain, redness, or swelling that gets worse with activity

• Pain that extends to the elbow

• Tingling or numbness in your fingers or hand

• Loss of muscle tone in the hand

• Everyday activities like brushing your hair cause pain or become difficult to do

• Your symptoms don’t improve with rest

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Some symptoms can indicate a serious condition, such as a fracture or dislocation, and require urgent treatment. This can include severe pain, swelling, bruising, an obvious deformity, and an inability to move your hand, wrist, or finger normally.