Hand Doctor

Hand

At Casper Orthopedics, our fellowship-trained hand doctors are the experts in assessing, diagnosing, and treating hand injuries and conditions.

The human hand is remarkable–it can perform amazing feats, like when a rock climber uses his or her fingers to help scale a rugged cliff or when a pianist plays a piece of complex music. Experienced hand doctors work with people like these when they have hand injuries or problems. However, hand doctors more often work with people who have common hand injuries or conditions, such as a broken finger, tendonitis, or arthritis. Another condition hand doctors often treat is hyperextension, which is when the finger is bent back unnaturally. 

Hand doctors have an intimate understanding of these and other hand and finger conditions, and they know how all the tiny bones, joints, muscles, and other tissues work together. Because of this, they can understand a patient's problem and then offer treatment solutions ranging from medications and physical therapy to complex hand surgeries.

When Should You See a Hand Doctor?

It's important to be aware of the specific issues surrounding your hand pain so you can tell your hand doctor specifically what you are experiencing. Sharing this information with your doctor can help him or her better understand what might be causing your pain and what treatments to offer. Here are some common symptoms that people with hand conditions experience:

  • Feeling knots under fingers and palms
  • Finger cramps
  • Finger feels loose or unstable
  • Grinding or clicking when using fingers
  • Pain that radiates from your elbow down to your hand and fingers
  • Painful finger bends unnaturally inward
  • Swollen fingers that are difficult to move
  • Tingling or numbness
  • Unable to open hand and straighten fingers

If you have any of these symptoms or are experiencing another type of hand or wrist pain, you may have one of the following medical conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Boutonnière deformity (tendon condition)
  • Boxer's fracture (caused by striking an object with a closed fist)
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • De Quervain's disease
  • Dislocation
  • Dupuytren's contracture
  • Finger fractures
  • Mallet finger (or baseball finger)
  • Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) joint injuries
  • Tendonitis
  • Thumb sprains

To treat your hand condition or injury, our hand doctors will exhaust all conservative treatment options before recommending surgery. Please be assured that if hand surgery is necessary, our surgeons use state-of-the-art technology to perform the latest surgical procedures.

Our team of experts created our Online Guide to Hand & Upper Extremity Care to give patients useful information about their injuries and conditions as well as the treatments we can offer. To access our guide, use the button below. 

Access Our Hand & Upper Extremity Guide

Our hand specialists understand that hand and wrist pain can alter your daily lifestyle and are dedicated to getting you back to the activities you love. To schedule an appointment at one of our locations in Casper or Douglas, please call (307) 265-7205 or click on the Appointment Request button. 

If immediate attention is required for your hand injury or condition, you can visit our OrthoCare Now at our Casper location. Walk-ins are welcome, and no appointment is necessary.

Experience Proven Results at Casper Orthopedics

Our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic doctor and surgeons at Casper Orthopedics, Robert B. Allaire, M.D. and Trevor P. Gessel, M.D., provide compassionate, experienced orthopedic care for injuries and conditions of the upper extremity (hand, wrist, and elbow). When a doctor is fellowship-trained, it means they have completed an extra year of schooling that focused on a specific body part or area of specialty, like sports medicine. With this additional training, our hand doctors have the knowledge and expertise to diagnose and treat your hand or wrist condition or injury.

Working closely with our hand surgeons, our specialty-trained physical and occupational therapists provide comprehensive rehabilitation services. Our entire team is focused on developing a treatment plan that is specific to your goals and needs in order to get you back to your active lifestyle.

To schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic hand surgeons, please call (307) 265-7205 or request an appointment online.