Hand fractures can be extremely painful and debilitating, often making it difficult to perform everyday tasks. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments available for hand injury recovery that can help restore function and reduce pain. One such treatment is functional medicine, which is offered by many Atlanta Hand Specialists. Functional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease, as opposed to just treating symptoms.
What Exactly Is Functional Medicine
It is an approach to healthcare that focuses on the underlying causes of disease. It seeks to address the whole person, not just their symptoms, and to look at how lifestyle and environmental factors play a role in health. Practitioners use a variety of diagnostic tests and interventions to identify and address the root cause of illness. Functional Medicine takes into account many factors that are often overlooked by traditional medicine such as genetics, diet, nutrition, exercise, lifestyle habits, environment, and stress.
Through this broad perspective of patient care practitioners can develop individualized treatment plans that are tailored to each patient’s specific needs. This individualized approach helps prevent and treat chronic illnesses while promoting wellness on all levels: physical, mental, and emotional. By taking into account all aspects of a person’s health including physical, mental/emotional, genetic, environmental, and social influences a holistic approach provides comprehensive care for both acute illnesses and chronic conditions.
How Functional Medicine Can Speed Up Hand Fracture Recovery
One way that functional medicine seeks to speed up hand fracture recovery is through its focus on nutrition and diet. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help provide the nutrients needed for proper muscle repair and tissue regeneration. Additionally, certain vitamins and minerals may be beneficial for improving circulation in the hands, allowing for faster healing of damaged tissues.
Exercise is also an important component of functional medicine when it comes to speeding up hand injury recovery. Light exercises such as range-of-motion movements can help improve flexibility in the area around the injury, reducing stiffness and aiding in quicker healing. Additionally, strengthening exercises such as gripping objects or using putty are great ways to build strength in the muscles surrounding the injured area without putting too much strain on them.
Finally, functional medicine practitioners often recommend other modalities such as acupuncture or massage therapy to aid in accelerating hand injury recovery time. These treatments can help reduce inflammation in the area while increasing blood flow to promote faster healing. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation can also be effective at helping manage pain levels during rehabilitation.
What Are The Various Types Of Hand Fractures That Can Occur
Hand fractures are injuries to the bones in the hand and wrist that can have a variety of causes, ranging from sports trauma to road traffic accidents. The most common type of hand fractures are:
- Colles' Fracture: This is the most common type of hand fracture, often occurring after a fall onto an outstretched hand. It involves a break in the forearm bone (radius) near the wrist joint.
- Bennett's Fracture: This fracture occurs when trauma causes the small bones of the thumb to move outward and cause a dislocation at the base of the thumb.
- Smith's Fracture: This is similar to Colles' fracture, but it involves a break in the other forearm bone (ulna) near the wrist joint instead of the radius bone.
- Scaphoid Fracture: A scaphoid fracture can occur when trauma directly affects your carpal bones. It is most often caused by a fall onto an outstretched hand.
- Boxer's Fracture: This type of fracture occurs when the fourth or fifth metacarpal bone (the small bones in the palm) is broken due to trauma such as punching something hard.
- Mallet Finger: This type of fracture involves damage to the tendon that attaches to the tip of your finger, leading to a drooping fingertip and difficulty straightening it.
No matter what type of hand fracture you have, it’s important that you get medical attention right away so that it can be properly treated and healed correctly. Prompt treatment will help ensure that you don’t suffer from any long-term complications.
Recovery Time For Different Types Of Hand Fractures
The amount of time needed for a hand fracture to heal depends on the type of fracture and the severity of the injury. In general, it can take anywhere from six to 12 weeks for a fracture to completely heal. Colles' fractures typically take 6-8 weeks, Bennett's fractures can take 10-12 weeks, Smith's fractures may take 8-10 weeks, Scaphoid fractures may take 8-12 weeks, Boxer's fractures usually require 4-6 weeks, and Mallet finger may take 3-4 weeks.
It is also important to follow your doctor’s instructions during your recovery period in order to ensure that you are able to regain the full function of your hand as quickly as possible. Some treatments for different types of hand fractures include immobilization with a cast or splint, physical therapy to help regain strength and range of motion, medications such as anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling and pain, and even surgery in some cases.
Your doctor will also likely recommend exercising your hand regularly after the fracture has healed in order to keep muscles strong and increase flexibility. It is important to avoid any activities or movements that could cause further damage until your hand is fully healed. Adhering strictly to treatment guidelines is essential for ensuring an optimal outcome following a hand fracture.
The Importance Of Getting Proper Treatment From Skilled Hand Specialists
Having healthy and functioning hands is essential for performing everyday activities and tasks. As such, it is important to get proper treatment from skilled hand specialists in order to maintain or improve the condition of your hands.
Diagnose And Treat Hand Injuries
Skilled hand specialists can diagnose and treat a wide variety of injuries such as fractures, sprains, dislocations, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more. These specialized healthcare professionals are highly trained in diagnosing hand injuries accurately to get you the treatment you need.
Perform Surgery
In some cases, surgery may be needed to fix a hand injury or condition. Hand specialists are experts at performing these surgeries safely and effectively to provide the best outcomes possible for your health.
Offer Customized Therapy Plans
Hand specialists can create personalized therapy plans that will help you achieve maximum benefits from your treatments through exercises, medicines, and other modalities. They can also help you understand how to move and use your hands in a safe way. Moreover, they will provide guidance on how to modify activities that may be causing pain or discomfort.
Provide Education And Support
Hand specialists can provide education and support to help you understand your condition, properly care for your hands, and prevent future injuries or problems. This is especially important if you are dealing with a chronic condition or repetitive strain injury.
How To Find The Best Hand Specialists
Finding the best hand specialists in Atlanta can be a daunting task, as there are many to choose from. However, there are a few key factors to consider when selecting a hand specialist that can make the process much easier.
- First, consider their credentials and experience. The best hand specialists have extensive training and experience in their field. They have completed residencies in their specialty and have board certifications in areas like orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, or trauma medicine. Additionally, they should also have years of practice experience treating various conditions and ailments of the hands or arms.
- Another important factor is the type of treatment options offered by the hand specialist. While some may specialize in specific treatments or therapies for certain conditions, others may provide more general care for common issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis pain. Be sure to ask questions about what treatments are available before making your decision.
- Finally, you'll want to research any references or reviews from other patients who have worked with that particular provider. This is often a great way to gain insight into how an individual provider works and whether they're likely to offer quality care and results. You can typically find these reviews on medical websites or forums where patients discuss their experiences with healthcare professionals online.
Once you have narrowed down your options, make sure to schedule a consultation with each provider before making your final decision. This will help ensure that you're getting the right care and treatment for your particular condition.
Book An Appointment With The Best Hand Specialists In Atlanta
If you are looking for the best hand specialists in Atlanta, Georgia, you have come to the right place. At Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow Clinic, they offer a full range of services to treat all types of hand injuries and conditions. Their highly trained and experienced team of specialists is dedicated to providing the best care possible for their patients. They specialize in treating the following: fractures, nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis/tendon rupture, arthritis/osteoarthritis, trigger finger/trigger thumb, and Dupuytren's contracture.
With over 35 years of experience, their board-certified surgeons stay up-to-date on all the latest treatments for hand and arm conditions so you can be assured that you will be receiving the best possible care. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff is there to answer any questions you may have and provide the best possible care for your injury or condition. Don’t wait any longer and book an appointment with the best hand specialists in Atlanta today.
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