Specialized wrist and hand care

Typing, lifting, pulling and other motions we do every day can take their toll on our hands and wrists. These intricate, precise parts of our bodies help us through our daily routine more than we realize. But pain, an injury and other conditions can affect how well our hands and wrists function, making it difficult to go about our life without thinking about them.

No matter how long you’ve had wrist or hand pain, our specialized team of orthopedists, hand therapists, sports medicine doctors and other hand specialists can help. At TRIA, our patient outcomes often exceed the national average for many of the wrist and hand conditions we treat. We offer specialized treatment options like hand therapy, the latest surgical options, and the only integrative medicine program for hand conditions. From diagnosis to recovery, we’ll be by your side every step of the way.

We recommend talking with a doctor as soon as you notice hand or wrist pain is affecting your daily routine. The earlier you get treatment for wrist and hand conditions, the easier it is to recover.

Patients that come to us with wrist and hand conditions usually have their first appointment with an orthopedic doctor who specializes in the hand. In many cases, we find that nonsurgical treatments are effective at reducing pain and improving function. If we find that surgery is the best treatment option for you, our team of orthopedic surgeons is there to guide you.

Once you’re on a treatment plan, our team of hand therapists, orthopedists, and other experts will be there to help you though every step of your care.

We provide comprehensive treatments, including nonsurgical and surgical options. Once we diagnose the cause of your wrist or hand pain, we’ll guide you toward the best treatment option for you.

Most hand and wrist conditions can be treated without surgery. Depending on your specific needs, we might recommend one or more of the following treatments:

Injuries and illnesses can cause inflammation of the wrist, hand and surrounding areas. Swelling caused by inflammation can press on nerve endings in the tissue, causing pain. Anti-inflammatory medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroid injections, can reduce the inflammation and relieve pain caused by the pressure. This can provide significant, short-term pain relief and promote healing. In some cases, we may recommend injecting steroids in or near the painful area to provide more long-term pain relief.

Orthotics, like splints and braces, are worn on the hand or wrist to provide support and assist with or limit movement. Our board-certified orthotists and hand therapists ensure that our braces provide an optimal fit and promote fast and effective healing. We may recommend that you wear a splint or brace while doing certain activities, like sleeping or typing, or throughout the entire day.

Our specialized hand therapists treat chronic hand and wrist conditions and provide post-operative management and therapy for patients of all ages.

TRIA hand therapists have education that makes them experts in the treatment of the hand, wrist and elbow. During your first hand therapy appointment, we’ll assess the function of your hand or wrist, and create an individualized treatment plan around your specific needs. With our innovative treatments and science-backed approach, our patient outcomes typically exceed the national average for many conditions we treat.

Some insurance plans require a referral to cover hand therapy. Please call the number on the back of your insurance card to learn more about what’s covered by your insurance.

Our hand program is the only one in the Twin Cities that provides integrative medicine solutions for people with wrist and hand pain. Integrative medicine is a holistic treatment that uses the body’s natural healing ability to relieve pain and accelerate recovery. We use treatments that are scientifically proven to improve wellness, including acupuncture, yoga therapy and our TRIA Well consults. These types of treatments are often recommended alongside others to complement your treatment plan.

TRIA is at the forefront of orthobiologics, a type of treatment that uses substances naturally found in the body to reduce inflammation and promote healing.

Orthobiologic treatments can be used instead of surgery or in addition to surgery. While there are many different types of orthobiologic therapies, platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections are the most commonly used orthobiologic treatment.

When nonsurgical treatment options don’t relieve your wrist or hand pain, we might recommend hand surgery. At TRIA, we’ll only guide you toward surgery when it’s the most effective treatment for you.

Surgery can be used to treat a wide range of hand and wrist conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, ganglion cysts and tendon injuries. In many cases, we can perform outpatient hand surgeries in one of our hand procedure rooms in our clinics. This means that you won’t go under general anesthesia and will be awake during the procedure. We’ll use local anesthetic to numb your hand and wrist to keep you comfortable during your procedure.

There are many benefits to having surgery done in the clinic:

• Surgery done in our hand procedure rooms takes half the time compared to those done in operating rooms under general anesthesia.
• Having surgery in the clinic gives you the same high-quality surgical care at a more affordable cost to you.
• Staying awake during your hand procedure is often more convenient for our patient. You’re able to eat before the procedure and drive yourself home afterwards.

If surgery is the best treatment for your condition, we’ll talk with you about what to expect and answer all your questions. Our goal is to make you feel as prepared as possible before, during and after your surgery.