Hand, wrist & elbow surgery & treatment

Your hands, wrists and arms are amazing tools that you use every day. But with dozens of bones connected by muscles and tendons, they can be easily injured. Whether you’re dealing with a wrist injury, hand pain, arthritis or tennis elbow, our orthopedic hand and wrist experts are here to help.

Your care team will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan to ease your pain. With specialized hand surgery or therapy, you will be able to get back to feeling better so you can continue living your life.

Expert hand, wrist and elbow care at Aurora Health Care

When pain in your hand, wrist or elbow disrupts your day-to-day, you want the most experienced team in charge of your care so you can get back to what you love.

Whether you’re looking for a hand surgeon, wrist specialist or elbow surgeon, we’re here to help. People choose Aurora Health Care’s top-rated orthopedic program because of our expertise. We are recognized as the No. 1 program in the Midwest and among the top 10% nationally for orthopedic care. With the highest volumes of surgeries and the most board-certified, fellowship-trained providers, our team leads the region in expertise.

We offer:

• Comprehensive care, centered on you: Our experienced team can diagnose many conditions during just one or two office visits.We offer same-day and next-day appointments. Sometimes you can even see multiple specialists in a single visit.
• Fellowship-trained joint specialists: Our hand surgeons are board-certified and fellowship-trained, with specialized expertise in hand and wrist surgery.
• Minimally invasive treatments: We’re leaders in innovative procedures like endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery, which uses smaller incisions for faster recovery.
• Hand therapy specialists: Certified hand therapists with thousands of hours of experience help you regain function after surgery or injury.
• Convenient locations close to home: With the most locations in the region, we make it easy to access care when and where you need it.

What kind of doctor should I see for wrist and hand pain?

For wrist and hand pain, you should see an orthopedic specialist, particularly one who focuses on hand, wrist and upper extremity conditions. Depending on your symptoms, you may also consult a rheumatologist if arthritis or an autoimmune condition is suspected, or a neurologist for nerve-related issues.

What is a hand, wrist, and elbow doctor called?

A doctor specializing in treating hand, wrist and elbow conditions is called a hand surgeon or an orthopedic hand doctor. These specialists are trained in both surgical and nonsurgical treatments for conditions affecting the hand, wrist and upper extremities.

Surgical treatment for hand and wrist pain

When surgery is necessary, you can count on our team for expert care and support every step of the way. From minimally invasive techniques to reconstructive surgery, we’ll guide you through the process to help you return to your daily activities as quickly as possible.

Our surgeons are leaders in advanced techniques, including:

• Endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery, a minimally invasive procedure using small incisions for faster recovery.
• Fusions and reconstructions to restore mobility with procedures like thumb reconstructions for arthritis.
• Minimally invasive tendon treatments to treat issues like golfer’s elbow using ultrasound guidance and small incisions.
• Total elbow replacement to relieve pain and improve function for conditions like severe arthritis or trauma.

Recovery & rehabilitation after surgery

After hand, wrist or elbow surgery, most people can get back to work quickly and return to their extracurricular activities soon afterward. Depending on the procedure, many people return to their activities within two to six weeks, but a full recovery may take up to six months. Your specific recovery time will depend on your individual situation.

Rehabilitation plays an important role in recovering from hand surgery. Our integrated care teams work closely together during your transition from surgery to physical or occupational therapy and back to your regular routine. Learn more about orthopedic physical therapy.

Restoring elbow, wrist & hand movement without surgery

Not everyone needs surgery. As a first line of treatment, you may consider nonsurgical methods including:

• Customized splints or casts: Sometimes, a hand or wrist problem simply needs support. You may benefit from ready-to-use splints, or you may require a customized brace. Our orthopedists and occupational therapists can help.
• Symptom management: Sometimes, you just need help managing your pain until a condition improves. We provide integrative medicine like chiropractic care or acupuncture and nonnarcotic medications.
• Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help ease impingement (compression of a nerve or blood vessel by joint or muscle problems), improve range of motion and build strength in the elbow, wrist and hand. Learn more about physical therapy.
• Occupational therapy: Occupational therapy can make it easier to do your daily activities. Specialized occupational therapy can help you regain hand strength and prevent further damage. Read more about occupational therapy.
• Guided injections: Injections administer fast-acting or long-lasting medication directly into the joint to reduce inflammation and pain. With the help of ultrasound imaging (using sound waves) or fluoroscopy (injecting a dye agent to more clearly show the joint), injections can reach the source of pain to bring relief. Learn more about injections for joint pain.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): For conditions like tennis elbow (tendonitis in the elbow), PRP can help you heal. Your doctor separates platelets (blood cells that contain growth factors) from a sample of your own blood and injects them right where you have pain. Read more about tennis elbow.
• Xiaflex^® for Dupuytren’s contracture: People with Dupuytren’s contracture (an inherited, progressive hand disorder that limits finger movement) may benefit from injection with Xiaflex. Done in your doctor’s office, Xiaflex injections can relieve stiffness and let you move your fingers again.