Wrist Doctor Patchogue, NY – East End Occupational Therapy

East End Occupational Therapy is a specialized hand and upper extremity rehabilitation practice that has been dedicated to providing a complete and comprehensive range of occupational therapy services to its patients. The team at East End Occupational Therapy strives to deliver the best evidence-based care possible through our client-centered approach. If you’re suffering from wrist pain, our wrist doctor in Patchogue serves all Suffolk County residents.

Not only is our practice in direct contact with your physician from the initial examination through your discharge, but we also work closely with your surgeon to develop an optimal plan of care with the goal of restoring your functional independence. Most of us rely on our hands routinely and it is not until we suffer an injury that we recognize the importance of our hand function when performing daily living skills.

Quality Care For Wrist Injuries

Your hands are important to everything you do – work, sports, hobbies and simple activities of daily living. Whether you have a hand injury or you’re recovering from hand surgery, what you want most is successful recovery and as complete a return to function as possible. The specialized hand therapists at East End Occupational Therapy are the solution and can provide customized advanced care designed to get you functioning again. Whether you suffer from trigger finger, a crush-type injury, fracture, contracture, tendon laceration or carpal tunnel syndrome, we will tailor a treatment program for your specific post-injury or postsurgical challenges and lifestyle needs.

How Can Hand Therapy Treat My Wrist Injuries?

Hand Therapy is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper limb, which includes the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder girdle. It is the merging of occupational and physical therapy theory and practice that combine comprehensive knowledge of the structure of the upper limb with function and activity. Using specialized skills in assessment, planning and treatment, hand therapists provide therapeutic intervention to prevent dysfunction, restore function and/or reverse the progression of pathology of the upper limb in order to enhance an individual’s ability to execute tasks and to participate fully in life situations.” – Journal of Hand Therapy; 2009(22)361-376), ASHT Scope of Practice; 2011

Hand Therapy is a type of rehabilitation performed by an occupational or physical therapist on patients with conditions affecting the hands and upper extremities. Such therapy is performed by a provider with a high degree of specialization that requires continuing education and, often, advanced certification. This enables the hand therapist to work with patients to hasten their return to a productive lifestyle.

What Is A Hand Therapist? Can They Treat Wrist Injuries?

A hand therapist is a nationally registered occupational therapist or physical therapist who, through advanced continuing education, clinical experience, and integration of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology, has become proficient in treatment of pathological upper-quadrant conditions resulting from trauma, disease, or congenital or acquired deformity.

Recent Blog Posts – Wrist Doctor Patchogue

Wrist Injuries In The Summer

As many people increase their physical activities during the summer, it’s not uncommon for injuries to become more prevalent during this time frame. Wrist injuries can be especially difficult to deal with, as our hands play a role in completing almost all of our daily tasks. Should you suffer from one in the coming months, you may need the help of a wrist doctor in Patchogue to make a full recovery. At East End Occupational Therapy, we specialize in a wide variety of hand and upper extremity injuries and conditions. To learn about some of the most common summer wrist injuries, and how they can be treated, please continue reading.

Common Wrist Injuries 

Take a second and think about how many tasks your hands and wrists are used to complete. Every time a movement is made, the risk of injury is there. And if you let a wrist injury linger, it can continue to worsen over time and even lead to permanent damage. That is why it is imperative to seek out a wrist doctor in Patchogue as soon as you believe an issue has taken place. Below are just a few examples of the common injuries your wrist can face this summer:

• Fractures.
• Dislocations.
• Sprains.
• Strains.
• Tendonitis.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Causes  

Joints are the part of the body where two or more bones come together for movement. With a network of muscles, ligaments, bones, and tendons all working as one, there are a plethora of issues that can take place which causes injuries. Knowing the common causes may help you avoid the need to spend the summer going to sessions of hand therapy with a wrist doctor in Patchogue. Some causes to be aware of include:

• Overusing the joint.
• Pushing the joint outside of its normal range of motion.
• The joint getting hit with a blunt force, such as during a collision or fall.

What Is Occupational Therapy? 

Occupational therapy is a form of treatment that helps patients adapt to the new situation they find themselves in. If your wrist injury is severe enough, you’ll need more than time and rest alone to facilitate the healing process. It’s possible and even likely that you’ll need to re-learn movements to regain full functionality of the wrist after an injury. That is where sessions of occupational therapy with our wrist doctor in Patchogue come into play. Our trained occupational therapists will perform a full evaluation of your wrist before teaching you how to regain optimal levels of health.

The Healing Process

Each patient and injury is unique in its own right. If you injure your wrist this summer, you can trust that our team will never take a cookie-cutter approach to rehabilitation. Once a proper evaluation has been made, our team will craft the treatment plan that meets all of your specific needs. Below are examples of what treatment may entail when working with our team:

• Postoperative care if the injury required surgery.
• Bracing or splinting the wrist for a period of immobilization.
• Teaching you how to perform tasks and activities that help with regaining strength and range of motion.
• Electrical and thermal modalities.
• Manual therapy.
• Compression therapy.   

The Benefits Of Working With Our Team

After suffering a wrist injury, you shouldn’t just work with any team. At East End Occupational Therapy, we’re committed to providing patients with the most effective sessions of occupational therapy with our wrist doctor in Patchogue available. There are many benefits when choosing to work with our team, which include:

• Fast recovery times resulting in lower medical costs.
• Improved functionality outcomes.
• Reduced chance of the injury becoming a recurring one.

Contact Us 

No one wants to suffer from an injury this summer. However, the unfortunate reality is that wrist injuries can strike at any time. Should this happen to you, our team at East End Occupational Therapy will be there to help. Contact us to schedule your first session for care today!

How Can I Heal My Wrist Tendonitis?

What is Tendonitis?

Tendonitis is caused when the thick cord that attaches your bone to your muscle is swollen or irritated. This can be caused by tiny rips in the tendon from injury. The injury can be over time or happen suddenly. There are two forms of wrist tendonitis including “extension wrist tendonitis” or “flexion wrist tendonitis”. If you are repeatedly folding your wrist backward which causes irritation to the tendons, this is extension wrist tendonitis. If you are repeatedly folding your wrist the other way towards the front, this is flexion wrist tendonitis. Both versions cause very irritable swelling to your wrist. The wrist is most prone to this type of inflammation, as well as the forearm and hand, because of various reasons such as sports, housework, carrying heavy loads, some work activities, and accidents. The nerves, blood vessels, and temperature in wrists may pose a greater risk for tendonitis. Some cases of tendonitis can be very severe and need medical attention. Occupational therapy is a great non-surgical way to relieve tension or pain in your wrist. If you need occupational therapy from our wrist doctor in Patchogue, East End Occupational Therapy has great treatments to help pain. If you have any of these symptoms, you may need medical attention: 

• Numbing or tingling in the hand/forearm
• Swelling and pain in the wrist/hand/forearm 
• No mobility in wrist
• Consistent and intense swelling of the wrist

Causes of Tendonitis

• Home care: gardening, sweeping, raking, cleaning, painting, etc.
• Sports: tennis, golf, skiing, etc.
• Carpentry
• Throwing/Pitching

Some are more prone to tendonitis based on different factors. If you have a pre-existing condition you may be more at risk. This can include arthritis, thyroid conditions, gout, or reactions to medication. If you only play sports or exercise excessively on weekends, you may be more at risk for tendonitis. This is because the tendons are not accustomed to making such movements. Very rarely can an animal bite to the hand or finger cause infection and tendonitis.

Symptoms:

• Pain: The pain caused by wrist tendonitis feels like burning, a sharp stabbing pain, or a dull ache that never heals. The pain can range from the elbow to the fingers and touching or gently pressing the area can be painful. You may feel weakness in the wrist or forearm area while using your injured arm. The pain can begin after you do a physical activity or it is a constant pain you are living with that worsens when you conduct a physical activity. If you are suffering from tendonitis, you may not be able to carry any type of weight. This can range from doing push-ups, throwing heavy objects, or something simple such as opening a drawer or a window.
  
• Swelling: If the tendon is inflamed then this may cause swelling in the arm from the forearm to the fingers.
  
• Stiffness: The swelling causes the arm to be stiff and lose some range of motion.
  
• Muscle fatigue and cramping: If the injury is affecting the surrounding muscles, then this may cause cramping or fatigue.
  
• Tearing, popping, or snapping: The tendons rubbing against each other may cause these symptoms.
  
• Bruising and warmth: Increased blood flow to the wrist may cause the area to feel warmer than usual and may cause blood vessels to pop which causes bruises. 

Non-Surgical Ways to Heal Tendonitis? 

Rest is the top priority after getting an injury to the wrist. A few things you can do to help your injury are to use a sling, splint, or soft strap around the wrist. You need to avoid any activity that may be detrimental to the injury. 

Exercise or physical therapy is the next step to healing your wrist tendonitis. Eccentric exercises help extend your muscle under tension and promote healing for the tendon. This type of exercise helps collagen production and lessen heat from the tendon which minimizes inflammation. Repeating exercise with a light load is beneficial to the tendon as well instead of a larger load with less repetitions. These exercises are done to patients by a physical therapist or occupational therapist who have the knowledge to help heal the injury without furthering the damage.

Anti-inflammatory and pain-relief medications have sometimes been used to treat injuries but can be controversial for tendonitis. These medications such as NSAIDs may relieve pain and swelling in the wrist. However, some medical professionals argue that these medications may aggravate the injury’s healing. Long term use of medications may cause other complications in the heart, kidney, and stomach.

Local Wrist Doctor In Patchogue

Any kind of injury can put a pause and strain on your daily life. If you need occupational therapy from our wrist doctor in Patchogue, contact us! East End Occupational Therapy is dedicated to giving their patients the finest care for their hand, arm, or wrist injuries. A kind and experienced team will create personalized therapy care to enhance your life’s quality.

Schedule Appointment With Our Wrist Doctor in Patchogue