Nearly everyone has experienced some form of hand pain in their lifetime – whether that be from a sports injury, an accident in the kitchen, or from contorting your fingers into an unnatural position to tighten a hard-to-get-to bolt. With hand pain being so common, it’s important to know when to let it subside on its own through rest and when to see an Austin hand specialist.
As always, it’s vital that you use your best judgment and if you’re unsure, make an appointment. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! If you have any questions, please give the office a call.
When to see an Austin Hand Specialist
Hand Pain That Remains
If you have hand pain that sticks around for longer than a few days without showing signs of dissipating, it’s time to see an Austin hand specialist! If you’ve been dealing with pain from an injury and it just isn’t getting any better, make an appointment ASAP – it’s only going to get worse with time!
Pain Is Impacting Your Day-To-Day Life
It’s funny how you don’t realize how often you use your hands for the small things until you can’t use them (or it hurts to do so.) If pain is keeping you from doing the things you need to get done on a daily basis, it’s time to see a specialist. Hands can be tricky to rehabilitate at home, as they’re used so often that they don’t get too much actual downtime. If you’re having trouble cooking, typing, or doing other mundane things around the house, get an appointment on the books.
Swelling and/or Bruising
Swelling (to a degree,) is normal when dealing with nearly any type of injury. However, swelling that sticks around for longer than 24 to 48 hours after the injury is a red flag! Likewise, bruising that’s extreme or remains for longer than 48 hours is a sign that you should seek help from a professional!
Numbness or Tingling
If you experience either numbness or tingling after an injury (or at any other point,) please schedule an appointment ASAP! Even if it didn’t seem like a major injury, both of these symptoms can be signs of a more serious underlying issue. If you’re experiencing numbness, tingling, or both – make an appointment with an Austin hand specialist.
This list is not fully comprehensive, in that there are many other signs that you should see a hand specialist! If you have any questions about an injury, symptom, or anything to do with your upper extremities – please give the office a call. We’d love nothing more than to get you back to pain-free living!