Health

Reasons Why You Should See an Expert for Your Hand Injury

Published

1 year ago

August 6, 2021

Have you ever broken your hand and wondered where to go in such a situation? You might not have known hand surgeons exist. Your hands are critical, as they help accomplish many activities, and any time you are injured, you would want help as soon as possible. Kristopher Downing, MD, a La Jolla hand injuries expert, has what it takes to help your hands regain function after an injury.

Types of hand injuries

Hands are complex body parts with many bones in them to help you hold objects firmly. The hands consist of bones such as the phalangeal, and eight bones that make up the carpal that gives them their unique shapes and functions. In addition, the hands have a series of joints, tendons, and muscles, which help you make flexible movements possible for holding uniquely shaped objects. That is why you would want a way to get back to normal functioning much faster anytime you have a hand injury. Some common injuries that affect the hands include:

Jersey’s finger
Arthritis
Baseball finger
Fractures
Trigger finger
Thumb sprains
Tendonitis
Boutonniere deformity

Many hand injuries stem from common accidents, which might occur when you play baseball or wrongly protecting yourself from a fall using your hands. Stress is also why some people have hand injuries, as repeated movements irritate the muscle joints and inflame them.

How does a doctor diagnose hand injuries?

Diagnosis of hand injuries begins with thorough examinations, which involve extensive scans of the injured area. Upper Extremity Specialists have a unique way of accomplishing the diagnostic session. The doctors there include a talking session where they discuss the injury with you and provide ways to find relief much faster. Other procedures vital in the diagnostic session include feeling your bones. They investigate whether you have any swelling at any point in the hand and check for abnormalities that show signs for the best treatment plans.

Extensive x-rays or MRIs can also come in handy when the physical examinations do not give the desired results. Once the cause of your injury is established, your Upper Extremity Specialists will work with you to create the best yet most comfortable treatment plan available.

What techniques can help treat hand injuries?

Upper Extremity Specialists do not just give you a general treatment to deal with your problem; the center custom creates one that fits your profile. The first line of treatment involves the non-invasive ones, followed by the advanced ones for more profound injuries. The treatments you will likely find incudes:

Compression
Physical therapies
Bracing
Anti-inflammatory drugs delivered through needles

Surgery is an option for those with deeper cuts or extensive issues in their joints. However, for such procedures, Upper Extremity Specialists have the tools and skills to accomplish these surgeries.

Hand issues can make you less productive if they are ignored. That is why you need a partner like Upper Extremity Specialists, who have experience dealing with hand complications. Reach the center via phone call, or book your spot online to begin your journey to faster healing.

Health

How to Help Your Child if You Think They Might Have Autism

Published

18 hours ago

February 3, 2023

Michelle Langton

Do you suspect your child might have autism, but you’re not sure? While only a professional diagnosis can tell you for sure, there are many ways you can support your child while you get a diagnosis and create a plan.

Here are some of the best ways to support a child you think might have autism.

Try a variety of therapies

While you’re in the process of getting a formal diagnosis, start trying different therapies with your child to see if anything resonates with your child. Every child with autism is different, so what works for one person may not work for another. There are several types of therapy you can try that are low-cost or free, including play therapy, speech therapy, floortime, ABA therapy, and more.

Although your child will need a formal Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis to get ABA therapy, it’s worth noting that once you have a diagnosis, you can get in-home therapy, which will make things easier on you and your child. Organizations like Golden Care Therapy in New Jersey will send an ABA therapist to your home to work with your child in their own environment. Getting in-home therapy will reduce the stress your child may feel from being in a new and unfamiliar place.

The more therapies you try, the better chance you have of getting a head start in supporting your child, whether or not they get diagnosed with autism.

Get your child some sensory toys

Kids with autism need to stim, which is just a fancy way of saying they need something to stimulate their senses in a way that allows them to mitigate and disburse the sensory overload they’re feeling. Without toys, kids will find ways to stim using just their bodies and their surroundings, but toys can be extremely helpful and less damaging depending on your child.

Every child is different, so it might take a bit to find toys they like. However, you can find some excellent suggestions from The Aspie World on YouTube. Some toys spin, squish, make noise, or are a series of magnets that can be reshaped. If your child is already fixated on certain types of toys, try to find something that matches their existing interest. For example, if they like soft textures, find some plush toys with a velvety-smooth texture. Try all types of toys to see if they help your child.

Seek a professional diagnosis

Getting a professional diagnosis is the best way you can support your child when you think they might have autism. Once you have a diagnosis, that opens the door to getting services that will help them immensely. Not just while they’re young, but it will help them in their adult life, too. For example, if your child moves out on their own, and they struggle with self-care and household chores, they’ll need a professional diagnosis to get in-home services from the state.

A professional diagnosis will tell you if your child is on the autism spectrum, or if they have a different disorder. Depending on the therapist you choose, they’ll likely be able to diagnose your child with any relevant comorbidities, which are common with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Learn about autism

Next to getting your child professionally diagnosed, learning about autism will help you support your child in many ways. There are many misconceptions about autism that can make it hard to spot the signs of autism. One of the best people to learn from is Tony Attwood. He’s considered the leading expert on Autism Spectrum Disorder and is extremely knowledgeable.

One of the most important things you can learn from Attwood is how to spot Autism in girls. For various reasons, it’s harder to spot autism in girls and some girls don’t get diagnosed until they’re in their 40s. Attwood gave an excellent talk about Asperger’s in girls back in 2015, and you’ll learn a lot from this speech.

Although Attwood’s speech focuses on Asperger’s, it is part of the autism spectrum. As a diagnosis, Asperger’s has been officially merged into the diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Support your child in every way you can

When you suspect your child might have autism, it’s important to support them in every way possible. While you’re seeking a professional diagnosis, start trying simple solutions, like play therapy and toys for stimming. See how they respond. Once you get a diagnosis, your child’s therapist will suggest next steps to help your child long-term.