Patient resources
Understand your hand.
Navigate your recovery.
Plain-language guidance about common hand and upper-extremity conditions, what to expect after surgery, and how to find specialized hand therapy near you.
This information is general. Your diagnosis, operation, and written instructions from your care team always take priority.
Find a Certified Hand Therapist
Specialized therapy for the hand and upper extremity
Hand therapy may help reduce symptoms and improve function without surgery for some conditions. After surgery, it can protect healing tissue while helping restore motion, strength, dexterity, and confidence.
Search the HTCC directoryCommon hand conditions
Start with the problem you are experiencing
Open any topic for a short explanation of common symptoms and the types of treatment that may be considered. An examination is still needed to confirm the diagnosis.
01Nerve compressionCarpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed at the wrist. It commonly causes nighttime numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers and may eventually affect grip or thumb strength.
Common signs
Hand numbness, nighttime waking, dropping objects, or weakness at the base of the thumb.
Treatment may include
Night splinting, activity changes, hand therapy, injection, or carpal tunnel release may be considered depending on severity and nerve function.
02Nerve compressionCubital tunnel syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome is compression or irritation of the ulnar nerve around the elbow. Symptoms often involve the small and ring fingers and can worsen when the elbow stays bent or rests on a hard surface.
Common signs
Small- and ring-finger numbness, hand clumsiness, weak pinch, or aching along the inner elbow.
Treatment may include
Avoiding prolonged elbow pressure or flexion, nighttime positioning, therapy, and—in progressive or severe cases—surgical decompression may help.
03Tendon conditionsTrigger finger & De Quervain tenosynovitis
Trigger finger causes painful catching or locking as a finger bends and straightens. De Quervain tenosynovitis causes pain along the thumb side of the wrist, often with lifting, grasping, or repetitive thumb motion.
Common signs
Finger clicking or locking, tenderness in the palm, or thumb-side wrist pain with gripping and lifting.
Treatment may include
Activity modification, splinting, hand therapy, anti-inflammatory treatment, injection, or a small release procedure may be appropriate.
04ArthritisThumb-base & wrist arthritis
Arthritis can wear away the smooth cartilage in the thumb or wrist joints, causing pain and stiffness. Thumb carpometacarpal arthritis is especially noticeable during pinch, opening jars, turning keys, or gripping.
Common signs
Pain with pinch or grip, stiffness, swelling, weakness, or a change in joint shape.
Treatment may include
Bracing, joint-protection strategies, therapy, medication, injection, and reconstructive surgery are considered according to symptoms and functional goals.
05TraumaHand, finger & wrist fractures
A fracture is a break in one or more bones of the hand or wrist. Alignment, joint involvement, stability, and soft-tissue injury determine whether a splint or cast is enough or whether the bone needs surgical stabilization.
Common signs
Pain, swelling, bruising, deformity, difficulty moving, or a finger that crosses over its neighbor when making a fist.
Treatment may include
Prompt examination and X-rays are important. Treatment may include splinting, casting, reduction, fixation, and guided therapy to restore motion.
06Ligament & cartilageWrist sprains, TFCC tears & instability
A fall, forceful twist, or repetitive loading can injure the ligaments or cartilage that stabilize the wrist. Some injuries improve with protection and therapy; others cause persistent clicking, weakness, or instability.
Common signs
Pain with rotation or loading, clicking, swelling, weak grip, or a sense that the wrist is giving way.
Treatment may include
Evaluation may include X-rays or advanced imaging. Bracing, therapy, injection, arthroscopy, or reconstruction may be recommended.
07Masses & contractureGanglion cysts & Dupuytren contracture
Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled lumps that commonly arise near a wrist or finger joint. Dupuytren disease creates firm cords in the palm that can gradually pull one or more fingers into a bent position.
Common signs
A changing lump, aching with wrist use, a firm palm cord, or increasing difficulty placing the hand flat.
Treatment may include
Observation is often reasonable. Aspiration, injection, needle treatment, or surgery may be considered when symptoms or loss of function justify treatment.
08Urgent injuryTendon, nerve & complex hand injuries
Cuts, crush injuries, and severe trauma may damage tendons, nerves, blood vessels, skin, and bone at the same time. Early assessment is important when movement, sensation, or circulation changes after an injury.
Common signs
A deep wound, inability to bend or straighten a finger, new numbness, uncontrolled bleeding, or a pale or cold finger.
Treatment may include
These injuries may need urgent evaluation, repair, splinting, and a carefully supervised therapy protocol.
09Complex nerve careBrachial plexus injury
The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that powers and supplies sensation to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Traction or other trauma can cause weakness, numbness, pain, or loss of movement across several parts of the limb.
Common signs
New weakness or paralysis after trauma, widespread numbness, severe nerve pain, or loss of shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand function.
Treatment may include
Early specialist evaluation helps define the injury and timing. Treatment may include observation, therapy, nerve repair or transfer, tendon transfer, or microsurgical reconstruction.
10Neurologic careUpper-limb spasticity after stroke
After a stroke, involuntary muscle tightness may pull the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or fingers into a painful or difficult position. Goals may include comfort, hygiene, easier caregiving, and improved useful movement.
Common signs
A clenched fist, bent wrist or elbow, shoulder tightness, skin problems, pain, or difficulty dressing and cleaning the hand.
Treatment may include
A coordinated plan may include therapy, orthotics, medication or injections, selective nerve procedures, tendon balancing, contracture release, or joint stabilization.
After surgery
Protect the repair. Control swelling. Follow your specific plan.
Recovery instructions differ significantly by procedure. Use this as a general orientation only; the instructions given by your surgical team are the source of truth.
Protect the dressing or splint
Keep it clean and dry and do not remove or alter it unless your written instructions specifically tell you to. A surgical splint protects more than the incision—it may protect a repair beneath the skin.
Control swelling
Elevate the hand above heart level as directed. Move joints that were specifically left free only if your surgical team has said that movement is safe.
Use medication safely
Take medications exactly as directed. Do not drive, drink alcohol, or make important decisions while taking sedating pain medication, and store it securely.
Respect activity restrictions
Lifting, gripping, weight bearing, and return-to-work limits depend on the operation. Doing too much too early can stress a repair, while the right motion at the right time helps prevent stiffness.
Start therapy when prescribed
Your therapist may manage swelling and scars, make a custom orthosis, protect healing tissue, and guide motion and strengthening through each phase of recovery.
Why protocols differ
Nerve decompression & soft-tissue releaseCarpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, trigger finger, De Quervain release, ganglion excision
Motion often begins earlier after these procedures, but dressing care, lifting limits, and return to work still vary. Follow the instructions written for your operation.
Fracture, ligament & joint reconstructionFracture fixation, wrist ligament repair, arthroscopy, thumb CMC arthroplasty
These procedures commonly require a protected phase followed by staged motion and strengthening. The duration of immobilization depends on healing and the stability of the repair.
Tendon & nerve repairFlexor or extensor tendon repair, nerve repair, graft, or transfer
These repairs use precise splinting and motion protocols. Too much motion can jeopardize healing; too little can create stiffness or adhesions. Do only the exercises prescribed for you.
Brachial plexus & spasticity reconstructionNerve transfer, tendon transfer, selective denervation, contracture release
Recovery is individualized and may continue for many months. Therapy, splinting, muscle retraining, and coordinated follow-up are central parts of the treatment plan.
When to call
Contact your surgical team promptly if something does not feel right.
- Pain or pressure that is worsening despite medication and elevation
- A cast, splint, or dressing that feels increasingly tight
- New or worsening numbness, weakness, or inability to move exposed fingers
- Fingers that become cold, pale, blue, or markedly more swollen
- Increasing redness, drainage, wound opening, fever, or chills
Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, a severe allergic reaction, uncontrolled bleeding, or another medical emergency.
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