grow fall 2015

8
PHOTO BY ELLEN JASKOL Fall 2015 | Volume 7, Issue 4 Healthy Warnings PAGE 3 New A-fib Surgery PAGE 6 Safe Weight Loss Surgery PAGE 2 PLUS... A lifesaving screening caught Ann Ryan's cancer early. Aſter treament, the 71-year-old is back to cung a rug. Breast cancer cases are expected to increase in women over 70. Annual screenings are sll the best defense. PROOF Living

Upload: parker-adventist-hospital

Post on 23-Jul-2016

214 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

DESCRIPTION

Learn how gastric bypass surgery is safer than you think; how to reverse prediabetes and prehypertension; how women 70+ should continue to be screened for breast cancer; how a new procedure called hybrid ablation, may be ideal for some people with atrial fibrillation; how hysterectomies can now be done in one day with virtually no scarring; and the most common causes of hand and wrist pain and when it may be time to see your doctor in this quarterly magazine celebrating your health in CO. Written and produced by Clementine Health Marketing of Littleton, CO.

TRANSCRIPT

PHOTO BY ELLEN JASKOL

Fall 2015 | Volume 7, Issue 4

Healthy Warnings

PAGE 3

New A-fib Surgery PAGE 6

Safe Weight Loss Surgery PAGE 2PLUS...

A lifesaving screening caught Ann Ryan's cancer early. After treament, the 71-year-old is back to cutting a rug.

Breast cancer cases are expected to increase in women over 70. Annual screenings are still the best defense.

PROOF

Living

Still growing and growing!IF YOU’VE VISITED PARKER ADVENTIST HOSPITAL in the past few months, you probably noticed how much easier it is to find parking. That’s because we opened our new parking deck in June, adding 175 new spaces!

And that’s not all. Construction on campus continues as we prepare to open our new neurosciences, spine, and orthopedic patient unit just after the first of next year. The dedicated unit has been specifically designed with neuro, spine, and orthopedic patients in mind. In addition to the 24 new inpatient beds, the unit will feature a conference room for patient education classes, as

well as a rehab gym for patients to rebuild strength following surgery.

We’re also adding four operating rooms with space to house two more at a later date and six new preoperative beds.

“And this,” says Leanne Hartford, chief operating officer (COO), “is just Phase 1 of our updated master plan to prepare ourselves for the growth of our community. Stay tuned for more!”

Welcome, Sam HuenergardtPARKER ADVENTIST HOSPITAL welcomed Sam Huenergardt as president and CEO on July 27. Huenergardt comes to Colorado from Texas, where he was president and CEO of Central Texas Medical Center. But he’s no stranger to the Adventist Health System family. Prior to his most recent position, Huenergardt served as COO for Gordon Hospital, an Adventist Health System facility in Calhoun, Ga. And before that, he was controller at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, an Adventist Health System hospital, in Shawnee Mission, Kan. Parker Adventist Hospital is part of the Adventist Health System.

“My family and I are so excited to be here, and I am thrilled to be part of the Centura team,” Huenergardt says. “Parker Adventist Hospital has done a tremendous job of serving this community, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to help extend Centura’s mission here.”

Sam Huenergardt

2 ■ Fall 2015 ■ grow PHOT

OS: P

ARKI

NG B

Y EL

LEN

JASK

OL; W

OMAN

©DO

LLAR

PHOT

OCLU

B.CO

M/H

ARTP

HOTO

GRAP

HY

Worried about weight loss?Gastric bypass is safer than you might think

GASTRIC BYPASS was once believed to be a high-risk surgery. But is it? Cleveland Clinic researchers recently reviewed more than 66,000 procedures and found that laparoscopic gastric bypass — one of the most common weight loss surgeries — is as safe as routine minor procedures such as gallbladder removal, appendectomy, and hysterectomy.

In fact, not having surgery may even be riskier as obesity significantly increases a person’s risk

of dying early, says Joshua Long, MD, medical director of bariatric surgery at Parker Adventist

Hospital. “Surgery actually reduces this risk by 89 percent in the first five years after your procedure, leading to a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life,” he says.

For instance, the national cure rate for type 2 diabetes following gastric bypass

is nearly 84 percent, according to a study published in the journal Diabetes Care — and perhaps even higher when surgery is combined

with other nonsurgical tools.

Are you a candidate?If you’ve been struggling to lose weight or keep it off, it might be time to consider weight loss surgery. You may be a candidate if:�You have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher or 35 or higher

with weight-related medical problems, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, or heart disease.

�You don’t smoke, or you are able to quit before surgery. “Smoking increases risk for complications,” says Katy Irani, MD, also a bariatric surgeon at Parker Adventist Hospital. “Quitting before surgery will help the healing process.”

�You are 17 or older. “In adolescence, the body is going through rapid growth changes, so we prefer not to operate on anyone under 17,” Irani says.

�You are realistic and committed. “Patients can expect to lose about 80 percent of excess body weight,” Irani says. “How much you lose is really determined by how well you use your bypass. If you stick with the dietary changes, you will be successful.”

Join Drs. Joshua Long and Katy Irani for monthly community seminars on the newest procedures in weight loss surgery and what it takes to qualify for surgery. See Pages 3 and 8 for details.

grow ■ parkerhospital.org ■ 3

October FREE health seminarsJoin Parker Adventist Hospital for a series of FREE health seminars. All seminars are held in the Parker Adventist Hospital Conference Center, located on the Garden Level at the west entrance. A light lunch is served during daytime programs, and light snacks are served during evening programs. Registration is required for all seminars. New online registration at parkerhospital.org/seminars.

PHOT

OS:

FROM

LEF

T ©

DOLL

ARPH

OTOC

LUB.

COM

/SED

LACE

K; /K

ARAN

DAEV

; /PA

NCHE

NKO

THERE ARE PLENTY OF TIMES IN LIFE when you don’t get a warning of what’s about to happen. But type 2 diabetes and

high blood pressure (hypertension) often do come with warnings: prediabetes and prehypertension.

“These conditions are definitely reversible as long as you take them seriously,” says Andrew Schulz, MD, a family physician at Parker Primary Care. “You can stop

them from becoming life-altering.”

The Breast Care Center — October Extended Hours          In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are extending our screening mammogram hours on Mondays to 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Weight Loss Surgery Seminars Presented by Dr. Joshua Long: Wed, Oct 14 | 6:30-8 p.m. Presented by Dr. Katy Irani: Thu, Oct 15 | 6:30-8 p.m.Join our bariatric surgeons for a look at various surgical weight loss options, and learn whether youʼre a candidate for surgery.

Postpartum: A Seminar for New Mothers Tue, Oct 20 | Noon-1:30 p.m. Join Dr. Jackie Ziernicki, OB-GYN (and new mom herself!), to learn about the physical and mental changes that new mothers face. Babies welcome.

Common Causes and Treatment of Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Pain Tue, Oct 20 | 5:30-7 p.m. Do you golf, play tennis, or use a keyboard frequently? If you’re experiencing any elbow, wrist, or hand pain, we can help. Join Dr. Micah Worrell, orthopedic surgeon, and Kelly Martin, OTR, CHT, occupational therapist, for a discussion about what causes the pain, how therapy can help, and when surgery might be an option.

Stroke Overview Tue, Oct 27 | 5:30-7 p.m. Learn about stroke prevention, symptoms, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery from Dr. Katie Polovitz, neurologist.

Heed the WarningsPrediabetes and prehypertension are reversible — if you act now

Dr. Andrew Schulz

Keep high blood pressure at bayPrehypertension is elevated blood pressure that’s not yet high enough to be classified as hypertension: 120 to 139 mm Hg for the top (systolic) number or 80 to 89 mm Hg for the bottom (diastolic) number.

To keep blood pressure in check: Limit libations. More than two drinks per day

for men or one drink for women increases blood pressure.

Study your sleep. Sleep apnea, a condition in which sleep is interrupted by pauses in breathing, puts you at greater risk for high blood pressure. If you have daytime fatigue, talk to your doctor about a sleep study.

Skip salt for six weeks. Salt is an acquired taste. To unlearn it, avoid adding salt for six to eight weeks.

Lose weight. Reaching your ideal body weight

may be daunting, but losing just 10 or 15 pounds can help prevent diabetes, according to the

American Diabetes Association.

Hoof it for a half hour. Walking is great exercise. For the most

benefit, keep your pace between

3 and 4 miles per hour. Repeat for

30 minutes five times a week.

Eat the meat first. The order in which you eat a meal can

affect blood sugar levels, according to a study published in the journal Diabetes Care. Eat meat, vegetables, and fat before carbs and you could

reduce your blood sugar by 37 percent. “Also limit

carbohydrates to one-quarter of your plate,” Schulz says.

Want to learn more about how to prevent diabetes,

high blood pressure, and high cholesterol?

Parker Adventist Hospital's expert

educators offer a low-cost class full of helpful tips. Call 303-269-4859 for

more information.

PUT THE BRAKES ON DIABETESWith prediabetes, your blood glucose level is higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Using an A1C test, which determines your blood glucose over the past two to three months, prediabetes is diagnosed with an A1C of 5.7 to 6.4; over 6.4 is considered diabetes.

To prevent prediabetes from turning into type 2 diabetes:

4 ■ Fall 2015 ■ grow

Breast cancer is expected to rise in women over 70. Learn what you need to know to protect your health — and the women you love.

A s women get older, they expect to encounter certain health obstacles, like menopause and bone loss. But at a certain age, they might think they’ve dodged a bullet on other health concerns — and breast cancer is a prime example. In fact, some women stop having

mammograms at 70 because they believe they’re too old to get breast cancer or too old to be treated. In truth, breast cancer cases in women over 70 are expected to increase markedly during the next 15 years, according to research from the U.S. National Cancer Institute. So, why is this number going up, and what can be done about it? We’ll explore what’s behind these numbers and the argument for annual mammography screenings as you age.

Unpacking the numbers“We’re going to see more numbers because women are living longer,” says Christine Rogness, MD, a general surgeon and medical director of the breast care program at Parker Adventist Hospital.

The National Cancer Institute’s study predicts that roughly 441,000 U.S. women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2030, up from 283,000 in

2011. Women 70 and older will account for 35 percent of those cases. While the number of cases is going up, the actual rate is not increasing, Rogness stresses. “The life expectancy for U.S. women

is now 81 years and climbing, and we’re seeing more cases because of that.”That’s right: Hitting the big 7-0 doesn’t automatically eliminate your risk of developing breast cancer.

“The risk continues to rise until you get to about 75 or 80, and then it actually goes down again,” Rogness says.

In fact, younger women are actually at lower risk for breast cancer, which rises slightly during each decade of life. In recent years, recommendations about when

women should get mammograms have grown more confusing. But Rogness and Parker Adventist Hospital follow the guidelines advocated by the American College

of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society: “Until you are within 10 years of the age of your presumed death, you should get annual screenings, starting at age 40,”

she says.

The case for annual screeningAccording to Rogness, much of the disagreement over the age at which women should start

screening has centered on concerns regarding the potential overtreatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a noninvasive form of breast cancer that can be a precursor to more invasive forms.

“The risk of going from DCIS to invasive cancer is somewhere between 40 and 60 percent, but no one can tell you if you’re going to be in the group that doesn’t go on to develop invasive breast cancer,” she says. “So, if you could detect DCIS before you develop invasive breast cancer, then that’s the best time to be treated. And you need annual mammography screening to get these subtle findings.”

This goes for women in their 70s, too. The good news is, if cancer is found at an older age, it’s likely to be less aggressive and easier to treat, Rogness says. “But we want to help you find it early so that it can be a speed bump and not a life-changing event.”

Ageless wisdom

While breast cancer risk tends to decline after

age 80, one recent large-scale study found that women

over 80 benefit from regular mammograms in two big

ways: They’re more likely to be diagnosed with the disease early on, and more likely to be living five years after a

diagnosis.

about breast cancer

Dr. Christine Rogness

ILLU

STRA

TION

: ©IS

TOCK

PHOT

O.CO

M/A

LEXB

ELOM

LINS

KY

grow ■ parkerhospital.org ■ 5

Revealing your genetic riskConcerned about your genetic risk for breast cancer? Genetic counseling can help you learn your risks for specific conditions based on your family history and determine if you’re eligible for genetic testing or any specific screening. Melissa Gilstrap, MS, CGC, a board-certified genetic counselor at Parker Adventist Hospital, can help you begin to uncover your genetic risk factors.

“It’s my job to help individuals put together their family history and genetic information in order to get plugged into the appropriate providers as well as screening and prevention options,” Gilstrap says.

If you are eligible for cancer-related genetic testing and decide to proceed, it’s important to understand what it can and can’t tell you.

Genetic counseling and testing are typically covered by insurance when people meet medical necessity criteria, and it’s not just for breast and ovarian cancer.

“There’s also genetic testing for other types of cancer that may run in your family — especially colon cancer,” Gilstrap says. If you have a personal or family history of breast, ovarian, colon, or other cancers that you are concerned about, call 303-269-4975 to schedule a consultation with Gilstrap.

New NameThe Trio Breast Center has

changed its name to The Breast Care Center at Parker Adventist Hospital.

The earlier, the betterAnn Ryan is living proof that continuing regular breast cancer screening into your 70s can be lifesaving. Last fall, when the 71-year-old’s annual mammogram showed a possible abnormality, she wasn’t taking chances. Twenty years ago, the Centennial resident and Colorado native had colon cancer, so she understood the importance of early detection from personal experience.

When a needle biopsy came back negative but her care providers still thought they saw something atypical, Ryan was fully on board with further testing. She was then referred

for a surgical biopsy at Parker Adventist Hospital for an even closer look. The bad news: Cancer was detected. Luckily it was so small — because it had been caught so early — that it was removed at that time, turning the biopsy into a lumpectomy.

A second surgery the following week to check for cancer in her lymph nodes came back negative. She’s now taking antihormones, the standard breast cancer follow-up treatment, for the next five years.

But even after two cancer diagnoses, Ryan counts her blessings. In her work with

Rocky Mountain Cancer Assistance, where she serves on their board and processes applications for assistance, Ryan sees cases like hers all the time.

“I know how common it is, and I also know that people normally need to have radiation and chemo, but I didn’t. I was lucky,” she says. “This has been pretty much a piece of cake, all things considered.”

Needless to say, Ryan remains an advocate for annual mammograms.

“People use all kinds of excuses, but I wouldn’t just tell them to go, I’d drive them there,” she says.

Parker Adventist Hospital is part of the Centura Health Cancer Network, delivering integrated, advanced cancer care across

Colorado and western Kansas.

Melissa Gilstrap

It CAN tell you:• If a specific gene

mutation runs in your family

• If you carry a mutation, what cancers you are at risk for, your risk for developing them, and what screening and prevention options would be available to you

It CAN'T tell you:• Whether you’ll definitely get cancer, how your cancer

might progress, or how severe your illness might be. “Cancer risks are rarely 100 percent. Genetic testing is not a crystal ball to predict the absolute future. It is a heads-up on what could happen, so you can prevent it or find it early,” Gilstrap says.

• Your risk for other health problems. Because the test looks only at selected genes, it won’t tell you your risk for other health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Don't skip your screeningTo schedule your 3-D

mammogram at The Breast Care Center at Parker Adventist

Hospital, call 303-269-4150 or text your name to

303-816-8648 and someone will call you within two

business days to schedule your mammogram.

Two-time cancer survivor Ann Ryan is back in step with her dance group, thanks to a lifesaving breast cancer screening at Parker's Breast Care Center.

PHOT

O: D

ANCI

NG B

Y EL

LEN

JASK

OL

6 ■ Fall 2015 ■ grow

PHOT

O BY

MIC

HAEL

RIC

HMON

D

Parker Adventist Hospital recently received full Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) by demonstrating expertise in: Assessing, diagnosing, and effectively

treating chest pain patients quickly Designing services to promote optimal

patient care Ensuring ongoing training of chest

pain staff Continually seeking to improve processes

and procedures Integrating its ER with local EMS Educating the community about signs

of a heart attack

Dr. Glenn Bigsby

IN THE RhythmINNOVATIVE “HYBRID ABLATION” TREATS ATRIAL FIBRILLATION FROM THE OUTSIDE IN

Dr. Sri Sundaram Dr. Sanjay Tripathi

What is it? Hybrid ablation involves two procedures separated by six to 12 weeks. First, Tripathi performs ablation on the outside of the heart with a minimally invasive surgical procedure called a thoracoscopic maze. Then, about 12 weeks later, Sundaram performs catheter ablation inside the heart.

Who is it for? Ideal candidates for hybrid ablation are patients who:• Have heart

damage resulting from A-fib lasting longer than two years

• Have failed catheter ablation

What are the advantages?Hybrid ablation treats A-fib from both the outside and the inside of the heart muscle.The modified maze surgery is performed through keyhole incisions made between the ribs on both sides, resulting in less blood loss, shorter recovery time, and lower risk of infection than the traditional, open-heart maze surgery.

Individualized OptionsSometimes, as is the case so far with Jensma, Tripathi’s minimally invasive maze approach may be enough without the need for Sundaram’s follow-up catheter-based ablation.

In fact, Jensma, a serious bowler, is back to throwing her 14-pound bowling ball with wild abandon. This summer she bowled in a national tournament in Reno. “I used to be so weak that the heaviness of the ball was too much.”

And now? “I feel like I’ve got some life left,” she says.

Kay Jensma is finding her rhythm again at the bowling alley.

FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, Kay Jensma lived in a constant state of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, a heart rhythm problem in which rapid, irregular heartbeats cause the heart’s chambers to beat out of sync, flared numerous times, triggering listlessness and debilitating, flu-like feelings.

“It’s scary. When you go to bed at night, you hope you wake up the next morning able to just get up and walk,” says the 70-year-old Elizabeth resident.

Today, Jensma and A-fib patients like her have access at Porter Adventist Hospital to a unique one-two treatment approach that tackles persistent A-fib from both the outside and the inside of the heart.

Cardiovascular surgeon Sanjay Tripathi, MD, and cardiologist Sri Sundaram, MD, both with South Denver Cardiology, offer “hybrid ablation,” which has up to an 85 percent success rate in effectively treating A-fib.

Traditional TreatmentsTraditionally, the first-line treatment for A-fib is medication, such as beta-blockers or antiarrhythmic drugs. The next step is catheter-based ablation, a nonsurgical procedure that Sundaram specializes in. The process delivers radiofrequency energy into the heart to destroy tissue that’s triggering irregular rhythms.

Catheter ablation has a 60 to 80 percent success rate in patients without heart abnormalities who have had A-fib for less than two years. Success rates drop if a patient has had A-fib continuously for more than two years.

“If a patient’s A-fib persists after catheter ablation, now, instead of saying, ‘I’m sorry, there’s nothing else I can do for you,’ I have another option,” Sundaram says.

Hybrid AblationThat option is the hybrid surgical/catheter ablation technique now offered at Porter Adventist Hospital. “Myself and Dr. Sundaram are the only physicians in the Denver area offering this particular hybrid procedure,” Tripathi says.

“This is a real breakthrough in how we treat A-fib, especially in patients who are younger, more active, and have symptoms from A-fib that are significantly interfering with their lifestyle,” Tripathi says.

PHOT

O: ©

DOLL

ARPH

TOCL

UB.C

OM/B

ILLI

ONPH

OTOS

ROUGHLY ONE IN THREE WOMEN will undergo a hysterectomy by age 60. One of the most common surgeries among women of childbearing age, hysterectomy is a procedure that removes the uterus due to excessive bleeding, cancer, fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, or other medical issues. In its effort to offer leading-edge treatments that benefit patients and minimize side effects, Parker Adventist Hospital now offers minimally invasive single-site robotic hysterectomy surgery. This procedure requires only one incision near the belly button.

“The surgery works really well for women whose uterus is not too large and who do not have large ovarian cysts,” says Michael Gavigan, MD, an OB-GYN physician at Parker Adventist Hospital.

Simpler surgery, bigger benefitsUsing the da Vinci® Single-Site® robotic guidance system, Gavigan utilizes 5 mm instrumentation and a 3-D camera to navigate through a single 1-inch incision near the belly button. Once the uterus is properly detached, it is removed through either the small incision or the patient’s vagina, depending on the situation.

“The single-site surgery offers many benefits, including quicker recovery times, less blood loss, and less pain following surgery, which leads to less need for narcotic pain medicine,” Gavigan says.

Other benefits of the single-site hysterectomy surgery, when compared to traditional open hysterectomies and other minimally invasive procedures, include:

> Shorter hospital stay > Fewer complications > Shorter recovery

Eligibility and optionsCandidates for single-site hysterectomies include women with noncancerous issues and normal pathology, including the absence of large fibroid tumors, no

large ovarian cysts, and a regular-sized uterus. Women with gynecologic cancer are typically referred to an OB-GYN oncologist and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

As the procedure becomes more commonplace, Gavigan anticipates it will be available to more women. “As with most surgical procedures, the more experience we have, the wider range of patients we can perform the procedure on,” he says.

For some women, another minimally invasive procedure may be the best option. Using the da Vinci Si HD Surgical System, Gavigan performs minimally invasive da Vinci hysterectomies on women who are not eligible for the single-site procedure. Da Vinci hysterectomies use three to four small incisions in the abdomen to separate the uterus and remove it through the vagina.

Dr. Michael Gavigan

Nearly one out of five hysterectomies are performed as same-day outpatient

procedures, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

For more information about minimally invasive gynecologic procedures, visit parkerhospital.org/

womens-gynecology

grow ■ parkerhospital.org ■ 7

Virtually Scarless HysterectomyBelly button surgery gets women back on their feet quicker and with less pain

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDDenver, CO

Permit No. 47739395 Crown Crest Blvd. Parker, CO 80138

Portercare Adventist Health System

November FREE health

seminarsBecome more body-wise with the experts at Parker Adventist Hospital. All seminars are FREE but require registration by going online to parkerhospital.org/seminars.Seminars are held in the Parker Adventist Hospital Conference Center at the west entrance. A light lunch is served during noon seminars, and light snacks are served during evening programs.

Weight Loss Surgery Seminars

Presented by Dr. Katy Irani: Thu, Nov 5 | Noon-1:30 p.m. Thu, Nov 19 | 6:30-8 p.m. Thu, Dec 3 | Noon-1:30 p.m.

Presented by Dr. Joshua Long: Wed, Nov 11 | 6:30-8 p.m.Wed, Dec 9 | 6:30-8 p.m.

Join our bariatric surgeons for a look at various surgical weight loss options, and learn whether youʼre a candidate for surgery.

Back in Control: Advantages of Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery

Tue, Nov 10 | 5:30-7 p.m. Learn about the latest technology in robotic spine surgery and when it might be a good idea for you.

Part of Centura Health, the region’s leading health care network.Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy, contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 303-804-8166. Copyright © Centura Health, 2015.

With a network of 27 bones and associated structures, including nerves, tendons, and ligaments, the hand and wrist are at risk for a variety of painful conditions. We sat down with Parker Adventist Hospital hand and upper extremity surgeon, Micah Worrell, DO, to discuss common causes of pain and available treatment options.

PHOT

OS H

AND

©DO

LLAR

PHOT

OCLU

B.CO

M/A

FRIC

ASTU

DIO;

BAC

K ©

DOLL

ARPH

OTOC

LUB.

COM

/KAS

PARS

GRIN

VALD

S

9395 Crown Crest Blvd., Parker, CO 80138grow is published quarterly by Parker Adventist Hospital—Portercare Adventist Health System—as part of our mission to nurture the health of the people in our community. To comment or unsubscribe, please email [email protected]. grow is produced by Clementine Health Marketing of Littleton, Colo.

Executive Editor: Lisa Gates

Handy Advicefrom Micah Worrell, DO, hand and upper extremity surgeon at Parker Adventist Hospital

Q. What are the most common causes of hand and wrist pain?A. Finger and thumb pain or clicking (trigger finger); hand/finger pain and numbness (carpal tunnel syndrome); and arthritis of the thumb, finger, and wrist. I also see quite a bit of tendon irritation of the wrist and elbow, related to overuse issues.

Q. What are the best ways to manage symptoms?A. When dealing with degenerative changes (those that occur over time) or arthritis, nonoperative measures to alleviate pain include splinting or bracing, anti-inflammatory medications, ice, adjusting the work environment, and patient education.

An educated hand therapist can play a substantial role in treating hand and wrist pain using massage, stretching, and modalities such as iontophoresis (electrical stimulation) and dry needling. Alternative treatments, like acupuncture, may be helpful as well.

Q. When should patients seek medical care?A. I often ask my patients what they do for fun. When pain interferes with a favorite activity, an evaluation is certainly a good option. For conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger, an earlier evaluation is preferred, as these conditions may worsen or become irreversible if not addressed early. In addition, any time the pain is the result of an injury, patients should seek medical attention to rule out more serious issues.

Join Dr. Worrell to learn more about the causes and treatment of hand and wrist pain at a FREE community seminar on Oct. 20 from 5:30-7 p.m. See Page 3 for details.