Patient information
Conditions we treat
Find information by where the problem is, by what you are experiencing, or browse the complete A–Z library.
Section one
Where is the problem?
Choose the part of the arm or hand where you notice it most.
Section two
What are you experiencing?
A symptom can come from more than one condition, and the same condition can feel different in different people. These routes narrow things down — they do not diagnose.
- Numbness & tinglingPins and needles, or a hand that feels dead or asleep
- Pain & achingAching, sharp pain, or pain that wakes you at night
- WeaknessA weak grip, or dropping things without meaning to
- Locking or catchingA finger that clicks, catches, or locks bent
- SwellingA swollen hand, wrist or finger
- StiffnessA joint that will not move as far as it used to
- A lump or massA new lump on the hand or wrist
- Difficulty moving a fingerTrouble straightening or bending a finger
- Change in shapeA finger or wrist that looks bent or out of line
- A recent injuryA fall, a cut, a crush or a blow to the hand
- Cold, pale or blue fingersColour change, or fingers that go white in the cold
Section three
Common conditions
The problems seen most often in clinic.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome usually begins gradually, and the pattern of symptoms is often more telling than their severity. Numbness and tingling affect…
Read articleTrigger Finger
A catching, popping or locking sensation when bending or straightening the finger, tenderness at the base of the finger, and stiffness that…
Read articleDe Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
Pain and swelling at the base of the thumb and wrist, worse with gripping, twisting, or lifting with the thumb extended.
Read articleCubital Tunnel Syndrome
Numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers, weakness of grip and hand coordination, and aching on the inner side of…
Read articleGanglion Cyst
A visible or palpable lump, usually on the back of the wrist, that may fluctuate in size and can cause aching or…
Read articleThumb CMC Arthritis
Pain at the base of the thumb with pinching, gripping, or twisting motions such as opening jars or turning keys; a bump…
Read article
Section four
Complex injury & reconstruction
Where the structures involved are small, several at once, or already damaged.
Complex Hand Trauma
Severe pain, deformity, open wounds, bleeding, and loss of function following significant hand trauma, which may involve multiple fingers or structures.
Read articlePeripheral Nerve Injury
Numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in the distribution of the affected nerve, ranging from mild sensory changes to complete loss of function.
Read articleTendon Lacerations
Inability to bend or straighten the affected finger or wrist, a visible wound, and often bleeding at the injury site.
Read articleMicrosurgical Reconstruction
Presentations vary widely depending on the underlying injury, ranging from tissue loss and exposed structures to absent blood supply in an injured…
Read articleSoft Tissue Injuries
Wounds, skin loss, bruising, swelling, and pain, with severity ranging from minor cuts to significant tissue defects.
Read articleDistal Radius Fracture
Pain, swelling, deformity, and inability to move or bear weight through the wrist following an injury.
Read article
Section five
Browse all conditions A–Z
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If something here matches what you are experiencing, it is worth having it looked at properly.
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