Areas We Treat

Wrist and Hand

Overview: Understanding Wrist and Hand Pain

Your wrist and hand are intricate, high-use structures made up of bones, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and joints. Whether you’re typing, lifting, gripping, or simply moving, pain in these areas can quickly interfere with your everyday activities and reduce quality of life. At Interventional Orthopedics of Washington (IOW), our doctors use advanced diagnostics and regenerative orthopedic therapies to resolve the root cause of your wrist or hand pain without surgery or long-term medications.

Common Wrist and Hand Conditions We Treat

Our doctors treat a wide range of injuries and degenerative conditions affecting the wrist, hand, and fingers, including:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Osteoarthritis of the Wrist or Hand Joints

Tendinitis or Tendinopathy (De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis)

Wrist Instability

Trigger Finger (Stenosing Tenosynovitis)

TFCC (Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex) Injuries

Ulnar-Sided Wrist Pain

Scapholunate Ligament Tears

Ligament Sprains or Tears (Thumb, MCP, PIP, DIP)

Ganglion Cysts

Nerve Entrapments (Median, Ulnar, Radial Nerves)

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs)

Post-Surgical Pain or Scar Tissue

Hand or Finger Joint Stiffness

Tendon or Pulley Injuries

Wrist and Hand Areas We Specialize In

Using ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance, our doctors precisely target the following anatomical structures in the wrist and hand:

Wrist Joints: Radiocarpal, Midcarpal, Ulnocarpal
Hand Joints: MCP (knuckle), PIP, DIP, CMC (thumb base)
Ligaments: Scapholunate, Lunotriquetral, Ulnar Collateral, Radial Collateral
Tendons: Flexor and Extensor Tendons of the Wrist and Fingers
TFCC Complex: Triangular Fibrocartilage Disc and Ligaments
Nerves: Median Nerve (Carpal Tunnel), Ulnar Nerve (Guyon’s Canal), Radial Nerve
Pulley Systems: A1 Pulley (Trigger Finger), other flexor pulley bands
Bursae: Wrist and thumb extensor tendon sheaths

These precise targets allow us to effectively address pain, inflammation, and mechanical instability with regenerative precision.

Advanced Diagnostic Evaluation

Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of successful, long-term relief. At IOW, we use a comprehensive, personalized diagnostic process to understand the exact cause of your wrist or hand pain, which may include:

Hands-on physical examination and strength testing
Biomechanical analysis of hand, wrist, and elbow function
In-office musculoskeletal ultrasound
Review of prior imaging (X-ray, MRI, EMG)
Diagnostic nerve testing (when needed)
Image-guided diagnostic injections for pain source confirmation

This whole-body, integrative approach ensures that no contributing factor is overlooked especially in complex cases like nerve entrapment or post-surgical pain.

Types of Regenerative Treatments We Offer

We specialize in non-surgical, image-guided injection therapies that activate your body’s natural healing process to repair damaged tissues, reduce inflammation, and restore function. Available wrist and hand treatments include:

Image-Guided Prolotherapy - strengthens ligaments and resolves instability
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections - repairs tendon and soft tissue injuries
Bone Marrow Concentrate (Cellular Therapy) - promotes regeneration of cartilage, bone, and tendons
Nerve Hydrodissection - frees entrapped nerves like the median nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome
Ganglion Cyst Injections - can reduce or resolve cysts without surgery
Joint Injections - targets inflammation in MCP, PIP, DIP, or wrist joints
Tendon and Pulley Injections - especially effective for trigger finger or De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

When Is Surgery Needed?

Most wrist and hand conditions can be treated non-surgically using regenerative therapies especially tendon injuries, ligament sprains, early osteoarthritis, or carpal tunnel syndrome. At IOW, surgery is only considered when:

There’s severe structural damage or complete ligament/tendon rupture
Conservative and regenerative approaches have failed
There is complex post-surgical scarring or joint deformity

Even in these rare cases, regenerative treatments can help support faster recovery, better outcomes, and reduced post-operative pain.

Why Choose IOW for Wrist and Hand Treatment?

Patients choose Interventional Orthopedics of Washington for specialized care that bridges the gap between orthopedic surgery and conservative therapy. Here’s why:

Regenerative Focus: We specialize in minimally invasive biologic treatments
Precision-Based Diagnostics: Advanced imaging and movement evaluation come standard
Whole-Body Perspective: We evaluate how neck, elbow, or posture may be contributing to hand dysfunction
Surgery Avoidance: Our goal is always to restore function naturally
Convenient, In-Office Procedures: All injections are outpatient with no downtime

Wrist & Hand Regenerative Medicine FAQ

Why does my wrist or hand hurt?

Wrist and hand pain often results from overuse, repetitive motions, nerve compression, or injuries to tendons, joints, or ligaments. Even activities like typing, gripping, or lifting can strain delicate structures and lead to chronic pain or stiffness.

What conditions cause chronic wrist or hand pain?

Common causes include carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, trigger finger, ligament sprains, or nerve entrapments. Pain may also arise from previous injuries or post-surgical complications that haven’t fully healed.

How do you find the true source of my wrist or hand pain?

We use a combination of physical exams, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and diagnostic injections to pinpoint the exact tissue or nerve involved. This ensures your treatment targets the true root—not just the symptoms.

Can I avoid wrist or hand surgery?

Yes. Most patients benefit from non-surgical regenerative therapies like PRP, prolotherapy, and nerve hydrodissection. These treatments stimulate your body’s healing process and can restore function without the risks or downtime of surgery.

What regenerative therapies are offered for hand and wrist injuries?

Depending on your diagnosis, we may recommend PRP injections, bone marrow concentrate (BMC), prolotherapy, or hydrodissection for nerve release. We also treat ganglion cysts and joint pain using image-guided precision injections.

Can regenerative treatment help with carpal tunnel syndrome?

Yes. Ultrasound-guided nerve hydrodissection can relieve median nerve compression in carpal tunnel syndrome without surgery. It’s a powerful alternative with less risk, no scarring, and no recovery downtime.

What if I’ve already had surgery on my wrist or hand?

We often help patients manage post-surgical pain, scar tissue, and residual nerve or tendon issues. Regenerative care can support healing, reduce inflammation, and improve long-term outcomes even after prior procedures.