Wrist injuries are prevalent in the winter months because of slipping on the ice and other sports involving falls. A fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH) can result in a fracture of the scaphoid. The scaphoid bone is located on the thumb side of the wrist and spans across the 2 rows of eight carpal…
Hand and wrist
Do you have pain at the base of your thumb?
Have pain at the base of your thumb? You may have osteoarthritis (OA) at the carpal metacarpal (CMC) joint. OA presents with a wearing down of cartilage between the bones, and can occur over time becoming more prominent as we age. Signs of OA at the CMC joint of the thumb can include pain that…
New Hand Surgeon in Missoula Montana
Dr. Nicholas Beck is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic hand surgeon, with a subspecialty certificate in orthopedic surgery of the hand. He specializes in all injuries and conditions of the upper extremity (elbow, wrist, and hand), which includes nerve entrapment such as carpal tunnel, trigger finger, upper extremity trauma reconstruction, painful arthritis, fractures, and lacerations. He…
Tagged With: carpal tunnel, elbow pain, hand arthritis, hand pain, hand surgeon, thumb pain, trigger finger, wrist pain
Hand Therapy at Missoula Bone & Joint
We are excited to announce that our Hand Therapy Program at Missoula Bone & Joint orthopedic clinic now has two hand therapists: Kristin Biggins, OT, CHT and Theresa Brooke, OT, CHT. Hand therapy is a specialty practice in orthopedics that focuses not only on the hand but can include the entire upper extremity. The overall goal…
A Hand Therapist can help with Hand and Wrist Pain
April is national Occupational Therapy month so we are celebrating this important profession by highlighting our very own Kristin Biggins, OTD, OTR/L, CHT. Kristin joined Missoula Bone & Joint in 2020, bringing years of experience as a Certified Hand Therapist, CHT to our therapy team. She received her MS in Occupational Therapy in 1992 at…
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What does an x-ray show?
Radiographs (x-rays) are the first step in imaging of the injured or painful body part. Your provider can show you the x-ray at the time of your visit, and explain the degenerative changes in your joint, or identify where the fracture is and its severity. Hand X-ray – we take at least two images and…
Filed Under: Fracture care, Hand and wrist, Hip, Knee, Orthopedics, Shoulder, Sports Medicine, Total Joint Replacement
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Hand and Wrist Conditions and Injuries
Hand and Wrist Conditions Wrist injuries, hand disorders, and elbow conditions are common and can cause pain, loss of sensation, loss of movement, and impaired function. Our hand and upper extremity specialists are prepared to treat these problems so that you can return to work or your favorite activities as quickly as possible. Missoula Bone…
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Back doing what I love after surgery
Experienced surgeons in Missoula, Montana Surgery is a big decision no matter what the injury is. With some acute injuries the decision is easier because surgery is the only option for an optimal recovery, for example rotator cuff repair, ACL reconstruction, or a complex bone fracture. Other joint pain may be chronic, which means that…
What is Hand Therapy?
Hand therapy is a specialty practice in orthopedics that focuses not only on the hand but can include the entire upper extremity. The overall goal of hand therapy is to restore as much return of hand/arm use as possible given the patient’s particular condition. The discipline is practiced by occupational and physical therapists. After treating hand and…
Caring for your cast
A bone can break if the external force is greater than the strength of the bone.The most common way to evaluate a fracture is with x-rays, which provide clear images of the bones. A fracture can heal successfully if the ends of the break at the fracture site are realigned and immobilized so that new…
