Information for Patients

The hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder joints are some of the most complex joints in the body and it may therefore not be possible to reach a diagnosis of your problem at the first consultation, even with x-rays available. Further advanced imaging techniques such as MRI or CT scans are often required in addition to blood tests and nerve conduction studies to confirm this diagnosis. Once a diagnosis has been reached we will discuss all the treatment options so that we can make a decision together as to which treatment to pursue first.

Surgery is not always the best solution for conditions affecting the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder joints. Specific rehabilitation programmes or injections can treat many conditions successfully and a team of expert physiotherapists and hand therapists are available to achieve the best outcomes before or after surgery have been performed.

Some examples of specific conditions have been listed and the link will provide you with further information.