An orthopedic surgeon can evaluate conditions involving the bones, joints, tendons, nerves, and other musculoskeletal structures of the hand and wrist. Seeing an orthopedic surgeon does not automatically mean you need surgery.
Hand & Wrist Treatment in Tampa, FL
Board-certified orthopedic surgeon evaluating and treating carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tendonitis, fractures, and other causes of hand and wrist pain in Tampa, Florida.
Hand & Wrist Care in Tampa
SunCare Orthopaedics provides orthopedic evaluation and treatment for hand and wrist problems in Tampa, Florida, including carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tendonitis, and fractures. Phillip A. Pullen, DO evaluates your symptoms, personally reviews available imaging, and considers nonsurgical treatment first when appropriate, with surgery discussed when it becomes the right treatment option.
WHEN TO GET YOUR HAND OR WRIST CHECKED
Small hand and wrist problems can have a big effect on everyday life.
Typing, driving, opening a jar, gripping a tool, lifting a bag, buttoning a shirt, or simply sleeping comfortably can become difficult when pain or nerve symptoms affect your hand.
Not every problem produces the same symptoms. Numbness and tingling suggest a different pattern than a finger that catches, a painful tendon, or a wrist injured in a fall.
An orthopedic evaluation helps determine which structure is involved before deciding what treatment makes sense.
01
Numbness or tingling in the hand
Tingling, numbness, or a pins-and-needles sensation, especially when it repeatedly affects specific fingers or wakes you at night, may suggest nerve involvement.
02
Grip weakness or dropping objects
Difficulty gripping, pinching, turning a key, or holding objects can occur when pain, tendon problems, nerve compression, or injury affects hand function.
03
A finger that catches or locks
A finger or thumb that clicks, catches, feels stiff, or temporarily locks during bending and straightening may need evaluation for a tendon problem such as trigger finger.
04
Wrist pain with movement or activity
Pain during gripping, lifting, twisting, or repetitive hand use can arise from several structures, including tendons and the wrist joint.
05
Pain or swelling after an injury
A fall, direct blow, sports injury, or other trauma can cause a hand or wrist fracture or another injury that requires examination and appropriate imaging.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SYMPTOMS
Different hand and wrist symptoms can point to very different problems.
Pain location matters, but so do numbness, finger motion, weakness, swelling, injury history, and which activities reproduce the symptoms.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Compression of the median nerve at the wrist can cause numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness in the hand. Symptoms may become particularly noticeable at night or during activities that keep the wrist in certain positions.
Trigger Finger
Trigger finger can interfere with smooth movement of a finger or thumb and may produce stiffness, clicking, catching, tenderness, or locking during motion.
Hand & Wrist Tendonitis
Irritated tendons can cause pain with gripping, lifting, repetitive movement, or specific wrist and hand positions. Treatment depends on which tendon is involved and how the symptoms affect function.
Hand & Wrist Fractures
Fractures may occur after a fall, sports injury, direct impact, or other trauma. Pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, deformity, and difficulty using the hand or wrist can occur depending on the injury.
Pain is only one part of the examination.
Sensation, strength, motion, tenderness, swelling, finger movement, and injury history can help identify the problem.
HAND & WRIST EVALUATION
Treatment begins by determining whether the problem involves a nerve, tendon, bone, or joint.
Similar-looking hand symptoms can require very different treatment.
At SunCare Orthopaedics, Dr. Pullen reviews when symptoms started, whether an injury occurred, which fingers are affected, what movements make the problem worse, and how symptoms are affecting work and everyday activities.
The examination may include assessment of tenderness, swelling, finger and wrist motion, strength, sensation, and other findings relevant to the suspected condition.
Dr. Pullen personally reviews available imaging. If additional X-rays or other testing is needed, he explains why it is being recommended and what information it is expected to provide.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Hand and wrist care built around function
The goal is not only to reduce discomfort. Your treatment plan should also consider sensation, movement, strength, grip, and your ability to use the hand normally.
Identify the Structure Involved
The evaluation helps distinguish nerve symptoms from tendon problems, fractures, and other orthopedic causes.
Sensation & Strength Matter
Numbness, tingling, grip strength, finger control, and other functional changes help guide the evaluation.
Personal Imaging Review
Dr. Pullen personally reviews available imaging and explains when additional imaging is appropriate.
Conservative Care First
Bracing, activity modification, therapy, injections, and other nonsurgical options are considered when appropriate.
A Diagnosis You Understand
Dr. Pullen explains what appears to be causing the symptoms and why a particular treatment is being recommended.
Continuity After Surgery
When surgery is required, the same surgeon who performs your operation sees you at postoperative visits.
YOUR HAND & WRIST EVALUATION
From symptoms to a clear treatment plan
The process connects your symptom pattern, physical examination, function, injury history, and available imaging before treatment is selected.
STEP 1
Your History
Discuss pain, numbness, weakness, locking, injuries, repetitive activities, previous treatment, and how the problem affects daily life.
STEP 2
Hand & Wrist Exam
Dr. Pullen evaluates motion, tenderness, swelling, sensation, strength, and findings relevant to the suspected condition.
STEP 3
Imaging or Testing
Available imaging is personally reviewed and additional testing is considered when it can provide useful diagnostic information.
STEP 4
Diagnosis
The findings are explained in plain language so you understand what appears to be causing the symptoms.
STEP 5
Treatment Plan
Nonsurgical treatment is considered first when appropriate, with surgery discussed when it becomes the better treatment option.
HAND & WRIST TREATMENT OPTIONS
Treatment should match the condition, not just the symptom.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tendonitis, and a fracture do not have the same treatment path. The diagnosis determines whether conservative care or surgery is appropriate.
CONSERVATIVE CARE
Nonsurgical Hand & Wrist Treatment
When nonsurgical treatment has a reasonable chance of helping, it may be recommended before surgery is considered.
Activity modification
Bracing or support when appropriate
Therapy coordination
Injections when clinically appropriate
Monitoring sensation, strength, motion, and function
WHEN APPROPRIATE
Surgical Hand & Wrist Treatment
Surgery may be discussed when the underlying condition cannot be adequately addressed with conservative care or when the nature of an injury requires surgical treatment.
Why surgery is being considered
What problem the procedure is intended to address
What recovery may involve
Realistic expectations
Postoperative follow-up with Dr. Pullen
Numbness is not the same as hand pain.
The pattern of affected fingers, nighttime symptoms, sensation, and strength can help determine whether a nerve may be involved.
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
When tingling, numbness, or weakness may be coming from the wrist
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when the median nerve is compressed as it travels through the carpal tunnel in the wrist.
Symptoms can include numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hand. Some people first notice the problem at night, while driving, or during activities that keep the hand and wrist in one position.
Evaluation is important because not every numb or painful hand has carpal tunnel syndrome. The symptom pattern, examination, and additional testing when appropriate help determine the diagnosis.
- Numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers
- Symptoms that become noticeable at night
- Hand weakness or reduced grip
- Difficulty with small objects or fine hand tasks
- Symptoms aggravated by certain wrist positions
- Persistent symptoms despite conservative measures
TREATMENT COSTS
What affects the cost of hand and wrist treatment?
There is no single price for treating hand or wrist symptoms because carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, trigger finger, and fractures can require very different care.
Insurance deductibles, copays, coinsurance, network requirements, and authorization rules may also affect out-of-pocket cost.
Orthopedic Evaluation
The initial examination helps establish the likely diagnosis and determines whether imaging or additional testing is appropriate.
Imaging or Diagnostic Testing
X-rays or other testing can affect cost when additional diagnostic information is needed.
Conservative Treatment
Bracing, therapy, injections, and other nonsurgical treatments may create different costs depending on the condition and plan.
Surgical Treatment
When surgery is appropriate, the procedure, facility, anesthesia, postoperative care, and related services can influence total cost.
Insurance Benefits
Coverage and patient responsibility vary according to the individual insurance plan.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT LEVEL OF CARE
When does an orthopedic hand and wrist evaluation make sense?
An orthopedic evaluation becomes especially useful when symptoms persist, function is changing, numbness or weakness is present, or an injury may have damaged a bone or other structure.
| CARE NEED | SUNCARE ORTHOPAEDICS | SELF-DIRECTED CARE | WALK-IN / URGENT CARE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary goal | Identify the orthopedic cause and create a treatment plan | Manage minor short-term symptoms | Evaluate an acute injury or urgent concern |
| Numbness or tingling evaluation | Symptom pattern, sensation, strength, and relevant examination findings are evaluated | Difficult to determine the cause without examination | May identify the need for specialty follow-up |
| Suspected fracture | Orthopedic examination and imaging review | Cannot reliably determine fracture severity | Often appropriate for the initial evaluation of an acute injury |
| Persistent tendon or finger problem | Diagnosis and treatment selected according to the affected structure | Usually based on symptom response alone | May provide short-term care or referral |
| Conservative treatment planning | Built around the diagnosis | Limited without a confirmed cause | Scope depends on the facility |
| Surgical decision-making | Discussed when surgery becomes appropriate | Not available | Typically requires orthopedic follow-up |
Some hand and wrist injuries should not wait for a routine appointment.
Seek prompt medical evaluation after significant trauma when there is an obvious deformity, an open wound over a suspected fracture, severe swelling, loss of normal feeling, inability to move the fingers normally, or changes in hand color or circulation.
YOUR ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
Find out what is affecting your hand or wrist function.
SunCare Orthopaedics provides hand and wrist evaluation and treatment from its Tampa office on West Hillsborough Avenue.
Dr. Phillip A. Pullen reviews your history, symptoms, injury history, hand function, examination findings, and available imaging before explaining the diagnosis and reasonable treatment options.
Nonsurgical care is considered first when appropriate. If surgery becomes the better option, Dr. Pullen explains the procedure, recovery, and realistic expectations before you decide.
Phillip A. Pullen, DO
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
CLINIC
SunCare Orthopaedics
PHONE
TAMPA OFFICE
6911 Pistol Range Rd, Suite 103
Tampa, FL 33635
OFFICE HOURS
Monday to Friday
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
COMMON QUESTIONS
Hand & Wrist FAQs
General information about hand and wrist evaluation and treatment at SunCare Orthopaedics in Tampa. Individual treatment recommendations depend on your diagnosis and orthopedic evaluation.
SunCare Orthopaedics evaluates and treats hand and wrist conditions including carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tendonitis, fractures, and other orthopedic causes of hand or wrist pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist. Symptoms may include numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, or difficulty with hand function.
Symptoms can include numbness or tingling in the hand and fingers, nighttime symptoms, pain, reduced grip, weakness, or difficulty with small objects. Other nerve conditions can cause similar symptoms, so examination is important.
No. Treatment depends on symptom severity, examination findings, hand function, and response to appropriate conservative care. Surgery may be discussed when nonsurgical treatment is not sufficient or when the clinical situation makes surgical treatment appropriate.
Trigger finger is a tendon-related condition that can interfere with smooth finger or thumb movement. Symptoms may include stiffness, tenderness, clicking, catching, or locking when bending or straightening the finger.
Yes. Tendons cross the wrist and help control hand and finger movement. When a tendon becomes irritated or injured, certain movements, gripping, lifting, or repetitive activities may become painful.
A wrist fracture can cause pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, difficulty moving the wrist, and sometimes deformity after an injury. Symptoms alone cannot reliably determine whether a bone is broken, so examination and imaging may be needed.
Not every hand or wrist problem requires an X-ray. Imaging needs depend on your symptoms, injury history, examination findings, and the suspected condition. Dr. Pullen explains why imaging is recommended when it is needed.
Yes. Numbness or tingling in the hand can occur for different reasons and does not automatically mean carpal tunnel syndrome. The distribution of symptoms and examination findings help determine whether the wrist or another location may be involved.
Depending on the diagnosis, nonsurgical treatment may include activity modification, bracing, physical therapy coordination, injections, and other conservative measures. Not every option is appropriate for every condition.
Evaluation may be appropriate when pain or swelling persists, normal motion is limited, you cannot use the hand normally, or a fracture or other structural injury is suspected. Major trauma, deformity, open injuries, or circulation problems require more urgent medical attention.
Cost depends on the diagnosis and care required and may include the orthopedic evaluation, imaging or diagnostic testing, bracing, therapy, injections, or surgery when appropriate. Insurance benefits may also affect out-of-pocket costs.
SunCare Orthopaedics is located at 8370 W Hillsborough Ave, Suite 103, Tampa, FL 33615. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (813) 515-0840 to schedule a hand and wrist evaluation.
