Common hand & wrist concerns we treat
- Pain that limits walking, lifting, or sleep
- Stiffness, swelling, or reduced range of motion
- Sports injuries — acute or overuse
- Arthritis or post-traumatic joint changes
- Conditions other doctors couldn't resolve
Expert Hand and Wrist Specialists serving the Greater Los Angeles Area
Every day, you rely on your hands to support many critical functions and activities. When hand and wrist pain, numbness, or loss of function gets in the way, it can affect every part of your life.
Live · Now Accepting
Experts in hand & wrist care.
Surgical and non-surgical options at LAOSS.
15+
Years caring
Same-day appointments
Often available
★★★★★
4.9 · 7,500+ reviews
What sets LAOSS apart
- Same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles–area offices
- On-site imaging; PT coordinated with your in-network provider
- Conservative-first care, surgery only when needed
- Board-certified specialists, not generalists
Key takeaways
- Hand and wrist conditions include carpal tunnel, trigger finger, ganglion cysts, fractures, and arthritis.
- Many hand procedures at LAOSS are done wide-awake — local anesthesia, no IV, same-hour home.
- Conservative care (splinting, injections, PT with your in-network provider) is the first option for most cases.
- Same-day or next-day appointments for acute hand and wrist injuries.
Overview
What is hand and wrist pain?
Hand and wrist pain interrupts everything — typing, lifting, opening jars, gripping a steering wheel. The hand is a precision tool of 27 bones, 30+ joints, and dozens of tendons and ligaments, so even small problems can have outsized effects on daily life.
The most common hand and wrist diagnoses we treat are carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, de Quervain's tenosynovitis, thumb (CMC) arthritis, ganglion cysts, distal radius fractures, scaphoid fractures, and TFCC injuries of the wrist.
Most early hand and wrist problems improve with conservative care — splinting, targeted injections, hand-therapy with your in-network provider, and activity changes. When surgery is needed, our hand surgeons offer carpal tunnel release, trigger-finger release, CMC arthroplasty, fracture fixation, and wrist arthroscopy — most as same-day outpatient procedures, many under our wide-awake (WALANT) anesthesia program.
Patient education
Watch: Anatomy of the Hand
Your hands are complex and versatile. They're strong and nimble, and can do very delicate movements. Let's look at the main structures of your hands so we can see how they do all the things they do.
Animations licensed from ViewMedica · Swarm Interactive
Anatomy of the hand & wrist — carpal bones, median nerve, and the long tendons that drive your fingers.
Anatomy
Inside the hand & wrist.
Your hand and wrist combine fine motor control with surprising load-bearing capacity. Tendons, nerves, and small bones all need to work together — when one is irritated or compressed, dexterity and grip strength suffer.
Self-orient
When hand & wrist pain shows up.
Symptoms
Common symptoms
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, which also affects the elbow
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis (pain near the thumb side of the wrist)
- Trigger Finger (locking or catching of a finger or thumb
- TFCC Tears (Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex injuries affecting wrist stability)
- Osteoarthritis of the Hand and Wrist
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Causes
Common causes
- Nerve compression from disc, joint, or soft-tissue swelling
- Sudden injuries from sports, falls, or twisting movements
- Overuse from running, jumping, or repetitive motion
- High-impact trauma from accidents, falls, or contact sports
Diagnostics
How We Diagnose Hand and Wrist Pain and Injuries
Hand and wrist pain can be frustrating, especially when the cause isn’t obvious. From numbness and aching joints to a sudden loss of strength, Los Angeles Orthopedic Surgery Specialists is here to help you get clear answers and a personalized treatment plan.
Our hand and wrist specialists are trained to evaluate and treat conditions affecting the bones, joints, tendons, nerves, and soft tissues of this upper extremity. We use a thorough and efficient diagnostic process designed to give you comprehensive answers quickly (and often in a single visit).
Here’s what to expect during your evaluation:
As a small-practice group, we make access to care easier with same-day appointments and real communication with your provider. Whether it’s carpal tunnel, a wrist fracture, or something less common, we’ll help you understand the issue and the best path forward.
If you’re ready to learn more about and treat the underlying causes of your hand and wrist pain, schedule a hand and wrist evaluation today to get started!
Your care team
Meet Our Orthopedic Hand and Wrist Specialists
When it comes to hand and wrist care, experience matters. At LAOSS, you’ll be seen by providers who specialize in diagnosing and treating upper extremity conditions, combining their advanced training with a patient-first approach.
Our team includes fellowship-trained orthopedic hand and wrist surgeons known across the Los Angeles area for expertise in complex hand, wrist, and elbow procedures. Whether you need non-surgical treatment or are considering a procedure, you’ll be in trusted hands with our experienced physicians.
Specialists
Meet your hand & wrist specialists.
About this care
Hand and Wrist Procedures to Relieve Pain and Restore Function
When pain, stiffness, or weakness in your hand or wrist starts affecting your daily life, it’s time to consider treatment options that truly work. Our hand and wrist specialists offer a full range of procedures, both non-surgical and surgical, tailored to help you move comfortably and confidently again.
Our approach is centered around you: your diagnosis, your goals, and your lifestyle. Whether you’re managing arthritis, recovering from a traumatic injury, or seeking relief from nerve compression, we’ll match you with the right care at the right time
Non-Surgical Treatment for Hand and Wrist Pain
- Steroid injections for inflammation due to carpal tunnel, arthritis, or tendinitis
- PRP injections (when appropriate) to support healing in damaged tendons or soft tissue
- Splinting & bracing for conditions like trigger finger, De Quervain’s, or mild wrist sprains
- Casting for stable, non-displaced fractures of the hand, wrist, or fingers
- Physical therapy to restore movement, rebuild strength, and support post-op or non-surgical recovery
Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
When hand or wrist conditions require surgery, our team makes sure you feel informed, supported, and confident every step of the way. We offer a range of minimally invasive procedures, like wrist arthroscopy and nerve decompression, designed to restore function with less downtime and faster recovery.
Surgical Preparation & Anesthesia
- Pre-operative evaluations to plan your procedure and ensure you’re ready for surgery
- Local or regional anesthesia for targeted pain control during hand and wrist procedures
Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
- Wrist arthroscopy to diagnose and treat joint issues like TFCC tears or cartilage damage with minimal downtime
- Trigger finger release to restore smooth finger movement with a small incision
- De Quervain’s release to relieve pain and swelling on the thumb side of the wrist
Outpatient Orthopedic Surgeries
- Carpal tunnel release to relieve pressure on the median nerve and restore sensation and hand function
- Tendon repair or transfer surgery to restore movement after tendon injury or degeneration
- Fracture repair and fixation for complex or displaced hand and wrist fractures
- Cyst or mass removal for ganglion cysts and other growths causing pain or limitation
Every procedure is overseen by experienced, board-certified orthopedic hand and wrist surgeons, ensuring a continuum of care from first consultation to full recovery.
Explore your treatment options with a specialist who truly listens. Call or schedule today.
About this care
Start Your Hand and Wrist Recovery with Los Angeles Orthopedic Surgery Specialists
You don’t have to live with hand or wrist pain! If you’re experiencing tingling in your fingers, recovering from an injury, or experiencing any form of hand and wrist pain or discomfort, LAOSS can help you get back to feeling like yourself again.
With same-day appointments, expert hand and wrist care is just a call or click away. From diagnosis and imaging to treatment and recovery, everything you need is available across our LAOSS locations and delivered by a team that truly listens.
Our fellowship-trained hand and wrist team brings advanced surgical expertise and years of experience to patients across Los Angeles. Whether you’re dealing with a chronic condition or a sudden injury, you’ll receive precise, personalized care every step of the way.
We proudly serve patients at multiple convenient locations throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area, making it easy to access top-tier orthopedic care close to home.
Call or schedule online today to start your recovery with expert hand and wrist care. Visit your nearest LAOSS location and get the answers you need, without the wait.
Insurance We Accept
Surgeon expertise
Why experience matters.
Why experience matters
Hand & Wrist care is highly technique-dependent. Volume, training, and judgment together determine the outcome you actually feel six months later.
- Precise diagnosis from imaging and exam
- Conservative-first care that avoids unnecessary surgery
- Surgical technique refined over thousands of cases
- On-site imaging + coordinated PT through your in-network provider
The LAOSS approach
Our hand & wrist specialists move stepwise — start with the least-invasive option that fits your situation, escalate only when it doesn't.
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- PT coordinated in your insurance network
- Board-certified surgeons performing the procedures themselves
- Direct access to your specialist between visits
Candidacy
Am I a candidate?
If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with a hand & wrist specialist is the next step.
You may be
You may be a candidate if
These signs typically point toward an in-person evaluation with a hand & wrist specialist.
- Pain or stiffness in the hand & wrist that lasts more than a few days
- Swelling, instability, or noticeable change in function
- Symptoms that limit walking, lifting, sleep, or work
- Previous treatment that didn't fully resolve the problem
- Imaging or exam findings that suggest an underlying issue
Evaluation
What evaluation includes
Your first visit is built to give you an answer the same day, not just another referral.
- Detailed history — onset, mechanism, what makes it better or worse
- Hands-on exam focused on the affected joint or region
- On-site imaging at most offices (X-ray, ultrasound)
- Clear plan with options ranging from conservative to surgical
- Same-day or next-day scheduling for any follow-up tests
ImportantSeek urgent evaluation for sudden severe pain, numbness, progressive weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, or any sign of infection (fever, increasing redness or swelling).
Recovery
Your hand & wrist recovery roadmap.
Recovery is rarely a straight line — but a clear plan with measurable milestones makes the path predictable.
01Days 0–14
Right after care
In the first two weeks we focus on protecting the hand & wrist, calming inflammation, and restoring basic motion.
- Activity modification with clear do/don't guidance
- Ice, elevation, and pain control as needed
- Gentle range-of-motion within safe limits
- Follow-up scheduled to track healing
02Weeks 2–8
Rehabilitation
Targeted physical therapy rebuilds strength, mobility, and confidence in the hand & wrist.
- Progressive strengthening and neuromuscular work
- Manual therapy and soft-tissue treatment
- Sport- or job-specific movement re-training
- Coordinated PT through your in-network provider
03Months 2+
Long-term care
Once function is restored, the focus shifts to keeping you there — and catching any recurrence early.
- Return-to-activity plan with measured benchmarks
- Home program tailored to your sport or job
- Maintenance visits or imaging if symptoms change
- Direct line back to your specialist if needed
Risks & considerations
What to weigh before you decide.
We talk through the risks and benefits with every patient — informed consent is a conversation, not a form.
General
General considerations
Every orthopedic intervention carries a small set of standard risks. We screen, prepare, and monitor for these on every patient.
- Infection (rare with modern technique and prophylaxis)
- Bleeding or bruising at the treatment site
- Reaction to anesthesia or medications
- Need for additional procedures in some cases
Specific
Hand & Wrist-specific considerations
Some risks are tied to the structures we're treating in the hand & wrist. We discuss these in detail at your visit so you can weigh them against the benefits.
- Temporary stiffness or weakness during recovery
- Incomplete pain relief in a small percentage of cases
- Nerve or vessel irritation near the treatment area
- Need for follow-up therapy to fully restore function
Patient reviews
What patients say about us.
★★★★★4.97,500+ Google reviews
Dr. Pelton is the best. He listens, takes his time, and actually explains things in a way I can understand. Highly recommend.
Marisol Hernandez
East LA, CA · 12 March 2025
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Hand and Wrist Care
- Start with the RICE treatment method: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. These steps can reduce swelling and discomfort in the short term. If symptoms persist beyond a few days, or if pain, weakness, or numbness worsen, it’s important to see a hand and wrist specialist for a proper diagnosis.
- If your pain lasts more than a few days, limits your grip strength or mobility, or includes numbness or tingling, it’s time to consult an orthopedic specialist. Early diagnosis can prevent long-term complications.
- Surgery is typically considered after non-surgical options, like physical therapy, bracing, or injections, have not provided enough relief. Your provider will explain imaging results and walk you through treatment options, including whether surgery is necessary.
- Keep your wrists in a neutral position (not bent up or down), with your keyboard and mouse at elbow height. Use an ergonomic chair and consider a split keyboard or cushioned mouse pad. If discomfort continues, our team can evaluate and recommend personalized strategies.
Ready when you are
Don't wait on pain.
Book a visit with a hand & wrist specialist at any of our eight Los Angeles–area offices.
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21 specialists · 8 offices
Greater Los Angeles
On-site X-raySame visit
Most insurers acceptedIn-network