Elbow, Wrist & Hand Pain · Non-Surgical Care · Glastonbury, CT
Chronic overuse and joint pain in the elbow, wrist, and hand are evaluated with the same evidence-first approach used since 2007 — starting with live ultrasound diagnosis and treatment matched to the joint you actually have not the one an X-ray report describes.
Quick answer
Elbow, wrist, and hand pain is most often treated without surgery: activity and ergonomic modification and targeted therapy first, then, when conservative care isn't enough, ultrasound-guided orthobiologic injections such as PRP, BMA, or MFAT, or hydrodissection for nerve entrapment. Candidacy depends on what live ultrasound actually shows — not age or X-ray severity alone. Surgery remains the right answer for complete tendon ruptures, severe nerve compression with muscle wasting, and end-stage joint destruction.
Most common conditions
Tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, thumb arthritis
Diagnosis method
Live, dynamic ultrasound examination
Non-surgical options
PRP, BMA, MFAT, hydrodissection, prolotherapy
Return to activity
Usually within days; depends on treatment
First results
Weeks 4 to 16, depending on treatment
Who treats you
Dr. Tortland personally, every visit
When surgery is right
Complete tendon rupture or severe nerve compression
Insurance
Not covered; but HSA / FSA applicable
Definition
And why the right diagnosis matters more than the treatment you pick.
Elbow, wrist, and hand pain has many different sources — tendon overload at the elbow, a compressed nerve at the wrist, thumb or finger joint arthritis, or a ligament sprain. Two patients with similar symptoms can have very different problems underneath. Confirming which structure is actually failing on live ultrasound, rather than assuming from symptoms alone, is the starting point for any treatment plan.
Not every joint or tendon that hurts needs an injection, and not every injection is appropriate for every case. Whether conservative care, PRP, a cellular treatment like BMA or MFAT, hydrodissection, or a referral for surgery is the right next step depends on what's actually causing the pain, its severity, and the patient's own goals.
Indications
The elbow, wrist, and hand conditions seen most often in this practice, treated without surgery whenever the evidence and the ultrasound findings support it.
Step by step
01
Every evaluation starts with a dynamic ultrasound examination of the tendon, joint, or nerve involved so the actual pain generator is identified — not assumed from an X-ray or symptoms alone.
02
X-ray and, when indicated, MRI or nerve conduction studies are reviewed alongside the ultrasound findings to confirm severity and to rule out anything that wouldn't respond to injection treatment.
03
Based on the diagnosis and severity, the right non-surgical option is selected — PRP for mild to moderate tendinopathy and arthritis, hydrodissection for nerve entrapment, BMA or MFAT for more advanced cases, or a referral to a trusted surgeon when the case is beyond what injection treatment can help.
04
When PRP, BMA, or MFAT is the right next step, it's prepared in an on-site laboratory the same visit and customized to the patient's age, injury, and baseline platelet or cell count never a preset commercial kit. Dr. Tortland's process derivessignificantly higher concentration than most standard commercial kits produce.
05
The injection is placed under live ultrasound guidance into the exact structure at fault — the tendon origin, the joint, or directly around the compressed nerve for hydrodissection.
06
You leave with a written loading schedule specific to your elbow, wrist, or hand and the treatment given. Expect two to five days of soreness after an injection — that response is part of the treatment working. No anti-inflammatories for two weeks.
07
Follow-up at six to ten weeks with repeat ultrasound, and imaging when appropriate, to compare the tissue's appearance and your symptoms against baseline and decide on next steps.
Candidacy
Comparison
Frequently asked
Sources
01
Mulvaney SW, Tortland PD, Shiple B, Curtis K. Regenerative medicine options for chronic musculoskeletal conditions: a review of the literature. Endurance and Sports Medicine. 2018.
**Medical Disclaimer:** Information on this page is provided for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, guarantee a particular outcome, or establish a physician-patient relationship. Treatment suitability and expected results vary by patient and depend on individual clinical circumstances and the available scientific evidence. The inclusion of a procedure, treatment, or therapy on this website does not mean that it is appropriate for every patient, effective for every condition, superior to other treatment options, or guaranteed to produce a particular result. Orthobiologic procedures discussed on this website are medical procedures performed under the practice of medicine. The FDA regulatory status of any particular product, device, or use may vary, and FDA approval or clearance should not be inferred unless specifically stated. Dr. Tortland reports no financial interest in the products or devices described on this page. Individual results vary, and treatment decisions require an appropriate clinical evaluation, including an in-person examination when indicated.
Candidacy is determined on ultrasound, not over the phone. Bring your imaging and get an honest answer about your knee in one visit.