Appointment with a hand specialist?

I would be happy to advise you!

Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me every 6 weeks live on "Hallo Hessen".
But now enough is indicated ;-)

In order to be able to treat successfully in orthopedics, a thorough examination, diagnosis and a medical history are required.
In our very economic world in particular, there is too little time to thoroughly grasp the complex diseases of orthopedics and thus initiate targeted treatment.
I don't want to join the ranks of "quick knife pullers".
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.

Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.

You can find me at:

• Lumedis - orthopedics
  Kaiserstrasse 14
  60311 Frankfurt am Main

Directly to the online appointment arrangement
Unfortunately, appointments can only be made with private health insurers. I ask for understanding!
Further information about myself can be found at Lumedis - Dr. Nicolas Gumpert

What different wrist orthoses are there?

In the case of wrist orthoses, a distinction is made between those with and without thumb inclusions.

If the thumb is included, it and its joints are supported, but also restricted in movement.
In addition, wrist orthoses differ in terms of processing and the quality of the materials used, which is then also reflected in the different prices.

There are also different adjustment options on the orthosis for the different models on the market.
Wrist orthoses differ from the wrist bandages that are also often used in that they give the joint more stability at the expense of greater restriction of freedom of movement.

In the event of a serious illness or injury to the wrist, due to the wide variety of wrist orthoses, the choice should be left to a trained person or the prescribing doctor.

What does "with permanent inclusion" mean?

If a wrist orthosis with a thumb lock is used, this means that it also encompasses the thumb beyond the wrist and thus stabilizes the small joints between the hand bones and the first phalanx.

A common disease in which a wrist orthosis with a thumb lock is prescribed is so-called rhizarthrosis.
This is a disease of the thumb saddle joint, which is the connection between the wrist and the first metacarpal bone in the area of ​​the thumb.

This joint is required for the basic functions of the thumb.
With rhizarthrosis there is a pain-related restriction of the mobility of the thumb.
A wrist orthosis with a thumb lock stabilizes the joint and alleviates pain.

How does an orthosis work?

An orthosis stabilizes a joint from the outside and thus relieves the body's own supporting elements such as the ligaments.

By restricting mobility, it protects against incorrect or excessive movements and thus further injuries.
In this way, on the one hand, healing after an injury can be supported and, on the other hand, symptoms such as pain when moving the wrist can be alleviated.

A wrist orthosis therefore restricts freedom of action in favor of greater stability.
In comparison, a plaster of paris offers even more stability while completely restricting the freedom of action.

A bandage, on the other hand, allows more mobility, but only a slight stabilization of the joint.
The effect of the wrist orthosis is therefore a good compromise and is often used for various injuries or diseases on the wrist.

Read more on the subject under: Plaster of paris and bandage

Should I also wear an orthosis at night?

In some cases it is advisable to wear a wrist orthosis at night so that stabilization is also ensured when sleeping and there is no further damage due to an unfavorable position or stress, for example when turning in bed.
In other cases, however, it is not necessary to wear the wrist orthosis at night.

If necessary, this should even be filed. The guidelines for when the orthosis should be worn depends on the damage or illness present and is determined by the attending physician.
If in doubt, he should be asked whether the wrist orthosis should also be worn at night.

Can I use it to drive?

In principle, you can drive a car with a wrist orthosis.
The prerequisite, however, is that the orthosis does not restrict you in controlling the vehicle.

It is necessary to be able to grasp and steer the steering wheel safely in spite of the wrist orthosis.
If this is not possible due to an orthosis or the underlying disease or injury to the wrist, you should not drive a car.

In the event of long-term damage to a wrist, a special conversion of the car can be carried out so that you can still drive the car.
You can get advice on this from a medical supply store, for example.

What to watch out for when wearing

When wearing a wrist orthosis, it is essential to ensure that it is correctly applied and that it fits well.
It should be tight enough to support the joint. On the other hand, it shouldn't be so tight that it causes pain.

A tingling sensation or numbness in the hand or fingers may indicate that the wrist brace is too tight or incorrectly fitted.
It is therefore best to have a medical supply store instruct you on the correct installation of the aid.

In addition, it is important to adhere to the wearing time and periods agreed with the treating doctor. In the event of complaints or uncertainties when wearing a wrist orthosis, you should not hesitate to contact us early.

Open questions can usually be clarified in the medical supply store or by the treating doctor.

costs

The costs for a wrist orthosis differ greatly depending on the provider and design and can be roughly between 20 and 70 euros.
You can often find cheap versions in sports shops or department stores.

However, in many cases these are of lower quality. In the event of a serious injury or disease to the wrist, only a professional, high-quality orthosis should be used, even if they are usually more expensive.

In addition, the costs are often lower if you buy the wrist orthosis on the Internet. The advantage of buying them at the local medical supply store, however, is direct advice and you have a contact person for questions or difficulties in use.

If medically justified, most of a prescribed wrist orthosis will be covered by health insurance anyway.

Does the health insurance pay for that?

If the use of a wrist orthosis is medically sensible and justified due to an injury or illness in the area of ​​the wrist, both statutory and private health insurances usually pay most of the costs.

The attending physician prescribes the aid on a prescription that can be redeemed in a medical supply store.
In the case of those with statutory health insurance, a small additional payment is often required by the patient