When you have been diagnosed with Kienbock's disease, a disorder of the wrist that causes problems with your hand and wrist due to inadequate blood supply to the lunate bone in the wrist. This disorder can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort as well as problems with your hand function. However, there are treatment options available to you through a hand doctor or an orthopedic specialist. Get to know some of these available options so that you can start experiencing less pain and regaining control over your hand and health going forward.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications

Because the tissue in the lunate bone is damaged and deteriorating due to a lack of blood supply to the bone, the tissues around it in the wrist, as well as in the hand, can become irritated and inflamed. This inflammation can be dealt with through the use of anti-inflammatory medications.

Your doctor will likely first recommend you take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, like ibuprofen, to help relieve pain and swelling. If this does not garner the desired effects, the next step will be to prescribe stronger anti-inflammatory drugs or even try corticosteroid injections in the wrist to get the medication directly to the affected tissues.

Splints or Casts

Immobilizing the wrist and lower arm can sometimes help to alleviate the symptoms, particularly in the early stages of Kienbock's disease progression. Splinting your wrist or putting it in a cast can help to prevent the blood vessels leading to the wrist to become further damaged or impeded.

By ensuring a clear path for blood flow, you will experience reduced pain and fewer symptoms while the wrist is immobilized and even after the fact. It is possible to slow disease progression of Kienbock's disease through the immobilization process.

Surgical Interventions

Surgery may also be necessary in the treatment of Kienbock's disease. There are numerous different surgical procedures that your orthopedic specialist may try to help relieve your symptoms. One of those options is to remove the lunate bone from the wrist completely.

The lunate bone may be removed with or without being replaced. If your surgeon opts to replace the lunate bone, it will be with tendons. Your doctor may also opt for a surgery to level out the joint if one of the primary bones in the arm happens to be longer than the other. This will involve shaving down the problematic bone to prevent the joint from blocking off the blood vessels that feed into the lunate bone.

Now that you know a few of the options available to help you treat your Kienbock's disease, you can be sure that you get the help and care you need to improve how your arm feels and functions. For more information, talk to a professional like Town Center Orthopaedic Associates.