Better Health. At Your Fingertips.

NICK GOLINVAUX, MD March 9, 2024 Hi Reader, How is your week going? So far, I've had a productive one: I learned that Taylor Swift and poet Emily Dickinson are related. I accepted a generous invitation to be on an upcoming episode of an orthopedic surgery podcast (more details soon!). Due to popular demand, I wrote about upper extremity safety in the gym. If you workout regularly, you've surely had a hand or upper extremity twinge from time to time. It can be difficult to know...was that just...

SUBSCRIBE | SHOP | ARCHIVE Written by Dr. Nick Golinvaux Good morning. A thumb sprain might sound minor, but it can take away your ability to perform the simplest daily tasks. Remember, it's that long thumb of ours that makes us a human, not a monkey. The truth is, a torn thumb ligament (often called “skier’s thumb”) isn’t just a skier’s problem — it can happen to anyone after a fall or sudden twist. Left untreated, it can rob you of your grip strength for life. This week's guide breaks down...

SUBSCRIBE | SHOP | ARCHIVE Written by Dr. Nick Golinvaux Good morning. Pregnancy changes just about everything — sleep, energy, posture, and yes, even your hands and wrists. Many expectant mothers are initially surprised when hand pain, swelling, or tingling set in, only to learn these symptoms are unfortunately extremely common. From carpal tunnel syndrome to De Quervain’s tendinitis, the causes are rooted in the same hormonal and physical changes shaping the rest of the body. The good news?...

SUBSCRIBE | SHOP | ARCHIVE Written by Dr. Nick Golinvaux Good morning. Tennis elbow might hog the spotlight, but there’s another form of elbow pain that can be just as miserable — only this one hides on the inside of your arm. “Golfer’s elbow,” despite the name, doesn’t require a country club membership. It can strike anyone whose day involves gripping, twisting, or lifting, from weekend gardeners to construction workers. And once it shows up, even simple tasks like shaking hands, pouring...

SUBSCRIBE | SHOP | ARCHIVE Written by Dr. Nick Golinvaux Good morning. If you’ve seen About Time, Love Actually, or Pirates of the Caribbean, you’ve seen Dupuytren’s. Actor Bill Nighy has it in both hands — his ring and small fingers are stuck in a flexed position, and his palms show the telltale cords of the disease. It’s a striking, even bizarre condition, and it’s far more common than you might think. Credit: Martin Smith, Creative Commons license About 1 in 20 people will develop some...

SUBSCRIBE | SHOP | ARCHIVE Written by Dr. Nick Golinvaux Good morning. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the second most common condition I treat — but the list of non-surgical options that actually work is surprisingly short. So far this year, I’ve performed 57 carpal tunnel release surgeries. But there’s another group of patients who avoided my scalpel entirely — not because their symptoms weren’t real, but because they found success with a few simple, proven at-home strategies. This week’s article...

SUBSCRIBE | SHOP | ARCHIVE Written by Dr. Nick Golinvaux Good morning. Inflammation is one of the body’s oldest survival tools — a rapid-fire defense system that heals wounds and fights invaders. But in modern life, that same system can easily get stuck in overdrive. Stress, processed foods, and sleepless nights keep it firing even when there’s no real threat, slowly wearing down our joints, tendons, and overall health. This week’s article explains how inflammation works, why it’s both friend...

SUBSCRIBE | SHOP | ARCHIVE Written by Dr. Nick Golinvaux Good morning. Halloween is supposed to be scary for the right reasons — ghosts, goblins, and haunted houses. Not because you ended up in the ER with a knife in your palm. Every October, hand surgeons like me see a wave of pumpkin carving injuries. Pumpkins are awkward: slippery on the inside, tough on the outside, and just about a perfect recipe for that knife slip. Here’s how to keep your Halloween festive — and hospital-free. Read It...

SUBSCRIBE | SHOP | ARCHIVE Written by Dr. Nick Golinvaux Good morning. Just about every week, I’m asked the same question: What’s the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis? If you’ve ever wondered why your joints ache — and whether it’s simply “getting older” or something entirely different — you’re not alone. These two conditions may both wear down cartilage, but their causes, treatments, and long-term outlooks couldn’t be more different. Read It Here ↗ **This newsletter...