Frostbite in hands and fingers is a painful injury that we can sometimes get from exposing our skin to freezing temperatures for too long. It happens commonly to people who are stranded outside (for example, if your car breaks down). We've all felt the effects of being outside in the cold weather. Your hands start to feel numb and may even feel painful after a certain point; however, when is it actually frostbite?

by Amar A. Patel, MD — Heat packs or cold packs? This is a question that doctors and therapists often get from patients. Both heat treatments and cold treatments are inexpensive and extremely effective modalities that can help speed up recovery and function when used properly.

As a hand therapist, my goal is to help people return to their previous activities after an injury. Many of my clients enjoy doing yoga and working out at the gym. These activities require good joint motion and tolerance for weight bearing through the hands and wrists. It is frustrating when pain limits participation in certain yoga poses or gym exercises. Or worse, people feel they are unable to return to these activities at all.