If your symptoms are severe or if your treatment has not been effective, you and your healthcare provider may decide that you need a referral to a hand and wrist surgeon. Not everyone with hand and wrist osteoarthritis needs to see a specialist.
You can find out more about the referral criteria for a specialist by asking your healthcare provider.
Ask your healthcare provider any questions you may have about surgery, like what to expect and what your recovery might look like. You can use this information to support your decision about whether you are interested in exploring surgery or not.
It is important that you continue your treatment such as rest and splinting while waiting to see a specialist.
When you see the specialist, they will discuss your health concerns, examine your hands, and discuss treatment options with you. They may also ask you to do more tests.
Hand and Wrist Osteoarthritis Pathway
Download or print the
full patient pathway (PDF) and
summary (one-page PDF) to learn more about how to manage and treat osteoarthritis in the hand and wrist.
Patient Pathway 
Summary
