Learn which summer hand injuries need emergency care, when to seek treatment and how to manage common hand pain at home.
Published July 12, 2026
Contributed by: Adrienne Lee, MD / Division Director, Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
Summer Hand Injuries: When to Seek Care
Many people in Northeast Ohio spend their summer days outside—gardening, mowing the lawn or working on home projects. These activities can be fun. But they can also hurt your hands if you are not careful.
There are two main types, according to Adrienne Lee, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at MetroHealth who specializes in hand injuries.
“There’s the urgent emergency, which is an acute injury, where you get your finger cut, or a firework explodes,” she explains. “And then there’s the more tendonitis-type injuries from repetitive motions, such as gripping or squeezing.”
Hand Injuries that Require Emergency Care
Some hand injuries require treatment in the Emergency Department. During the summer, Dr. Lee sees the most injuries from people using:
- Fireworks
- Lawn mowers
- Table saws
These tools can cause serious injuries to your fingers or hands. That’s why safety is so important. Fireworks can cause severe burns and blast injuries. See Fireworks Safety to learn how to keep your family safe when celebrating.
Less Urgent but Common Hand Injuries
Other hand injuries may need treatment but usually don’t require emergency care. These injuries can happen when you repeat the same motion over and over.
Common examples include:
- Tendonitis in the hand or wrist
- Thumb or hand arthritis
- Trigger finger
“In Northeast Ohio, we have a lot of patients working in gardens and flower beds. They may feel swelling and pain when lifting, squeezing or pulling objects,” says Dr. Lee. “With trigger finger, you may get swelling and pain in the palm, and the finger gets locked or stuck down.”
Ways to Treat Hand Pain at Home
Depending on your symptoms, you may want to start with home treatment. For overuse injuries, such as tendonitis, Dr. Lee recommends:
- Rest
- Ice
- Elevation
- Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen
- A brace if you need one
If your hand is not getting better after a few weeks, it’s time to see a provider—especially if the pain is affecting your daily life.
When to Get Medical Care
If you have a deep cut, severe bleeding or a serious injury, go to the Emergency Department right away. It’s important to have a provider evaluate care for you as soon as possible in case you need surgery.
“At MetroHealth, we have a Level I Adult Trauma Center,” says Dr. Lee. “Outside hospitals sometimes send us cases because we have hand and upper extremity specialists.”
For hand injuries that cause swelling, aching or pain that hasn’t improved with at-home treatment, you have several options:
- Call your primary care provider
- Visit a MetroHealth Express Care
- Schedule a Virtual Urgent Care visit
- Schedule with a specialist at the MetroHealth Hand and Upper Extremity Center
What to Expect at a Hand Specialist Visit
You may be referred to our Hand and Upper Extremity Center or choose to schedule an appointment yourself. For non-urgent conditions, your care may include:
- A brace and medicine to reduce pain and swelling.
- An X-ray if your symptoms do not improve or if your provider wants to check for a bone or joint problem.
- Referral to a hand therapist who can help provide tools and exercises to reduce swelling and improve movement.
- Some patients may benefit from steroid injections, which can be provided the same day by our hand team.
- A consultation for surgery if other treatments do not relieve your pain.
“We pair each of our providers with a hand therapist,” shares Dr. Lee. “This is really nice because patients don’t have to fit in separate appointments.”
How to Prevent Hand Injuries
Your hands help you do almost everything, so it is important to protect them.
Consider attending a fireworks show instead of setting them off at home. If you do use fireworks or sparklers, follow all safety instructions. Never hold a firework while lighting it because the fuse can burn faster than expected.
When working with a lawn mower, table saw or other power tools, make sure the machine is off before you try to fix a problem. Keep your fingers away from moving blades. Use another object to clear rocks or debris instead of your hands.
To help prevent tendonitis and other overuse injuries, take breaks and stretch often. Listen to your body and stop if you feel pain.
Do you have a hand injury?
If you have a hand emergency, such as a deep cut, severe bleeding or a serious injury, go to the nearest Emergency Department right away.
For specialized hand and wrist care, MetroHealth’s Hand and Upper Extremity Center offers expert treatment for everything from carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis to tendon injuries, fractures, cuts and other hand conditions. Visit www.metrohealth.org/hand to request an appointment or call 216-778-HAND (4263).
Your Questions Answered
Q. How long should I wait to see a provider if I have hand or wrist pain?
A. See a provider right away if your pain is severe or keeps you from doing daily activities. If you choose to treat the injury at home, make an appointment if your symptoms do not improve after four weeks.
Q. Does seeing a hand specialist mean I need surgery?
A. No. Most hand conditions can be treated without surgery. Hand specialists often recommend options such as bracing, therapy or injections before considering surgery.
Q. What is a hand therapist?
A. A hand therapist is a physical or occupational therapist with special training in hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder care. They can help reduce pain, improve movement and make daily activities easier.
