Dr. Raymond Wittstadt
Hand Surgery
Baltimore, MD
38 years experience male
Locations
Office
Lutherville, MD
My office hours
Thursday: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Show moreOffice
Baltimore, MD
Office
Lutherville, MD
Office
Eldersburg, MD
About
Bio
I have always been interested in health care. Having come up through the medical system as a volunteer, ICU nurse, nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, and now hand surgeon, I have a unique view of health care. I have the specialized surgical skills to treat the full range of hand and upper extremity problems from simple to complex. However, the key to successful treatment outcomes is patient understanding and involvement. I believe in taking the time to ensure that my patients understand their problem and all treatment alternatives. Only then can the best treatment decision be made. As teaching faculty at the Curtis National Hand Center and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine I have the privilege of helping to train the future generation of doctors.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Hand Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Doctor Q&A
258 Answers
4 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 59-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
No: We do not know, how to grow new cartilage in arthritic joints. While surgery is the last resort for a painful arthritic joint, it can be very effecti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Wear gloves.: Obviously you should wear gloves when using any type of cleaning agent. Bleach is very toxic to your skin and hands. I would recommend that you appl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
5-7 mg every 4 hrs: Dose is based on weight. If you have liquid form you can give two or three teaspoons every 4-6 hours. If you have the 5/500 pills you should give n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Vessel spasm: Sound like raymaud's phenomenon. This is a temporary spasm of the artery which reduces blood flow to the finger. This can cause a bluish/purplish co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Months: Depending on why you had the cast on, it may take several months for swelling to fully resolve. If you had a fracture or surgery, i usually tell my p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Pillow: Keeping the arm elevated while sleeping is not always easy. One thing you can try is to tape a small pillow to your cast or splint on the palmar side... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old male asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Foot/Ankle Doc: While I do mostly upper extremity, i can tell you that you have a very complex problem, that is not easily fixed even with surgery. I strongly recomm... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Maybe fine?: You did not say if the sesamoid is in your foot or hand. Sesamoid bones are small bones that are embedded in tendons to improve muscle effectiveness. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Maybe not: I assume that you are in some type of splint. Swelling from this type of injury can be severe enough to diminish blood flow to your hand. If fingers... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Hard to say: If you are in the far east, then the list of possible causes could be extensive. Seem kind of young to have a herniated disc in neck or back, but it ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Long time: A jammed finger is a significant injury to a small joint. They are almost dislocations with partial tearing of ligaments and swelling of the joint. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Don't Know!!!: This drug is not available in the us. You must be getting it from mexico. This drug is a powerful steroid medication which can help with arthritis, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Yes: A carpal boss is a bony growth on the back of the wrist where two bones come together and where a tendon inserts onto the bone. This can simulate a g... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Overuse: Pain around the thumb is very common. Causes range from tendinitis, muscle cramping, and arthritis. Joint can also be lax and cause pain. If rest, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Vein: Hand has a lot of superficial veins. Sometimes they are traumatized by routine things we do. This small vein can clot off and occasionally calcify. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Exercise: The hand contains many small muscles between the bones that contribute to hand strength and dexterity. ANd like any muscle they will get stronger and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 56-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Yes: This is very common after carpal tunnel surgery, especially is you had an endoscopic procedure. I usually warn my patients that this will happen. It... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
If chronic follow-up: Vague wrist pain can have numerous causes from simple sprains to significant fractures or ligament tears which are not always as painful as you might ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
360 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Carpal tunnel: Night time numbness is a classic sign of carpal tunnel. This is very common. The initial treatment is to wear a wrist splint when you sleep. This is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Tough problem: Some people just have sweaty hands and feet. Depending on ohw bad this is, you can start with some of the clear spray type antipersperants. There ar... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Could be: Many people with thyroid disorders do develope numbness and tingling in their hands, and sometimes feet. This usually occur at night or upon awakening... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Blood under skin: A blood blister is usually due to a pinching of the skin such that the deeper tissue is injured, but the top layer of skin is still intact. A small a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Not sure?: Possible causes of just one finger being numb include carpal tunnel, pinched nerve in neck, or possible circulation problem. Carpal tunnel usually ma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
No: If you are referring to a bone infection in or around the sinus cavities in your head, this is a serious condition. Bone infections also known as ost... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
? Joint fluid: This needs to be seen. The yellowish fluid could be from the cut extending into a joint which is leaking out and causing the yellowish coloration. Th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Worried!: If this is new then it needs to be checked out by your doctor. Possible causes are many and some can be serious.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
796 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Yes: Falls can cause wrist fractures and/or ligament tear. Both can be serious and persistent pain should be evaluated, preferably by a hand surgeon.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
TRigger FInger: This is a common problem. The tendon that bends the thumb goes through a tunnel and has become swollen. You can try splinting for a while and see if... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Not sure: Occassional tremor of the hands is not unusual. This can be caused by nervousness or anxiety. It can also be casued by weakness or fatigue. Neurolo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Yes: In some people the very distal portion of the triceps muscle or tendon can be enlarged and snap over the bony prominence at the elbow. If this is pai... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
You need X-Ray: If you have injured your hand or finger, you really can't tell a sprain from a fracture just by looking at it. The only way you can be sure is with a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old male asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Not Sure: Keinbocks disease is occurs for unknown reasons. It's severity is graded 1-4, but not everyone goes through all 4 phases. Sometimes it gets better o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Not much more: Growth plates throughout the body close at different times or ages. At 18 most of your growth plates are closed and the ones that are still open are ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Depends?: The classic teaching is to use your cane in the hand opposite your painful hip or leg. Thus when walking you put your bad leg and the cane forward to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
See your dcotor: A lot of things could be causing this problem. Ulnar nerve compression at the elbow can cause pain from the little finger up to the elbow. Problems i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Depends: Since your injury is 4 months old the need for surgery depends on how much your wrist bothers you. If your pain is infrequent, you may want to wait, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Not sure: Not sure what you mean by mallet exercises. If you are referring in drum mallets, or something similar, then you can develope hand cramping. This ca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Depends on the germ: Both bacteria and viruses can survive on your hands for quite a while. Some bacteria like staph and strep live on your skin all the time. Most viruse... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Not sure: I assume you meant tramadol for pain. I would need more information to provide any real advice. There are so many reasons for a finger or hand to hur... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
No: This is not a protein. Doubt it will help build muscle, but it may help with impotence.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Both: If you have any reason to suspect that you have a blood clot in your leg you need to, get this checked out. Folks your age tend not to, get blood clo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Not easy: I assume that you are trying to increase the size of your biceps muscle. This is increasingly more difficult as we age, but the general principles ar... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Depends: Finger length is a lot like shoe size. Some people have long skinny fingers, while others are short and fat. The real question is are they proportio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 61-year-old male asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Try a heelbo: Posterior heel pain from Achilles' tendon swelling or inflammation can be very annoying. Heel lift eases pain by decreasing tension on the tendon. Dir... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Wrist splint: Sounds like you have carpal tunnel syndrome. This usually causes problems at night with pain, numbness, or burning sensations. A wrist splint worn to,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Yes: Exact cause of ganglions is not clear. Most common around the wrist, they can occur at any joint. These fluid filled cysts can come and go, by varyi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Not Sure: I am not sure what you are having trouble with. Stiff fingers usually mean that they don't move easily, or feel tight or swollen when trying to move ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Not usually: You haven't said what is causing your hand swelling. Swelling related to injuries can be quite variable. Keeping the injured area elevated above hea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Nerve compression: Electric shock type symptoms and tingling are usually signs of nerve irritation or compression. This could be coming from your neck, such as a hernia... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Raymond Wittstadtanswered
Hand Surgery 38 years experience
Infection: Pain or throbbing is usually a sign of infection. Try soaking the hand or finger in warm water 3 times a day for about 20 minutes. If this doesn't h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
299
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Wittstadt is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Wittstadt is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Was scheduled for surgery removal of solar gangloin cyst in January 2018 but I was getting out of tub and it burst on its own. Was a huge painful lump and now it's oblon...Read More
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I am experiencing numbness in my hands which causes very disturbed sleep. I will try the wrist splints. thanks for your answer.
HealthTap member
the dots came after the pain.previously it was in my right the finger but it os in my middle finger. the dot are in all fingers of righthand
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Graduated 1988MD
Medical/Graduate school
Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health
Graduated 1985MD
Residency
Union Memorial Hospital
Residency
Union Memorial Hospital
Awards
Top Doctor, US News & World Report
Member, Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society
MD, Cum Laude, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Affiliations
American College of Surgeons
American Medical Association
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less