Trivia: Rachel McAdams' reaction to the mop falling in the closet after Doctor Strange leaves back through the portal is genuine. The camera was still rolling when the mop fell over on its own, scaring McAdams. The director liked it so much he kept it in the movie.
Trivia: Dan Harmon, creator of the cult-favorite series "Community" and "Rick and Morty," was brought on to help fine-tune the film during post production by giving notes on the editing. He also helped re-write several scenes during reshoots.
Trivia: Tilda Swinton's children worked on the film crew - her daughter worked in the costume department and her son in the art department.
Trivia: Chiwetel Ejiofor was already a black belt in karate before taking the role.
Trivia: The studio originally wanted Jessica Chastain for the role of Dr. Palmer. However, Chastain turned the supporting role down because she knew taking it would take away any chance of her getting offered the role of a superhero in the MCU in the future. She said she'd rather play a caped hero in a future film.
Trivia: The film was shot partly in Nepal, with exterior scenes in several Kathmandu locations including Pashupati, home of Pashupatinath Temple, and Lalitpur's Patan Durbar Square, a unesco World Heritage site. The interiors of Kamar-Taj were created on a soundstage in London.
Trivia: Joaquin Phoenix was also in the running to play Doctor Strange but turned down the role as he didn't want to sign a multi-picture contract with the studio.
Trivia: When Dr Strange experiments with the forbidden Eye of Agamotto and time spells in the Book of Cagliostro, he uses an apple to practice on. Apples symbolically represent Forbidden Knowledge.
Trivia: The Mirror Dimension special effects were influenced by the art of M.C. Escher, and by fractal shapes.
Answer: Medically, he could not heal his hands. He spent his entire fortune trying to return to being a surgeon through experimental procedures. Once he completed his training to become a sorcerer, he realised there was more to the world than he realised. The Ancient One correctly stated that he was a surgeon for his own ego; he wanted to prove he was the best and helped people for that reason only. By joining the sorcerers he was given a greater purpose and chose this over returning to his former life.
His hands were healing, just not quickly enough for his needs. This was showing his egotistical attitudes.