Most of us don’t think much about hand health until we start to experience discomfort. Almost everything we do, even the things we love the most, is done with our hands. Therefore, it may be distressing when such routine tasks start to become challenging or painful due to illnesses like hand arthritis.
One of the most disabling types of arthritis is that which affects the hands. The most typical forms and causes of this painful ailment will be defined in this blog post along with solutions for controlling and treating it.
Three typical types of hand arthritis.
There are several varieties of arthritis, but in this article, we’ll concentrate on these three:
- Osteoarthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
Osteoarthritis.
The most prevalent cause of hand arthritis is osteoarthritis of the hands. By the time they reach the age of 85, over half of the women and a quarter of men will have it.
Osteoarthritis, sometimes referred to as “wear and tear” or degenerative arthritis, causes the cartilage to deteriorate and wear away. Your hand bones would rub against one other without that cartilage, causing discomfort, stiffness, and loss of mobility.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This kind of hand arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that inflames the lining of the joints, causing pain, stiffness, and mobility loss similar to osteoarthritis. An autoimmune condition is a rheumatoid arthritis. Usually, it affects the little joints in your hands, wrists, and fingers.
Rheumatoid arthritis often affects the same joints on both sides of the body for sufferers. As an example, if you have arthritis in the finger joints of one hand, it’s probable that you also have symptoms in the same joints in the other hand.
Psoriatic arthritis
The skin and joints are both impacted by psoriatic arthritis, a kind of hand arthritis. You’ll notice swelling fingers. With this disease, you could also have morning stiffness and joint discomfort.
In many respects, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are similar, however, the latter may just affect your fingers.
Typical Symptoms
Depending on the kind of ailment you have and how far along it is, various symptoms may show up. Arthritis in the hands often manifests as:
Pain. The level of discomfort will depend on how far along your arthritis is. The more you use your hands, the more the discomfort may fluctuate or worsen. Pain may even keep you awake at night. Other frequent symptoms include increased pain and stiffness in the morning.
Swelling. Your joint’s periarticular tissues may swell, become red, and feel sensitive to the touch.
Stiffness. As arthritis worsens, you can lose some range of motion and find it challenging to fully extend and contract your fingers.
Weakness. Daily tasks, such as opening a pickle jar or starting your vehicle, may become challenging as your hands weaken.
Crepitus. You can experience grating, clicking, or crackling as the surfaces of your joints rub against one another.
Nodules. On the middle joint of your finger or at the joint next to your fingertip, bony lumps might develop.
Joint malformation. Because of bone changes, cartilage loss, loose ligaments, and swelling that often accompany hand arthritis, finger joints can become oversized and malformed.
Identification and treatment.
Your doctor will check your hands and joints to see whether you have any indications of hand arthritis. To detect any cartilage loss or the development of bone spurs, they could also take X-rays. The doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis with the use of this information, together with your medical history and family history.
Different treatments are available to help you manage your symptoms and resume your favorite activities, depending on the kind and severity of your hand arthritis.
Non-Medical Therapies.
It is possible to lessen the joint stress brought on by hand arthritis by wearing a brace or splint. To assist relieve arthritis pain, certain hand exercises or heat or cold treatment may also be suggested.
Drug therapies.
Pain relievers, anti-irritants like capsaicin or menthol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), and corticosteroids are just a few of the therapies for hand arthritis that may be ingested or even injected into the joint.
Surgical Procedures.
Surgery could be advised if the aforementioned therapies are ineffective in relieving the symptoms. An orthopedic surgeon may remove the damaged cartilage, connect the bones, or implant a replacement joint.
Final thoughts
Implants for artificial hand joints may help your hand regain function while also relieving your discomfort. The most recent developments in the treatment of arthritis include artificial implants for your fingers and thumb. Your doctor will decide on your arthritis treatment based on your condition.
