Arthritis can be disabling, especially when it is in the hands and fingers. It can prevent you from carrying out normal day-to-day activities such as work duties and preparing meals.
Arthritis is a common disease that causes pain and stiffness within joints, including the hand. Appropriate treatment will depend on the severity of the symptoms, but they can include medications, therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and surgery.
What Is Arthritis?
Joints are constantly exposed to stressors due to everyday life, and in most cases the body repairs the damage naturally. But in arthritis, this is not the case. There are two common forms of arthritis that can affect the hands: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
In osteoarthritis, often called just “arthritis,” the protective cartilage that covers the ends of the bones at the joint gradually breaks down and wears away. Cartilage is a very tough, shock-absorbing material that allows the bones in a joint to glide easily during motion.
Loss of the protective cartilage can cause painful bone-on-bone rubbing. Other symptoms of arthritis can include immobility, swelling, and the formation of bony growths (spurs) in the affected area.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can lead to hand deformity and loss of function. Healthy synovium (the protective membrane that covers joints) secrete a lubricant called synovial fluid, which acts as a cushion between the joints and ligaments to reduce friction between the bones and prevent “wear and tear.” RA causes the synovium to become inflamed, which affects it working properly.
Rheumatoid arthritis therefore causes the cartilage, bones, and tissues to deteriorate without this membrane and its fluid to facilitate their proper functioning. As swelling occurs, the tendons and ligaments stretch, leading to joint malalignment and deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most serious and disabling types of arthritis.
Treatments for Hand Arthritis
Some cases of arthritis can be treated with nonsurgical methods. Temporarily resting the area, applying heat to treat stiffness, and applying ice to decrease pain may sometimes be all that’s required. Other types of treatments can include:
Medication
Over-the-counter or prescription medication can help to reduce pain and inflammation of arthritis in the hand. If symptoms do not improve significantly with these medications, cortisone injections and viscosupplementation injections can also help to reduce pain and swelling in the joints.
Nutrition and Supplements
A healthy, balanced, low-fat diet has been found to benefit people with arthritis. Foods should be rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Particularly nutritious foods that can help minimize the inflammation of arthritis include berries, nuts, olives, garlic, green leafy vegetables, and fish such as salmon and mackerel.
A variety of herbal and nutritional supplements can also be helpful in treating arthritis. Two of the more important supplements for arthritis are glucosamine and chondroitin.
Therapy
Therapies including physical, occupational, and aquatic therapy can help to strengthen the muscles surrounding the affected arthritic joint. This can help to relieve pain and to stabilize the joint.
The therapist may also recommend wearing a splint to help support the hand and reduce the stress on the joints. They can provide instruction on how to carry out daily activities in a manner that puts less stress on arthritic joints.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been found to be a beneficial treatment for arthritic symptoms. It involves inserting very thin needles strategically around the body in order to block or interrupt pain pathways at designated areas of the body. Acupuncture should only be administered by a trained professional.
Surgery
Arthritis can be quelled but not cured, and it tends to get worse over time. Surgery may be recommended when nonsurgical treatments no longer provide relief.
There are several surgical options based on the type and severity of your arthritis and your overall health. A surgeon will discuss appropriate surgical options to help you decide if this is an option for you.
The most common surgical procedures for arthritis include:
- Synovectomy, which involves removing the diseased or damaged lining of the joint (synovium)
- Osteotomy, which involves realigning the bones in a joint
- Arthroplasty, which is joint replacement surgery, often for advanced arthritis
Most hand surgeries are followed by hand therapy to strengthen the muscles and improve function.
Treatment for Hand Arthritis in the Greater Chesapeake
If you have a hand injury or chronic condition such as arthritis, turn to the experts at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder. Our team of hand experts have a profound understanding of the complex networks of blood vessels, nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones that make up the hand and fingers.
We understand how important pain-free hand and finger motion and function is to daily activities, including work, self-care, sports, and leisure. Our orthopedic and plastic surgeons specialize in hand surgery, and we can offer state-of-the-art nonsurgical and surgical care to treat a full range of hand and finger injuries and conditions.
Call us today to schedule a consultation with our Maryland hand surgeons at (410) 296-6232 or request an appointment online now for any of our Greater Chesapeake locations. We look forward to helping you feel less pain in your hands and regain hand motion and function, so you can get back to doing what you love.
