Arthritis in the hands can cause pain and may prevent you from being able to perform even the simplest day-to-day activities. There are many types of arthritis, but the most common types to affect the hands are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Although some of the symptoms seem similar, there are key differences between the two conditions. Let’s talk about their main similarities and differences, and where you can go for an evaluation and treatment for your hand pain.
How Osteoarthritis Affects the Hands
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and it can affect any joint in the body and can strike at virtually any age. It is called wear-and-tear arthritis, which is why it can also affect young athletes who use certain joints practically every day when practicing or playing their sport.
It most commonly affects the knees, hips, and small joints in the hands, but symptoms are usually only experienced in one or a few joints at any one time. In the hand, this type of arthritis most often affects three main areas:
- The base of the thumb (where it joins the wrist)
- The middle joints of the fingers
- The joints closest to the fingertips
In osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in a joint begins to gradually break down and wear away, thereby causing pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the joint due to bone-on-bone rubbing. Cartilage is the tough, shock-absorbing material that allows the bones in joints to glide easily during motion.
Osteoarthritis of the hand can cause fingers to become stiff, painful, and swollen. Bony growths can also develop in the affected area, and the joint may become red and swollen. It can become difficult to write or to turn a key.
How Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Different from Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease in which the immune system – which normally makes antibodies to fight infection – instead mistakenly attacks the healthy tissue membrane that lines the joints, known as the synovium. It is a chronic and disabling type of arthritis that usually affects the hands, wrists, and feet.
In RA, joints are usually affected on both sides of the body at the same time and to the same degree. Symptoms usually develop gradually over several weeks, but in some cases it can progress quickly in a matter of days.
The disease can also cause other generalized symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and weight loss, as this type of arthritis can affect more than just the joints. It can cause problems in areas of the body such as the eyes (which become dry), and it can cause chest pain if the heart or lungs are affected.
Care for Hand Arthritis in the Greater Chesapeake Region
If you have ongoing hand pain, see the orthopedic experts at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder. We specialize in both non-surgical and surgical treatments to address a full range of hand and finger conditions and injuries.
To find out more about the services we offer, schedule an appointment with one of our Maryland hand surgeons today at (410) 296-6232 or fill out our Request an Appointment form now for a visit at any of our Greater Chesapeake locations. We look forward to helping you find relief from your hand pain so you can get back to doing everything you enjoy every day.
