Hand arthritis

آخر تحديث : December 12, 2022

The types of diseases that affect the joints vary, and the most common of them are arthritis, especially the joints of the hand, which is our topic in this article. In the following paragraphs, we explain details of your interest in what is hand arthritis and its causes, as well as an overview of the risk factors that cause the injury and answers to many questions raised in this context … so follow us

Hand arthritis is one of the diseases that affect the joints and affects the cartilage at the ends of the bones and often causes damage or erosion in the internal tissues of the joint. The patient has pain in the joint.

Hand arthritis has been classified as a chronic disease because it causes deformities and erosion in the tissues that connect the bones, so it is difficult to treat the disease permanently, but medications contribute to reducing symptoms and relieving pain.

Types of hand arthritis

There is more than one type of inflammation that affects the joints of the hand and causes great pain and stiffness, and we explain the most common types of arthritis, which are:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis, and it is one of the diseases that cause damage and deformation in the (protective cartilage) that connects the last part of the bones of the fingers or wrist, and although there is a lot of treatment for osteoarthritis, it does not improve the damage that is already in the tissues, but rather limits its increase.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease because it occurs as a result of the body attacking the synovial membrane cells located in the separator between the bones of the hand, and as a result erosion and damage occurs in this tissue, which causes deformation or bumps in the joints and friction that causes pain.

Post-traumatic arthritis

Post-traumatic arthritis is one of the types of osteoarthritis and usually affects a person after exposure to a fracture or dislocation in the joint. It is not considered a chronic infection because it heals after a short period, especially if the patient is young and used to exercising and following a healthy lifestyle.

Unlike many arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis is more prevalent in younger groups and athletes due to repeated injuries or fractures in the joints and causes pain in the joints that increases when touched.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is one of the immune diseases, as is the case in rheumatoid arthritis, and it is in the form of redness or spots in the skin over which there are silvery-white scales that are very dry. A symptom of this type of inflammation is that it causes swelling in the affected part and stiffness in the movement of the joints.

The pain associated with psoriatic arthritis comes in the form of bouts of pain that vary between mild and severe. This inflammation usually affects patients with psoriasis as a development of psoriasis that has affected them for years. Treatment improves the patient’s condition by reducing the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.

Gout

Gout inflammation or, as is common, gout disease, is one of the types of inflammation that occurs due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals on the joints as a result of an increase in the proportion of uric acid in the body and its failure to leave the body naturally, and it may be due to a disease in the kidneys.

Gout inflammation usually comes to the joints of the feet first and causes them redness and damage, but it may reach the joints of the hand, causing irritation and swelling, followed by severe bouts of sudden pain.

What are the symptoms of hand arthritis?

A group of symptoms appears in a patient with hand arthritis, which differs slightly from one type of inflammation to another, here are the similar symptoms between the different types of hand inflammation, which are:

A patient with arthritis of the hand may feel severe pain in the joint, especially when waking up.
The sensation of stiffness in the joints of the hand.
The presence of a creaking sound as a result of the friction of the joint bones in what looks like crackling.
Pain and difficulty when using the hand normally.
Swelling in the joint and redness around it, especially in the joints of the fingers.
These bumps or nodes in the joints are called Heberden’s nodes or Bouchard’s nodes.

Paying attention to the early symptoms of inflammation helps the treatment to be more effective and preserves the remaining part of the protective cartilage lining the inner part of the bones of the hand and relieves the symptoms associated with arthritis of the hand.

Causes of hand arthritis

There is more than one cause that may result in arthritis of the hand depending on the type of inflammation that affects the hand, but in general, arthritis comes due to the following:

Inflammation can affect the joints of the hand as a result of a fracture or injury to a person.
There are immune causes as a result of the body attacking unintentionally the cells of the synovial tissue that separates the last part of the bones.
An increase in uric acid crystals formed around the joint, which causes inflammation and swelling.

Where does arthritis come from?

Arthritis has a group of causes that make it easier for the disease to affect the person, including advanced age and erosion of the tissues lining the inner part of the joint, and the increase in weight may negatively affect the joints and increase the chances of infection.

There is a certain percentage of uric acid present in the body, and its increase may harm the person’s infection with gout in the joints, then the occurrence of a fracture or wound in the joint may affect it and make the inflammation attack it, even if a long time has passed since the accident.

Some genetic factors affect the occurrence of arthritis for the patient, especially if he had similar injuries in his family before, those who had diabetes are more likely to develop arthritis because of the metabolic disorders they suffer from.

Factors that increase the risk of infection

Hand arthritis causes a feeling of pain and difficulty in using the hand handle normally, and this is due to the erosion caused by the disease in the internal tissues of the joint. Some elements help a person with hand arthritis. It is important to know them in order to be as far away from them as possible, namely:

If a person is obese or overweight, he or she is more susceptible to arthritis.
The presence of injuries to the person in the joints of the hand causes inflammation and swelling, even if a number of years have passed since the injury.
The genetic history of infection in the patient’s family affects the speed of his disease due to the presence of genes for the disease.
The age of the patient is a risk factor because osteoarthritis of the hand mostly affects the elderly.
A congenital defect that may affect a person from birth in one of the joints, resulting in inflammation in this part later on.
Repeated pressure on the joint due to the person’s work may eventually cause inflammation in the joints.
A metabolic disorder that increases the body’s iron intake, called hemochromatosis, may cause arthritis.

How is arthritis diagnosed?

It is possible to initially recognize that you have arthritis by feeling pain or swelling in the joint and feeling difficulty moving, especially when you wake up, you should refer to a specialist doctor who begins to diagnose your condition and determine the type of arthritis that afflicted you in order to prescribe the most appropriate treatment for you.

Some of the steps that a doctor usually follows to diagnose arthritis are as follows:

Examine the class well and identify the symptoms that appeared in the patient.
Ask the patient about the history of arthritis in his family.
Using laboratory blood analyses, including red blood cell sedimentation, rheumatoid factor, and C-reactive protein analysis, to identify the nature of arthritis and accurately determine its type.
Using x-rays that visualize the bones and cartilage condition and ensure the occurrence of bony protrusions.

Complications of hand arthritis may occur and increase the severity of pain and the presence of greater difficulty in moving the fingers or the wrist normally, especially with the neglect of symptoms that irregularity in undergoing treatment, so it is important to return to the doctor specializing in orthopedic diseases for early detection of the condition and follow-up of the treatment process well.

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What is the treatment for hand arthritis?

Treatment of arthritis in general is varied, starting with lifestyle changes, using alternative medicine, and then drug treatments, up to surgical operations in extreme cases or that have not responded to other types of treatment.

Some remedies that help relieve symptoms of hand arthritis:

The patient can use water compresses that help relieves pain and reduce swelling in the joints.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle and include foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, which act as an effective anti-inflammatory.
The use of splints or braces and assistive devices reduces the pressure on the joint and thus relieves the patient’s feeling of pain.
Take care to practice sports that do not require much effort and improve the performance of the joints and reduce the stiffness that afflicted them.
The use of water therapy or exercise in swimming pools has an effective effect in relieving the symptoms of inflammation, according to which elite orthopedic doctors agreed.
The use of drugs that reduce swelling and relieve pain, including acetaminophen or naproxen.
Cortisone injections are an effective treatment in some cases, so it is important to consult a doctor before use.
Surgical procedures can be resorted to in the advanced stages of the disease, including fixing the joint or replacing it.

Psychological support in cases of arthritis is one of the factors influencing the effectiveness of the patient’s treatment and recovery. Doctors advise the patient to keep away from frustration and think positively about the disease and treatment so that he can complete the recovery process well.

When is arthritis dangerous?

The symptoms of arthritis range from the onset of the infection until reaching severe inflammation in the joint that may require surgical intervention. The person needs to pay attention to the items in order not to increase their risk, especially if his family has a genetic history of joint and bone diseases.

Symptoms of arthritis come initially with pain in the joint and difficulty in moving it, especially in the morning after the person exerted a great effort that affected the joints, and other symptoms, including stiffness or redness, take over, so the speedy return to the specialist doctor makes the treatment effect better and the person avoids an increase in symptoms.

How do I get rid of arthritis permanently?

There are a number of questions that come to the mind of a person with arthritis, including how to permanently get rid of the disease. Some may not like the answer, but doctors have made it clear that arthritis is a chronic disease that may be a bit difficult to end permanently.

Some instructions help the arthritis patient feel better, avoid exacerbation of symptoms as much as possible, and maintain the condition of the cartilage at the ends of the bones, including:

The patient can adjust himself to an integrated health system by maintaining an intake of food rich in fatty fish oils.
Exercising for arthritis patients is also helpful.
Resorting to physical therapy under medical supervision.
Using a splint or a supportive device to reduce pressure on this part.
Medications that reduce pain or reduce inflammation can be an important component of providing greater comfort to an arthritis patient.