What Is The Best Treatment for Arthritis In The Hands?

The bones in our hands, just as any bone in our bodies, are protected by cartilage. Cartilage functions to support the body, provide a framework attachment sites for muscles, allow for flexibility, and behaves as a shock absorber. Unfortunately, especially as we age, our cartilage can wear down over time, and as a result, a person can begin to experience a condition commonly known as arthritis. 

It’s more commonly seen in women, and its common causes include age, repetitive movements, and trauma. There is no cure for arthritis in the hands, but there are treatments that focus on relieving pain and managing conditions. Fortunately, our hand doctor in Suffolk County is here to help you find the best treatment that is right for you. If you are seeking hand treatment, contact us today at East End Occupational Therapy!

What are the types of hand arthritis?

For those who may not know, two common types of arthritis that affect the hands. Those are Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis occurs where there is a regressive change in the cartilage. At the end of the finger, bones are cartilages that help cushion your joints and allow for movement. Over time, cartilage begins to wear down, and as the bones begin to rub up against each other, the person begins to experience symptoms. 

On the contrary, Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition. The body begins to attack the cartilage, and the person begins to experience symptoms like Osteoarthritis. 

RA can occur with no risk factors and most commonly occurs in persons between the age of 40 and 60. 

What are the symptoms?

Pain and swelling are common symptoms a person with arthritis experiences. However, other types of symptoms arthritis causes include: 

• Pain with movement 
• Pain when hands are resting
• Joint stiffness 
• Deformity in Joints 
• Muscles mass weakness and loss
• Join and muscle function loss

Osteoarthritis symptoms include bony lumps at the joints either in the middle finger or the joint closest to the finger and pain deep in the base of the thump. 

A person with RA can experience pain in the wrist and finger knuckles, deformities of the fingers, body achiness, and the inability to straighten fingers. 

Symptoms vary slightly from person to person and depending on the type of arthritis. It is important to communicate with our hand doctor in Suffolk County to determine the underlying causes of your symptoms and develop a treatment plan that is right for you. 

What treatment plans are available?

Physical therapy and medications are available for patients with arthritis. Our hand therapy program can help alleviate pain and discomfort. A physical therapist will accurately assess and provide an effective treatment plan that can produce faster pain-relieving results while decreasing cost. 

A hand therapist has the knowledge and expertise to treat any hand condition resulting from trauma, disease, or acquired deformity. In addition to physical therapy, our hand doctor in Suffolk county can prescribe the following to reduce pain:

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen 

DMARD or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug for RA.

Oral or injection steroid shots. If the case is severe, rarely, our hand doctor in Suffolk County might recommend surgery. The type of surgery depends on the extent of the condition and lifestyle. 

Home Remedies

There are home remedies you can try at home that can alleviate pain, such as: 

• Hand exercises- Repeatedly making a loose fist and opening fingers to straighten them, bending a finger slowly and straightening it carefully afterward. It is important to do this gently to avoid further pain.
• Apply hot/cold packs- Applying ice packs to the joints can help reduce swelling. Hot packs can ease stiffness. You can purchase these online or at your local drug store. 
• Splinting- Wearing an appearing fingerless glove that protects the hand. It holds your joints still, thus reducing pain from occurring. 

Prevention

You can’t entirely prevent arthritis. But it is important to monitor your joints for any signs as they age. Staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking can reduce the risk of arthritis. Just keep in mind, the sooner you seek treatment, the faster you can find relief and slow the progression of arthritis. 

Contact Our Hand Doctor in Suffolk County

If at-home remedies aren’t functioning enough for you, and pain becomes unbearable. Contact us today to schedule your appointment. Our hand doctor in Suffolk County will assess your condition, determine your underlying causes, and develop an effective rehabilitation treatment plan that is right for you!