You
may think that “arthritis is arthritis,” and that it all affects the joints in
the same way. The truth is, there
are several types of arthritis and how they present themselves in the hand is
very different.
The
most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It results from wearing of the cartilage on the joint
surfaces. It is usually slow in
its progression, with the first signs being soreness at the joint. As it progresses, it can become more
painful. Over time, the cartilage
can wear down, eventually leading to a joint with bone rubbing on bone. The joints in the hand most prone to
osteoarthritis are the base of the thumb and the small joints in the
fingers. Nodules at these small joints,
called Heberden’s nodes, are the result of osteoarthritis. Treat Yourself Therapy’s video for Thumb Arthritis is a treatment program designed for
osteoarthritis of the thumb. It contains specific exercises and education to
decrease pain and improve flexibility while saving you time and money.
Rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) is another type of arthritis that affects the hands. RA is a
systemic condition involving many organs in the body. It usually affects both hands symmetrically, and the joints
most involved are the large knuckles.
An overproduction of the lubricating fluid around the joints, called
synovial fluid, is the mechanism that affects the joints. When the condition is in its active
state, the joints feel warm and become swollen, stiff, and painful.
Gouty
arthritis can also affect the hands, although it is more commonly seen in the
feet. Gout is caused by too much
uric acid in the blood, which can develop into hard crystals in the
joints. It usually has a sudden
onset, resulting in burning pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Ten
to thirty percent of people with psoriasis, a skin condition, develop psoriatic
arthritis. It can affect many
joints of the body and is characterized by pain, swelling, and morning
stiffness. In the hand, the joints most frequently involved are the small end
joints of the fingers.
There
are treatments and medications for all types of arthritis that help make the
condition more comfortable.
Consult your physician if you suffer from arthritis to ensure that you
are properly diagnosed and receive the care appropriate for your specific
condition.
Treat Yourself Therapy, LLC provides innovative and inexpensive do-it-yourself videos for people unable to attend hand therapy. These videos were developed by Jessica Karge, OTR, CHT and Kathleen Papi-Baker, OTR,CHT, both certified hand therapists who have over 40 years of combined clinical experience. To learn more, visit www.TreatYourselfTherapy.com.
