General details about arthritis of the hand you will find in the following article.
The joints of the hand are among the joints most susceptible to arthritis due to their small size, large number and increased use, and in the following we will talk about the most important details about arthritis of the hand:
Arthritis of the hand
Arthritis of the hand is an inflammation that attacks the joints of the hand and wrist and causes the destruction of the internal tissues that line the joint, such as: the synovium, which produces synovial fluid, or the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones and acts as cushions that prevent the bones from rubbing against each other. Damage to these tissues leads to tissue loss. and the structures that protect the bones, which contributes to their friction and erosion
Arthritis of the hand is a health problem that causes chronic symptoms in the joints, such as: pain, stiffness, swelling, and appearance abnormalities.
Areas of the hand more susceptible to arthritis
Inflammation affects all joints of the hand in general, however there are certain joints that are more susceptible to infection, including the following:
- The middle or upper joints of the fingers.
- The joint at the base of the thumb near the wrist.
- The metacarpophalangeal joints, or knuckles, are the joints that connect the hand to the fingers and that protrude when the hand is clenched.
Types of arthritis of the hand
The types of arthritis of the hand vary according to the type and cause of the inflammation that attacks them, as there are many types of arthritis that can affect the joints of the hand, and the most prominent of them are:
1. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects the joints of the hand, which occurs as a result of wear caused by the use of the joints, which leads to the erosion of cartilage and damage to the bones as a result of friction with each other.
2. Post-traumatic arthritis
Post-traumatic hand arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that occurs as a result of injuries to the joints of the hand, such as fractures or dislocations.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is also a common type of hand arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease that occurs as a result of a defect in the immune system that attacks the synovial membrane that lines the joints.
This type of inflammation destroys the synovial membrane, thus damaging the cartilage that eventually leads to bone erosion.
4. Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of psoriasis that affects both the skin and joints, and is caused by a defect in the immune system, as in rheumatoid arthritis, causing swelling and stiffness in the joints of the fingers and stimulating the appearance of psoriasis symptoms on the skin.
5. Gout
Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when the level of uric acid in the blood increases, causing uric acid crystals to build up in the joints.
Although it affects the joints of the foot first, it may affect the joints of the hand later, causing gout attacks, which are severe and sudden attacks of pain, irritation, swelling and redness in the joints.
Symptoms of arthritis of the hand
In addition to the symptoms of arthritis of the hand mentioned above, there are other symptoms that may be related to the type of inflammation, and in general, these symptoms include the following:
- Joint pain and stiffness in the morning.
- Sensation of joint friction when moving (cracking).
- Weakness of the hand and fingers or difficulty using them.
- Dactylitis, which causes the fingers to swell to a sausage-like appearance, so they are called sausage fingers.
- The growth of bony outgrowths in the upper joints of the fingers called Heberden's nodes or in the middle joints called Bouchard's nodes.
Diagnosis of arthritis
Hand arthritis is diagnosed by doing the following:
- Hand physical examination.
- Inquire about the type of symptoms and the medical and family history of the patient.
- Perform some diagnostic tests, which include:
- Laboratory blood tests, such as: rheumatoid factor analysis to see if the cause is rheumatoid arthritis.
- X-ray imaging, to assess the condition of the bones and cartilage, and to check for the presence of bone spurs.
Hand arthritis treatment
There are many options for treating arthritis of the hand medically and at home, and the selection of the appropriate treatment depends on the symptoms and factors causing inflammation, the most prominent of which are:
- Apply warm compresses to the joints to relieve pain and stiffness.
- Apply cold compresses to swollen joints to reduce swelling.
- Doing some exercises that contribute to lubricate the joint and relieve pain.
- Pain relievers, such as: Acetaminophen.
- Use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as: Naproxen.
- Joint injections with cortisone .
- Splints that support and stabilize the joint.
- Surgical procedures, such as joint replacement or joint stabilization, are usually resorted to in severe cases.