Thumb Arthritis Treatment

About

Arthritis of the hands can compromise your ability to do many everyday activities, for which fine motions are necessary. While there are more than 100 different forms of arthritis, there are two main types—osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. What is Arthritis of the Hand? Simply put, arthritis refers to inflammation of one or several joints. Inflammation in the form of osteoarthritis is caused simply by the wear and tear of aging that wears away the cartilage covering the ends of your bones that is essential for smooth and easy joint movement. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, refers to a chronic disease that causes your joint lining to swell. This condition typically begins in the smallest joints of the hands and feet and it affects these joints on both sides of the body. Of note, trauma to a joint makes you more likely to develop arthritis down the road. Specifically, fractures or dislocations are the injuries most commonly associated with arthritis. A dull or burning pain is one of the initial symptoms of arthritis, and your discomfort is typically heightened by use of the joint. The frequency and intensity of your pain will increase as the shock-absorbing cartilage wears away. Other common symptoms that may cause you to seek arthritis treatment for the hands include swelling, joint warmth, a grinding sensation, the formation of cysts, joint deformity and/or an increase in the mobility of neighboring joints. There are both surgical and non-surgical modes of hand arthritis treatment that can slow the progression of the disease or remedy it. Non-surgical Arthritis in Hands Treatment The earlier you can begin hand or thumb arthritis treatment, the better, as such steps can minimize the progression of the disease and maintain your hand mobility. Ice therapy is one popular natural treatment for arthritis in the hands as this can reduce painful inflammation that causes joint stiffness. Activity modification that reduces stress on your fingers, hand or thumb