The number of joints in the hand makes it a target for arthritis and, unsurprisingly, this is one of the more common forms of the condition.
The most common types of hand arthritis are post-traumatic, which occurs following an accident, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
Post-traumatic hand arthritis occurs due to the pressure caused by inflammation. It usually goes away when the swelling goes down.
People aged 40 and over are most likely to suffer from osteoarthritis in the hand. It is a degenerative condition and can lead to a deformity of the hand, making simple, everyday tasks impossible to complete.
People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis in the hand usually have other arthritic joints as the condition occurs when the immune system wrongly attacks healthy tissue around the joint causing it to become inflamed.
A nagging pain the hand is usually the first symptom of arthritis followed by swelling and difficulty moving a joint.
X-rays, blood tests and a check up with an orthopaedic doctor should lead to a diagnosis and, although there is no cure for the condition, pain relievers can be prescribed.
Some cases require anti-inflammatory medications, while other patients will need steroids or injections of cortisone in the affected joints.
Specialists, called rheumatologists, can monitor your medication and therapy to help you to properly manage your arthritis pain.
For severe cases, surgery is needed and in extreme cases this can involve removing bones from your hand.
Getting help as soon as the pain starts is important if you want to avoid more extreme treatment.
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