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Arthritis in the Hands Get Rid of the Pain and Stiffness and Get Your Life BackWhat is Arthritis? The most common forms of arthritis in the hand are osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis (after an injury), and rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the body's immune system attacking the joints. Symptoms of Hand Arthritis Other symptoms which will make themselves painfully clear will be difficulty in performing simple everyday tasks such as turning taps or opening jars or bottles, while other jobs or hobbies, such as knitting or writing, may be virtually impossible. The strength of grip may vary surprisingly in performing different actions. I remember, a short while after the operation on my right hand (yes, I'm right-handed), I could grip the steering wheel of my car fairly comfortably but to fasten my shirt buttons was much more painful. Don't Despair! We know there is currently no cure for arthritis (despite what many people may tell you) but there is much that you can do to reduce and manage the pain and disability. There are many different ways to tackle the many problems and in many cases a few simple solutions can make a huge difference. Diagnosis of Arthritis Treatment for Arthritis of the Hand and Wrist Different Strokes For Different Folks! People differ widely, which is something we all know and a treatment which works wonders for one person may be much less beneficial for someone else. There are so many tips and remedies available, it's a question of finding a few which work in combination for YOU! The easiest, simplest aand quickest way to get some relief from the pain, is to pop a pill in your mouth. For many people, this is all that's necessary. I'm sure that 99% of arthritis sufferers have taken this route at least a few times and for many, it's a normal part of their daily routine. I suspect that if that works for you, you wouldn't have read this far, or even have bothered to find this page. BUT if you fall into that large group of older people with heart or blood pressure problems, those pills, particularly anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and diclofenac, can be so dangerous as to be life-threatening. In certain circumstances, you can be 10 times more at risk from strokes and heart attacks if you are taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) on a regular basis. If you think you may be at risk, I urge you to get the full story, on our Arthritis Drugs page. So, let's look at the alternative ways to get relief and mobility back in your hands. I always favour a multi-pronged approach, because it is difficult to find one single solution that addresses all the problems of stiffness and pain. Exercise: The very thought of inflicting any more pain and effort on your poor hands can be a nightmare but without regular movement of all those little joints, they will only get more stiff and painful. After I had the operation on my hand, I had a sponge ball that I squeezed while I was watching television. This was an extreme remedy but I wanted to get back to playing golf, so I could get out in the fresh air and exercise all my other joints, before they siezed up as well.
Heat and Cold: Heat will bring comfort and relief from the pain and stiffness, cold will bring discomfort. But if you soak your hand in a bowl of hot water and then plunge it into cold water, this will bring the blood to the suface and improve the circulation. Repeat this cycle a few times for maximum benefit. Rest your hand on a bag of frozen peas for about 20 minutes. Wrap the peas in a cloth. Similarly, applying radiant heat from a specialist physiotherapy lamp will have similar soothing results and will stimulate circulation and relax the muscles (but it won't cure the condition). This treatment is best administered by a qualified therapist. If you do use a lamp at home, be sure to follow the directions for use, as there can be a danger of burning. Diet: Many foods and supplements contain anti-inflammatory properties similar to the NSAIDs but without the potentially dangerous side effects. Some, such as omega 3 oils have a positive beneficial effect on the joints. Others, like Glucosamine Sulphate, actively help to repair worn or damaged cartilage. You can find much more detailed infomation at Arthritis Diet External Physical Aids: There are various devices on the market, specifically designed to help sufferers with weak or stiff hands, to perform certain everyday households tasks, like opening jars and bottles, turning taps and door handles, operating the phone and many others. Specially designed arthritis gloves are a very popular choice. A visit to Google and a search for "Arthritis Hand Aids" will give you over four million websites to choose from. Good Luck. You don't stop playing because you get old. You get old because you stop playing.
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The first signs you will notice are the pain and stiffness in the joints
of the fingers and wrist and particularly the thumb. A severe,
persistent pain at the base of the thumb is typical of osteoarthritis of the basilar joint. Swelling and distortion of the joints will
indicate that your arthritis is at an advanced stage and remedial action needs to be taken, if you haven't already done
so.
You don't have to adopt a severe, violent approach. If you just drum your
fingers lightly on the arm of your chair, you will increase the flexibility of the joints and stimulate the blood flow. Imagine you're
playing a restful Beethoven sonata, or even something by Jerry Lee Lewis!
