Our hands are vital for almost everything we do, so arthritis in the hands and wrists can be particularly difficult to deal with. Osteoarthritis can occur in all joints of the body, but it is very common in the hands and wrists.
Hand and wrist arthritis occurs more often in certain areas:
- In the joint that is at the base of your thumb, where the thumb comes into the wrist joint. You could have bumps or bony knobs where the arthritis is.
- In the joints at the ends of your fingers closest to the nails. You may get bumps in these joints called Heberden's nodes.
- In the joints in the middle of the fingers. These areas may develop bumps called Bouchard's nodes.
To diagnose hand arthritis, your doctor can conduct a physical exam and take your medical history. Most common symptoms of hand arthritis include:
- Swelling
- Warmth
- Motion loss
- Deformity
To treat hand arthritis, you need to reduce and/or eliminate the pain and to restore your mobility and function. Some of the most effective treatments include:
- Anti-inflammatory or analgesic drugs. Your doctor may also try to inject pain relievers and steroids directly into the joints.
- Finger and wrist splints
- Rest the joints
- Apply hot and cold treatments
- Try exercises provided by your doctor or your occupational therapist
Some of our products that can help your hand arthritis include our Thermoskins Wrist Wraps:
For either hot or cold therapy for sore hands, try our Elasto-Gel Therapy Mitten:
