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If your fingers are feeling painful and stiff throughout the day, you may have osteoarthritis of the hands. Though common\u2014it occurs by age 85 in about half of all women and one-quarter of men<\/a>\u2014this condition can be painful and make it difficult to do certain things with your hands.<\/p>\n \u201cOsteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that is related to trauma to the joints, or overuse or repetitive activity to joints,\u201d says Tamika Henry, M.D., M.B.A., a board-certified family physician and founder of Unlimited Health Institute<\/a>. \u201cThink \u2018wear-and-tear\u2019 of the joints.\u201d<\/p>\n Inflammation can cause the protective cartilage to wear away over time. The result is joints that rub together, bringing on that pain and stiffness in your hands. \u201cWhen we talk about osteoarthritis of the hands, it typically affects three parts of the hand: The base of the thumb, the small joints closest to the fingertips, and the middle joints of the finger,\u201d explains Ritu Madan, D.O.<\/a>, a rheumatologist at Memorial Health.<\/p>\n Meet the Experts: Tamika Henry, M.D., M.B.A., a board-certified family physician and founder of Unlimited Health Institute<\/a>; Ritu Madan, D.O.<\/a>, a rheumatologist at Memorial Health; Levi Harrison, M.D.<\/a>, orthopedic surgeon, author, and motivational speaker<\/p>\n Below, experts explain everything to know about arthritis of the hand, including risk factors, symptoms, home remedies, and when it\u2019s time to see a doctor.<\/p>\n Risk factors<\/p>\n Certain inherent and lifestyle factors can increase your chances of developing OA of the hands.<\/p>\n Age<\/p>\n \u201cThis form of arthritis usually impacts older people, especially those older than 50,\u201d says Levi Harrison, M.D.<\/a>, orthopedic surgeon, author, and motivational speaker.<\/p>\n Genetics<\/p>\n \u201cFamily history make someone more prone to developing it,\u201d says Dr. Madan.<\/p>\n Sex and race<\/p>\n People who are white are more likely to deal with OA of the hands compared to African Americans, according to the Arthritis Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Weight<\/p>\n OA in the hands has a higher risk of occurring in adults who are overweight or obese.<\/p>\n Health history<\/p>\n OA in the hands has been seen in individuals who have bone deformities, states Dr. Henry. \u201cAlso, someone who has suffered dislocated bones or broken fingers, perhaps playing baseball or another sport, would be more prone to developing hand arthritis,\u201d adds Dr. Madan.<\/p>\n Pre-existing joint issues<\/p>\n Joint infections, loose ligaments, and poorly aligned joints can result in hand or wrist arthritis, reports the Arthritis Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Environmental<\/p>\n Working at a job where your hands make highly repetitive movements (such as a hair stylist, chef, artist, musician, or clothes manufacturer) could lead to OA of the hands, says Dr. Harrison.<\/p>\n Symptoms and triggers <\/p>\n Common complaints include pain, stiffening, limited range of motion, and swelling of the joints, explains Dr. Harrison. \u201cPatients will often tell me they have difficulty opening jars and cans, or that their joint pain is worse in the morning,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n As time goes on, OA of the hands could cause a burning sensation or sharp pain after hours of using your fingers and hands, reports the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>. Other long-term symptoms include changes in the joints, such as:<\/p>\n Swelling<\/p>\n The tissues surrounding the inflamed joints may lead to redness and tenderness, as well as feeling warm to the touch.<\/p>\n Cracking<\/p>\n A feeling of grinding, grating, or clicking, also known as crepitus or creaky joints, caused by the bones rubbing against each other when bending your fingers.<\/p>\n Nodules<\/p>\n Small, bony lumps may form on the middle joint of the finger (referred to as Bouchard\u2019s nodes) or at the at the joint near the fingertip (known as Heberden\u2019s nodes).<\/p>\n Cysts<\/p>\n If arthritis develops at the end joints of the fingers, small, mucous cysts may develop and cause ridging or dents in the nail plate of the affected finger, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Add Prevention as a preferred source in your Google search results.<\/p>\n Use your Google account to add this to your settings.<\/p>\n Add to Google settings<\/p>\n Joint deformity<\/p>\n Due to bone changes, loss of cartilage, and joint swelling, the bones could become larger (known as hypertrophic).<\/p>\n OA in the hands could be exacerbated by certain triggers, such as stress, infection, rainy or cold weather, or extended use of the hands and fingers.<\/p>\n Home remedies <\/p>\n Since the main goal is to minimize inflammation in the body, quitting smoking, losing weight, resting your joints after a long day, eating an anti-inflammatory diet (which includes more plant-based foods and less alcohol\/processed foods), and managing other inflammatory health conditions (such as cardiovascular issues or digestive disorders) may help reduce flare-ups, state all three doctors. Other non-prescription strategies include:<\/p>\n Stretching<\/p>\n \u201cStretching is important in every aspect of our lives since it decreases the likelihood of injury and it helps keep the joints and muscles mobile,\u201d says Dr. Henry.<\/p>\n Topicals<\/p>\n Over-the-counter gels, liquids, and patches that contain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be gently rubbed on the sore joints for temporary relief.<\/p>\n Pain relievers<\/p>\n Over-the-counter medications, such as NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be taken when necessary.<\/p>\n Heat and ice<\/p>\n Apply either an ice pack on the joints to reduce swelling or a warm compress to lessen stiffness, suggests Dr. Madan. \u201cWarm hand paraffin baths in the morning and nighttime before bed have also been shown to benefit many of my patients,\u201d adds Dr. Harrison.<\/p>\n Supplements<\/p>\n Dr. Henry, who was diagnosed in childhood with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, recommends taking supplements shown to fight inflammation, such as turmeric, vitamin D, and omega-3\u2019s. The Arthritis Foundation<\/a> reports that some research indicates turmeric, omega-3\u2019s, and ginger have been shown to help reduce joint pain and stiffness. (Consult with your physician before adding any new supplements to your daily regimen.)<\/p>\n Arthritis-friendly devices<\/p>\n For example, chop food using a mandolin slicer or food processor, open cans with an electric can opener, or grab items with a reaching aid.<\/p>\n Special office supplies<\/p>\n \u201cUsing ergonomic office items, like a keyboard and mouse, can help perform daily tasks with ease and without providing repetitive trauma to your fingers,\u201d advises Dr. Madan.<\/p>\n Occupational therapy<\/p>\n A trained therapist can assist in improving your abilities and quality of life.<\/p>\n Hand exercises<\/p>\n The Mayo Clinic<\/a> offers simple hand stretches that can offer relief for patients living with OA, such as the fist grip, the finger walk, the knuckle bend, and the thumb stretch.<\/p>\n Prescription treatments <\/p>\n While there are no medicines that can reverse joint damage or help slow the progression of OA, one prescription option for severe pain would be steroid injections into the joint, says Dr. Madan. \u201cSurgical interventions, such as joint fusions or joint replacements, are the last possible areas to consider for end-stage osteoarthritis,\u201d adds Dr. Harrison.<\/p>\n When to see a doctor<\/p>\n Mild cases of OA of the hand can usually be treated with lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter aids. However, the Mayo Clinic<\/a> suggests consulting with a physician if you’re experiencing swelling, redness, and warmth around the joint. If the joint pain is severe, if the pain has surfaced in multiple joints, and\/or if you’re dealing with other \u201cunrelated\u201d arthritis symptoms, such as fever, skin rash, or weight loss, a trip to the doctor is necessary, states UMass Memorial Medical Center.<\/a><\/p>\n Yet if joint pain is the result of a recent injury and symptoms include sudden swelling, inability to use the affected joints, and joint deformity, seek medical attention immediately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"5 min read If your fingers are feeling painful and stiff throughout the day, you may have osteoarthritis…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":556477,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[1974,252345,637,163,85,46,195853,1975,162173,252344,237453,142878],"class_list":["post-556476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-content-type-how-to-service","tag-contentid-99670b5f-43f9-414b-9873-f45440a01258","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-health","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-issyndicated-false","tag-locale-us","tag-read_time-6","tag-shorttitle-doctors-explain-arthritis-of-the-hand","tag-sponsored-false","tag-subsection-health-conditions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/556476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=556476"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/556476\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/556477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=556476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=556476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=556476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Google\"](\"https:\/\/www.prevention.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/social\/google.1467f37.svg\")
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