Arthritis in the Hands: Causes, Symptoms, and Remedies

Arthritis is a chronic condition that can affect any joint in the body. Surprisingly, it can affect the hands and progress to other parts of the body. Arthritis is generally characterized by joint inflammation, swelling, and pain and comes in different forms with associated risk factors.

Arthritis can affect the thumb-based joints and the joints at the fingers. This can cause discomfort and an inability to carry out daily activities without feeling intense pain. In this article, you’ll understand the different types of arthritis that occur in the hands, the causes of arthritis in the hands, the symptoms, and what you can do about it.

Types of Arthritis that occur in the Hands

The different types of arthritis that can happen in the hands include;

• Osteoarthritis: This is a degenerative joint condition that rarely affects other parts of the body. It occurs when the cartilage of the joints wears down gradually, causing pain and stiffness. The joints in the first knuckle from the top of the fingers (i.e., the distal interphalangeal joints) and the 2nd knuckles (i.e., the proximal interphalangeal joints) are affected by osteoarthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: This is a systemic autoimmune condition that can affect the small joints of the hands (the wrists and knuckles that connect your fingers to your hands). Additionally, it can affect almost every part of the body where joints are located.
• Psoriatic arthritis: This condition occurs when the lining of the joints is inflamed and swollen. One distinguishing feature is the swelling of the whole finger affected, especially in the middle joints, which is most common in people with psoriasis.
• Gouty arthritis: Gout is a condition that results from the accumulation of uric acid in the blood. This triggers the activation of macrophages and the onset of inflammation, which can extend to the joints. Various joints can be affected by gouty arthritis, such as the knees, ankle, elbow, wrist, and fingers.

You might like to know what causes arthritis in young adults and even the elderly. Let’s talk about it.

What Causes Arthritis in the Hands?

There are several potential causes of arthritis in the hands. In this section, we will now highlight what causes arthritis in young adults and also in older people. Some of them include;

• Older age
• Fracture or previous trauma in the hands or joints
• Genetics
• Infections and inflammatory conditions

Symptoms of Arthritis in the Hand

The symptoms of this condition include;

• Pain, stiffness, and swelling
• The affected joints become larger.
• Tiredness, fever, and fatigue
• Cracking or snapping sound while moving the joints

Effective Remedies for Arthritis

There is no permanent cure for arthritis of the hands. Therefore, remedies are aimed at reducing the severity of the symptoms and preventing the progression of the condition. These include;

• Weight management and other lifestyle factors: One of the risk factors of arthritis is obesity, as this takes a toll on all the joints in your body. Apart from exerting pressure on the weight-bearing joints (for instance, the knees and hips), excess weight triggers the onset of inflammation, which is the culprit behind rheumatoid arthritis. This can extend to all the joints in the body and cause severe pain.
• Use of medication and joint-support supplements: Anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to relieve pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. Also, the use of joint health-promoting supplements like NATURE’SFIELD JOINT RENEW MAXIMUM STRENGTH can help improve bone and joint mobility. It also delays the deterioration of cartilage, which is the underlying cause of osteoarthritis.
• Know the type of arthritis you are experiencing: One major distinguishing feature between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis of the hands is that the former worsens with movement and eases with rest, while the reverse is the case for the latter. Therefore, understanding the type of arthritis in the hands will help you know how to curtail the symptoms and relieve the pain.

We use our hands a lot daily, even subconsciously. We have previously discussed what causes arthritis in young adults, as well as older people. Therefore, if you have osteoarthritis in your hands or wrists, reduce strenuous activities with your hands, which can bring great relief. Hand arthritis can be a frustrating condition when it becomes chronic and this can even lead to severe complications such as joint damage and cardiovascular issues.

Therefore, incorporate these remedies, lifestyle changes, and use of NATURE’SFIELD JOINT RENEW MAXIMUM STRENGTH so you can continue to lead active and fulfilling lives free from limited mobility.