Arthrosis in the hands corresponds to the wear and tear of the joints of the hands that damages the cartilage and, thus, increases the friction between the bones that make up the hands, which leads to symptoms such as pain, difficulty in performing simple movements and, in more advanced cases, formation of nodules in the middle at the end of the fingers, Bouchard and Heberden nodules, respectively. Understand what arthrosis is.
Arthrosis can be quite limiting, especially when it affects both hands, and is more common in the elderly and in menopausal women, due to the aging of the cartilage, and in people who perform daily activities that constantly activate the joints of the hands, such as housework., for example.
Main symptoms
The symptoms of arthrosis are usually noticed when the disease is already at a more advanced stage. The main symptoms of arthrosis in the hands are:
- Pain in the hand, which at the beginning of the disease can be more intense when waking up and decreasing throughout the day, however with the progression of the disease the pain can occur all day long; Stiffness in the joints of the hands; Swelling in the fingers; Difficulty making movements simple, like taking an object or writing, for example; Tingling of the hands, even at rest.
In addition, the formation of nodules in the joints, such as the Heberden's nodule, which is formed in the final joint of the fingers, and the Bouchard's nodule, which is formed in the middle of the fingers, can be verified.
The diagnosis of arthrosis of the hands is made by the orthopedist or rheumatologist based mainly on the symptoms described by the patient, in addition to assessing the presence of Heberden or Bouchard nodules, which is common to appear in more advanced cases. An X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging may also be requested by the doctor to check the degree of joint wear and thus confirm the diagnosis.
Causes of arthrosis in the hands
Arthrosis in the hands is caused mainly due to repetitive efforts, being more common in people who use their hands a lot, such as bricklayers and people who do housework. In addition, this type of arthrosis is more frequent in the elderly and menopausal women, due to the aging of the cartilage.
In addition, inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, in addition to genetic diseases can favor hand joint stiffness, resulting in osteoarthritis. Know other causes of osteoarthritis.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for arthrosis in the hands is done according to the symptoms presented by the patient, and the use of medications to relieve pain and swelling and sessions of occupational therapy or physiotherapy to improve joint mobility, reduce symptoms and allow for carrying out day-to-day activities. In more severe cases, surgery may be indicated by the doctor, but only when the use of medications and physiotherapy are not sufficient. Find out how physiotherapy for osteoarthritis is done.
It is also recommended to rest the joint and apply ice or heat to the area to relieve the symptoms of arthrosis. Symptoms of osteoarthritis may disappear after weeks or months of starting treatment, although the joints appear to be more swollen. See how treatment for osteoarthritis is done.
