Arthritis is basically inflammation of the joints. If you have arthritis in your hands, you probably have inflammation in one or more joints in your hands or wrists. It is a disorder that can be caused by a disease (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis) or by an injury. To try to manage pain, inflammation, and other changes in the hands, it is important to treat the problem appropriately.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Get Medical Treatment
Step 1. Take recommended medications
Your doctor may recommend certain medicines to take regularly to reduce the inflammation and pain caused by arthritis. Some of these products, such as ibuprofen (an anti-inflammatory), do not require a prescription and you can take them several times a day. The drugs described below are known to relieve discomfort and inflammation due to this pathology:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Also known as NSAIDs, these include ibuprofen (Brufen); most of these are available in pharmacies for free sale, but you can get the doctor to prescribe stronger NSAIDs, which have a higher concentration of active ingredient.
- Corticosteroids: These are mainly used to control inflammation. These drugs are administered intravenously. Those for oral use are generally indicated for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Analgesics: they are specific to relieve pain, but do not reduce inflammation; among these the most common is paracetamol (Tachipirina). They are also available in cream form and can be rubbed into the skin around the painful area. You can find low-dose pain relievers and a variety of topical cream products at pharmacies without a prescription, while the stronger versions require a prescription.
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: Also known as DMARDs (an acronym that derives from the English term), they act in modifying the arthritic process. These are medicines available only by prescription.
- Biological response modifiers: They are especially indicated for rheumatoid arthritis and work by blocking specific passages of the body's inflammatory process. Again, only your doctor can prescribe them.
- Osteoporosis medications: Help slow bone loss or build new bones. There are different types and they are for sale only by prescription.
Step 2. Manage the pain with injections
If anti-inflammatory medications do not relieve discomfort, your doctor may recommend that you perform regular injections into the arthritic joint. These are usually anesthetics and steroids, the effect of which can last several months.
Even if this treatment seems effective to you, remember that you can only use it as a temporary measure and not continuously and indefinitely
Step 3. Splint hands and / or wrists
In addition to medications or injections - or as a replacement - you can decide to use a splint. This device allows you to support and stabilize your hands and / or wrists to reduce the stress they undergo during certain activities.
Usually, the splints are worn every day for a limited number of hours and not constantly. Most arthritis sufferers tend to use this accessory when doing specific activities that could cause more pain, such as typing, driving, painting or gardening
Step 4. Consider surgery for your aching hands
Unfortunately, medications and injections are not always as effective as desired. Another option you can consider is surgery. The exact procedure you may undergo depends on your specific situation, but the main purpose is to reduce pain in the long run.
- The first and best of the surgical options is the one that involves saving or reconstructing the joint. However, if this is not possible, the surgeon will graft a prosthesis or proceed with a fusion of the joint.
- Fusion between two joints can greatly reduce pain, but irreversibly prevents movement. Joint immobility allows pain to be eliminated because any type of friction between the bones is prevented.
- The graft of a prosthesis consists of replacing the original joint with an artificial one, which is usually made of plastic, metal or ceramic and can last a very long time. This procedure not only eliminates all pain, but allows you to continue using your hand as normal.
Step 5. Undergo appropriate hand therapies after surgery
Regardless of the type of surgery undergone, you will need to perform hand therapy (a type of physiotherapy) later on. Immediately following the surgical procedure it may be necessary to constantly wear a splint to limit movement as the affected area heals. You will also need to change the type of activity until your hand or wrist is strong enough.
Most patients typically return to normal activities about 3 months after surgery. However, the speed of recovery is highly dependent on the effort you put into caring for your hand or wrist
Method 2 of 3: Relieve Pain with Home Remedies
Step 1. Apply an ice pack to reduce inflammation
If the joint is swollen and painful due to arthritis, you can use a cold or ice pack to relieve the discomfort.
Step 2. Keep your hands warm
If arthritic inflammation causes pain that doesn't go away, heat can help. Indeed, many patients typically complain of more pain in cold environments and find that keeping their hands and wrists constantly warm (for example, wearing gloves) can relieve discomfort.
- Wearing cotton gloves while sleeping to keep your hands warm also helps limit pain.
- Put warm paraffin wax compresses on your hands every morning to keep them warm from the start of the day. These are hot paraffin baths that you can store in a slow cooker and reuse many times.
Step 3. Get some assistive devices
Arthritis in the hands can prevent you from doing certain activities, such as removing a jar lid, grasping something firmly, prying open a latch container, and so on. There are many accessories on the market that can make all these tasks easier, especially if you don't always have other people around who can help you.
The web is typically the best source for determining which products are available and finding the one most useful for your purpose. You can search online by typing in "hand arthritis assistive devices" or go to orthopedics in your area and find the most effective products for you
Step 4. Take glucosamine and chondroitin supplements
You can find these compounds in major drugstores and health food stores. It has been found that they are able to reduce pain and stiffness in those suffering from osteoarthritis, but they are not effective for everyone equally. You can take these supplements for two months and see if they have a positive effect on your hands and wrists. However, if you do not find relief, it makes no sense to continue with this treatment.
Keep in mind that the manufacturers of these supplements advertise them as compounds that can rebuild cartilage in the joints. However, there are no scientific studies that can confirm the veracity of these claims by the manufacturers
Step 5. Eat more fish
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in many types of fish and in supplements in fish oil capsules, can potentially reduce the amount of inflammation in the body. While they are not effective for everyone, it is worth giving dietary supplements or supplementing your diet with more fish.
Method 3 of 3: Exercise Your Hands
Step 1. Bend your thumb
Keep your hand straight in a comfortable, relaxed position with all fingers and thumb straight. Then bend your thumb towards the palm (or as far away as you can) and try to touch the base of the little finger. Then return it to its original position.
- Repeat this exercise several times with your right hand, until you feel discomfort.
- When you are done with this hand, switch to the left.
Step 2. Straighten your fingers
Point your right hand up with all fingers straight and close to each other. Fold the tips down towards the center of the palm. Bend the first and second knuckles only, keeping your hand and fingers straight. When finished, bring them back to the starting position.
- Bend and straighten your fingers slowly and in one smooth motion.
- Repeat the exercise as many times as you are able to do it using your right hand.
- When finished, move to the left.
Step 3. Make a fist
Rest the outside of your right fingers, hand, and wrist on a flat surface. Start by holding your hand at 90 degrees to the surface with your fingers straight. Without lifting your hand from the table, close it into a fist but don't clench tightly. Place your thumb on the outside of your fist; finally bring the fingers back to the starting position.
- Slowly open and close your hand smoothly. When closing your fist, do not clench your fingers strongly.
- Repeat the exercise as many times as you are able to, using your right hand.
- When you are done, you can practice the left one.
Step 4. Curl your fingers to form the letter "C" with your hand
Hold your right hand in front of you, as if you are holding someone else's. Keep your fingers straight and snug together. Using your thumb and fingers, curve your hand in a "C" shape, as if you are holding a soda can. Straighten your fingers to their original position.
- Open and close your hand slowly and in a smooth motion;
- Repeat the exercise as many times as you are able without feeling discomfort;
- When finished, switch to your left hand.
Step 5. Make circles with your fingers and thumb
Hold your right hand in front of you, as if you are about to hold another person's. Keep your fingers straight and snug together. Begin to curl your index finger and thumb so that the tips touch and form a circle. Repeat the process with the middle, ring and finally the little fingers.
- Bend and straighten your fingers slowly without jerky movements;
- Do as many repetitions as you are able to do with your right hand;
- When you're done, practice your left hand.
Step 6. Slide your fingers across a table
Place your right hand on a flat surface with the palm down, fingers straight and slightly apart. The thumb must point away from the hand. Start with your index finger and slide it to the left until it is far away from your middle finger. Repeat the same movement with your middle, ring and little fingers.
- When you have moved all the fingers of your right hand, bring them back to the starting position and repeat the exercise as many times as you are able.
- When you're done, switch to your left hand.
- Regardless of which hand you are exercising, you must always move your fingers towards the thumb.
