There are lots of joints in the hand that let you move it. They’re important to wrist and hand function, and when you get arthritis in hands, it can have a negative impact. There are different kinds of arthritis and depending on which one you get, the impact and effect can be different.

With adult arthritis it is in one in every five adults today with about 50% of that figure being under 55 years of age. It is one of the key issues that causes impairment and can happen either from surgery or a debilitating condition like rheumatoid arthritis. Cartilage acts like a shock absorber in the joint and gives cushioning.

Over the years, cartilage can break down through damage. It can also get damaged due to illness, injury or other factors. A joint that’s damaged gets limited in movement and can be very painful. When this happens, the joint produces synovial fluid to compensate. This causes further joint swelling and limits range of motion. Swelling is increased by stretching over the pill which is the joint covering. This causes more pain in the joints, and over the course of time, If the arthritis goes untreated, the bones might lose their general shape and cause more pain and limiting in the motion area.

Arthritis in hands can be diagnosed by a doctor who runs tests, takes x-rays and compares complaints to standards. Some of the latest equipment can also be used like a magnetic resonance imaging machine or MRI, although this is not always done. A scan can also be used to help the doctor find arthritis in earlier stages, because x-rays can miss the problem at that point.

Doctors can also use a direct examination method where they place a tiny camera in the joint so that they can see inside. This is called arthroscopy, and it gives the doctor a clear picture of the joint without making a large incision. While this procedure is not always called for, it is one of the tools doctors sometimes use in the diagnostic process.

Another useful scan for diagnosing arthritis in hands is the bone scan. While x-rays are limited in early stages, bone scans give the doctor an inside look at the joint. The more information available the easier it is to make a correct judgment about how to treat the problem.

Once a diagnosis is in hand, the doctor can begin to treat the problem with the painful joints. Treatment for arthritis in hands can include splints, medications and injections, and if that doesn’t work, there’s also an operation. Depending on the level of joint damage, the specific treatment will be prescribed. In addition, doctors take age, overall health and degree of the individuals activity in account.

Arthritis in hands are often diagnosed radiographically, although a bone scan is the best way to detect arthritis during its earlier stages. For more information, please visit my website at: Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms