If you experience pain or stiffness in your hands, know that you’re not alone. As people age, arthritis is an increasingly common health condition. The hands are one of the most common places to develop arthritis. Kacey Karapetyan, Certified Hand Therapist, takes a deep dive into understanding hand arthritis, including symptoms, risk factors and treatment options.
Understanding hand arthritis
Arthritis is a health condition that affects the tissues of the joints, which is the spot where two bones meet. “Because people have so many bones in their hands, hands are a common place where people develop arthritis,” explains Karapetyan.
If you have hand arthritis, you may notice pain, swelling or stiffness, or you may have trouble using your fingers. Hand arthritis typically worsens over time. “Once hand arthritis is advanced, people can have a hard time doing the simple, everyday tasks they once did,” says Karapetyan
Managing hand arthritis
Thankfully, many people with hand arthritis can find relief. Depending on the type of arthritis you have, your overall health status and other factors, your doctor may recommend one or a combination of the following treatments for hand arthritis:
- Hand exercises. Regularly completing exercises can help improve your hand strength and mobility. If you work with a hand therapist, they’ll likely prescribe specific at-home exercises tailored to your care plan.
- Hand therapy techniques. Working with a certified hand therapist can help you learn better ways to move your hands while reducing strain on your joints.
- Heat therapy. Some people find heat to be soothing for arthritic pain. One way to apply heat to the hands is through a heating pad. Another way to heat up the hands is through a paraffin wax bath. This method is preferred for hands, as it allows a circumferential heat.
- Medications. A variety of prescription and over-the-counter medications can help treat symptoms of hand arthritis. Depending on your type of arthritis and the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend pain-relieving medication, nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids or other medications. These may come in pill or topical format.
- Splinting and bracing devices. These devices support and protect your joints and reduce pain so you can do more with your hands. These devices also promote better joint alignment, so they may help slow the progression (worsening) of hand arthritis.
Lifestyle modifications hand arthritis
You may also find changing your daily routine and home environment helpful with your hand arthritis symptoms. Lifestyle modifications for hand arthritis include:
- Assistive devices and ergonomic changes. You can make small changes to your regular environments to reduce strain on your hand joints. “One change that can be helpful is increasing the size of handles and other objects, such as doorknobs. This helps to reduce the amount of stress on the joints by requiting less joint range of motion” says Karapetyan. Ask your doctor or hand therapist about ergonomic changes or assistive devices that may be right for your situation.
- Diet changes. Your doctor may suggest you follow an anti-inflammatory diet to help manage your arthritis symptoms. Foods to avoid may include added sugar, dairy products and high-fat food.
- Maintaining a healthy weight. A healthy diet can help you reach and maintain your optimal body weight. Losing weight can help reduce inflammation, which can contribute to arthritis. If you also have arthritis in load-bearing areas of your body – such as your hips or knees – losing weight will help reduce strain and likely improve your symptoms.
- Stress management. Managing stress in your daily life can help you stay healthy and reduce inflammation. Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing to help calm your body.
- Support groups and resources. Having hand arthritis can be challenging. Finding a support group and resources can help you know you’re not alone. Ask your specialist about local support groups, or try searching online. Sharing your successes and struggles can help others who are going through similar situations.
