Arthritis in the hands can be a painful condition.

Generally, when we talk about hand arthritis, we mean osteoarthritis in the hand and fingers. This condition is caused by the deterioration of cartilage in the joints. Hand arthritis is easily visible on X-rays, as the loss of cartilage causes bones to rub against one another directly and produces changes in the structure of the joints of your hands. Arthritis can be a painful condition in all its forms; you'll likely notice pain in your hands. And hand osteoarthritis can also lead to joint deformations and mobility issues in the hands. The goals of treatment in hand arthritis are to reduce pain and help preserve or restore mobility and function.

Where in my hand will I experience symptoms?

Hand arthritis tends to occur in the fingers and thumb. You may notice pain at the base of the thumb near the wrist, which can limit the strength and mobility necessary to do things like open doors or take the tops off of jars. Another common location for hand arthritis is the top joint of the fingers, where bumps may occur. The middle of the finger can also be affected and can also manifest bumps. Swelling, stiffness and pain may also be present in each of these cases.

Arthritis in hands can also manifest in the joint of the wrist, where you're likely to see swelling and experience stiffness and pain as well.

What can I do about hand arthritis?

Depending on the individual progress of your own osteoarthritis, there are quite a few things you and your doctor can do to help you have less pain and more mobility in the affected area. First, you may be prescribed medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, that will help reduce inflammation. This may also reduce the pain you experience in your hands and wrists. It's also worthwhile to see your doctor or an occupational therapist to determine whether any exercises would be beneficial for your treatment. Often, there are things you can do that will gently stretch your joints and help you keep your mobility. These need not be painful. If you are prescribed exercises, you should make sure to do them regularly to get the most benefit possible from them.

You can also purchase adaptive devices to help make everyday tasks easier. For example, you may ask your pharmacist to dispense your prescriptions in bottles without childproof caps. You may replace your doorknobs with levers to reduce the need to make a gripping motion, and can choose from a huge variety of other solutions that may make your usual tasks easier to complete.

For more on hand arthritis:

Treating Thumb Arthritis
Hand Exercises for Musicians with Arthritis
Maintaining Hand Mobility Despite Arthritis