Arthritis Pain Relief for Hands

Constant pain in the hands can make normal day to day activities difficult or even impossible. Almost everything we do involves our hands in some way and common activities such as turning the cap on a water bottle, typing on a computer keyboard, or gripping a tooth brush can shoot pain through the joints at any moment leaving you unable to complete a simple task. For many people that pain is caused by arthritis in one form or the other.

Arthritis means inflammation of the joints and depending on what type of arthritis you are suffering from, the cause of your pain could vary.

Causes of Arthritis in Hands

Generally arthritis of the hands is caused by overuse. People who have to use their hands and fingers constantly, like cashiers and hairdressers are at risk due to the repetition. On some occasions arthritis of the hands can be caused by an acute trauma like a fall, where the person uses their hands to break the impact.

Pain Relief Options for Arthritis

However, you obtained arthritis or pain in your hands, fingers or wrist there are many treatment options ranging from immobilization to hand surgery in more severe cases. Generally, arthritis treatment will fall in into one of 3 categories.

• Exercise – if a hand therapist or specialist feels the inflammation is in control he may prescribe certain exercises to increase range of motion and to reduce stiffness in the hands.
• Medication – there are some medication that due a great job at reducing the inflammation and the pain in the hands. A lot of the times, you will be prescribed pain medication and hand exercises depending on the type of arthritis you have and the severity.
• Surgery – surgery may be an option in more severe cases where you are not responding to the non – surgical treatment. Most patients know when they need surgery and communicate that with their doctor, but surgery is usually a last resort.

Get Help Immediately

It is important to speak with an orthopedist or hand specialist immediately if you are experiencing constant pain in your hands, fingers or wrist. Many people try to self-diagnosis but there are many different kinds of arthritis that could be causing the pain, and the first step on the road to recovery is a proper diagnosis from a qualified physician.

The physicians at IBJI are not only qualified to treat your hand pain, but are committed to only using the most effective treatment to relieve or reduce your pain as quickly as possible. If you are experiencing pain, contact an orthopedic physician at one of our 20 locations through the Chicagoland area today.