Thumb arthritis

Doctors may use several methods to diagnose arthritis thumb, including physical examination and imaging techniques some X-rays.

Define

Thumb arthritis, also called joint arthritis, occurs when the joints in the wrist and thumb (carpometacarpal joint) developed arthritis.


Thumb arthritis can cause hand pain, swelling, decreased strength and range of motion, making it difficult to do simple tasks, such as moving the doorknob and opened the bottle.

Treatment of arthritis thumb may include self-care measures, splints, medications or injections of corticosteroids. In severe cases, surgery may be needed to treat arthritis thumb.

The symptoms

The first symptoms of the most common and thumb arthritis pain. Pain occurs in the joints of thumb when holding (no pressure to the joints), a material sandwiched between thumb and forefinger. Finally, maybe even hurt when not using the thumb.

Signs and symptoms may include:

Swelling, stiffness and joint pain in the thumb.

Reduce the power to interrupt or grasping objects.

Reducing motion.

Hypertrophic bone or joint appearance outside at the root of the thumb.

Pain, stiffness and motion can minimize or significant, depending on the severity of the condition and how to use hand in work and leisure.

If you constantly swelling, numbness or pain in the joints of thumb, find medical advice. If the doctor determines thumb arthritis, can work to develop pain management and treatment plan.

Also, look for medical advice if you experience side effects - such as nausea, abdominal discomfort, black or tarry stool, constipation, sedation, or arthritis medicines.

Cause

The exact cause of arthritis of the thumb, as with osteoarthritis generally not known. Researchers suspect it's a combination of factors, including being overweight, aging, joint injury or stress, heredity, muscle weakness, and "cumulative load" for the match. Cumulative load refers to the repeated use of joints such as assembly line work.

Formed from the small bone at the base of the thumb (trapezoid), thumb bone (metacarpal) and joint scaphotrapezio - trapezium of the wrist, the joint base allows a wide range of motion and thumb allows the hand to pinch, grip and grasp.

In a normal basis, cartilage covers the ends of bones - acts as a cushion and allows bones to glide smoothly together. With thumb arthritis, the cartilage covers the ends of bones less smooth surface. The bones then rub together, which led to friction and damage.

Body repair the damage, but the repairs can not complete, the result is that instead of new bone growth along the sides of existing bone, can produce lumps in the neck thumb.

Risk Factors

The exact cause of arthritis of the thumb is not clear, but these factors increase the risk:

Women.

40 years or older.

There are some genetic conditions, including without ligaments and joints altered.

Over injuries, such as fractures and sprains.

There are structural changes in disease and normal function of cartilage, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Perform some operation and high job stress caused to the wrist.

Tests and diagnosis

Doctors may use several methods to diagnose arthritis thumb, including physical examination and imaging techniques some X-rays.

In the clinical examination, the doctor will ask about your symptoms and seek swelling or lumps on joints.

Your doctor may conduct an experiment, in which holding hands while moving the thumb, the pressure, the wrist bone. If this motion grinding sound generated, or cause pain or gritty feeling, it means that the worn cartilage and bones rubbing together.

Imaging techniques may reveal residual bone grows along the edges of the bone (bone spurs), worn down cartilage and joint space loss - indicates the presence of thumb arthritis. The doctor may refer the following techniques:

X-ray.

Bone scan.

Computer tomography (CT).

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Treatments and drugs

Treatment focuses on helping to:

Analgesic.

Maintain or improve operations thumb.

Reduce defects.

Your doctor may recommend a combination of treatments, including self-care measures, activity modification, bracing, medication and physical therapy. In the first phase, the non-surgical treatment is usually effective. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

Brace

Your doctor may recommend a brace to support joints and limit the movement of the thumb and wrist. The brace helps relieve pain, promote appropriate location and provide needed rest. Depending on your needs, can only wear a splint at night or during the day and night.

Some types of braces available. Some are prefabricated, and can be found in the medical supply store or drugstore. These types can be custom-made to fit the hand. It can be soft and cloth or plastic. Your doctor or physical therapist specially trained in the treatment of disorders hand (hand therapy) can help determine the right brace.

Drug

Your doctor may recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) on a regular basis to relieve joint pain. Acetaminophen may have fewer side effects than other pain medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation and reduce pain in the thumb and wrist. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen drugs include (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, others). Strong prescription NSAIDs include ketoprofen, diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren) and Nabumetone (Relafen).

NSAIDs may increase the risk of side effects when used with high-dose long-term treatment. Side effects may include tinnitus, stomach ulcers, heart problems, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney.

Injections

If the combination of painkillers and use the brace ineffective, doctors may recommend corticosteroid injections. Corticosteroid injections can provide pain relief and reduce inflammation. Corticosteroid injection is only a temporary solution. Thumb arthritis is a progressive degenerative disease, which means it will deteriorate over time - to inject or not.

When surgery is necessary

If you do not respond to other treatments or if the possibility of using the thumb significantly compromised, the doctor may recommend surgery arthroscopy.

During arthroscopy, the surgeon makes a small incision in the area around the joint and insert a tube-shaped instrument called the arthroscope. Arthroscope light and a small camera, the projected image of the inner expansion joints on a video screen for the surgeon can see it. If in need of repair, the surgeon can insert surgical instruments into the joint through the arthroscope or through small incisions.

Based on what doctors discovered during arthroscopy, or based on history, examination and imaging studies, may introduce the following treatments:

Consolidated joint (arthrodesis). In arthrodesis, surgeons need to permanently affected bones in joints to increase stability and reduce pain. The consolidated joint can then bear weight without pain, but there is no flexibility.

Bone cutting tips. In this procedure, the surgeon put the bones in joints affected.

Trapeziectomy. In this section, the surgeon removes bone trapezoidal side.

Joint replacement. In this procedure, the surgeon removes part or all of the affected joint and replacing it with a piece from one of the tendon. Plastic or metal device called a prosthesis is also developed to replace the part. Today, however, doctors prefer soft tissues (tendons) joints.

Each surgical procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis. After surgery, can brace on the thumb and wrist for up to six weeks. After being taken out, can work with a physical therapist to help regain strength and mobility hands. Despite the slow recovery, may resume normal activities within six months of surgery.

Lifestyle and home remedies

The self-care measures can help reduce pain, improve mobility and ultimately independence. This is what can help:

Perform range of motion exercises. Exercise move the thumb full of it can help improve mobile joints. Your doctor or therapist can demonstrate specific techniques are best.

Modify appliances. Consider purchasing adaptive equipment, such as bottle openers. Expand understanding of gardening tools, kitchen utensils and appliances. Replacing the traditional door to hold the lever with your thumb. Adaptive equipment usually available from stores. Ask your doctor or therapist for recommendations.

Apply hot or cold. The doctor may recommend that you use heat or cold - or alternating between them to help reduce swelling, pain and soothe joints.

Heat can help reduce pain, stiffness and relax tense muscles. The various forms of the heat better for different people. Experiment with using hot packs or heating pads electric immersion hand and wrist in a bowl of warm water or paraffin wax, or simply as a shower or bath.

Cold may be effective for pain relief after having too much physical activity. Apply ice packs or soaking your hands in cold water or cold numbing effect can effectively reduce the pain of the hands and wrists.

Use other joints as possible. For example, instead of holding the door handle to open the door, pushed it open with his shoulder.

Educate yourself. Rating cause pain and avoid it.

Alternative medicine

Many methods of complementary medicine has not been studied extensively, by researchers using formal scientific method, difficult for the scientific community to evaluate the efficacy and safety. Some "low-tech" approach to managing non-traditional diseases like arthritis may not be as much attention from the research community as worthy.

For this reason, many Western doctors do not know enough about these methods to validate them. However, growing evidence suggests practicing complementary medicine may have a role in the treatment and management of diseases.

Take care and consult a physician when considering alternative therapies. Expensive, and some can be harmful or potentially interact with medications. Before taking any supplements or dietary supplements, talk to your doctor to find out about potential hazards especially if you are taking other medications.

Coping and support

Adaptive equipment can make everyday tasks easier and less painful. For example, buy a bottle cap opener to open the kitchen. Consider replacing traditional in-house door with lever, does not require use of the thumb. Equipment is available to turn the key and modify the kitchen tools.

The smart choice also plays a role in dealing with this situation. For example:

Instead of carrying a bag, used with a shoulder strap or arm.

Talk to your doctor about other devices and ideas that may be useful.