Hand stiffness in the morning, pain while opening jars, difficulty gripping objects, or swelling around finger and wrist joints can sometimes be related to arthritis. The condition can affect individual joints or several areas of the hand and wrist.
Understanding arthritis of Hand and Wrist is important because treatment depends on the type of arthritis, the joints involved, the extent of structural change, and the person's functional needs.
What Happens in an Arthritic Joint?
Healthy joints allow bones to move against each other with minimal friction. When cartilage and other joint structures deteriorate or become inflamed, movement can become painful and restricted.
Different forms of arthritis can affect the hand. Osteoarthritis is associated with degenerative joint changes, while inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis involve a different disease process. Arthritis can also develop following an old fracture or significant joint injury.
Symptoms Can Develop Gradually
Typical symptoms can include:
- Pain during gripping or pinching
- Joint stiffness
- Swelling
- Reduced wrist or finger movement
- Weakness during everyday activities
- Changes in joint shape
- Pain after prolonged hand use
- Difficulty performing fine movements
Symptoms do not always correspond directly with what appears on an X-ray. Some people have substantial radiological changes with manageable symptoms, while others experience considerable functional difficulty.
How Is Hand and Wrist Arthritis Diagnosed?
Evaluation usually includes a discussion of symptoms, previous injuries, medical history, occupation, and activities that aggravate the problem.
The examination may assess joint tenderness, movement, stability, grip, deformity, and neighbouring tendon or nerve function. X-rays are often useful for identifying joint-space changes, bone alignment, or previous injuries.
Further investigations may be considered when an inflammatory or other systemic condition is suspected.
What Treatment Options Are Available?
Early management can include modifying aggravating activities, appropriate splinting, hand therapy, medication as medically suitable, and exercises designed around the affected joint.
Certain patients may be considered for injections. Surgery is generally reserved for selected situations where symptoms and functional limitations remain significant despite appropriate non-operative care.
The procedure, when required, depends on which joint is affected and the pattern of arthritis.
For patients in Matunga and elsewhere in Maharashtra, occupational requirements can strongly influence treatment choices. Someone whose work requires repeated heavy gripping may have different priorities from a person mainly experiencing discomfort during household tasks.
Dr Nikita Shetty Orthopaedic Surgeon evaluates hand and wrist arthritis based on symptoms, joint condition, and functional needs. The goal of assessment is to determine which treatment strategy is appropriate rather than assuming that every arthritic joint requires the same intervention.
