Signs of arthritis in hands

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Signs of Arthritis in Hands

The two common arthritis conditions that attack the hands are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis happens when the joints begin to deteriorate due to the aging process.  As you grow older, the cartilage starts to wear out. This result in crashing of bones at the joints. Osteoarthritis usually begins at the weight-bearing joints such as the spine, hip, and knee.

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when an inflammation sets in at the joints. As the result, you feel pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. If the condition persists, it can damage the cartilage, bone, tendons, and ligaments.

In most cases, rheumatoid arthritis can cause deformities of the hand. It usually happens during your peak time. Moreover, women tend to experience rheumatoid arthritis more than men. As the disorder erupts without any consistent pattern and progress as the time passes, you definitely need a long-term treatment strategy to cope with the pain.

What Are The Common Signs of Arthritis in Hands 

The signs of arthritis of hand are the same as other arthritic conditions. You will experience stiffness, pain, and swelling in the joints. When you try to move the joints, the pain become more intense. Sometimes, the pain can be intolerable that you cannot move your fingers. Osteoarthritis usually affects the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint at the tip of the finger and the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint at midfinger. You can identify osteoarthritis of the hand by observing the bumps at the joints of the fingers. You can feel severe pain when you pinch the fingers together. You also lose the ability to grip.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints. It also destroys the joint at the wrist. Therefore, you cannot grasp and pinch. Rheumatoid arthritis follows a symmetrical pattern. If one hand is affected, the other hand will also be afflicted.

You find it difficult to perform simple tasks which involve your wrist, hand, and fingers such as tying shoes and opening jars.

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by arthritiscure

I'm Elina. I hate arthritis. I like to share what I know about arthritis.
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