Hand arthritis is one of the common forms of osteoarthritis, seriously affecting the mobility and quality of life of patients, especially the elderly.
Hand arthritis is a degenerative disease that progresses slowly but persistently, deeply affecting the mobility and quality of life of patients. Over time, the protective cartilage at the ends of bones wears away, causing the two ends of bones to rub against each other, leading to pain, inflammation and joint deformity. The hand, with its complex structure of many bones and small joints, is vulnerable to this degenerative process.
Causes of hand arthritis
Include the following 6 common causes:
1. Age is an unavoidable factor
The older you get, the natural aging process occurs, causing cartilage tissue to gradually weaken and become more vulnerable. This is why hand arthritis is common in people over 50 years old and the incidence increases significantly with age.
2. Gender increases the risk of the disease
Women are at higher risk of hand arthritis than men, especially after menopause. Hormonal changes can increase the sensitivity of joints to damage and inflammation.
3. Genetics play an important role
Genetics play a significant role in increasing the risk of the disease. If someone in your family has had osteoarthritis, the possibility that you will also experience this problem early on is quite high.
4. Injuries leave long-term consequences
Old injuries such as fractures and dislocations, even if treated and healed, can still become the cause of osteoarthritis over time. Damaged joints become weaker and more susceptible to destruction.
5. Mechanical problems in the joints promote the development of the disease
People with loose joints, misaligned joints or a history of other joint diseases are at high risk of developing hand arthritis. Overuse of joints in work or daily life is also a factor that promotes the degenerative process.
6. Body weight affects joint degeneration
Although the hands do not bear as much weight as the knees or hips, being overweight or obese increases systemic inflammation and contributes to worsening arthritis symptoms in any location in the body, including the hands.
Symptoms of hand arthritis
There are 6 easily recognizable symptoms as follows:
1. Pain is the first manifestation
The pain often starts as a dull ache and only appears when moving or using the hands a lot. As the disease progresses, pain can appear even when resting, especially at night, causing the patient to lose sleep. The pain can be a sharp or dull ache, spreading in the small joints of the hand.
2. Stiffness and limited mobility
Another typical sign is stiffness in the morning or after a long period of inactivity. The ability to extend and flex the fingers gradually decreases, making it difficult and time-consuming to perform simple movements.
3. Crackling sound when moving the joint
When the damaged joint surfaces rub against each other, the patient can hear or feel a cracking, clicking sound every time the hand moves. This is a sign that the joint cartilage has worn away significantly.
4. Swelling and pain when touched
Inflammation in the joints causes the surrounding soft tissue to become red, hot, and painful when pressed. Swelling may appear in the joints near the fingertips or at the base of the thumb, causing prolonged discomfort.
5. Formation of bony nodules and joint deformities
As the disease progresses, small bony nodules may form in the middle joints or near the fingertips. The joints become swollen and deformed and can change the shape of the fingers, causing loss of aesthetics and significant limitation of movement.
6. Muscle weakness and loss of grip strength
The combination of pain, stiffness and joint deformity causes the hand muscles to weaken significantly. Patients can easily notice a decrease in strength when performing daily tasks such as opening a bottle cap, turning a key or holding an object.
