Arthritis is a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of one or more joints in the body. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the hand is one of the most commonly affected body parts. (more…)
Arthritis is a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of one or more joints in the body. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the hand is one of the most commonly affected body parts.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis and generally occurs in elderly individuals. This type of arthritis is caused by “wear and tear” and worsens gradually over time. As osteoarthritis progresses, it can cause thinning of the cartilage until it is completely gone, causing bone to rub on bone.
In addition to older age, risk factors for osteoarthritis of the hand include heavy and repetitive usage of and previous trauma to the hands. There may be a genetic component predisposing some people to develop osteoarthritis at an earlier age. Women tend to develop osteoarthritis more frequently and earlier, and obesity is another known risk factor.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an autoimmune disorder. The symptoms may come and go, and they vary greatly between individuals. Rheumatoid arthritis targets the synovium, the soft tissue that lines the joints and tendons throughout the body, and affects most, if not all, joints of the body. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is currently not known, although genetic factors are likely involved.
Symptoms of Arthritis of the Hand
The symptoms associated with arthritis of the hand differ depending on the type of arthritis and the stage of the disease. Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hand include swelling, stiffness of the joint, chronic pain, a grinding sensation accompanied by a “crunchy” sound when moving the joint, reduced range of motion of the affected joints and formation of mucus cysts near the tip of the fingers.
In the early stages, the symptoms may include only dull pain or a burning sensation, especially after periods of increased joint use. The pain is not always immediate and may instead show up after several hours or even the next day. Particularly, pain and stiffness the following morning are common. However, it is important to note that not everyone experiences these symptoms and that the severity varies from person to person.
As any intervention will be more effective the earlier osteoarthritis is diagnosed, early assessment by a physical medicine and rehabilitation or chronic pain specialist is essential. As osteoarthritis progresses, the hand may become deformed and you may experience difficulty in gripping objects and drop things more easily.
While most symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis of the hand are similar to those of osteoarthritis, additional symptoms associated with this type of arthritis include redness of the skin and fatigue in addition to simultaneous pain and stiffness of many other joints of the body.
How Is Arthritis of the Hand Treated?
While there in no definite treatment for arthritis, there are several things you can do to help alleviate the symptoms. Avoid doing any activity that causes exacerbation of the symptoms and warm up your hands using moist heat in the morning and ice them at the end of the day. Medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs or steroid injections, certain supplements such as glucosamine and specific hand exercises may help in some cases. In extreme cases, orthopedic surgery may be needed.
The earlier the inflammation is treated, the better the prognosis is. If you suspect that you may be suffering from hand arthritis, contact your physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor today.
About Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Minimally invasive spinal surgery, or MISS for short, is a surgical method used to treat a variety of spinal disorders. It is characterized not only by the use of a smaller incision than in conventional open spinal surgery, but also by the use of advanced technology and innovative techniques. According to our Florida orthopedic specialists, the main goal of MISS is to minimize muscle and soft tissue damage caused by the surgery while accomplishing results equivalent to those of conventional open spinal surgery.
During MISS, a number of different techniques can be used depending on the condition being treated. In general, a tubular access approach is utilized. By using a tubular retractor, the force on the muscles around the incision is divided more equally than during open surgery, thus creating less localized pressure and reducing the risk of muscle and soft tissue damage. In some cases, MISS may be performed using endoscopy, which involves a tiny video camera guiding the orthopedic surgeon by displaying the internal view on several monitors in real-time, or by fluoroscopy, which is a type of intraoperative real-time X-ray.
MISS can be used to treat a number of different disorders, including degenerative discs, herniated discs, spinal tumors and compression fractures. It commonly involves either decompression, which is used to alleviate the pressure of the spinal cord or nerve roots, or fusion, which is used to stabilize and/or fixate the spine.
Advice for Parents of Fall Sport Athletes
With fall quickly approaching, this is the perfect time to get your child or teenager ready for their fall activities. Particularly for older children who may have tryouts coming up soon, it is important to start preparing in order for them to be ready and to reduce the risk of them sustaining various types of sports injuries. In order to help your child get the most of their sports experience, our Florida orthopedic specialists recommend you keep these six things in mind. (more…)
Is It Better To Exercise in the Morning or at Night?
The benefits of regular exercise include weight control, improved sleep, mood and energy levels, and a reduced risk of numerous diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, certain types of cancer, arthritis and various bone and muscular disorders.
In terms of weight loss, the experts at our Jacksonville clinic have found no solid evidence suggesting that either morning or nighttime exercise is greatly superior for burning calories. However, some studies have found that there may be a difference in terms of the consistency of exercising, which in turn may translate to increased fitness and weight loss. (more…)
See a Doctor if You Are Feeling Pain After an Accident
If you have been in a car accident or any other type of serious accident, it is essential that you seek medical attention immediately. According to our orthopedic surgeons, it is important to do this irrespective of how strong or mild the pain is or whether you are experiencing any other symptoms at the time. (more…)
How Obesity in Children Puts Their Muscoloskeletal Systems at Risk
In the last 30 years, the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in the United States, and the number of obese teenagers has increased four-fold! In 2012, roughly 20% of all American children and teenagers aged six to 19 were obese, and over one-third were either overweight or obese. These numbers are startling to say the least, especially considering the numerous and significant adverse effects on health that have been demonstrated to result from obesity, as well as the negative effects obesity can have on a child’s confidence and psychological wellbeing.
In addition to greatly increasing the risks of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and certain cancers in adulthood, obesity in children has also been demonstrated in a number of scientific studies to put their musculoskeletal system at risk and to increase the risk of orthopedic trauma.
Tips to Keep Your Spine Healthy
The majority of Americans will suffer from back pain at some point during their life, and while there is no way to fully prevent back pain from occurring, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk of developing chronic back pain and to keep your spine healthy.
Symptoms of a Torn ACL
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four ligaments located in the knee joint, and is responsible for providing stability during walking and other activities. A torn or sprained ACL is a highly common knee injury, which affects more than 200,000 people in the United States each year, out of which approximately half undergo knee surgery. About half of all cases are moreover accompanied by other damages to the structures of the knee.
How to Prevent Sports Injuries
Sports injuries can affect anyone no matter how in shape they are. In fact, approximately 10 percent of all physically active adults suffer a sports-related injury every year, and more than 775,000 children under the age of 15 visit the emergency room with a sports injury each year in the U.S. alone.
