Hand Joint Pain:
Give a High Five for Relief

Pain in the joints of either hand can cause a lot of problems in life so it is important to do everything you can to minimize it.

There are multiple joints in the hand which is why it has so much flexibility. By like most joints, they are subject to normal wear and injury. Cartilage gets worn and the joint doesn’t work smoothly leading to inflammation and pain.

You see people rubbing their hands trying to loosen up stiff and painful fingers. An injury can also change the way a joint moves leading to cartilage wear.

Living with hand joint pain, shouldn't force you to lead a life where you must give up important activities. You can manage the pain in most cases just by following a home treatment.

Sometimes the arthritis will progress to the point where surgery is required, but many people live full productive lives with minimum pain by taking simple pain management steps.

One of the interesting facts about hand joint pain and osteoarthritis pain is that it can start slowly and grow over time. The pain will start as a dull ache felt when trying to use the hand.

You might try to twist a jar lid or use a screwdriver and notice a burning sensation in the joint. A common source of pain the hands is the basal joint which is where the thumb joint meets the wrist joint.

The pain may also occur in the mornings when your hands are stiff from disuse through the night. In the early stages of arthritis, the stiffness and pain will sometimes subside after using the fingers for a while. In the advanced disease stage the pain may even disrupt sleep at night.

Hand joint pain is often accompanied by swelling and a warm feel to the skin. Often the pain is bearable but it can easily become unbearable over time as the joint continues to degenerate. That's why it's important to take steps as soon as possible to deal with the pain.

Is pressure on the median nerve -- the nerve in the wrist that supplies feeling and movement to parts of the hand. It can lead to numbness, tingling, weakness, or muscle damage in the hand and fingers.

Causes:
The median nerve provides feeling and movement to the "thumb side" of the hand (the palm, thumb, index finger, middle finger, and thumb side of the ring finger).The area in your wrist where the nerve enters the hand is called the carpal tunnel.
This tunnel is normally narrow, so any swelling can pinch the nerve and cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. This is called carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is common in people who perform repetitive motions of the hand and wrist. Typing on a computer keyboard is probably the most common cause of carpal tunnel.The condition occurs most often in people 30 to 60 years old, and is more common in women than men.

Common nonsurgical treatments include the following.

• Anti-inflammatory medications including over-the-counter drugs or prescription medications
• Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements that help promote healthy cartilage growth (check with doctor first if taking other medications)
• Splinting to support the joint
• Hand massages that relieve pain
• Hand exercises to build stronger ligaments supporting joints
• Warm and cold water soaks to reduce inflammation and relieve pain

Some people require surgery if the hand joint pain isn't manageable. But fortunately most people are able to manage the pain on their own using mild over-the counter pain medications and any of the other pain management techniques just listed.









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