Hand arthritis doesn’t always hurt that much, at least not at first. People usually come to us because they’re tired of asking someone else to open the jar. Maybe they’ve cut back on knitting, or their thumb starts hurting by the back nine. Hand therapy won’t cure arthritis. It can make your hands a lot more useful again, though, and that’s usually what people want.
Where Hand Arthritis Shows Up
Osteoarthritis is the type we treat most. It comes from the cartilage in a joint wearing thin, usually over decades. In the hands, the thumb gets hit hardest, right at the bottom where it meets the wrist. It can settle into the finger joints as well. Over time, some people get small, firm bumps by the fingertips or the middle knuckles.
Rheumatoid arthritis isn’t the same condition. With RA, the body’s immune system is what inflames the joints. It usually hits matching joints on the left and right hands. A big clue is morning stiffness that doesn’t let go for an hour or longer. That kind needs a doctor’s care along with therapy, so let us know if it sounds like you.
What People Usually Notice
- A sore thumb when turning a key or pinching a zipper
- Stiff fingers in the morning that loosen with warm water
- Knuckles that look swollen or lumpy
- Dropping things more than you used to
What Happens in Hand Therapy
The first visit is mostly us watching your hands work. You’ll squeeze a grip meter, pinch a small gauge, and bend each finger while we measure. Then we’ll ask what’s been a pain lately, whether it’s peeling potatoes or texting. Your answers shape the plan.
Early on, you’ll do simple finger and thumb movements to get the joints bending more freely. Try them with your hands in warm water. Most people find that’s when the stiffness gives them the least trouble. As your hands loosen up, we add light strengthening for the small muscles around the joints, since those muscles take some of the load off the cartilage.
For thumb arthritis, a splint is often one of the most helpful things we do. It keeps the base of the thumb from moving too much, so the joint gets a chance to calm down. Some people wear it at night. Others wear it during chores that make the thumb ache.
Small Changes That Help
We’ll also talk about how you use your hands during the day. Try hooking grocery bags over your forearm so your fingers don’t have to hold all that weight. Pushing a heavy door with your palm helps too. Padded handles on kitchen tools, pens, and garden tools can help a lot, and most of them are cheap. People often feel the difference within a few weeks.
Let’s Get Your Hands Back to Work
If arthritis has been getting in the way of your hobbies or chores, come see our team at Modern Medicine of Surprise, AZ. We’ll help you find ways to use your hands with less pain.
