The characteristic symptoms and treatment of arthritis of the hands

In the process of development of the disease is a thinning of the cartilage covering the joint, the pathological changes are the ligaments, the joint deforms and loses its ability to make the necessary movements. Almost all of us have met elderly people with gnarled, disfigured by disease fingers. This is arthritis that affects the hands; it brings suffering, pain and deprives people of the opportunity for example to hold Cup or button up.

Causes of arthritis brush

The causes of the disease can be:

• transferred without proper treatment of infectious diseases (influenza, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia);
• injuries of the hands;
• overload associated with professional activity.
• metabolic disturbances (especially related to advanced age or being overweight);
• severe hypothermia, which because vasoconstriction slows the blood flow, and inflammation of the synovial membrane of the joint;
• a weak immune system;
• the hereditary factor (if relatives were observed similar pathology, it should be a cause for the practice of prevention).

Symptoms of pathology

The disease can occur in acute or chronic form. The consequences of chronic arthritis is no less dangerous than occur in the acute form, but to detect it and start treatment is sometimes possible only at the stage when the full recovery of the joint is impossible.

Common symptoms of arthritis of the hands include:

• Morning stiffness of the joint ("syndrome gloves").
• Numbness or tingling in the wrists. This symptom is most typical for rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body produces antibodies against its own cells healthy tissue.
• Pain. In acute arthritis, they are intense, enhanced by movement and often accompanied by increased body temperature. In the chronic form of the disease the pain may be weak, irregular and to occur mainly after a period of immobility of the joint.
• The creaking and crunching of the joint caused by worn-out cartilage.
• Swelling (edema) and redness of the wrist, the result of inflammation around the joint soft tissues.
• Deformity of the joint (so-called syndrome rusting) occurs in advanced forms of pathology because of the violation of the anatomy of the bones.

Diagnosis

Competent diagnosis is important for effective treatment of any disease. During examination of the patient with suspected arthritis of the hands, first of all identified visible symptoms, then held x-ray examination of the joints of the hands and assigned tests:

• blood General, and if required, biochemical, rheumatoid factor and specific antibodies;
• urine – a common, and in cases of suspected gout form of arthritis is the uric acid;
• synovial fluid (this is the lubricating fluid inside the joint) for the presence of infection.

Methods of effective treatment

A comprehensive treatment of arthritis includes drug therapy.

To reduce pain, relieve inflammation and swelling are prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids .

To stop the destruction of cartilage tissue of the joint, the patient can assign chondro protectores containing glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, organic sulfur (methylsulfonylmethane), a complex atilovykh and fatty acids . As drugs acting on the cause of the disease, apply penicillamine, cytotoxic agents and sulfonamides.

Physiotherapy treatments help reduce stiffness, inflammation and pain, help to preserve the functional ability of the joints of the hands. What is the procedure:

• warm up (including UV, laser and infrared radiation);
• ultrasound;
• electrophoresis;
• magnetic therapy;
• phonophoresis.

To maintain and increase range of motion in the joints of the hands help massage and rehabilitation exercises. Another way arthritis therapy – the correction of power. The diet should be foods rich in vitamins E, D and antioxidants: liver, fish, vegetables and fruits, nuts, bran.

Radical treatment for advanced forms of the disease is surgical intervention. In place of the destroyed joint, brush the denture or bones of the hand are fixed in a stationary state. The last option is called in posuere eget and is used to relieve the patient from pain.

To avoid severe complications or surgery, you need to consult a doctor and start therapy. Arthritis of the hands first and second degrees in most cases, cured completely.