Many people suffer from arthritis of the hands or wrists. Most hand and/or wrist arthritis is caused by two types of arthritis, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis can develop due to normal “wear and tear” whereas rheumatoid arthritis is a systematic inflammatory disease.
Signs of Wrist Arthritis
Common signs that you may be suffering from wrist arthritis include pain, swelling, limited motion, and a decrease in grip strength.
Treatment Options
When a patient is diagnosed with wrist arthritis, there are a few non-surgical approaches that OSS surgeons may recommend first. For instance, sometimes immobilizing the wrist in a splint for a short period of time can help. Sometimes anti-inflammatory medications can relieve pain. Certain exercises, anti-inflammatory medications, or a steroid injections may help as well. Your surgeon may prescribe other therapies, depending on the type of arthritis you have.
When wrist arthritis has advanced far enough to be unresponsive to non-surgical treatments, or if hand function decreases, surgery may be your best option. Your surgeon may be able to remove arthritic bones, fuse the wrist, or perform joint replacement.
We can talk to you about the specifics of your wrist pain and the treatment options available to you.
