Arthritis in Hands Treatment

Painkillers such as NSAIDS, anti-inflammatory herbs and splints are some of the options included in arthritis in hands treatment. To know more about arthritis in hands remedy, read on...

A condition that causes painful inflammation of the joints is referred as arthritis. When it affects the hand, the person experiences difficulty in moving the fingers properly due to joint stiffness and swelling. Arthritis may be the result of wear and tear of joints that occur with age or an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system invades the tissues related to the joints. Arthritis in hands treatment is not restricted to intake of oral prescription medicines only and often involves use of herbs and other home remedies.

Hands Arthritis Treatment

Searching for an arthritis in hands remedy? Well, choices are plenty that vary from prescription medications to home remedies. However, it is usually the combination of treatment that works to relieve arthritis pain. Some of the options for arthritis in hands treatment are given below:

Medicines

Prescription drugs form an integral part of arthritis in palms treatment. Looking for pain relief from arthritis in hands? Well, taking the right medication can give the desired result. It is discussed below:

NSAIDS

Studies confirm that (NSAIDS) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help to alleviate pain. NSAIDS such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen many be prescribed for hand arthritis. Apart from relieving pain, NSAIDS, also assist to subside stiffness and swelling associated with joints.

Narcotics Drugs

Other drugs used for arthritis in arms treatment are narcotics. Basically, these are painkillers and so their intake only decreases the painful sensation of arthritis but does not help to reduce inflammation. Therefore, narcotic drugs are often given in conjunction with NSAIDS.

Corticosteroids

These are more potent and stronger than NSAIDS and usually recommended when aforementioned medicines fail to provide relief. These anti-inflammatory agents such as Prednisone are found to be effective to bring down the pain and the swelling.

Braces

Braces or splints restrict movement of hands, which is essential to improve arthritis in hands symptoms. Performing day-to-day activities involves much use of the hand, which can aggravate arthritis. The main intention of using splints is to provide maximum rest to the hand. Wearing a splint gives support to the arthritis joints and reduces the recovery time.

Exercise

Hand exercises are equally important to recover from arthritis. Keeping the hand immobile for long periods of time can worsen the stiffness and the pain. To facilitate movement and to improve flexibility of joints and muscles, the doctor may suggest few hand exercises for arthritis in fingers treatment.

Arthritis in Hands Home Remedy

Arthritis in hands remedy is not confined to taking NSAIDS and corticosteroids. Home remedies have also been extremely effective to treat hand arthritis. Some of the options available for treating inflammation and pain of hand associated with arthritis are given below:

Heat and Cold Therapy

Applying heating pads or cold packs to the affected area can contribute immensely to alleviate arthritis pain. Heat therapy brings about expansion of blood vessels, which helps to increase blood circulation, thereby reducing muscle stiffness. On the other hand, application of cold packs causes compression of blood vessels. This constriction of blood vessels benefits to decrease inflammation. Besides decreasing swelling, it provides the numbing effect to alleviate pain. Heat and cold therapy is often recommended for rheumatoid arthritis in hands treatment.

Epsom Salts

Looking for an inexpensive arthritis in fingers treatment? Stiff and inflamed joints of hands also respond quite well to epsom salts. Simply, dip the hand in a large mug containing warm or hot water and small amount of epsom salts and one will immediately experience relief from aches. Epsom salt is considered to be a magnesium sulfate compound and hence is a rich source of magnesium. Studies reveal that arthritis joint pain is often the result of magnesium deficiency. Getting soaked in epsom salt bath does help to improve magnesium deficiency, thereby providing relief from joint pain. Build up of uric acid crystals in the joints is many a times, responsible for arthritis. Epsom salt bath stimulates elimination of uric acid from the skin, thus helping to relieve inflammation.

Herbs

There are some herbs for arthritis that show anti-inflammatory properties and so taking them in capsule form or as a tea can be beneficial for arthritis in hands treatment. Some of the herbs used for arthritis treatment of hand are given below:

Devil's Claw

Willow

Meadowsweet

Black cohosh

Birch

Massaging the hand with diluted essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus is also very effective to reduce joint pain. Certain food stuffs are known to worsen joint pain and inflammation. So, the doctor may ask the patient to follow an arthritis diet to keep the inflammatory arthritis symptoms under control. When medications, splints and herbal remedies fail to comfort the patient, the doctor has no option but to recommend surgery. This form of arthritis in hands treatment implements surgical procedures like joint replacement techniques to resolve the issue.