Treatment for Hand and Wrist Arthritis in Robbinsville

Manage Your Hand And Wrist Arthritis With These Treatment Tips.

Arthritis is more complex than most people think. The term is generally associated with joint pain when the cartilage surrounding the area wears down. There are over 100 types that can impact different joints in the body. Over 50 million adults and approximately 300,000 children will experience some type of arthritis in their lives. Specifically, hand and wrist arthritis can make your simple, everyday activities difficult and frustrating to complete or even begin.

If you have hand and wrist arthritis and live in Robbinsville, New Jersey, you are in luck; Trenton Orthopaedic Group at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute can provide excellent care for you and your arthritic joints. Our Hand and Wrist specialists aim to communicate as clearly as possible with patients about their injury or condition. Below are some methods of treatment for arthritis in hands and wrists in Robbinsville that our doctors may discuss with you.

Five Options for Treatment for Arthritis in Hands and Wrists in Robbinsville

1. Activity modification. You should discontinue any activity that exacerbates the pain in your hands and wrists. If you do not take a break from these related activities, you are risking greater inflammation and harm to the arthritic areas. Ask a friend or family member to assist you around your house if there are tasks that you must get done involving your hands and wrists. Also, talk to your doctor about how to deal with activity modification.

2. Immobilization. A wrist splint will ease the pressure on your hands and wrists when you do get back to regular activity. Splints are typically worn when the patient is experiencing pain. Most are designed to be small and allow for some functionality of the wrist. Wearing a splint for too long, though, can cause muscle deterioration, so discuss with your doctor how long you should wear one.

3. Exercise. Moving your body is an important method for managing arthritis of any kind. Strengthening the muscles that support your arthritic joints can ease your pain in the long run. Nevertheless, make sure to not overwork your body, especially your affected hands and wrists. Allow your arthritic joints an adequate amount of rest when necessary. Your doctor may suggest seeing a physical therapist, who will help you create an exercise regimen to serve as treatment for arthritis in hands and wrists.

4. Medications. Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications may help lessen arthritis symptoms and serve as a step for the treatment of arthritis. In some cases, doctors will give corticosteroid injections to patients for the purpose of reducing pain. Be sure to not take any medications without your doctor’s permission.

5. Surgery. Non-operative treatments of arthritis should always be considered before surgical options. Surgery becomes necessary if chronic pain continues in spite of more conservative treatments, or when there is an imperative need to preserve or reconstruct the arthritic joint. If the joint has grown too damaged to be worked on, your doctor may want to perform total replacement surgery.

Postoperative recovery involves many of the above treatment methods: rest, immobilization, medication, and possibly physical therapy exercises in the future. The length of recovery varies depending on the surgery performed. Make sure to ask questions and express your thoughts to your doctor beforehand, so you are informed as possible going into the operating room.

The physicians of Trenton Orthopaedic Group at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute understand how much arthritis can affect your life. Every day, they strive to educate their patients on how to manage their symptoms. Although arthritis is a chronic condition, our specialists can help you live with this condition by dealing with joint pain and inflammation head-on. If you are interested in treatment for arthritis in hands and wrists in Robbinsville, or if you have questions or want more information, please visit us here or contact us at 1-800-321-9999.