Thursday, April 19, 2012

Thumb Arthritis: This Joint Pain Is More coarse Than You Think

This health can cause many problems for sufferers, together with loss of grip and, of course, a great deal of pain. But what are its causes and is there a remedy?

Finger Joint Swelling

Thumb arthritis regularly occurs after the age of forty and is more tasteless in women than in men. The first indication of illness of thumb arthritis is regularly pain experienced at the base of the thumb when gripping an object or when applying force - say to turn a key or open the lid of a jar. This form of osteoarthritis can make these uncomplicated household tasks difficult as it limits the strength and range of motion of the thumb.

Other symptoms may include swelling, stiffness and tenderness at the base of the thumb, decreased strength when grasping objects, enlarged appearance or a 'bony' look to the base of the thumb and general ache and aching after use.

The exact cause of this health is unknown (in tasteless with osteoarthritis generally) but the following factors are concept to conduce to its development:

Being female
Having a job that puts high stress on the thumb joint
Having certain hereditary conditions - joint ligament laxity, defective cartilage etc.
Having past injuries such as fractures or sprains to the basal thumb joint
Being over forty years of age
Having existing rheumatoid arthritis

The basal thumb joint allows your thumb its wide range of movement and consists of the trapezium (the small bone at the base of your thumb), the first metacarpal (the thumb's first bone) and the wrist's scaphotrapezio-trapezoidal joint (Stt).

In a general basal joint, cartilage covers the ends of the bone, acting as a cushion to let the bones glide smoothly over each other. In thumb arthritis, the cartilage deteriorates allowing the bone ends to rub and roughen - the main cause of pain.

Your body's attempts to repair the damage may lead to new bone increase (spurs), which are noticeable on the joint. Each of the repair steps also produces the pain generally associated with this condition.

Although there is no cure for thumb arthritis, self-care measures do exist. These include specialised splints, prescribed medication or corticosteroid injections. In greatest cases surgical operation may be the only way to gain a portion of relief.

It would seem then that there is no real remedy for thumb arthritis, any more than other general arthritic conditions, but that early determination and medicine may serve to alleviate the worst symptoms of what can otherwise be a very debilitating condition. Changing lifestyle or work practices may help - any discount of strain on the affected joint should bring some portion of relief. Too, adapting to the health by using aids to mobility or dexterity can help, alleviating some of the frustration that is often felt by sufferers of arthritis and allowing the someone affected to reserve as much independence as possible. Exercise (as opposed to stressing) of the joint can also help to reserve its range of motion.

As with all curative issues, it is significant that you consult your physician if you presume the onset of any form of arthritis.

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