Persistent hand pain is generally a cause for concern and a strong indication of arthritis of the hand. Degenerative osteoarthritis and inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis contribute to chronic hand pain. Inflammatory arthritis causes the hand to become rigid, which may last over several hours.
Osteoarthritis is generally described as a condition of &wear and tear& and is the most widespread form of arthritis to affect large weight-bearing joints like the knee and hip and small but widely used joints of the hand. The older a person gets, the greater the chances of developing arthritis of the hand. Also, in terms of genetics, a relative, distant or close, may have had osteoarthritis and passed it on to others within the family. Apart from this, trauma is a contributory factor and may occur due to sports injuries.
The signs of degenerative arthritis of the hand depend on its stage and type. An advanced stage of the disease interferes with a person’s daily tasks and prevents them from living a fulfilling life.
The mechanics of the body must be considered in relation to joint stability and arrangement. Forces acting across the joint determine both its durability and expiry date. Biochemical changes within the cartilage itself that lead to tissue abnormalities are also factors to consider.
Inadequate care with regard to bone health or density and repetitive careless joint movement contribute to general wear and tear or something far worse such as irreversible trauma due to permanent injury of the hands.
Non-invasive or non-surgical treatments include anti-inflammatories, a complete range of motion exercises, steroid injections and splinting.
Dr Freed implements surgery when conservative treatment does not relieve pain. The type of procedure he performs depends on where the pain trigger points are and the type of arthritis causing the discomfort. Dr Freed performs reconstructive surgery at the bottom of the thumb affected by osteoarthritis, joint fusion for arthritis of the hand and wrist and joint replacement for rheumatoid arthritis of the fingers.
Rooms: Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital, Amplifier Street, Radiokop Ext 13, Roodepoort
Tel: (0)11 794 8629
E-mail: hands24wilg@gmail.com
The orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Neil M Freed, is fellowship-trained. This means that the doctor qualified first as a specialist in orthopaedic surgery and thereafter spent time at an academic institution doing just hand surgery to obtain his fellowship in that subspecialty. He has been practising hand surgery exclusively since 1992.
