How many times do we use our wrists for everyday tasks? Just think, opening a water bottle, opening a door, writing, eating a meal, using our phone... We need our wrists for almost every little thing we do every day. So how annoying is it when our wrists keep hurting, are swollen, and are so difficult to do? Often, arthritis can be the main cause of this persistent wrist pain, swelling, and stiffness. Let's talk about this simply today.
Simply put, what is wrist arthritis?
Arthritis is the gradual wear and tear of the cartilage inside our joints. Think of it like two parts of a machine. The cartilage acts like a 'bearing' that helps these two parts move smoothly without rubbing together. In arthritis, this 'cushion' called cartilage wears away and the two bones start rubbing directly against each other. That's when things like pain, swelling, and joint stiffness occur.
Our wrist is actually a very complex joint in the body. It has many small bones connected together. So this arthritis condition can affect any part of this joint. It is a chronic condition that progresses over time.
What types of arthritis affect the wrist?
There are several types of arthritis that affect the wrist. They can be divided into two main categories. One is the type that occurs without inflammation. The other is the type that occurs with inflammation.
Let's understand these types more clearly from the table below.
| Type of arthritis | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Types that occur without inflammation | |
| Osteoarthritis | This is the most common type. Simply put, it is the wearing down of cartilage in the joints over time. It is more common as we age. It is also more common in people who do jobs that put a lot of weight on their wrists (e.g., typists, carpenters) and are more likely to develop this condition. |
| Post-traumatic arthritis | A condition that occurs when the cartilage in the wrist is damaged after an accident (e.g., a fall, a broken arm). Sometimes this can improve over time, or it can lead to osteoarthritis. |
| Types associated with inflammation | |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | This is when our body's own immune system mistakenly attacks our own joints. This causes inflammation inside the joints and destroys the cartilage. This usually affects both wrists at the same time, but it can also affect other joints in the body. |
| Psoriatic arthritis | Some people with psoriasis can develop this arthritis condition, which causes swelling in the small joints of the hands and feet. |
| Septic arthritis | When a bacterial or viral infection enters the body, the germs travel to a joint and cause inflammation. This is a sudden, severe condition. |
| Gout | When uric acid levels in the body increase, tiny, needle-like crystals of the acid deposit in the joints. This causes severe pain and swelling. It often affects the big toe first, but it can also affect the wrist. |
What are the symptoms of wrist arthritis?
Symptoms may vary slightly depending on the type of arthritis, but there are some common symptoms.
The main symptom is pain throughout the wrist . In osteoarthritis, this can feel like a dull, aching pain. In inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, it can be a sharp, burning pain.
Typically, pain may increase when doing things like:
- When opening something like a jar of jam or a bottle of water
- When turning a door lock
- When typing on the computer
- When wringing a cloth
In addition, these features can also be seen:
- The joint is swollen, red, or feels warm to the touch.
- Stiffness and pain when moving or bending the arm (reduced range of motion).
- Feeling stiff and stiff in the joint when you wake up in the morning . This gradually decreases as the day goes on.
- Feeling weak in the hand and wrist.
- A "ka-ka-ka" or "kiki-kiki" sound is heard when the wrist is shaken.
- You may experience numbness or a tingling sensation in your wrist. This may be related to a condition called ``Carpal tunnel syndrome.''
A condition like osteoarthritis may only affect one wrist. However, an inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis often affects both wrists at the same time . Other joints in the body may also be affected. Not only that, but general symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and skin rashes can also accompany these inflammatory conditions.
How is arthritis diagnosed?
If you have these symptoms, the best thing to do is see a doctor . The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine your wrist. They will check to see if you can bend, straighten, and rotate your hand. They will check for any swelling or deformity.
After that, tests like these may be ordered to accurately diagnose the type of arthritis:
- X-ray: This can be used to check for narrowing of the space between the bones of the joint, wear of the cartilage, or damage to the bones.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help check for inflammatory markers in the blood, especially if an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis is suspected.
What are the treatments for wrist arthritis?
There are two main goals when treating arthritis. One is to control your symptoms (pain, swelling) . The other is to stop or slow down further damage to the joint , if possible. Doctors usually start with simple, easy treatments. Only if those don't control the symptoms do they move on to more advanced treatments.
Simple treatments to try first
These are things you can do even at home.
1. Hot/cold therapy: Both of these methods can be used to reduce pain. If the joint is swollen and hot, applying an ice pack will reduce the swelling. If the joint is stiff in the morning, soaking it in hot water or holding your hand in a basin of warm water can help reduce the stiffness.
2. Painkillers: You can use over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g., ibuprofen, diclofenac). Topical painkillers can also be helpful. But remember, it is always best to consult your doctor before using any medication.
3. Physical therapy: A physical therapist can teach you specific exercises to help strengthen your wrist and increase flexibility. Regular , gentle exercise helps improve blood flow to the tissues around the joint and prevents stiffness.
4. Change your routine: While some exercises are good, doing the same type of work that puts stress on your wrist can make arthritis worse. An occupational therapist can advise you on how to change your daily routine to reduce stress on your wrist.
Special treatment prescribed by the doctor
If the pain is difficult to control with simple treatments, your doctor may refer you to these types of treatments.
- Cortisone shots: These are steroid injections. These injections are injected directly into the wrist joint. They provide immediate and rapid relief from inflammation and pain. However, their effects are temporary.
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections: This is a relatively new treatment for osteoarthritis. It involves taking platelets from your own blood and injecting them back into the joint. Some studies have shown that this can stimulate some of the damaged cartilage to regrow.
- Oral steroid pills: These are used to control inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. They suppress the activity of the immune system and reduce inflammation.
- DMARDS: This stands for ``Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs''. These are special drugs given to treat autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. They change the course of the disease and reduce damage to the joints.
Surgery may be necessary.
If all other treatments fail to control the pain, or if the arthritis is so severe that it is difficult to perform daily activities, the doctor may recommend surgery.
1. Proximal row carpectomy: This involves removing several of the small bones (carpal bones) in the wrist that are causing pain. This allows more room for movement without impinging on the remaining bones.
2. Joint fusion surgery: In this, the painful bone fragments are fixed together with pins and screws. Since the bones are fixed, the pain also disappears. However, after this, the ability to bend and rotate the wrist is lost.
3. Wrist arthroplasty: This involves removing the damaged joint and replacing it with an artificial joint made of metal or plastic. This can relieve pain and preserve some movement of the wrist.
Take-Home Message
- Don't ignore persistent pain, swelling, or stiffness in your wrist. It could be an early sign of arthritis.
- There are several types of arthritis. It is essential to see a doctor to find out exactly which type you have and get a proper diagnosis.
- Many people can manage their pain well and live a normal life with simple treatments (heat/cold therapy, exercise, painkillers).
- If your pain is interfering with your daily life, don't hesitate to talk openly with your doctor about the available treatment options. He or she will help you make the best decision, with the right information, even if surgery is necessary.
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