managing hand osteoarthritis

hand osteoarthritis

Tips for managing hand osteoarthritis

Although almost any joint can be troubled by osteoarthritis, the hand is one of the most common joints to be affected.1 Aside from the pain, osteoarthritis in the hand makes it difficult to grip and pinch items and can even affect the way the hands look.2 From washing clothes and helping the children to get dressed to cooking and working, healthy hands are essential. Which is why osteoarthritis can affect every area of daily life. The following tips can help ease the pain, retain joint mobile and improve overall quality of life.

1. Get moving

Exercise plays an important role when it comes to managing pain in all osteoarthritic joints, and the hand is no different. Here are two types of exercise that experts recommend:1,2

  • Strengthening. These exercises help keep the muscles that surround the joints in the hand strong, helping to protect them.1,2
  • Flexibility. To keep you mobile and prevent stiffness, try flexibility exercises.1,2  

Try to move the affected joints as far as comfortably possible, several times a day.3

2. Take regular rests

It’s important to recognize that you may need to learn to pace yourself more when doing your every day activities,1, 2 as otherwise there is a risk that you’ll overdo things and cause more damage to your hand. It might take time and a bit of practice getting the balance right between doing things you need to do and taking the regular rests your hand may need.

Take a course of pain relievers

Alongside exercise and weight loss taking a pain reliever may also help. Medical guidelines worldwide recommend paracetamol as the analgesic to use first in relieving osteoarthritis in the hand.1-4 Paracetamol can be taken up to the maximum dose (4 g/day) to help keep pain under control.2,4.1,2

Only use pain relievers as directed and follow the product label at all times.

Keep the hand warm

Applying hot packs or keeping the hand in a warm paraffin bath is also recommended as an add-on to other measures.1,2 This may be especially useful before exercising.2

Try TENS

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can also be used.1 TENS machines work by sending small electrical impulses into the nerves in the skin, helping to block pain signals.

Tools that can help

There are a wide range of gadgets and tools you can buy to help make life easier. Choosing the right tool for you will depend on how osteoarthritis affects your hand. For example, if turning things is a problem, then jar openers and tap turners can help. When it comes to gripping items, there are also special pens and even garden tools.

References

  1. National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions. Osteoarthritis: national clinical guideline for care and management in adults. London: Royal College of Physicians, 2008. Available at:
    http://www.nice.org.uk/CG059fullguideline.
  2. Zhang W, et al. EULAR evidence based recommendations for the management of hand osteoarthritis - report of a task force of the EULAR Standing Committee for International Clinical Studies Including Therapeutics (ESCISIT). Ann Rheum Dis, 2007; 66: 377-388. Available at: http://ard.bmj.com/cgi/gca?allch=&SEARCHID=1&FULLTEXT=management+of+hand+oa&FIRSTINDEX=0 &hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&gca=annrheumdis;66/3/377&allchb=
  3. Arthritis Australia. Arthritis information sheet. Hands and arthritis. Available at: http://www.arthritisaustralia.com.au/index.php/arthritis-information/information-sheets.html