What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a medical condition where a patient's joints become inflamed. To understand arthritis, it's necessary to understand the different types of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a condition where the cartilage in a joint breaks down.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects the lining of joints.
Wrist pain is one symptom of arthritis of the wrist (also referred to as "wrist arthritis").
Wrist Arthritis Symptoms
Wrist arthritis symptoms include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Wrist pain
- Swelling in the wrist
- Decreased range of motion in the wrist
- A stiff sensation in the wrist
- Joint weakness
If you or a loved one experience any of the above symptoms, it's important to speak to an SOS wrist pain specialist. SOS wrist specialists are experienced in diagnosing and caring for patients with wrist arthritis.
Wrist Arthritis Causes
Identifying the cause of wrist arthritis begins with understanding the causes of the different types of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear to joint cartilage. This wear and tear can be caused by aging, a joint injury or infection.
Rheumatoid arthritis develops when a patient's immune system targets the lining of the joint capsule.
Certain types of people are more likely to develop arthritis. For example, patients who have relatives who have or had arthritis are more likely to develop the condition. Additionally, the risk of developing arthritis increases as a patient gets older. Patients who have injured their joints in the past are also more likely to develop arthritis. Obese patients are also at a higher risk for arthritis.
Wrist Arthritis Treatment
While wrist arthritis does not have a cure, a wrist pain doctor can help patients improve their quality of life and achieve symptom relief.
Common wrist arthritis treatments include:
- Changing how a patient does certain activities that make wrist arthritis symptoms worse
- Using a wrist splint
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy
- Steroid injections
Wrist Arthritis Surgery
In addition, patients who do not achieve desired symptom relief may benefit from surgery. While SOS prioritizes conservative wrist arthritis treatment prior to surgery, an SOS wrist surgeon can help improve a patient's quality of life.
Is You or Your Loved One's Wrist Pain Due to Wrist Arthritis? Talk With an SOS Wrist Specialist
The team of wrist doctors and wrist pain specialists at SOS can diagnose and create a personal care plan for you or your loved one's wrist arthritis.
For an improved quality of life and wrist pain relief...