Arthritis can limit movement, create stiffness or deformity, and make many daily activities difficult.  The hand and wrist are often affected. Osteoarthritis, also known as “degenerative” or “wear-and-tear” arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis.  it results from loss of cartilage, which is the smooth gliding surface in a joint.  Loss of cartilage allows the bones to rub together, causing inflammation, pain, and eventually deformity and/or loss of joint movement.  Causes of osteoarthritis are still unknown; scientists speculate that a combination of factors is involved including aging, joint or ligament injury, and being overweight.Osteoarthritis is often found in the hands.  Symptoms include aching pain, stiffness, and deformity, commonly in the finger joints, and at the base of the thumb.  This may cause trouble opening jars, turning doorknobs, and gripping items.  Often people do not realize that this pain is arthritis and that it can be helped with treatment.Rheumatoid arthritis is a “systemic” disease.  it is caused by the body erroneously attacking its own joints and tissues around them.  if managed early and with a team approach, many of the devastating effects of rheumatoid disease can be lessened with medications and occasional hand surgery.Post-traumatic arthritis is caused by damage to a joint or its ligaments from an injury.  This may result if a fracture heals with a deformity of bone or joint.  Injuries should be evaluated by an expert because what may seem like a minor injury or sprain may result in post-traumatic arthritis if not properly diagnosed and treated early.Arthritis is best treated with a team approach, including patient, hand surgeon, hand therapist, and possibly other providers.  The hand surgeon, a specialist in surgical and non-surgical treatment of the hand and wrist, can evaluate pain and determine appropriate treatment. In many cases early treatment can be easier and more effective.  Hand therapy can help decrease arthritis pain and increase function of the hands and wrists.  Adaptive devices and splints can make difficult tasks easier and may slow down the progression of the problem.  Oral medications can decrease the pain and inflammation of arthritis.  your hand surgeon may offer injections directly into arthritic joints to decrease pain.  There are also a variety of surgical procedures that can decrease the pain of arthritis and increase hand and wrist function.Editor’s note: Dr. Rosenfeld is a member of the medical staff at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, department of orthopaedic surgery.  He is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College.  He completed his orthopaedic surgical residency at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore followed by a fellowship in hand surgery at the Curtis National Hand Center.  Dr. Rosenfeld is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in both orthopaedic surgery and hand surgery.  His practice, the Pennsylvania Hand Center, is celebrating its 25th year and now has an office located at 1603 E. High Street, Suite C, Pottstown. 

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