Relief for Thumb and Wrist Arthritis: Conservative Care vs Surgical Options
Thumb and wrist pain related to arthritis are often surprising because most of us don’t think about how much we actually do with thumbs, or how much mobility our wrists give us. When your thumbs and wrists hurt, you may find opening jars, holding a pen, using a knife, or even something as simple as turning a doorknob painfully difficult.
Dr. Jawad Khan is an orthopedic specialist who is board-trained in hand, wrist, and elbow surgery. He has spent years studying how your hands and wrists function and knows how important these joints are in day-to-day living.
Here’s a look at the available treatment options for hand and wrist arthritis and how they can help you regain function and return to work, sports, and hobbies you enjoy.
Arthritis: more than one type
Arthritis is a category of diseases, rather than a single condition. In fact, there are more than 100 different types.
The most common type by far is osteoarthritis (OA). This is sometimes called “wear and tear arthritis,” which describes both how and why the condition develops. Over the course of your lifetime, your joints get used a lot, and all of that use takes a toll.
While OA is often associated with aging, overuse or repetitive motion during work, sports, and hobbies like gardening can cause joint wear and tear at younger ages.
Cartilage that covers the ends of bones within a joint normally allows them to slide against each other smoothly. OA causes the cartilage to wear away and reduces the natural lubrication a joint relies on for smooth, frictionless movement. As OA progresses, your bones begin to rub against each other, causing pain and swelling.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the second most common type of arthritis. RA is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks joint tissue, causing inflammation, swelling, pain, and progressive joint damage without treatment.
Conservative treatments
Regardless of the type of arthritis, once you have damage to your thumb or wrist joints, the conservative options for treating the pain are similar.
Anti-inflammatory medications
If you can take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), they may ease pain and reduce inflammation in the affected joint.
Injections
Sometimes corticosteroids can ease pain and reduce inflammation, but the relief is temporary.
Physical therapy
Strengthening the muscles and tissues surrounding the affected joint can provide support and help you feel less pain. In this case, Dr. Khan designs a targeted exercise program to build strength where you need it.
Surgical treatments
Several surgical treatments can help ease arthritis symptoms. Dr. Khan may recommend a procedure called thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthroplasty for thumb arthritis.
The procedure can be performed in different ways, and Dr. Khan recommends the technique that works best for your needs. The basic idea is to remove a bone called the trapezium, which removes the arthritic joint. Dr. Khan may place a tendon graft in the space where the trapezium was, or use a pin or permanent suture to prevent the joint from collapsing.
For severe wrist arthritis, Dr. Khan offers a procedure called total wrist arthroplasty, or total joint replacement. Not everyone is a candidate for wrist replacement surgery, but for some people it provides an enormous improvement in quality of life.
If you’re living with thumb or wrist pain, the first step to resolving the problem is finding out why you’re experiencing pain. Schedule an appointment at either of Dr. Khan’s offices today for a consultation and treatment strategy tailored to your specific needs.
