Wrist Arthritis


WRIST ARTHRITIS IN BATON ROUGE


Diagnosis and Treatment of Wrist Arthritis

Wrist arthritis is a common condition that causes pain, stiffness, and loss of function in the hand and arm. Arthritis is a cartilage problem. Arthritis attacks the layer of cartilage that cushions joint bones and allows for smooth, painless motion. As this protective layer wears away, patients may notice cracking, snapping, or grinding sounds with regular movements. Wrist arthritis severely impacts the quality of life. However, there are effective treatments that can limit the progression of the disease and increase comfort.

Causes of Wrist Arthritis

Some of the many arthritic conditions that affect the wrist.
  • Osteoarthritis is the natural process of wear-and-tear. Cartilage slowly wears down over time, which results in the typical mobility issues associated with old age. 
  • Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. The disease triggers the immune system to attack the body's cells. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect any tissue in the body.  
  • Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory condition that primarily affects the skin and joints. Chronic swelling can leave extremities with a knotted, twisted appearance.  
  • Post-traumatic arthritis is chronic swelling after an impact injury to the wrist. Most commonly SLAC or SNAC wrist, which is wrist arthritis resulting from a ligament or bone injury, respectively. 
While each condition is different, they all result in the same chronic pain, stiffness and compromised hand and arm function.

Severity of Wrist Arthritis

Depending on the actual diagnosis, symptoms and severity may vary. Within each condition, spectrums describe the intensity of the patient experience
  • Mild conditions have the least impact on daily routines. It may be difficult for patients to describe their feelings of discomfort. Pain may only present while performing certain motions like turning a doorknob or opening a jar 
  • Moderate wrist arthritis hurts most of the time, though not severely. Daily activities become more difficult. Pain may be present even when the joint is not in use or from a firm touch. Inflammation may be noticeable to the naked eye.  
  • Severe cases of wrist arthritis leave patients with constant, debilitating pain. Rest rarely offers relief at this level of internal damage. Flare-ups are more frequent and typically build in intensity. Physical deformities often form around the compromised joint, giving the wrist a nodular or distorted appearance.
Each category offers a different set of possible outcomes from potential treatments.

Testing & Treatments for Wrist Arthritis

Doctors use imagining to confirm a diagnosis of wrist arthritis. X-rays and MRIs allow medical professionals to visualize the inner structures of the hand and wrist. Bulging tendons, damaged cartilage, and shifting structures are clear signs of arthritic conditions. Blood tests may be needed to determine which type of arthritis is causing damage.
Mild and moderate cases often respond well to a combination of non-surgical treatment methods.

  • Cessation of problematic activities gives damaged joints time to rest.
  • An immobilizing device, like a brace or splint, freezes the muscles around the wrist in place to reduce irritation to the compromised joint.
  • For contrast soaks, patients alternate between bathing the wrist in cold and warm water to decrease excess inflammation manually.
  • Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the pain associated with arthritic swelling.
  • Exercise and physical therapy increase blood flow and strengthen muscles that support the affected joint.
  • Corticosteroid injections into the wrist provide temporary relief for chronic pain.
These non-invasive treatments can restore a measure of mobility and allow sufferers to engage in most of their normal activities.

Surgical Options for Wrist Arthritis

In severe cases, surgical intervention may be the only way to mitigate the symptoms of wrist arthritis. A wrist arthritis specialist will suggest a procedure based on the details of your particular circumstances.
  • Fusion surgery melds small wrist bones together to limit the motion of irritated tendons permanently. Total wrist fusion procedures involve a metal plate being fixed across the wrist joint.
  • In a wrist replacement, severely damaged tissued are exchanged for plastic or metal elements.
  • A carpectomy removes some of the small bones to reduce pain and allow the wrist to run on better cartilage.
Wrist arthritis is a serious condition that can hurt the quality of life. However, working with a wrist arthritis specialist allows patients to reduce pain, regain mobility, and improve their daily experience.
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