Stiffness in Hands, Fingers: Could be Osteoarthritis
By Stephen R. Farris
Name something that we all do on a daily basis. My guess would be doing things with our hands and fingers, such as typing, twisting lids off jars, driving, lifting weights or doing chores around the house.
Have you ever experienced pain in your hands or fingers after doing simple tasks. Maybe when you get up in the mornings they feel stiff and hard to move. This could be a sign of osteoarthritis. This can happen when we use our hands and fingers a lot for extended periods of time. What I mean by that is, from the time we are born to say, middle age or older, we are constantly using our hands and fingers to do stuff. Over time, wear and tear from constantly using them can lead to mobility problems for some of us.
Osteoarthritis usually affects the joints at the base of our thumbs, upper and middle joints in our fingers, and can oftentimes be very painful. There are treatment options, however, if the pain persists enough to the point it affects doing everyday tasks, then surgery may be a last resort.
Medicate
There are many anti-inflammatory medications available at your pharmacy or grocery store that can help lessen any minor pain you may experience from joint stiffness in your hands and fingers. This might be one of the first methods to try in treating it yourself.
Wrist or Hand Brace
A wrist or hand brace could alleviate the pain you're having and may be prescribed by a physician. If you briefly experience pain or stiffness on occasion, then you can probably purchase one at a big ticket store or pharmacy. However, you shouldn't rely on a brace all the time as this could lead to more stiffness.
Ice Pack or Heat Wrap
When you first start to experience stiffness in your hand and fingers, try using an ice pack or apply heat to the affected area. You might also try some simple hand and finger exercises to work out the stiffness as well.
The best way to see if your condition may be related to osteoarthritis is to check with your local physician or chiropractor. They can exam you and offer suggestions on how to treat your condition.
You can walk-in at The Joint Chiropractic any time -- they have extended hours during the week and are also open weekends -- and take advantage of their friendly pricing; if you're already part of a package or plan, it's a no-brainer.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in St. George, Utah.