Other Possible Causes Of Hand Pain
Hand pain is also a sign of Dupuytrens contracture, a condition in which the tissue of the palm and fingers becomes thickened and tight, causing the fingers to curl inward. Its not clear why Dupuytrens contracture develops, though those who smoke, drink a lot of alcohol, and have seizures or diabetes are more vulnerable to developing it.
Your doctor will also consider whether your hand pain could be due to carpal tunnel syndrome, says Dr. Byram. RA can be a cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, so if we see someone who has carpal tunnel, well want to make sure they dont have RA. Carpal tunnel is a condition that occurs when one of the major nerves to the hand the median nerve is squeezed or compressed as it travels through the wrist, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
How Is Arthritis Diagnosed
Seeing your primary care physician is a good first step if youre unsure who to see for an arthritis diagnosis. They will perform a physical exam to check for fluid around the joints, warm or red joints, and document the range of motion in the joints. Your doctor can refer you to a specialist if needed.
If youre experiencing severe symptoms, you may choose to schedule an appointment with a rheumatologist first. This may lead to a faster diagnosis and treatment.
Documenting inflammation levels in your blood and aspirating and analyzing joint fluids, if present, can help your doctor determine what kind of arthritis you have.
Blood tests that check for specific types of antibodies like anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide , rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody are also common diagnostic tests.
Doctors commonly use imaging scans such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scans to produce an image of your bones and cartilage. This helps them rule out other causes of your symptoms, such as bone spurs.
The main goal of treatment is to reduce the amount of pain youre experiencing and prevent additional damage to the joints. Youll learn what works best for you in terms of managing pain.
In general, treatment for arthritis
- heat and cold compresses
- mobility assistance devices, such as canes or walkers
Improving your joint function is also important. Your doctor may prescribe a combination of treatment methods to achieve the best results.
Whats The Outlook For Someone Living With Arthritis
Since theres no cure for arthritis, most people need to manage arthritis for the rest of their lives. Your healthcare provider can help you find the right combination of treatments to reduce symptoms. One of the biggest health risks associated with arthritis is inactivity. If you become sedentary from joint pain, you may face a greater risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other serious conditions.
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How To Prepare For An Initial Doctors Appointment
During your first appointment, your doctor will conduct a physical exam, collect details about your medical history, and discuss which symptoms you may be experiencing.
Generally, they will evaluate your joints for inflammation, swelling, and redness and may order imaging tests or blood work to determine if you have RA.
Be sure to keep track of all your symptoms and consider logging the time, duration, and severity of each symptom as it occurs. You should also provide your doctor with information about any medications that you are taking, including the frequency and dosage.
Keep in mind that you may not receive a definitive diagnosis on your first visit, as many autoimmune disorders develop slowly over time.
However, your doctor may discuss possible treatment options with you, which can include medications, physical therapy, pain management, exercise, and other modifications to your diet and lifestyle.
Its important to discuss any questions you have regarding your treatment plan with your doctor. Some questions you may want to consider asking:
- What treatment options are right for me?
- What are the potential side effects from my treatment?
- What types of exercise would be beneficial? How often should I work out?
- Are there other ways to treat symptoms at home, such as by using a hot or cold compress?
- What options available for mental health support, if needed?
- Would I benefit from physical therapy, nutrition counseling, or other complementary treatments?
Inflammation And Other Forms Of Arthritis
Some infections can lead to joint destruction and this occurs much quicker than with other forms of arthritis. It is crucial to rule out an infection when arthritis affects a single joint.
Gout: A common and painful condition that affects the joints and tendons. Small crystals of uric acid form in and around the joint which causes inflammation, pain and swelling. An attack of gout usually comes on very quickly, often overnight. The joint becomes red, swollen and painful. It often affects one joint at a time, such as the big toe.
Inflammation: A localised physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful. Inflammation is a common symptom of arthritis, and is the cause and the result of all forms of arthritis.
This info sheet was reviewed and updated by Prof. Susanna Proudman, Medical Director, Arthritis Australia and Dr Stephen Adelstein, Pathology Awareness Australia ambassador.
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Learning That You Have A Chronic Life
Learning that you have a chronic, life-altering disease like arthritis is challenging news to swallow, no matter what kind of arthritis you may have, how old you are, or what your other personal circumstances are. But not everyone takes the news the same way and that may have a lot to do with the different ways people get diagnosed with arthritis.
Its not uncommon for people to have arthritis symptoms for years and in some cases, even decades before getting an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Misdiagnoses along the way are common. According to recent data from our ArthritisPower research registry presented at the 2018 European League Against Rheumatism annual meeting, 96 percent of people ultimately diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis received at least one misdiagnosis nearly a third of respondents reported that it took more than 10 years to receive a formal diagnosisfrom when they began seeking medical attention. For 30 percent of people with psoriatic arthritis, it took more than five years to get diagnosed.
It doesnt help that for most kinds of arthritis, there are few definitive yes/no tests, and there are more than 100 different types of arthritis. While getting an arthritis diagnosis can often be relieving in some ways to have a name for your symptoms and an action plan for treatment, it can also leave you feeling like you still have more questions than answers.
An Accurate Diagnosis Of Osteoarthritis Ensures Proper Treatment
Early, accurate diagnosis of osteoarthritis is necessary so that appropriate treatment options can be considered. Your medical history, physical examination, and imaging studies help diagnose osteoarthritis. During the physical exam, your healthcare provider will check for joint swelling and range of motion. Imaging studies look for joint abnormalities and loss of cartilage. Your practitioner will also make assessments using blood tests to assess your general health and rule out other possible causes for joint problems.
Its important to note that anytime joint pain doesnt go away after a few days, or keeps coming back intermittently over the course of several months, you should consider arthritisregardless of your age. This is especially true if you have injured that joint at any point in time or have a job that requires repetitive motion, or if you are overweight, as this puts extra strain on the joints.
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For Four Years Doctors Told Me It Was All In My Head
Yon H., 20, was just 15 when she first started feeling joint pain. Even though the pain persisted on and off throughout high school, she wasnt formally diagnosed until four years later. I was sick of walking up stairs like a 90-year-old woman my friends were always teasing me so I went to the clinic, the college student says. The doctor prescribed prednisone, a steroid. She gained 20 pounds in a month but her pain was completely gone and she felt better than she had in years.
That was my turning point, she says. The doctor said that since Id responded so well to steroids there was a good chance I had an autoimmune disorder. He advised her to follow up with a rheumatologist. She did and several weeks later she finally had her answer: rheumatoid arthritis.
People assumed I was going to be freaking out, but I was just so relieved to finally have answers, she says. For four freaking years doctors had been telling me that it was all in my head or was a sports injury, even though I didnt play sports. Now I have an explanation for my daily pain and just knowing why helps a lot. Her first step was to ask her doctor about treatment and shes just started biologic medications, a treatment plan shes very excited about.
When Should Someone Seek Medical Care For Arthritis
- If joint pain, swelling, stiffness, redness, loss of motion or deformity occurs, medical evaluation by a health care professional is warranted.
- Even minor joint symptoms that persist unexplained for over one week should be evaluated.
- For many forms of arthritis, it is essential that patients have an early evaluation as it is clear that this can both prevent damage and disability as well as make optimal treatment easier.
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You Can Have Psoriasis And A Different Kind Of Arthritis That Is Not Psa
People with psoriasis can develop different types of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, and reactive arthritis so diagnosing PsA involves ruling out those other conditions.
Its often difficult to say in a first visit whether a patient definitely has psoriatic arthritis or another type of arthritis that just co-exists with psoriasis, says Dr. Kumar. PsA can take a long time to diagnose because a patient can delay seeing the doctor, then confirming PsA can require multiple labs and imaging tests.
The good news is that the diagnosis process for psoriatic arthritis is improving. Whereas PsA wasnt even recognized as a distinct condition decades ago , doctors are now better equipped with improved lab tests and imaging studies that help identify this disease so more patients can find relief.
Do Certain Types Of Weather Make Arthritis Worse
Some people find that arthritis feels worse during certain types of weather. Humidity and cold are two common triggers of joint pain.
There are a variety of reasons why this might happen. People tend to be less active in rainy seasons and the wintertime. The cold and damp can also stiffen joints and aggravate arthritis. Other theories suggest that barometric pressure, or the pressure of the air around us, may have some effect on arthritis.
If you find that certain types of weather make your arthritis worse, talk to your healthcare provider about ways to manage your symptoms. Dressing warmly, exercising inside or using heat therapy may help relieve your pain.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints. There are many types of arthritis, all of which can cause pain and reduce mobility. Some forms of arthritis result from natural wear and tear. Other types come from autoimmune diseases or inflammatory conditions. There are a variety of treatments for arthritis, ranging from physical or occupational therapy to joint surgery. Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms and recommend the right treatment plan for your needs. Most people can successfully manage arthritis and still do the activities they care about.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/15/2021.
References
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I Got Diagnosed As A Baby
When I was just a baby my mom noticed that I hardly ever turned my head and mentioned it at my checkup. The doctor said he thought it was a muscular imbalance but my mom insisted on having it checked, says Jocelyn S., 23. And its a good things she did: Jocelyn was just a year old when she was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis.
The arthritis appeared to affect just her neck at first but by elementary school she was having problems chewing, which eventually lead to surgery on her jaw joints. Although she says she experienced frequent bouts of pain and swelling, middle and high school went pretty normally.
Sometimes I had to get my knees drained but overall it didnt seem like a huge deal, she says.
However, in college her disease progression suddenly sped up and now she has trouble walking. Occasionally she needs a wheelchair on really bad days. Her doctor says she is looking at a double hip replacement in her future.
Ive tried every drug in the book and eventually they all stop working or I develop a reaction to them, she says. Still though, she finds ways to keep her spirits up, going to concerts and hanging out with friends.
Honestly arthritis is all Ive ever known so Im not too sad about it because I dont have anything to compare it to, she says. I just try to live my life and not worry about the future.
Prepare For The Possibility Of No Good Answers
Sometimes things happen that modern medicine just cant explain yet. As frustrating as that is, ambiguity is something that Alison M., 52, of New York, has learned to live with. Its been over 20 years and I am still waiting for my definitive diagnosis, she says. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid-like arthritis after showing autoimmune symptoms in high school. But her disease didnt present in the usual way and normal RA drugs didnt help. Even though she saw many doctors and tried every arthritis medication available, she ended up with a double hip replacement at age 25. Over the next couple of decades she had more joint surgeries than she can count but still no real answers. I have seen several rheumatologists, a joint specialist and more than five orthopedic doctors, she says. None of them can figure out exactly what is wrong with me or how to treat it. It is very frustrating!
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What Does An Orthopedist Do
Orthopedists handle the disorders, injuries, prevention, treatment, and repair of the skeletal system and its related joints, ligaments, and muscles.
Orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons are specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint disease. They use an array of testing modalities to aid in diagnosis and treatment.
Blood Tests For Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA is an autoimmune disease. Several blood tests can detect immune system changes or antibodies that may attack the joints and other organs. Other tests are used to measure the presence and degree of inflammation.
For blood tests, your doctor will draw a small sample from a vein. The sample is then sent to a lab for testing. Theres no single test to confirm RA, so your doctor may order multiple tests.
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Complete Medical History For Diagnosing Psoriatic Arthritis
Your road to a psoriatic arthritis diagnosis starts with talking to your rheumatologist in order to share symptoms and identify risk factors. While symptoms like joint pain could suggest a number of conditions, in psoriatic arthritis, joint pain often has specific characteristics, including the following:
- Joint pain that gets better with use
- Joint redness and swelling
- Swelling of an entire finger or toe as opposed to just one joint, called dactylitis or sausage digits
- Morning stiffness that lasts more than 30 minutes
- Changes in the nails of your fingers or toes, such as holes, pitting, discoloration or softness, which occurs in 80 to 90 percent of PsA cases
When patients talk about these psoriatic arthritis symptoms, rheumatologists like Dr. Kumar hear a number of common concerns, such as My shoes dont fit, I feel stiff all over in the mornings, and I have trouble opening jars or door knobs.
Along with listening to your symptoms, your rheumatologist will want to hear about any possible risk factors for psoriatic arthritis. While this condition can affect patients of both genders at a range of ages, the following can increase your risk:
- Having psoriasis
- Having a family history of PsA, psoriasis, or associated conditions, including ankylosing spondylitis, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, autoimmune uveitis, and reactive arthritis
Assessing Your Physical Ability
If you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, your specialist will do an assessment to see how well you’re coping with everyday tasks.
You may be asked to fill in a questionnaire on how well you can do things like dress, walk and eat, and how good your grip strength is.
This assessment may be repeated after your treatment, to see if you have made any improvements.
Further information
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What Are Signs And Symptoms Of Arthritis
Symptoms of arthritis include limited function and pain in the joints.
- Inflammation of the joints from arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, redness, and warmth. Tenderness of the inflamed joint can be present. Loss of range of motion and deformity can result. Certain forms of arthritis can also be associated with pain and inflammation of tendons surrounding joints.
- Arthritis can affect any joint in the body, including the knees, hips, fingers, wrists, ankles, feet, back, and neck.
- The pain may be intermittent or constant.
- Some types of arthritis cause acute episodes of symptoms .
Some forms of arthritis are more of an annoyance than a serious medical problem. However, millions of people suffer daily with pain and disability from arthritis or its complications. Moreover, many of the forms of arthritis, because they are rheumatic diseases, can cause symptoms affecting various organs of the body that do not directly involve the joints.
Therefore, signs and symptoms in some patients with certain forms of arthritis can also include
The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include
- injury ,
- abnormal metabolism ,
- inheritance ,
- infections , and
- an overactive immune system .
Treatment programs, when possible, are often directed toward the precise cause of the arthritis.
More than 21 million Americans have osteoarthritis. Approximately 2.1 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.