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How to Naturally Get Rid of Arthritis in Fingers |
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Arthritis is among the symptoms including finger pain may produce joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, which will make it more difficult to perform such actions as grasping and pinching. Such symptoms may impede ordinary tasks.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two types of arthritis that most frequently affect the finger joints. Depending on the type of arthritis that affects your finger joints, you may also experience other symptoms.
Several remedies can help ease the pain from arthritis of the fingers, from hand exercises to strengthen your fingers to over-the-counter and prescription medications and surgery. This article examines these remedies after explaining the symptoms of arthritis.
Symptoms of Hand Arthritis
Symptoms caused by arthritis of the fingers include:- Joint pain
- Stiffness, especially in the morning
- Swelling
- Tenderness
In Osteoarthritis, joint pain is caused by the breakdown of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the joints. The three most common sites where osteoarthritis occurs in the hand include:
The trapeziometacarpal or basilar joint, or the base of the thumb
The distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, or the joint closest to the fingertip
The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, or the middle joint of a finger
Osteoarthritis may also lead to Heberden's nodes, bony nodules at the joint at the end of the finger, and Bouchard's nodes, bony nodules at the joint in the middle finger.
In rheumatoid arthritis, fingers can become swollen due to inflammation of the synovial membrane, the soft tissue that forms a joint. People who suffer from RA can experience redness and warmth in their hands.
Exercises to Relieve Arthritis
These exercises can help enhance cartilage's blood supply, causing it to obtain the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and extend its life. Talk to your doctor about your fitness before starting on this routine.
If so, the exercises are easy to do and can ease your arthritis pain:- Finger bends: Stretch your hand in front of you, palm up. Then take each finger and move it very slowly to the center of your palm. Hold it and then straighten your hand.
- Finger lifts: With your hand laying on a flat surface, lift each finger one by one. Repeat the sequence for both hands.
- Finger slides: Place your palm on a flat surface, with your fingers outstretched. Slide your fingers toward your thumb, one at a time.
- Make a C or an O: Move your fingers like you’re going to grab a small ball and try to form the letter “C” or “O.” Go as far as you can. Straighten your fingers and repeat.
- Make a fist: Start with your fingers straight and then slowly bend your hand into a fist. Keep your thumb on the outside of your hand. Don’t squeeze too tightly as you straighten your fingers again.
- Thumb bends: Bend your thumb toward your palm. Go as far as you can, hold it, and then repeat.
- Thumbs up: Form a loose fist with the pinky side of your hand on a table. Then point your thumb to make the thumbs-up sign. Put it down and repeat.
- Wrist bands: Hold your left or right arm out with the palm facing down. Then take the other hand and gently press your hand down toward the floor.
The greater the strength of your muscular tissues, the more weight they can control. Similar to other types of physical exercise, hand exercises will not "work" overnight. But they should receive with effort and repetition.
Strengthen Your Fingers
The muscles related to the joint of your hand can be strengthened with hand exercises. For these, start with some simple exercises, both gently and steadily. Then begin to increase the number gradually. Your fingers may feel sore the next day, but this feeling will gradually subside.- Squeeze a rubber ball or firm sponge repeatedly (but remember: slowly and gently).
- Get a clothespin clip and pinch it until it opens, using your thumb and forefinger. Then, one by one, use your other fingers to do the same.
- Encircle your fingers with an elastic band. Open your fingers and then close them to a fist slowly and repeatedly.
- Place your flat, outstretched hand on top of a towel or piece of fabric. Gather the material between your fingers and thumb, release it, and repeat the exercise.
- Wrap your fingers around the midsection of a water bottle with your palm facing down. Bend your wrist up and then down. Next time, reverse the exercise with your palm facing up.
Home Remedies
Along with exercise, you can use over-the-counter medications and other lifestyle options to assist with pain stemming from arthritis in the fingers.
Oral Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
NSAIDs are recommended to treat rheumatoid arthritis symptoms because of their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. NSAIDs are unable to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, but they can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. You can purchase a number of NSAIDs over the counter, but some are only available with a prescription. Over-the-counter NSAIDs commonly used to treat arthritis pain include:- Aspirin
- Advil, Motrin (ibuprofen
- Aleve (naproxyn)
Heat/Cold Treatment
Muscular tension and pain sensitivity can be relieved through hot and cold therapies. Hot therapy can ease signs of muscle tension and reduce pain sensitivity, while cold therapy can reduce inflammation and reduce swelling.
For warmth, soak in warm water for about 20 minutes, take a warm shower, or soak in a warm bath, hot tub, or whirlpool. Dress warmly afterward to prolong the benefit.
Another easy way to relieve pain is with a heating pad. You may also purchase heat pads or heat a wet washcloth in the microwave for about 20 seconds. First, test the pad to make sure that it's not too warm. Then wrap it in a dry towel and apply the warm compress to the painful area.
Cold therapy involves giving a patient an icy pack and repeating this process for 20 minutes. Keep many gel-filled cold packs in the freezer. Frozen peas or ice cubes in a bag provide good alternatives as well.
Should you switch between hot and cold treatments to address inflammation, the Arthritis Foundation reports that the cold ones are more suitable for acutely painful and swollen joints following exercise or activity.
Just don't hurry to switch between hot and cold remedies. Separate them by at least several hours.
Splints
Splinting can help reduce pain and address OA and RA indications in the fingers. It has been proven to improve the range of motion of joints.
Compression gloves may also help with pain relief. In a systematic review, four trials were analyzed to determine the efficacy of wearing full-length finger compression gloves at night. The studies compared full-length finger compression gloves with placebo gloves that provided no full-length compression.
For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, swelling of the finger joints was significantly reduced with the use of compression gloves. However, the researchers did not find a significant reduction in pain or stiffness. The study produced inconclusive results with regards to the verdicts of grip strength and dexterity.
Lifestyle Tips
People with arthritis notice that even small actions can be painful. Nevertheless, psychologists also recognize that various tips can help reduce pain. Check out some of these tips and test them to see if they work in your area.
Look for and buy kitchen utensils with the widest handles that you can. It will help you reduce stress on the area of your hand. Alternatively, wrap small handles with tape to increase their diameter.
Opt for an ergonomic keyboard and mouse if you spend a great deal of your time using a PC.
Smartphones have significantly escalated the level of pressure in the finger joints. Holding a phone (or tablet) in your hand is a habit that you should develop to give your joints a break from this constant stress.
Kinetic tape, a splint, or compression gloves can help keep pain or discomfort at bay. Contact your health care provider for suggestions.
Summary
Conditions such as swollen fingers and inflamed digits with Arthritis from fingers can range from being distressing to painful, depending on the severity. These symptoms make it difficult to perform simple actions, like pinching and grasping.
There are a variety of remedies for this condition, including exercising the hand to strengthen the hand, taking an anti-inflammatory or supplement, trying a hot or cold treatment, and wearing a splint.
Advanced cases of arthritis may require sessions with a certified hand therapist, a surgical procedure, or repetitive stimulation therapy.
Not all treatments offered are appropriate for every person with finger arthritis. Talk with your doctor to determine the best treatment plan to decrease the symptoms caused by your condition. It can be disturbing when treatments don't work or show results for a while, however, there are many options available to choose from. Chances are good that one of them will eventually bring you relief.
Looking for a natural way to get rid of arthritis in fingers? Pro Therapy Supplies has got you covered! You may visit our website to learn more about our arthritis remedies or call us at 770-441-9808 and we will be more than happy to assist you!
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