Osteoarthritis of the wrist causes pain and stiffness with reduced function and strength of the wrist.
Osteoarthritis of the wrist can be caused by overuse due to repetitive work, a previous injury, rheumatic disease or age, as the cartilage changes composition and becomes more fragile with age.
Many people have the idea that articular cartilage cannot heal or that it takes so long that there is no hope if you have osteoarthritis. But new research shows that cartilage heals as quickly as muscle – under the right conditions
Osteoarthritis of the wrist – What is it?
When articular cartilage breaks down faster than it is rebuilt, you have osteoarthritis of the joint. It is sometimes also called articular cartilage degeneration. As a result, the articular cartilage shrinks. One cause of osteoarthritis is age, as the cartilage becomes drier and therefore more fragile with age. It can also be caused by an injury or overuse, such as unilateral work. Osteoarthritis is most common in hip joints, knee joints, spinal joints and finger joints, but it can also occur in wrists and other joints.
The wrist (carpal joint) is made up of eight small bones between the two bones of the forearm and the five bones of the metacarpus. The joint surfaces are covered with articular cartilage, which acts as a shock absorber to even out the load on the joint and protect against friction. Healthy articular cartilage breaks down and rebuilds in balance, but in the case of wrist inflammation , the breakdown can be faster than the build-up, causing the cartilage to shrink and osteoarthritis to develop.
Symptoms of wrist osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis of the wrist causes pain and stiffness with reduced function and strength of the wrist. The wrist may also swell and it may become deformed and crooked. The pain is made worse by overloading the wrist , but the wrist may also be in constant pain when resting.
What causes osteoarthritis of the wrist?
Osteoarthritis of the wrist can be caused by overuse due to repetitive work, a previous injury, rheumatic disease or age, as the cartilage changes composition and becomes more fragile with age.
Why do I have osteoarthritis of the wrist?
If you are middle-aged, it may be due to prolonged monotonous work or incorrect loading, which eventually leads to overexertion and inflammation. It may also be due to a previous injury or a rheumatic disease. With age, cartilage changes composition and becomes less resilient.
When and where should I seek treatment for wrist osteoarthritis?
If you experience pain and swelling in your wrist, it is good to get a diagnosis from a doctor. If you have a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, you can seek treatment at a Fascia Clinic, where you can get help to increase mobility in the wrist and reduce the pain. The outcome of the treatment depends on the severity of the osteoarthritis, but it is usually very comfortable and has no side effects. Training wrist mobility is also important to strengthen structures around the wrist. Attending an osteoarthritis school to learn how to exercise properly can be helpful.
Other treatment options include anti-inflammatory drugs or cortisone injections, or more drastically, surgery on the joint.
How is osteoarthritis of the wrist treated?
Treatment at the Fascia Clinic aims to get the fascia flowing, increase mobility and reduce pressure in the joint. Fascia treatment is comfortable and has no side effects. An important treatment for osteoarthritis is movement training to strengthen muscles, ligaments, joint capsules, etc. Movement, without overexertion, reduces inflammatory processes in the joint. A support splint (orthosis) to help the joint with stability can sometimes feel good.
Conventional treatments include painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone injections or various types of surgery, such as joint fusion.
Osteoarthritis of the wrist – What can I do myself?
Daily exercise and movement without overstressing the wrist is important to build strength in the surrounding structures and to prevent the joint from stiffening. Movement is important for the body’s healing processes.
Exercises for wrist osteoarthritis
A therapist can help with appropriate exercises. The wrist should not be strained and exercises that cause severe pain should be avoided, but gently moving the wrist works well. Movement is important to avoid stiffening the wrist.