How Hand Surgery Can Help With Your Arthritis

Hand surgery is an excellent option for treating arthritis in the hands when nothing else works. Here are the different types of surgical procedures and what they can do.

Arthritis can be so painful that it puts a stop to your life and keeps you up at night. For extreme cases of arthritis in the hands where non-surgical treatments don't work, hand surgery is an option. Here are the most common treatments.

Medication And Injections

Before trying hand surgery, your doctor will try a few non-surgical options. These include medications and injections. The aim of both is to cut down on swelling. Usually, medicine is used first and if it doesn't produce results, the doctor will recommend injections. These contain anesthetics and steroids that work for as long as several weeks or months. Injections offer a long-lasting treatment but they can't be used continually for long periods of time because of possible side effects. 

Joint Replacement

In severe cases where surgical options are deemed appropriate, there are a number of different treatments. One is called joint replacement. This is a procedure that is often used successfully for knees and hips, but can also be used for hands. Replacement joints are made from plastic, ceramic or long-wearing metal parts. These are then inserted into key areas to allow maximum flexibility and the least amount of pain. This is a fairly new treatment and it's hard to say exactly how effective it is. Not every surgeon is qualified to perform it. If you choose this method, make sure your surgeon is experienced and qualified.

Joint Reconstruction

Joint reconstruction is a similar treatment where joints are restructured using a variety of materials. Also like joint replacement, it tends to be done for hips and knees, but in recent years there has been a rise in the procedure’s popularity for hands. This is usually preferred for patients who are older or who live more sedentary lifestyles. Materials and techniques are constantly improving and this is making joint reconstruction a more viable option for many people.

Joint Fusion

Another is called joint fusion. In joint fusion, the arthritic surface is taken out and the bones of the joint are fused together. This stops the pain and fixes any deformity that might result from severe cases of arthritis. However, it should only be used in serious cases as a last resort. The reason is that it keeps the joint from moving anymore. You lose the pain of arthritis because the joint can no longer move. It's not an ideal option for everyone.

Do You Need Hand Surgery?

Arthritis can be very bad or very light; how do you know if you need to see a surgeon? Since the aim of hand surgery is to reduce pain, that should be the main factor. As a general rule, if the pain keeps you up at night, you should seek treatment. And if non-surgical treatments such as medicine, therapy and injections don't eliminate the pain, you should seek a qualified surgeon for one of the above treatments. Make sure your doctor is qualified and experience to perform in this area.

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