Hand osteoarthritis, popularly known as hand arthritis, is a disease that negatively affects the quality of life with the severe pain it causes. Near East University Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department Specialist Assist. Assoc. Dr. Although Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto emphasized that the pain increased with use of the joint in the first place, she said that the pain intensified even if the joint was not used in the advanced stages.
It is stated that patients feel stiffness after a long period of inactivity and have difficulty in starting movement. Stating that there are two different types of hand osteoarthritis as Nodal Generalized Osteoarthritis and Erosive Osteoarthritis, Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that these osteoarthritis cause permanent changes in the joints with significant complaints in patients.
IT IS MORE COMMON IN WOMEN
Nodal Generalized Osteoarthritis with familial inheritance is more common in women. In this osteoarthritis involving the hand joints, the nodules that cause the disease appear at an early age. Assist. Assoc. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto, “Many joint involvement is seen in Nodal Generalized Osteoarthritis. Knee or hip osteoarthritis is also frequently seen in patients with the hand. Patients first feel their pain in the hand. Pain, swelling and stiffness occur in the fingers, one or more joints. Although nodules are formed in osteoarthritis, hand functions are not adversely affected.
IMPROVES IN WOMEN BETWEEN 40-50 YEARS
Stating that erosive osteoarthritis is common in women between the ages of 40-50, Assist. Assoc. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that it gives symptoms at an earlier age compared to other forms of osteoarthritis. Stating that erosive osteoarthritis started suddenly, Assist. Assoc. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that the complaints are very painful and are seen in the form of swelling, redness and temperature increase in the joint, and said, “Erosive osteoarthritis affects many joints at the same time, usually there is symmetrical involvement in both hands. For this reason, it is often confused with Rheumatoid Arthritis, a rheumatic disease involving the hands. The painful process may last for years, but eventually the patient’s complaints regress. In the advanced stages of the disease, although the joints are painless, loss of function is observed and the final situation is bad.
OBESITY AND AGE ARE THE BIGGEST RISK FACTOR
Stating that the most important risk factor in hand osteoarthritis is age, Assist. Assoc. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto said that in 75 percent of women between the ages of 60-70, osteoarthritis is detected in DIF joints by imaging method, it is seen more frequently in women, where genetic transition plays an important role, and it mostly affects the joints. feature is very prominent. It has been determined that obesity causes osteoarthritis in some joints not only for mechanical reasons such as loading, but also for metabolic reasons. Hand and finger joints are examples of this. It is very remarkable that obesity is a risk factor for hand osteoarthritis.
Stating that the treatment in hand osteoarthritis is planned individually, Assist. Assoc. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that while arranging the treatment, non-pharmacological approaches are included in the treatment plan along with drug therapy. Stating that the patients should be educated about how to protect the joints, Assist. Assoc. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that exercises related to the disease can be done, orthoses that prevent and correct deformity in the joints and physical therapy agents can be used when necessary.