This causes structural changes that can be seen on X-rays.
Arthritis wears away at the cartilage and synovial lining of a joint, which is the cushioning material between bones. When arthritis affects the joints of the hands, it can cause pain and stiffness. That pain can get worse whenever you use the hand a lot—for example, when typing on a computer keyboard or gripping utensils in the kitchen. You may also lose strength in your hands.  Arthritis is a general term for inflammation in the joints. Arthritis can occur in numerous forms. The most common is osteoarthritis, a condition in which the cartilage, the protective cushioning between the joints, wears out. When this happens, the bones rub directly against other bones. This causes structural changes that can be seen on X-rays. The joints most often affected are the hands and the weight-bearing joints of the lower extremities (knees, hips, feet). In osteoarthritis, there is a steady worsening and decline of joint cartilage. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or age. Other arthritis forms are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and related autoimmune diseases. The pain from arthritis is due to inflammation that occurs around the joint, damage to the joint from disease, daily wear and tear of joint, muscle strains caused by forceful movements against stiff painful joints and fatigue. Arthritis in the hands is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs as a result of the breakdown of the cartilage that support the bone structure. Since we use our hands and fingers in most activities, arthritis in the hands can be a cause of discomfort and uneasiness. Swollen fingers, joint inflammation, stiffness and pain are some of the symptoms of hand arthritis. Advancements in the medical field have led to the development of many methods for controlling the various arthritis symptoms. The two most common forms of arthritis from disease are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is much more common and generally affects older people. Also known as wear and tear arthritis, osteoarthritis causes cartilage to wear away. It appears in a predictable pattern in certain joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that can affect many parts of your body. It causes the joint lining (synovium) to swell, which causes pain and stiffness in the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis most often starts in the small joints of the hands and feet. It usually affects the same joints on both sides of the body. Simply defined, arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but there are more than 100 different forms. Healthy joints move easily because of a smooth, slippery tissue called articular cartilage. Symptoms of arthritis in the hands may include: 1  Pain in some or all of the joints, including joints of the fingers, wrists, and thumbs. 2  The growth of bony knobs on finger joints. 3  Numbness in fingers. 4  Swollen, red, or warm joints. The progression of arthritis in the hands can actually be measured. People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis lose bone density, which can be measured with bone-density scanning, while the joint damage of osteoarthritis can usually be seen on X-rays. The most common forms of arthritis in the hand are osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis (after an injury), and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease in which the smooth cartilage that covers the bone surfaces at the joints either is injured or wears over time. Arthritis—literally, “inflamed joint”—can affect any joint in the body, including the joints between the 29 bones of the wrist, hand, and fingers. Arthritis of the hand can hurt and keep you from being able to do what you want or need to do. Arthritis is a disease of the various tissues inside joints. A joint is the point at which two or more bones meet. Arthritis can occur as a result of acute (short term) or chronic (ongoing) inflammation in a joint and its surrounding soft tissues. It can also occur after trauma to the joint (such as a broken finger) or possibly from genetic (heredity) and environmental causes. Symptoms of arthritis from any cause can include: 1  Pain limited to the joint itself. 2  This is the main symptom. 3  Initially, pain will come and go and made worse when in use (such as when gripping heavy objects). 4  However, pain is relieved with rest. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, may affect one or more joints anywhere in the body. The joints most often affected are the hands and the weight-bearing joints of the lower extremities (knees, hips, feet). In osteoarthritis, there is a steady worsening and decline of joint cartilage. Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, and is the most common chronic joint condition. It usually comes on gradually. In the case of osteoarthritis, the pain in the hand is typically worse when gripping or turning an object.
http://www.healthline.com/health/osteoarthritis/arthritis-hand-exercises http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/hand-osteoarthritis-degenerative-arthritis-of-the-hand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthritis http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-arthritis-in-hands.html http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00224 http://www.everydayhealth.com/arthritis/arthritis-fingers-hands.aspx http://www.assh.org/handcare/hand-arm-conditions/osteoarthritis http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Arthritis/hic_Arthritis_of_the_Hand_and_Wrist http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/hand-osteoarthritis-degenerative-arthritis-of-the-hand http://www.tuckahoeortho.com/blog/what-are-the-symptoms-of-arthritis-in-the-hand/
what is arthritis in the hands