Ask the Doctor

Arthritis: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

By David S. Zelouf, MD.
Reprinted here from the Fall 2000 "First Hand News"

Although there are more than one hundred types of arthritis, the two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Older individuals are more likely to have osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease linked to wear and tear of joints throughout the body. The other relatively common form of arthritis is known as rheumatoid arthritis, a type of inflammatory arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is more likely to affect women, and can begin at any age, from childhood into adulthood.

Since the term arthritis is so broad and encompasses such a wide variety of types, there is no single cause attributed to the disease. A review of scientific data does not support the commonly held beliefs that arthritis is caused by a cold, wet climate or by a poor diet. Some forms of the disease are hereditary, while others result from a malfunction of the immune system. Often, the underlying cause for a person’s arthritis remains unknown.

The signs and symptoms of arthritis include swelling of one or more joints, early-morning stiffness, recurring pain or tenderness of any joint, inability to move a joint normally, obvious redness and warmth of a joint, and unexplained weight loss, fever, or weakness combined with joint pain. If these symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, we recommend that you schedule an appointment for consultation.

Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, often involves different joints of the hand. This can include the knuckle joints of the fingers and thumb, as well as the wrist joint. The treatment for osteoarthritis depends primarily on the severity of its symptoms. Therapeutic options include medications, such as aspirin; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or Motrin; and COX 2 inhibitors, such as Celebrex and Vioxx. These medications can be effective, if used properly, in mild cases of osteoarthritis.

Other proven treatment modalities for arthritis involving the hand include splinting and hand therapy. A certified hand therapist can be quite helpful, providing useful tips to the arthritis patient as well as custom splints and other modalities. In some cases, joint injections administered by a physician can provide relief of arthritic pain. Surgery for recalcitrant symptoms can be very effective in selected cases.

If you suffer from arthritis or other problems of the hand, wrist or elbow call The Philadelphia Hand Centers at 1-800-971-HAND (4263).