Showing posts with label Arthritis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arthritis. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Arthritis Trigger Finger - What is it and What Can You Do About It?

Stenosing tenosynovitis is more commonly known as trigger finger arthritis. There is a misconception that the trigger finger is the pointer or index finger when it comes to this kind of arthritis. This is because the index finger is particularly used in pulling the trigger of a gun. But the truth is arthritis trigger finger can occur in any finger of the hand.

Trigger Finger Surgery

What Is It?

Trigger finger is legitimately a "snapping" or "popping" of a finger of the hand as it is fulfilled, or opened. The snapping is the think why it was called trigger finger in the first place. This health is more commonly found in the index, middle and ring fingers. And the snapping is effortlessly heard upon attempting to flex the fingers while production a firm grip. There is a sudden stuttering of the digit as it closes then snaps close instead of the usual flat way.

Sometimes, the affected finger cannot anymore stretch back into position and there is a locking in that position so that the other hand will have to help it towards extension. Upon extension, someone else snap is heard. Pain accompanies the snapping, foremost the patient to the doctor.

The popping of the finger is the hallmark of trigger finger and is normally worse in the morning upon getting up. But as the health worsens, the popping becomes more regular. In the worst scenario, the bump or swollen part of the tendon may lock in place so that it gets stuck there.

What Causes Trigger Finger?

So how do we get this condition? Actually, trigger finger is an inflammation of the tendon that pulls the finger to a fulfilled, position upon flexion. It may also be caused by scarring in the same tendon. Most of the time, it comes in isolated cases. In this single case, though, trigger finger comes with other symptoms within the hand that accompanies rheumatoid arthritis in the area.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an abnormal health that is caused by wear and tear or overuse. So prolonged use of the fingers can at last lead to micro-injuries that may later on swell and lead to trigger finger. Aside from this, rheumatoid arthritis has been found to be a hereditary health where it runs in families. Therefore, adding wear-and-tear may trigger it onset or exacerbate the already-present condition.

In 2005, it has been found that most of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis come with symptoms of swelling colse to the tendons of the palm, later on foremost to trigger finger. The onset of this health is gradual and is more commonly seen in women with the fourth finger being the most commonly involved. Studies also prove that trigger finger does not come from heavy use but with light constant use of the area.

How Can It Be Treated?

If we do get trigger finger, what can we do treat it? There are home remedies ready for the medicine of this health and for most types of arthritis in general. Doing passive stretching of the hand and fingers toward postponement is a good way to forestall the formation of adhesions in the area and to heighten blood circulation as well. Putting ice intermittently in the area for 15 minutes or more legitimately lessens the swelling that goes with inflammation. The most foremost is performance modification where the movements that causes more symptoms should be avoided altogether.

But of course in most instances, trigger finger cannot be treated by home remedies alone. Doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs that are very helpful for the healing of the part involved. Usually, drugs like ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen are given to patients. The fastest relief is the injection of a local cortisone colse to the affected tendon.

Splinting the area is also a clarification to forestall usage of the tendons. This will forestall the worsening of the inflammation.

There are cases when even after 2 cortisone injections, there is no relief for the patient. This is when surgical operation is required to remove the scarred or inflamed tissues. Approximately half the estimate of patients answer to cortisone injection. Those who don't resort to surgery. Although with puny risk, there are cases that recur after the operation. But this is only done if the rest of the medicine therapy have been tried but were not successful.

If you feel that you are starting to show symptoms of arthritis trigger finger, do not panic. Consulting the doctor is still the best remedy. It is good to catch the health while it is still beginning. The later you go to a doctor, the more likely that you are going to experience surgery. So don't be scared, see your orthopedic doctor right away.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Doctor, I Have a Lump on a Finger Joint... Could It be Arthritis?

Finger joint lumps and bumps can be disfiguring and a cause of great concern for the patient. Here are some inherent causes.

Trigger Finger Surgery

Osteoarthritis, the most base form of arthritis, often affects the hands. When it does, it often causes local inflammation of the distal interphalangeal joints (Dip or last row) and proximal interphalangeal joints (Pip or next to last row). This inflammation causes the joints to swell and hurt. The lumps that form are called Heberden's nodes (Dip) and Bouchard's nodes (Pip). Involvement of the base of the thumb may also cause a lumpiness or squared-off appearance.

Gout also causes lumps in the fingers. Gout may cause inflammation of the interphalangeal joints of the fingers. When this occurs, it may be indistinguishable from a flare of osteoarthritis. Middle-aged (post-menopausal) or elderly women on diuretic therapy are particularly prone to developing this. Gout may also cause soft tissue lumps. The prognosis is made by aspiration of fluid from the affected joint or soft tissue mass with exam of the aspirated material using polarizing microscopy.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes joint swelling enchanting the wrists, metacarpophalangeal (Mcp) joints (knuckles) as well as the Pip joints. Inflammation may lead to lumpiness. Rheumatoid arthritis also causes rheumatoid nodules to design in the finger joints. These nodules occur in patients with long-standing and severe disease.

Swelling of the tendon sheaths in the palm of the hand may occur with dissimilar types of arthritis. This occurs because the tendon sheaths are lined with synovial tissue which may become inflamed. When this happens, the tendon sheath may swell and become lumpy. Sometimes the fingers begin to trigger or catch.

Ganglion cysts can influence the wrist. These are normally painless swellings that have a soft squishy feel to them. The old treatment used to be smashing them with the family Bible. Fortunately, this formula of getting religion is rarely used anymore. The ganglion may be aspirated and injected with steroid if painful. Sometimes surgical operation is required if very symptomatic.

Soft tissue swelling as a result of blisters and calluses are normally not difficult to diagnose.

Plant thorn synovitis is a relatively base qoute that may occur in population who grow rose bushes. Here a thorn from a rose bush may break off in the joint and cause a localized inflammation of the finger joint. This health often requires surgical operation for both prognosis as well as treatment.

Infections of the finger joints are a cause of finger lumps and must be treated aggressively. Activities such as fist fights or animal bites may be precipitating factors.

Dupuytren's contracture is a health presenting as a "lump" or nodule in the palm near the flexion crease, most often at the base of the ring or small finger. This lump or nodule may also occur at the base of the thumb.

A rare disease called histiocytosis may also cause lumps to appear in the distal row of finger joints. prognosis is made by biopsy. treatment is normally symptomatic although in its severe forms histiocytosis may be treated with chemotherapeutic agents.

Painful lumps on the pads of the fingers may design as a result of bacterial endocarditis. This disease is an infection of the heart valves. The bumps are termed "Osler nodes."

Friday, April 13, 2012

What Arthritis Problems Cause Severe Pain in the Thumb?

There are dissimilar problems seen in a rheumatologist's office that can cause thumb pain.

Trigger Finger Surgery

Probably the most common is what is called De Quervain's tenosynovitis. This kind of tendinitis is due to repetitive motion lively the thumb. Actions such as using pruning shears, writing, pinching, knitting, lifting weights, and typing can cause this.

Another situation is that of new mothers. Because of the repetitive motion involved in lifting and carrying a baby, new mothers can also invent this condition.

Symptoms of De Quervain's contain swelling, pain, and tenderness lively the radial (thumb side) of the wrist and thumb. The pain can be so severe that the inpatient cannot use their thumb at all.

On examination, there is tenderness noted along the thumb side of the wrist. Also, there is a distinct Finkelstein's maneuver. The physician has the inpatient bring the thumb across the palm of the hand. Then the inpatient is asked to fold their fingers over the thumb. The hand is then pushed towards the petite finger side of the wrist. This stretches the tendons along the thumb side of the wrist and causes severe pain.

While the diagnosis is often made on clinical grounds, it can be confirmed by whether diagnostic ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (Mri).

There is a straightforward theorize for production sure the diagnosis is correct. That theorize is because there is an additional one type of tendinitis that looks like De Quervain's tendinitis. This health is called intersection syndrome.

Intersection syndrome involves tendons that are very near the tendons that cause De Quervain's disease. Intersection syndrome also arises from repetitive motion and is often seen in very active people.

One other health that can be confused with De Quervains disease is osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb. Location of symptoms is very similar in both conditions.

One other type of tendonitis can occur on the palm side of the thumb. This is called stenosing tenosynovitis- or" trigger thumb." The inpatient may have difficulty bending and straightening their thumb because it catches.

Once the diagnosis of DeQuervain's disease or intersection syndrome is established, rehabilitation of this set of conditions- which are carefully forms of arthritis- can begin. rehabilitation of these disorders contain splinting, anti-inflammatory medication, bodily therapy, and sometimes, corticosteroid injection. Steroid injection should be administered using ultrasound guidance. This commonly provides rapid relief.

In those patients who do not sass to the above measures, needle tenotomy with platelet rich plasma (Prp) management using ultrasound advice is often each effective.

For trigger thumb, steroid injection commonly works. In those patients who continue to trigger, a publish of the small pulley that causes trapping of the thumb tendon can be complete using a small needle with ultrasound guidance. In rare instances, open surgery is required.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Eye Arthritis - Can It Be Prevented?

The condition termed as arthritis of the eyes is known as Uvetis. Uvetis can be caused by a lot of factors, although the most exact one that triggers a particular assault is hard to pinpoint. It is believed that the eyes have a lot in coarse with joints and the knees, as these body parts are self-contained. By being self-contained, it means that these body parts have exact boundaries that create cavities that are filled with fluids, spaces, and connective tissues.

Trigger Finger Surgery

Most cases of eye arthritis have a lot to do with poor diet. Studies also show that smoking may trigger this disease as well. But links with other condition conditions such as headaches, infections, and injuries are related with it too. If a man has a weak immune system, it is also possible that it could have been the point of origin of their eye arthritis.

To forestall eye arthritis, the following steps can be performed:

Undergo eye exams. Every time you feel that there's something wrong with your eyes, such as if you feel that your eyes are painful, you should go to the physician and have them checked. Headaches are also a sign of eye arthritis. Therefore whenever your episodes of sick are becoming frequent, don't waste time and consult with a condition expert right away.

Take medications at the onset of symptoms. One of the coarse symptoms of eye arthritis would be dry eyes. For such cases, apply topical eye drops to relieve the pain. But before doing so, make sure that the rehabilitation you are using is prescribed by your doctor. The most effective eye drops in the store today are the ones that comprise betamethosone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone. Never self-medicate. It is mandatory that you resolve what type of eye medication is best for your condition problem. That's the only effective way to treat the disease.

Avoid using perceive lenses. Those who are suffering from eye arthritis should make sure that they never use perceive lenses at all. perceive lenses are known to make the eyes dry out to some degree. If perceive lenses are used all the time, then the possibility of triggering eye arthritis will increase.

Use sunglasses to safe the eyes. The use of the right type of sunglasses is going to be useful to eye arthritis patients. When the literal, type of sunglasses are worn, the eyes won't be subjected to conditions that could set off eye arthritis. There are sunglasses that can safe the eyes. But there are also sunglasses that can be harmful because they do not use the right type of materials. If you have eye arthritis, be sure to invest on a good pair of sunglasses.

Take oral medications. There are times that oral medications are required to address the pain caused by eye arthritis. Sometimes, the pain becomes too unbearable that oral anti-inflammatory drugs need to be prescribed. For these cases, tell your physician that mere eye drops are not adequate to make the pain go away. Ask him to give you oral medications to supplement the effects of the eye drops.

Surgery. Should your case of eye arthritis be on the developed level, try to consider surgery, especially if your physician had already suggested it. Surgery has its pros and cons. Make sure that you weigh them first and take them into consideration when you make your decision. Also, ask your physician to elaborate to you the whole process and all the possible effects when you pick to endure it. This way, you will know what to expect after the procedure.

These are the dissimilar ways to prevent, and perhaps cure, eye arthritis. Eye arthritis is a medical condition that should not be ignored. The occasion you know that you have it, take immediate action so that you can avoid the pains related with it.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Rheumatoid Arthritis - A Disabling and Horrible Disease

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Trigger Finger Surgery

Rheumatoid arthritis is a vicious disease that affects the joints of the body. It has been known to cause pain, swelling, and stiffness. If a single knee or hand has rumatoid arthritis, the other knee or hand will most likely manufacture it. Rheumatoid arthritis often occurs in more than a single joint and is capable of affecting any joint in the body. Citizen diagnosed with rumatoid arthritis often get feelings of sickness and fatigue and are more prone to get fevers.
The distance of rumatoid arthritis varies from a month to two years. After it has run its course, it leaves without leaving any damage . Many Citizen feel times when the symptoms worsen (flares), and times when they heighten (remissions). Others have a severe form of rumatoid arthritis that can last anywhere from a few months to a lifetime. This form of the disease can cause serious permanent joint damage.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. Some very common side effects include:

Joints are swollen, tender and warm

Joint inflammation often occurring in the wrist and finger joints closest to the hand

Joint inflammation affecting other areas such as neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles and feet.

Fatigue, fevers and an overal feeling of unwellness

Pain and stiffness in joints lasting for more than 30 minutes in the morning or after a long sleep

These symptoms can last for years!

What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

The exact cause of rumatoid arthritis is unknown, but it is known that with this arthritis, a person's immune law attacks his or her own body tissues. Researchers are studying many things about why and how this happens. Things that may cause rumatoid arthritis are:

Genes (past on from parents): Researchers are discovering that definite genes may play in the role in the improvement of rheumatoid arthritis.

Environment: Some scientists believe that something must happen to trigger the disease process in Citizen who have the genes that make them more likely to manufacture rumatoid arthritis.

Hormones: Other scientists and researchers believe a variety of other hormonal factors may also conduce to rumatoid arthritis.
Rheumtoid Arthritis Treatment:
There are many ways that doctors can treat rumatoid arthritis. The goals of medicine are to:

Reduce pain and swelling

Stop or slow down joint damage

Help Citizen feel better and stay active

Treatment for rumatoid arthritis may involve:

Changes in lifestyle: Make sure to keep a good equilibrium between exercise and rest, take care of your joints, eliminate stress from you life, and eating a health, well-balanced diet.

Medicine: A majority of Citizen suffering from rumatoid arthritis take medicine for pain relief, to cut swelling and to forestall the disease from getting worse.

Surgery: Many types of surgeries are ready to those with severe joint damage.

Regular doctor Visits: Visit your doctor on a quarterly basis so he/she can see if it getting worse, resolve if the medicine is helping, and convert the medicine if needed.

The Real Truth on How to Cure or Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that leads to the persisting inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It is an auto immune disease where the body's cells are attacked by its own immune system. Rheumatoid arthritis patients may not sense any symptoms for a long period even though it lasts for years.

Trigger Finger Surgery

Chronic rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent joint destruction and deformity. The exact cause of this rheumatoid arthritis is not clearly understood but it is known to sway habitancy of all ages. It is suspected that environmental factors or infections trigger the immune theory of the body.

Symptoms and signs of rheumatoid arthritis:

Depending on the degree of inflammation, the symptoms may come and go. The intensity of the disease varies depending on the degree of inflammation. The disease is active when the body tissues are active and the disease is inactive (in remission) when the inflammation subsides. When the disease is active, symptoms contain the following:

Loss of energy and appetite Fatigue Muscle and joint aches Low grade fever Stiffness of joints (more noticeable in the morning)

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis:

There is no cure for this disease. But the treatment plan involves reducing the pain and inflammation of the joints, maximizing the functionality of the joints, and preventing joint destruction and deformity. treatment for arthritis involves usage of assorted medications, rest, practice to strengthen the joints, and educating the sick person about the disease.

The arthritis treatment regularly entails a blend of drug therapy and non drug therapies that will control the inflammation of the joint and minimize joint damage. In some case, surgical operation may be required.

Also the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis should be tailored to personel patients needs. This includes the severity of the condition, effectiveness of particular therapies, side effects etc. Also if the person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis is suffering from any other ailments, then the treatment plan should be planned in a different manner. This regularly happens with patients who suffer from kidney connected problems.

Medications that are used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis includes:

Nsaid's which helps to sell out pain and inflammation of the joints. It does not sell out the long term effects of this disease. The side effects of these drugs should be weighed before it is taken. Disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs reduces inflammation, prevents damage to joints, preserve joint structure and functions and helps the patients to do their daily activities with ease. Biologic agents target the cells of the immune system, joints, secretions of the joints etc that causes inflammation and joint destruction. Since these fights with the immune theory of the body, it should be used cautiously with patients who suffer from infections. Steroids have strong anti-inflammatory properties which has the potential to provide quick relief to rheumatoid symptoms.

Apart from medications, non pharmacological treatment for arthritis includes:

Educating and counseling the patients about the disease. This will help the sick person to understand about the disease and cope up with the challenges of the disease. Fatigue is a tasteless indication of illness that is connected with rheumatoid arthritis. The inflamed joints should be given adequate rest. This does not mean that corporal fitness should be avoided. Exercise can help the patients to preclude and reverse the effects rheumatoid arthritis creates on the sick person which includes loss of joint motion, loss of muscle strength, weakness, and contractions, reduces joint stability etc. Physical therapy like the application of heat or cold, ultrasound, passive and active exercises, finger splinting, freedom techniques etc can help sell out pain and inflammation in patients with arthritis. Nutrition and dietary therapy will help patients suffering from this disease to adequate number of nutrition and calories.

The use of both medications and other corporal therapies provide some relief to patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The best treatment plan should be first identified and then followed.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Yoga Precautions for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Yoga teachers know that pre-existing physical conditions are leading when teaching students. Yet, there are a few students who may administrate to slip by an orientation. Maybe they arrive late, or the staff is helping other new students, but each learner should be made aware of precautions for his or her health. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the many ailments that Yoga teachers and students should talk about before practice.

Trigger Finger Surgery

A long-term disease leading to inflammation of the joints and tissues, rheumatoid arthritis (Ra) can also influence other organs. Up to 1% of the world's habitancy is estimated to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, with women experiencing it three times more often than men. Continuing and debilitating, those with Ra may at last need surgery to allege movement in fingers, hands and other areas.

Can Yoga help those with Ra allege an active lifestyle? Some studies indicates yes: a study in the United Arab Emirates showed that patients who completed 12 sessions of Raj yoga, with rehearsal and breathing techniques, showed necessary improvements in disease operation scores and health assessments. In 1994, the British Journal of Rheumatology published a study showing arthritis symptoms improving for patients who practiced Yoga and the Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America published two studies detailing joint stiffness and pain relief for Yoga practitioners in 2002.

Yet, even though Yoga may offer necessary relief for Ra, its custom should be approached with caution. The disease does not consequent a steady, progressive course; instead, sufferers caress flare-ups followed by remission. Yoga custom convenient for man in remission may be different from man experiencing an active flare-up. Ra affects joints symmetrically, in wrists, elbows, hands, shoulders, knees, feet and ankles most frequently. As the disease progresses, joints become more unstable and the patient's range of motion is restricted.

It is leading not to confuse asanas recommended for those with osteoarthritis and those with Ra. Multiple joints are not affected in osteoarthritis, nor does it entail ongoing joint damage from inflammatory processes. Retention poses for increased lengths of time to develop static muscles is recommended for osteoarthritis but should be avoided for Ra. Agreeing to a structural Yoga therapy research paper published in 2006, habitancy with moderate to severe Ra should avoid "high intensity exercise; prolonged weight-bearing exercise; prolonged immobility in seated or lying positions and stretching past the comfortable endpoint of range of motion," among other lifestyle triggers.

Asanas absorbing pressure on the neck should be avoided, while poses like Dandasana or the Butterfly may be beneficial. Pranayama and smooth motions are well noteworthy to Yoga practitioners with Ra. Determined evaluate whether symptoms are in remission or actively inflamed before practice.

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