Overuse and accident injuries in your hand and wrist can cause a lot of pain. Sometimes, however, pain can develop even when you haven’t suffered an injury. This may be a sign of wrist arthritis, typically either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Ignoring this condition can significantly impact your everyday life. You may find it difficult to do many of the things you previously did without issues, such as typing, knitting, washing dishes, folding clothes, and more. Let’s take a look at the symptoms of wrist arthritis. If you notice any of them, talk to a doctor to get a diagnosis and a treatment plan in place.
Joint Pain and Stiffness
The most common symptom of wrist arthritis is pain in the wrist joint. If pain worsens when you are using your hands and is alleviated by rest, you probably have osteoarthritis (OA). Morning pain associated with inflammation and stiffness is often due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). You may feel pain in one wrist or both as a result of these conditions.
Joint Swelling
Another symptom of wrist arthritis is swelling. Your joints have synovium, a soft tissue that lines the inner surface of the joint. This also produces the synovial fluid which lubricates and nurtures the cartilage and bones inside the joint capsule. RA targets the synovium, which causes overproduction of the fluid, resulting in swelling. OA may also cause this symptom due to inflammation and accumulation of excess fluid around the joint.
Redness and Warmth
If the skin around your wrist gets warm to the touch, you may have arthritis. Redness and warmth occur because your joint is damaged, inflaming the tissues around it. This symptom can also develop when bacteria and pathogens get in the joint space, causing infection.
Grinding, Clicking, or Cracking
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disorder. As it worsens, the cartilage in your wrist wears down. When this occurs, you will feel or hear a grinding, clicking, or cracking sensation or noise when moving the wrist.
Fever
Pain accompanied by fever signifies an infection. It may also be a sign that your body is attacking your healthy cells, which happens with autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. This fever may also go together with the redness and warmth you feel in your wrist.
Difficulty Holding Objects
Because wrist arthritis causes joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation, you may have trouble holding or grasping objects. Affected joints will feel weak and have a limited range of motion. Swelling may also impair your wrist movement.
Wrist Arthritis Management in North Dakota
Pain every now and then is a normal part of life. However, pain caused by wrist arthritis can be debilitating and should not be ignored. If you notice you have any of the symptoms associated with arthritis in your wrist, seek help from an orthopedic physician. There are many ways to manage wrist arthritis so it doesn’t take over your life.
The Bone & Joint Center in North Dakota specializes in problems associated with bones and joints, including arthritis. Our board-certified orthopedic doctors have years of experience in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the hands, wrists, and elbows, among others. We also offer physical and occupational therapy for our patients. We have 11 clinics in North Dakota ready to serve you.
You may reach us at (701) 946-7400 or (866) 900-8650. You may also use this secure online form to schedule an appointment with ease.
