| Rheumatoid arthritis is considered to be an | | | | joints and patient awareness will all help to control the |
| autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disorder means | | | | damage that can occur with an unmanaged case. |
| that one's body is having an immune response to its | | | | Medication can help with pain as well as to minimize |
| own cells. Rheumatoid arthritis, like other forms of | | | | inflammation. Surgery may be an option that may help, |
| arthritis manifests in the joints, appearing as chronic | | | | as well. |
| inflammation and pain. It can attack people of all ages | | | | There are different surgeries for helping with arthritis in |
| and there is no sure-fire cure. It can be handled with | | | | the hand and wrist region. This type of operation would |
| medication and helped with surgery. | | | | require the extremely specialized skills of a physician |
| The hand and wrist region have multitudes of tiny | | | | who focuses specifically on the intricate workings of |
| joints in it. The hands are relied upon to perform | | | | the hand. |
| constant intricate maneuvers that one tends to take | | | | Surgical options include those that would preserve the |
| for granted as long as everything is working well and is | | | | joint, those that fuse the joint and joint replacement. |
| pain free. Writing, cooking, working in the garden, to | | | | Preservation of the joint is preferable, but the choice |
| name just a few tasks; require much fine motor | | | | will be dependent on each patient's individual case. |
| precision by our hands. | | | | Many joints in the wrist and hand region may be |
| All of these delicate movements appear seamless | | | | replaced with an adaptive device made of ceramic |
| because each maneuver is cushioned by the cartilage | | | | material, metal or even a long wearing plastic. Recent |
| interspersed between the joints. If the padding of | | | | technology has advanced the design of these devices |
| cartilage erodes, the human body will try to help out by | | | | in order to enable them to be long lasting with optimum |
| sending a fluid in order to act as a cushioning device. | | | | functionality. |
| This will unfortunately also cause pain due to the | | | | Post-op, a patient will most likely need to participate in |
| swelling and stretching. The range of motion becomes | | | | physical therapy designed for hand, wrist, and joint |
| impaired, as well. | | | | recovery. A support device such as a splint will |
| Once a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis has been | | | | probably need to be worn. After a period of rest and |
| made, a physician will want to monitor the patient's | | | | recovery, the hand should be ready to perform tasks |
| condition by means of x-rays. A rigorous regime of | | | | again with ease. |
| medication, rest, specific exercises to strengthen the | | | | |