Hand

Osteoarthritis of the Hand

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

Treatment is designed to relieve pain and restore function. Anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen may help reduce swelling and relieve pain. Prescription medications or steroid (cortisone) injections may be recommended. Your physician may refer you to a physical or occupational therapist because changing the way you do things with your hands may help relieve pain and pressure. If conservative measures fail, surgery may be necessary. Several surgical options are available:

• Surgery may be used to drain or remove the cysts associated with the nodes and to remove excess bone growth.
• Joint fusion, a way of stiffening the problem joint, may be used to correct deformities that interfere with function or that are cosmetically unacceptable.
• A joint replacement may be advised.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007