What are the signs of arthritis in the hands?

Achy, swollen hands? Stiffness in your wrists? It’s common to assume these are symptoms of arthritis. While 40 million Americans suffer from arthritis, it’s far less frequent in the hands than people expect. Instead, what many mistake for arthritis is actually tendonitis. Let’s look at the difference between arthritis and other conditions, risk factors and treatments.

Is it arthritis in my hand or tendonitis?

Arthritis and tendonitis can mimic each other, so it’s important to understand the difference between the two. Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons in your hand due to an injury or repetitive motion, and the pain can come and go suddenly or last for a few days.

Arthritis, however, is inflammation of the joint due to degenerative joint disease. There are many types of arthritis, but the most common forms are osteoarthritis (OA), when the protective cartilage in the joint breaks down, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), when immune system attacks the joints. Early symptoms of arthritis include painful hand joints, burning sensation and decreased functionality of the hand and/or wrist.

Types of arthritis in the hand

Fingertip Joint Arthritis

About 10% of people develop hereditary arthritis in the joints of the fingertips, also called the distal interphalangeal joints.

Putting pressure on our fingertips it’s similar to the amount of pressure we put through our knees when we’re walking. Because of this, its common to get patients with little nubby bumps on their fingers, called Heberden’s nodes, which are actually small bone outgrowths. These bumps rarely need to be treated unless it is impacting their mobility.

Basal Thumb Arthritis

Nearly 25% of women over the age of 50 develop arthritis in the thumb. That figure jumps to more than 50% for women over the age of 70. Because men seldom suffer from thumb arthritis, we believe that the ligaments that hold the joint together have estrogen receptors in women. After 50, when women lose their estrogen throughout menopause, the ligaments stretch out and the joint degenerates.

Post-Traumatic Arthritis

Post-traumatic arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that occurs after a joint injury, but because arthritis develops gradually, it is hard to pinpoint when the condition began.

For example. we see a lot of arthritis in the wrist due to undiagnosed fractures, particularly a scaphoid or undiagnosed ligament injury. With injuries like this, it is hard to recognize arthritis early because it can take 8 to 10 years or more before we identify it, which is why it’s common at ages 45 to 60.

The wrist is prone to arthritis because there are no muscle or tendon attachments to the eight bones in the wrist, which means there isn’t much protection from everyday wear and tear.

Symptoms of Arthritis in Hands

Symptoms differ slightly depending on the type of arthritis you have, but these differences can help us determine the correct underlying cause. Common symptoms include:

• Pain in the hands and fingers
• Swelling in your hand/wrist joints
• Stiffness in your joints and hands
• Weakness in your hands

Diagnosing Arthritis in Hands

Accurately diagnosing hand arthritis can be complicated, so having a physical examination cannot always provide enough information. We can recommend an X-ray so we can pinpoint the hand arthritis and identify what stage it is in.

Treatment for Arthritis in Hands

UChicago Medicine hand and wrist specialists are at the forefront of complex surgical and non-surgical approaches for various conditions. We have developed techniques for ligament reconstructions and flexor tendon repairs that are now standard protocol across the country.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Depending on your individual diagnoses, there are a wide range of non-surgical options available to decrease pain and improve dexterity. Common non-surgical treatments include:

• Lifestyle changes, such as using exercise to improve mobility
• Medication to address inflammation and pain
• Reducing swelling and pain by regularly applying ice
• Bracing or splinting to decrease pain and increase function
• Steroid injections for symptom relief

Surgical Treatments

When non-surgical treatments do not relieve your pain or improve hand mobility, it may be time to consider surgical options. Our orthopaedic surgery team will help you understand when surgery is the right solution for you and what procedure would best meet your needs and healthcare goals. Common surgical procedures include:

Joint Replacements

Joint replacement is an option for patients who experience consistent pain due to a damaged and/or abnormal joint. During a replacement, the joint that is causing the pain is removed and a joint implant is inserted in its place. The implant can allow you to maintain joint motion and functionality without pain. Our hand specialists will help you decided if this is the right option for you.

Joint Fusions

With joint fusions, rather than replacing the joint, we create a stable and pain free joint by fusing the bones together. Joint fusions will relive pain but you may lose some motion. Our team will work with you to decide if this treatment will meet your health care goals.

Partial Joint Fusions

Partial joint fusions are limited to patients with degenerative wrist arthritis. During partial joint fusions, the small bones of the wrist are fused together, which alleviates pain while still retaining some wrist mobility. If you have degenerative wrist arthritis, this might be the treatment that best suits your needs.

Symptoms, Types of Hand Arthritis, and Treatment

If you’ve been experiencing persistent pain in your hands, you may be wondering if arthritis could be to blame. But which type of arthritis in your hands might be the issue? The answer isn’t always obvious.

The two most common forms of arthritis — osteoarthritis (OA, or degenerative arthritis caused by wear and tear on the joints) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA, an inflammatory type of arthritis caused by inflammation in the joint) — share many symptoms in common. Plus, there are other, less common forms of inflammatory arthritis that affect the hands that your doctor will need to consider as well.

Types of Arthritis in the Hands

Both osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis can cause pain, stiffness (particularly in the morning), swelling, and tenderness of the joints in the hands. But people with inflammatory forms of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis may display additional symptoms that aren’t seen in those with OA.

“OA patients lack the warmth and redness in the hands that patients with inflammatory arthritis have,” says Kevin Wayne Byram, MD, assistant professor of medicine, division of rheumatology and immunology and director of the Vanderbilt Vasculitis Clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “In addition, both hands are usually affected in those with inflammatory arthritis, while symptoms of OA are typically worse in the patient’s dominant hand.”

How long morning stiffness lasts can be revealing in determining which kind of hand arthritis you may have, he adds. People with inflammatory arthritis usually experience prolonged stiffness that lasts an hour or longer, while stiffness often eases in just five to 15 minutes in those with OA.

If your hand arthritis symptoms suggest inflammatory arthritis, Dr. Byram says the most likely culprit is rheumatoid arthritis (which often begins in the hands) but it could also be psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which commonly affects the hands too. Other symptoms of PsA include having puffy fingers and toes that resemble sausages (a condition called dactylitis), skin plaques, and pitted nails.

Your doctor will also need to consider whether your symptoms are due to palindromic rheumatism (PR), an episodic form of inflammatory arthritis (though palindromic rheumatism is rare). PR can attack any joint, but most commonly affects the hands.

Gout, a type of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the body, could also be the culprit. However, while gout can affect the wrist and fingers, it is most likely to attack your big toe.

Other Possible Causes of Hand Pain

Hand pain is also a sign of Dupuytren’s contracture, a condition in which the tissue of the palm and fingers becomes thickened and tight, causing the fingers to curl inward. It’s not clear why Dupuytren’s contracture develops, though those who smoke, drink a lot of alcohol, and have seizures or diabetes are more vulnerable to developing it.

Your doctor will also consider whether your hand pain could be due to carpal tunnel syndrome, says Dr. Byram. “RA can be a cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, so if we see someone who has carpal tunnel, we’ll want to make sure they don’t have RA.” Carpal tunnel is a condition that occurs when one of the major nerves to the hand — the median nerve — is squeezed or compressed as it travels through the wrist, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

How Doctors Diagnose Arthritis Hand Pain

To determine what’s behind your hand pain, your doctor will rely on your medical history, a physical exam, and imaging and blood tests to make a diagnosis and determine what kind of arthritis hand pain (if any) you have.

“Feeling a patient’s joints during the exam can help differentiate between OA and inflammatory arthritis,” Dr. Byram says. “The swelling feels harder in those with OA because extra bone at the joints, called osteophytes, forms over time. The swelling in RA and other inflammatory disease feels softer. ”

Imaging tests, such as X-rays or an MRI, can reveal joint erosion (seen in patients with inflammatory arthritis) and osteophytes and loss of cartilage (characteristic of OA).

If your doctor suspects inflammatory arthritis, they will also order blood tests to detect the presence of certain antibodies, such as rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP, that help identify RA and other types of inflammatory arthritis.

How Arthritis in the Hands Is Treated

If you’re diagnosed with an inflammatory form of arthritis, you have more treatment options than someone with OA. While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help manage the pain of both types of arthritis, the development of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics has vastly improved the prognosis of those with inflammatory forms of arthritis by reducing inflammation and preventing further joint damage.

Cortisone injections can be useful for those with OA and conditions such as RA, though they’re usually used in patients whose inflammatory arthritis is limited to just one or two joints, Dr. Byram says. Injections of hyaluronic acid can be helpful for those with OA (the substance helps lubricate the joints), but these are better for managing pain in larger joints like the knees rather than the hands.

At-Home Therapies for Hand Arthritis

Fortunately, there are several at-home therapies that can help ease symptoms of both osteoarthritis and RA and other kinds of inflammatory arthritis in the hands.

“I recommend using a combination of both heat and ice,” Dr. Byram says. “Heat therapy is helpful in the morning to loosen up the joint, while ice therapy is best later after a day’s worth of activity.”

He also recommends that patients with arthritis of the hands work with hand therapists. These medical professionals can show you how to make everyday activities easier and help you avoid stressing your painful joints by using assistive devices.

“A lot of these devices are designed to provide a larger area for people to grip,” Dr. Byram explains. “For example, there are grips you can slide onto eating utensils and tools that make it easier to open jars and put on your socks and shoes.”

Hand therapists can also provide you with simple exercises to maintain range of motion in your fingers, and may also recommend using splints to ease stress on your joints.

Keep Reading

• 9 Signs You’re Seeing the Right Rheumatologist (and 5 Signs You Might Need a New One)
• Advice for Making Household Chores with Arthritis Easier
• 30 Tips and Tricks to Prevent Arthritis Morning Stiffness

What is hand arthritis: description of the disease, causes

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In just 12-24 sessions, depending on the intensity of treatment and the stages of the development of the disease, you will get rid of pain and discomfort in the joints of the hands, increase mobility and amplitude in the joint, normalize sleep and be able to live a full life

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When arthritis of the hands is detected, it is necessary to select an individual set of therapeutic exercises, study the technique of their implementation and exclude exercises due to contraindications.

With this diagnosis, it is important to regularly attend treatment sessions, undergo a full course of treatment in a specialized Center, and in the future you need to maintain your health in a prophylactic regime on your own.

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Article content:

• Causes of hand arthritis
• Signs of arthritis of the fingers and hands
• Stages of development of hand arthritis
• Forms of arthritis of the fingers and hands
• Finger Arthritis Diagnosis
• Disease prognosis

Arthritis is a process of inflammation of individual joints.

Hands suffer from this disease, but in some individual cases, arthrosis of the fingers occurs, or, as they say in another way, degenerative-dystrophic decay, that is, weakening of the fingers.

Arthritis can affect any joint, but it is the disease of the fingers that is most painful for all people, regardless of age.

This disease incapacitates people as arthritis makes it impossible to perform their normal tasks at work and even at home.

Arthritis of the hands is an inflammation of certain parts of the body or joints.

Arthritis can also affect only the fingers, in which case the disease manifests itself in the form of swelling and stiffness of some joints, with a further change in shape.

Experts say that the beautiful half of humanity most often suffers from this disease, as this is facilitated by professional activities associated with small manual work.

One in seven people cannot complete their daily tasks to the full extent. It is not so difficult to identify this disease, as it affects between the phalanges, metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of the extremities.

Causes of hand arthritis

The main causes that directly affect the appearance of this serious disease are:

Reduced immunity. This factor can lead to inflammation of the smallest joints;

Injuries. Of course, people try to immediately treat the resulting bruises and fractures, but the joints were still damaged, and after a few years they can get sick again, only arthritis will be the cause of the newly appeared pain;

Genes. People quite often cannot understand the causes of any diseases, but heredity plays a colossal role in the life of every person;

Old age. Adults or even older people are more prone to various diseases and arthritis in this case is no exception to the rule;

Work. At first glance, a simple job can lead to the appearance of this serious disease. This mainly applies to people whose work is associated with constant tension of the hands and fingers;

Stress. Do not underestimate the state of mind, which also affects the occurrence of diseases;

Infectious diseases. Arthritis can even be caused by a common sore throat, which people can get sick at an early age. In addition, people quite often get supercooled and get sick with SARS, and these diseases do not pass without a trace. In some cases, even doctors are to blame, because old diseases make themselves felt after improper treatment;

Spread of disease. Arthritis can occur due to quite common and common diseases, such as gout, tuberculosis, and even after diseases transmitted by bringing two people together. Subsequently, these diseases can affect the further occurrence of this serious disease;

Do not discount and allergic reactions people.

Signs of arthritis of the fingers and hands

Arthritis manifests itself in completely different ways, the main thing is what gave impetus.

But, in principle, there are indicators that affect the development of this disease, such as:

Pain in the hands , even the most insignificant. Even simple discomfort in working with your hands can be the starting point for the onset of arthritis. Pain may appear only in the morning, but after a very short period, a person will begin to feel worse, even if he simply remained motionless for a long period of time. Moreover, the pain itself disappears after 25-35 minutes;

Swelling of fingers affected by arthritis becomes like pillows, as the hands become much larger;

It is necessary to pay attention to the temperature , because the diseased, inflamed joint is always hotter than the rest of the body;

At any, even a slight change in the weather the joints also immediately make themselves felt, and this cannot be ignored;

Affected joints change color and turn red , hot and tight;

In this disease, the joints are usually affected symmetrically ;

It is quite difficult to move fingers and even hands , and in some cases even impossible. This condition is observed in most cases in the morning, and these symptoms can be eliminated only by a small massage of the hands, that is, it is necessary to develop brushes with fingers;

In an inflammatory process, a person can lose body weight and get tired quickly due to weakness. These signs are characteristic of the form of the disease when the hands become like a spindle;

No wonder creaking in arthritis as crepitus is unavoidable in some cases;

Nodules under the skin may appear .

Stages of development of hand arthritis

There are different forms of the disease of the hands and fingers, which differ from each other in different symptoms:

Stage №1. Difficult to diagnose as there are no overt signs of arthritis. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion, you should immediately contact the medical staff.

Stage #2. Deforms the joints, unbearable pain appears in the fingers, and the hands get arthritis, only symmetrically. It is most difficult in the morning, as the movements of a person are constrained, and the temperature of the affected parts of the body increases. Moreover, this pain will not go away on its own, and in this case, medications simply cannot be dispensed with.

Stage #3. It becomes easier to identify the disease at this stage, as bone erosions appear. This leads to discomfort both in the morning and in the afternoon. The fingers not only hurt and swell, but also begin to crackle.

Stage #4. It becomes impossible to do anything, because the fused cartilage does not allow you to perform normal daily work. In this case, people are assigned one of the disability groups.

Forms of arthritis of the fingers and hands

This disease can be divided into 10 types according to qualification. The most common forms of arthritis that affect the hands are:

• “Gouty” is commonly referred to as metabolic arthritis. The cause of this type of disease is uric acid salts accumulated near the joints;
• Arthritis after injuries does not appear immediately, but only after a while, and before the first signs of this disease appear, years may pass;
• “Rizartrit” – does not appear often and does not affect different joints, but only the thumbs;
• Immune disorders of the body also bring many problems, since secondary arthritis may appear as a result of such processes;
• Special attention is paid to the localization of inflammation, since arthritis of the hands can be either distal or proximal, or middle;
• The most familiar to people is a disease that affects first small, and only then – large joints and is known as “rheumatoid” arthritis;
• You can also get arthritis by getting into one joint of an infection that is transmitted simply by a direct route or, like many diseases, with the help of blood.

Diagnosis of Arthritis of the Fingers

Only a real specialist can identify the etiological form of the disease. A competent arthrologist or rheumatologist will be able to immediately determine the relationship with clinical signs, former injuries and diseases.

In addition, the presence of joint deformity, and even the nature of certain pains, which can appear randomly and end on their own, can help in establishing the diagnosis.

Also, do not reduce the role of traumatologists, who, like allergologists and immunologists, can help establish the correct diagnosis.

During the examination, it is necessary to undergo ultrasound, MRI, X-ray and pass biochemical blood tests , which help determine the level of uric acid, fibrinogen, CRP, CEC and other data necessary for diagnosing the disease.

It is necessary to examine not only the hands and fingers, but also the feet. Of great importance in the examination is the synovial fluid, which can be examined only with the help of percutaneous aspiration , carried out only with the help of ultrasound, which allows you to control the entire process.

Prognosis of the disease

It is possible to restore your health, even with this disease. It is simply necessary to contact specialists at the first symptoms and ailments for professional help.

If the time for complete healing has passed, then you should not give up, because the right treatment will help freeze the disease, and a stable remission will make it possible to return to a full life, even with slight limitations.

Thanks to the observance of all the prescriptions of the doctor, it will be possible not to even think about disability until the end of life, since the mobility of all joints will be at a fairly high level.

In other words, the life of every person depends not only on doctors, but also on patients who must strictly comply with all medical prescriptions .

How is the treatment going?

You are consulting with a doctor

The initial consultation is by appointment.

Doctor’s consultation: history taking, myofascial diagnostics, functional diagnostics.

How does it work?

Collection of anamnesis – analysis of the disease, limitations and contraindications, explanation of the principles of kinesitherapy, features of the recovery period.

Myofascial diagnostics is a method of manual diagnostics, in which the doctor evaluates the range of motion of the joints, determines painful seals, edema, hypo- or hypertonicity of the muscles and other changes.

Functional diagnostics (carried out in the rehabilitation room) – the doctor explains how to perform certain exercises on the equipment and observes: how the patient performs them, what amplitude of movement he can work with, which movements cause pain, what weight the patient can work with, how he reacts the cardiovascular system. Problem areas are identified. The data is entered into the map. Emphasis is placed.

Based on the results of the primary examination of the doctor and functional diagnostics, a preliminary individual treatment program is drawn up.

It is desirable to have with you:

• for pain in the spine – MRI or CT (magnetic resonance or computed tomography) of the problem area;

• for pain in the joints – x-rays;

• in the presence of concomitant diseases – extracts from the medical history or a polyclinic card;

• comfortable (sports) clothing and footwear

Start classes with an instructor

At the beginning of the treatment cycle, the doctor and the patient draw up a plan of treatment measures, which includes the date and time of the treatment session, control visits to the doctor (usually 2-3 times a week).

The basis of the treatment process is therapeutic sessions in the rehabilitation room on simulators and sessions in the gym.

Rehabilitation simulators allow you to accurately dose the load on individual muscle groups, providing an adequate regime of physical effects. The treatment program is compiled by the doctor individually for each patient, taking into account the characteristics of the body. Supervised by qualified instructors. At all stages of recovery, it is important to follow the technique of proper movement and breathing, to know your weight standards when working on simulators, to adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen and follow the recommendations of specialists.

Sessions of articular gymnastics help to restore visual coordination, improve joint mobility and elasticity (flexibility) of the spine and is an excellent preventive system for independent use.

Each treatment cycle – 12 sessions. Each lesson is supervised by an instructor. The duration of one treatment session is from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours. The instructor draws up a program, taking into account concomitant diseases and the patient’s condition on the day of classes. Teaches the technique of performing exercises and controls the correct execution. Every 6th lesson, a repeated consultation of the doctor is carried out, changes and additions are made to the program, depending on the dynamics.

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How many cycles will it take? – individually for each

Important to know:

– how long have you had this problem (stage of the disease)

– how your body is prepared for physical activity (do you do gymnastics, any kind of sport) … –

Important!

what result do you want to get.

If the disease is in the initial stage and the body is prepared, one treatment cycle is enough. (an example is young people aged 20-30 years old who go in for sports. We focus their attention on the technique of doing exercises, breathing, stretching, “wrong” exercises that are harmful to problem areas are excluded. Such patients are trained, receive the skill of “caring for their body ”, receive recommendations in case of exacerbation and continue to practice themselves).

If the problem has been around for a long time, you do not do gymnastics, there are concomitant diseases, then another period of time will be needed

– to remove the exacerbation? – one or two cycles is enough,

– restore the function?

– walking non-stop (climbing stairs),

– bending over, doing certain work without effort

– being motionless for a long time on a trip (in an airplane, car . ..)

improve? support? not worsen?

three or more treatment cycles may be needed …

Every organism is different and the program for every patient is different.

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Read also:

• Periarthritis of the knee joint
• Shoulder periarthritis
• Arthritis and arthrosis
• Arthritis of the legs
• Shoulder-shoulder periarthritis
• Pain between shoulder blades
• Pain in the left shoulder blade
• Pain in the right shoulder blade

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Arthritis in children – causes, symptoms, types and treatment of children’s arthritis in the “SM-Clinic” for children and adolescents

This disease is treated by a rheumatologist

General information

Arthritis in children is a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of one or more joints. There are many causes that cause the development of pathology, ranging from injuries to autoimmune lesions, in which the body produces antibodies to its own tissues. A rheumatologist deals with the diagnosis and treatment of pathology.

If your child’s joints begin to hurt, experienced specialists from the children’s department of SM-Clinic in Moscow will conduct an examination to identify the causes and type of arthritis, and also select the best treatment method.

Arthritis is accompanied by pain in the affected joints and is dangerous due to its complications. In some cases, the disease leads to the development of deformities in the joints or the formation of contractures. In the future, this may reduce the patient’s ability to work and cause disability.

According to statistics, 1 child in 1000 suffers from arthritis. Boys experience joint damage 2-3 times less often than girls. Pathology can occur in children from 0 to 18 years. However, patients under the age of 5-6 years are most often affected.

Regardless of its origin, arthritis can trigger autoimmune processes in the body, which are characterized by systemicity. Pathogenetic links of the disease, in addition to the joints, begin to affect the skin, muscles and internal organs.

Classification: types of arthritis in children

There are a large number of different types of arthritis in children, each of which differs in the main signs, features of the course and prognosis.

• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). An autoimmune disease that often causes joint deformity and subsequent disability in adulthood.
• Rheumatic arthritis. The disease is a consequence of the negative effects of streptococci. In addition to the joints, the cardiovascular system is often involved in the pathological process.
• Juvenile ankylosing spondylitis (Bekhterev’s disease). A rarer form of arthritis, accompanied by damage to the spine with the gradual development of its deformity.
• Reactive arthritis. A group of pathologies that are characterized by damage to the joints against the background of the vital activity of bacteria and viruses that multiply mainly in the gastrointestinal tract or urinary system of the patient.
• Infectious arthritis. Occur against the background of exposure to pathological microorganisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites.

The disease may be acute or chronic. The task of parents and doctors is to timely identify the pathology and prevent its transition to a latent state. this approach reduces the risk of complications.

Symptoms of arthritis in children

The main clinical symptom of all types of arthritis in children is pain in the affected joint. Its characteristics may differ depending on the cause of the disease and the individual characteristics of the organism.

However, each disease has its own characteristics, consisting in a favorite localization, pain intensity, the presence of joint deformity, etc. The table shows the differential diagnosis of articular syndrome in various arthritis. This will help parents navigate the variety of symptoms and, without missing anything, turn to a pediatric rheumatologist in time.

In addition to the articular syndrome, childhood arthritis may be accompanied by other signs:

• classic symptoms of inflammation – redness, swelling, decreased functional activity, increased local skin temperature over the lesion;
• fever up to 38-39oC;
• muscle pain;
• morning stiffness – the need to work out the affected joints after waking up;
• enlargement of nearby lymph nodes.

Decreased function of the joints can be manifested by lameness, inability to hold a pen, pencil, perform household activities.

Causes of arthritis in children

Arthritis in children can be the result of both internal and external factors. Most often, the disease develops against the background of the following situations:

• Past viral or bacterial infections. Especially dangerous are inflammatory processes in the digestive tract or urinary system.
• Autoimmune disorders. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the result of a malfunction of the immune system, when aggressive immune cells are formed against one’s own tissues.
• Injuries and surgical interventions in violation of the rules of asepsis and antisepsis. Bruises, open fractures, hematomas increase the risk of developing inflammation in the joint.
• Genetic predisposition. It determines the reduced resistance of the connective tissue to adverse external influences (connective tissue dysplasia is especially dangerous).
• Mechanical damage to intra-articular tissues on the background of obesity, too intense sports activities and excessive weight lifting by a child.

Diagnosis of arthritis in children

Diagnosis of arthritis begins at the initial consultation. The doctor assesses the general condition of the child and details the complaints, examines and evaluates the functional activity of the affected joints.

To determine the cause of the disease, the rheumatologist prescribes laboratory and instrumental examination methods.

• General and biochemical blood test. The severity of the inflammatory process in the body is assessed.
• Blood test for inflammation markers – antistreptolysin O, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein.
• HLA-B27 blood test. This marker indicates ankylosing spondylitis.
• Blood test for citrullinated vimentin (MCV) – a marker of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Ultrasound of affected joints. The doctor evaluates the volume of synovial fluid, the size of the joint cavity, the condition of the cartilage surfaces.
• X-ray of affected joints. This study is necessary to assess the degree of damage to bone tissue.
• MRI of the joints. Indicated in difficult clinical cases.

Another effective diagnostic method is arthroscopy. This is an invasive endoscopic procedure that involves inserting a thin probe with a video camera at the end into the joint cavity. With its help, the doctor examines the pathological area from the inside. The main disadvantage of this procedure is its invasiveness. Therefore, arthroscopy is prescribed last, when non-invasive examination methods cannot help in establishing an objective diagnosis.

If symptoms of damage to other organs and systems are detected, the child is examined by related specialists – a cardiologist, an orthopedist, an infectious disease specialist, an ophthalmologist.

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Treatment of arthritis in children

Arthritis in children is a pathology that requires complex treatment, which depends on the type of disease, its cause and stage of development, the severity of the main symptoms and signs. In addition to stopping the pain syndrome, the doctor is faced with the task of normalizing the function of the patient’s immune system and preventing the transition of the disease to the chronic stage, in cases where this is possible. For this, mainly conservative methods of treatment are used.

Conservative treatment

Regardless of the type of arthritis, conservative therapy is aimed at solving the following problems:

• elimination of pain and inflammation in the affected joints;
• removal from the body of waste products of microorganisms that have caused the disease;
• optimization of immune system function;
• restoration of the function of the affected joint;
• prevention of contractures and deformities.

It is not always possible to achieve these goals with medication alone. Therefore, rheumatologists use an integrated approach.

• Anti-inflammatory drugs. They include both conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hormones. Sometimes patients are prescribed drugs of “heavy artillery” – cytostatics. However, in pediatrics they try to avoid them because of side effects.
• Physiotherapy. The emphasis is on local anti-inflammatory and restorative procedures – UHF, magnetotherapy, ultrasound.
• Massage and exercise therapy.
• Balneotherapy, spa treatment.

A complex effect on the affected joints in particular and the body as a whole contributes to the activation of internal defense mechanisms and, consequently, faster recovery of the joints. With timely access to a doctor, it is possible to cope with the disease and prevent the development of complications.

Surgical treatment

Surgery for arthritis in pediatric practice is extremely rare. They are indicated only for organic deformation of the joints and persistent contractures.

Doctor’s expert opinion

Rheumatologists emphasize that arthritis in children is a very insidious disease that can lead to a child’s disability. Persistent deformities of the joints can remain for life and thereby reduce the patient’s ability to work. That is why it is necessary to contact a rheumatologist in time for specialized help, aimed right at the target. Early initiation of therapy helps to reduce the risk of complications. In addition, the duration of treatment in the initial stages of the disease is significantly shorter than in advanced cases.

Useinov Rustem Kurtumerovich

Pediatric rheumatologist of the highest category, leading specialist

Prevention of arthritis in children

Prevention of arthritis involves the elimination of provoking factors. Of course, no one can change their own DNA yet. However, it is possible to treat a sore throat in time, avoid contact with people with acute respiratory viral infections, rationalize physical activity, avoiding unbearable overstrain.

If there are relatives with arthritis in the family, it is recommended to visit a rheumatologist at least once a year and take a basic set of tests to detect preclinical changes. This will allow timely start of therapy if a pathology is diagnosed.

Q&A

Arthritis is diagnosed and treated by a pediatric rheumatologist.

Persistent deformities are characteristic of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. However, they do not always occur. The basis for the prevention of deformity is the timely visit to the doctor and targeted treatment.

Traditional medicine is not a scientifically based form of treatment. This means that it is not possible to predict the effect of certain medicinal plants on the child’s body. Using the methods of traditional medicine, precious time is lost, and the pathological process can take an aggressive course. To effectively combat arthritis requires the use of medications aimed at breaking the vicious circle of changes in the body. Traditional medicine can act as an auxiliary therapy, but not basic, and only after consultation with your doctor.

Hormone therapy is prescribed for children with certain forms of arthritis only if there is an absolute indication.

Sources

Rheumatology: Clinical guidelines / ed. Acad. RAMS E.L. Nasonov. – 2nd ed., Rev. and additional – M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2010. – 752 p.

Assier E., Boissier M.-C., Dayer J.-M. Interleukin-6: from identification of the cytokine to development of targeted treatments. Joint Bone Spine 2010;77(6):532–6.

Nam J.L., Wintrop K.L., van Vollenhoven R.F. et al. Current evidence for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: a systemic literature rewires informing the EULAR recommendations for the management of RA.

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