Natural Remedies for Arthritis in the Thumb

 What is the most effective medication for arthritis?

When you often experience pain in your hands, fingers, or wrists, you might be curious about what kind of arthritis could be the source of your hand issues. Osteoarthritis (OA), commonly known as degenerative arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory form of arthritis, are the two most prevalent types of arthritis in the hands.

Many of the symptoms of OA and RA are similar. In the hands and finger joints, these include discomfort, stiffness, edema, and tenderness. If you have arthritis in your hands, your doctor has undoubtedly recommended medicine to help you manage your symptoms.

The following are some RA and OA pain management therapies:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) available over the counter (NSAIDs)
2. Anti-rheumatic medications that treat disease (DMARDs)
3. Biologic medicines
4. Injections of corticosteroids

Additionally, you can treat hand arthritis at home with treatments that reduce symptoms. This article covers how to manage hand arthritis pain using hand exercises, acupuncture, hot and cold therapy, splinting, and other methods.

Exercises for the Hand

The hands' numerous little bones make them more prone to edema. You need to use your hands more than any other body part to carry out varied everyday duties, which makes hand pain and swelling problematic.

The following ways that hand exercises can help with RA and 1OA: Increase joint flexibility

1. Increased range of motion
2. Lessen joint deterioration
3. Reduce pain
4. Try the following hand exercises:
5. Using your hands to squeeze putty
6. Use your fingers to pinch the putty.
7. Squeezes) with putty while adducting the fingers
8. Use of a rubber band to abduct (stretch) fingers
9. extending and contracting their fingers and thumbs

Pain relief

80 women with hand OA were given hand exercises to perform three times per day for three months as part of a study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases in 2013. Creating a fist with your fingers, squeezing a rubber ball, and spreading them as wide as you could were some of the exercises in 2.

When they first started the hand exercises, many individuals reported having severe hand pain. But as the trial went on, the participants' grip, function, and pain in the hands and joints all improved.

Boost Your Mobility

In a different 2015 study published in The Lancet, researchers monitored 490 participants on treatment for hand RA.3 While the other half of the research participants added particular hand stretches and strengthening exercises to their treatment regimens, the first half of individuals remained to receive their standard care.

The flexibility, dexterity, and muscle strength of the hands significantly improved in the hand workouts group after a year.

Even though hand exercises may be beneficial, you should first consult a doctor or a physical therapist. They can assist you in creating a safe workout program that will benefit you the most. Do not continue with hand movements if you feel severe pain. Discuss different activities that might not hurt as much by asking your doctor or therapist how much pain is typical.

Hand exercises can help people with hand arthritis feel less discomfort, move more freely, and build stronger joints. To make sure hand exercises are appropriate for you, see a healthcare professional before starting.

Acupuncture

Thin needles are put into various body areas during the practice of acupuncture, an ancient Chinese medical procedure. To rectify imbalances and ease pain, needles are inserted into the body at specified places.

How to treat hand and wrist pain

As a result of a pinched nerve in the wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome causes numbness, tingling, and discomfort in the hand. According to research, it is efficient at relieving the symptoms for those who have it.

 According to a 2017 study published in the journal Brain, acupuncture can help persons with carpal tunnel syndrome reduce their pain and numbness.5 Researchers also said that when done properly, acupuncture can provide long-term advantages and ongoing improvements in hand function.

These findings may offer hope for arthritis-related hand discomfort.

Taking care of general RA pain

While research on the use of acupuncture to treat the symptoms and pain of RA in the hands has not been conducted, they have evaluated its use to treat RA's overall pain. They show that acupuncture can reduce pain by increasing endorphins, the body's own natural painkillers.

For instance, a 2018 comprehensive review found acupuncture alone or in combination with other therapy can assist RA patients to manage their pain and function while also improving their quality of life without any negative side effects.

Hot and Cold Treatment

Hot and cold therapy is a low-cost, simple, and efficient method of treating arthritis-related hand pain. Heat treatment helps to lubricate joints and relax muscles. In contrast, cold therapy lessens the discomfort, swelling, and inflammation associated with arthritis.

A hot therapy

Using heat therapy in the following methods can help treat hand pain

1. Using a hot shower
2. Warm water to soak your hands in
3. Putting on heated pads or compresses

You may also experiment with a paraffin wax bath, which calls for a paraffin wax machine and paraffin wax, the same kind of wax used in candles. In order to treat hand discomfort and soreness, reheat the wax before covering the hands entirely with it.

Cold Treatment

Cold packs help numb painful hands and lessen swelling and irritation. Cold therapy should be used for 20 minutes at a time.8 Once the skin becomes numb to the touch, stop the ice therapy. Put a small cloth over the cold pack to protect your skin.

1. Uses for cold therapy include:
2. With the aid of a bag of frozen vegetables
3. Freezing a cloth and applying it to the sore spot
4. Freezing a sock after filling it with rice
5. Using a frozen water bottle to massage your hands
6. A cooler lunchbox
7. a quick-chilling ice pack that instantly cracks

Some people have the greatest pain relief from arthritis with alternating heat and cold therapy. You can test out both to discover which causes you the least discomfort in your hands and fingers.

The splinting

Splints can be worn to lessen arthritic discomfort. Splints, which immobilize the wrist and hands, can be useful when you are in discomfort but need to use your hands to carry out duties.

Decreased Pain

According to a 2014 study published in the journal Rheumatology, utilizing splints to treat joint discomfort has advantages. In particular, it was discovered that using a splint on the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint at night was a secure and easy technique to lessen discomfort and enhance joint mobility.

What Exactly Is a DIP Joint?

The DIP joint is the top of the finger's first knuckle. DIP pain is a symptom of arthritis, such as OA or RA.

Increases Performance

Splinting has also been effective in managing hand and wrist function in RA patients. According to a 2018 study published in the journal Reumatologia, grip and manual dexterity issues in women with RA may be related to hand function.10

 The scientists came to the conclusion that wrist stabilization might enhance hand performance.

Glove compression

Splinting might be replaced by compression gloves. Compression gloves are generally worn at night. These flexible, form-fitting gloves may reduce hand discomfort and stiffness while also possibly enhancing hand function, according to researchers. Although these gloves are safe and often used, nothing is known about their potential benefits.

Capsicum Creams

Chili peppers get their heat from a substance called capsaicin. When used as creams, gels, or patches, capsaicin suppresses pain impulses. In general, capsaicin creams don't have many systemic negative effects However, topical use can occasionally result in localized pain, itching, and redness.

Researchers examined the studies on capsaicin gel for hand and knee OA in a 2011 article published in the journal Rheumatology. The report's authors discovered capsaicin gel to be significantly more effective than a placebo for pain alleviation in five of the trials they analyzed. In one of the studies, for instance, participants who used capsaicin gel for 12 weeks reported a 50% reduction in pain.

Check for allergies by applying a little amount of capsaicin to one region of the skin before using the product on your hands.

Fisheries Oil

Pain, edema, and stiffness in the hands and fingers are symptoms of RA. Joints typically feel warm and sensitive when hands and fingers are inflamed. Since RA is symmetrical, both hands are frequently impacted. 

The two active components in fish, EPA, and DHA, can help reduce inflammation, according to research on fish oil as a supplemental supplement for RA.

People who regularly used fish oil supplements had less RA pain, according to a 2016 study published in the Global Journal of Health Science. The authors of the study added that consuming fish oil supplements may lessen the need for analgesic painkillers. 

Plant-based Diet

Your diet may have an impact on the symptoms of arthritis you are experiencing. A plant-based diet is high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables as well as other plant-based meals. Along with plant-based diets, some people may also consume dairy and meat.

This diet can supply nutrients that reduce arthritis-related inflammation, discomfort, and swelling.

Eating a plant-based diet can considerably enhance function in persons with OA, according to a 2015 study published in the journal Arthritis.20 A plant-based diet has received mixed reviews in the literature, nevertheless.

A plant-based diet may help lessen the symptoms of RA, according to several research.20 Not all research, meanwhile, finds a strong link between this kind of food and better pain and function.

In any case, it would be worthwhile to give it a shot as part of your therapy strategy to control RA and lessen hand and finger joint pain.

An herbal supplement

Many herbal supplements may aid in the pain management of OA and RA. Ginger, boswellia, and curcumin are a few of these herbs.

Curcumin

Turmeric, a spice used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, contains the active component curcumin. Anti-inflammatory curcumin has received praise for easing RA patients' pain and swelling.

Merely 500 milligrams of turmeric twice a day can lessen joint pain and stiffness in both OA and RA, according to a 2016 systematic review and meta-analysis of eight research.21 Taking it as a supplement is the simplest approach to incorporating curcumin into your diet.

Ginger

In persons with RA and OA, ginger may lessen inflammation. Additionally, a 2014 research discovered that ginger's active components can treat RA pain and lessen the risk of joint deterioration.22

You can make ginger tea or add it to baked products or prepared foods to enhance the amount of ginger in your diet. Supplements containing ginger are another choice, but you should speak with a healthcare professional to ensure proper dosage and security.

Boswellia

Boswellia, sometimes referred to as frankincense, is renowned for its ability to reduce inflammation. When administered for four weeks, Boswellia may be a secure and efficient treatment for OA, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis from 2020.23 Boswellia is available as a tablet or a topical cream, and it is safe in small amounts.

Safety of Supplements

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States does not endorse herbal supplements. Unfortunately, this means that the FDA hasn't investigated or verified their efficacy or safety.

Always consult a medical professional to determine whether taking a herbal supplement in conjunction with your existing arthritis treatment regimen is beneficial and safe.

Verify the suppliers of any herbal supplements you buy. High-quality supplement suggestions can be made by a doctor or pharmacist.

The summary

You might be able to control your hand arthritis with a few natural and DIY solutions. For non-pharmaceutical pain alleviation, hand exercises, acupuncture, hot-cold therapy, splinting, meditation, and some vitamins show potential. Consult a physician about the alternatives that might complement traditional medical therapy.

You shouldn't disregard symptoms like pain in your hands, wrists, or finger joints, especially if they worsen over time. Determine the source of hand discomfort so you may begin treatment as soon as feasible by speaking with your healthcare practitioner as soon as possible.

It is preferable to utilize a variety of therapy to control hand arthritis, irrespective of the arthritic cause. These include lifestyle choices, over-the-counter (OTC), and prescription drugs.

Before attempting any new all-natural treatments for controlling arthritis in your hands, it is crucial to see your healthcare professional. When pain, swelling, or other symptoms of arthritis intensify, you should also get in touch with a medical professional.

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