Arthritis of the Hand | Arthritis Information

More good stuff from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. This web site has a wealth of information for people with RA.

The hand and wrist have multiple small joints that work together to produce motion. This gives the fine motion needed to thread a needle or tie a shoelace. When the joints are affected by arthritis, activities of daily living can be difficult. Arthritis can occur in multiple areas of the hand and wrist. It can have multiple causes.

It is estimated that one out of every five people living in the United States has at least one joint with signs or symptoms of arthritis. About half of arthritis sufferers are under age 50. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. It typically occurs from either disease or trauma. The exact number of people with arthritis in the hand and wrist is not known.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00224

IMO EVERY person with RA should go see a hand therapist. Hand damage can be prevented or at least slowed down with proper preventive techniques. Too many ignore signs of hand issues until its too late

Another great site is the Am Assoc of Hand Surgeons

http://www.assh.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Patients_Public

Thanks Lynn

Buckeye, That is a great link thanks.

thanks, ladies!!!What exactly is a hand therapist? My problem was that the place I went was associated with an sports ortho place, and the people there were all focused on rehabbing from an injury or surgery and at a loss as to what to do with me. I don't know that I live in a large enough city to find the right person here...This might help answer your question, at least I hope so There is a state locater to the left on this site that helps you find a hand therapist in your area........

http://www.asht.org/education/consumer.cfm

Having the same issue as KatieG w/ my previous therapist, I am anxious to call one of these therapists. (thanks AGAIN, Lynn) I'm not confident that my current cocktail is curbing the destruction in my hands.. or anywhere else for that matter.. but the hands are visibly changing... albeit slowly.

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Other than the fact that I limp, my hands are really the only visible sign of the destructive nature of RA.

I have swan neck deformity (http://www.orthogate.org/patient-education/hand/swan-neck-deformity-of-the-finger.html )and ulnar drift. (http://www.handuniversity.com/topics.asp?Topic_ID=13)

Katie

you are looking for an occupational therapist not a physical therapist and then you want an OT who is a certified hand therapist.

Many hospitals have hand therapy centers or you can also call a local hand surgeon and see where they send their patients for therapy