Hand Osteoarthritis Specialist – Hand and Wrist Arthritis

Specialists in the Treatment of Wrist and Hand Osteoarthritis in Valencia

I am Dr. Miguel Alfonso Porcar, a renowned orthopedic surgeon and specialist in osteoarthritis.

At Regenerat Traumatology Clinic, we specialize in diagnosing and treating hand and wrist osteoarthritis.

For hand osteoarthritis treatment, we utilize bioregenerative therapies such as platelet-rich plasma, growth factors, and Autologous Cytokine-Rich Serum.

Our objective is to:

• Determine the cause of your hand osteoarthritis.
• Perform appropriate diagnostic tests to assess the extent of your condition.
• Apply regenerative traumatology treatment or orthopedic surgery to alleviate your pain and help you regain well-being as quickly as possible.

Is there a cure for hand osteoarthritis?

Hand osteoarthritis has no definitive cure, as it is a degenerative disease. However, its symptoms can be managed through lifestyle changes and physiotherapy. In more advanced stages, platelet-rich plasma injections are the best non-surgical treatment to improve mobility and reduce pain.

What is osteoarthritis on hands?

Osteoarthritis on hands and/or wrist is the result of a process of wear and tear or degenerative joint disease. It affects the cartilage, the tissue that cushions and protects the ends of the bones in a joint.

Cartilage helps our joints move freely. Changes in cartilage can cause pain, stiffness and loss of motion. Such limited movement can affect daily activities, and over time, can lead to weakness of the joint muscles.

In extreme cases, the cartilage may wear away completely, leaving nothing to protect the bones of a joint, causing bone-on-bone contact.

Bones may also bulge or protrude at the end of a joint to form bone spurs.

Mild cases of pain can be corrected with self-care and rest. In more severe cases, regenerative medicine treatments and orthopedic surgery may be necessary .

What should a person with hand osteoarthritis avoid doing?

A person with osteoarthritis on hands should avoid repetitive movements that may increase pain or joint wear and tear, such as squeezing objects with force. Excessive weight bearing and activities without breaks should also be avoided, as this increases stiffness and pain in the affected joints.

What are the causes of hand osteoarthritis?

Hand and/or wrist osteoarthritis usually affects people over 45 years of age, and is more common in people with a family history or people with previous wrist injuries.

In addition, traumatic injuries, fractures and joint dislocation make you more susceptible to developing osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis has varying degrees of functional limitation and effects on quality of life.

Contrary to popular belief, it does not affect everyone as they age and does not necessarily worsen with age.

Osteoarthritis causes joint pain and you may lose the ability to freely move and bend a joint.

When severe, the joint may lose all movement, causing disability.

What are the symptoms of hand and wrist osteoarthritis?

Pain is the main symptom associated with wrist osteoarthritis.

Initially, pain is present with movement or activity.

In some cases of more advanced osteoarthritis, pain may be present even during inactivity or rest.

Other symptoms of wrist osteoarthritis are:

• Limited range of motion.
• Swelling around the wrist joint.
• Difficulty in lifting objects.
• Difficulty exerting pressure through the wrist, for example, when pushing a door or getting up from a chair.

Risk factors for hand osteoarthritis

Some risk factors cannot be changed – such as genetics – while others, such as obesity and daily activities, can be modified or eliminated.

• Trauma to the hand: a broken bone, dislocation, or previous surgery can cause damage that leads to osteoarthritis of the hand. Symptoms may not appear until many years after the trauma.
• Misalignment of one or more joints: if the bones of the fingers or wrists do not align properly, there may be excess joint friction leading to increased wear and tear on the cartilage. Joint misalignment can exist for years before arthritis develops and becomes painful.
• Repetitive movements: people whose jobs require repetitive hand movements are more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
• Being a woman: women are more likely to develop hand osteoarthritis than men.

Hand or wrist pain causes

Some of the most common causes of hand and wrist pain that a hand surgeon specialist can treat are sprains and strains.

A sprain refers to an injury to a ligament, while a strain refers to a muscle injury. Sprains and strains occur due to excessive force applied during a stretching, twisting or pushing action.

Other causes and treatments for pain in the hands and/or wrists include:

• Hand osteoarthritis treatment: A degenerative joint disease that is the most common type of arthritis affecting older people. It causes the cartilage, the tissue that cushions and protects the ends of the bones in a joint, to wear away, resulting in painful bone-on-bone contact.
• Thumb with arthritis: Arthritis affecting the base of the thumb, i.e. the progressive destruction of the articular cartilage between the trapezium and the first metacarpal.
• Radial tenosynovitis: This is a painful condition affecting the tendons of the first extensor compartment, producing pain at the level of the anatomical snuffbox.
• Trigger finger of thumb: A condition in which the finger locks or catches if you try to straighten or bend it.
• Carpal tunnel surgical treatment: Carpal tunnel is a condition characterized by numbness or pain in the thumb and first three fingers. It occurs when the median nerve is compressed at the wrist. It is a common complaint amongst people who use their hands for prolonged periods in particular occupations, such as computer work.