Posted on 14 Apr 2025
Seniors with arthritis more often than not struggle with pain, stiffness, and other adverse effects that make their lives more and more difficult. Especially in the hands, it can stop them from doing everyday activities. But with adaptive tools and techniques, our team at Neaman Hand Therapy & Surgery can help relive pain, restore function, and preserve your independence.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (which is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the tissues). Inflammatory arthritis is another relatively common type.
The disease targets the tissues of the joints and the lining of the joints (cartilage). Once the cartilage breaks down, the bones end up rubbing together, causing a variety of unwanted symptoms.
At Neaman Hand, we often treat patients with basilar joint arthritis (thumb arthritis) and hand and wrist arthritis.
Basilar joint arthritis occurs when the cartilage at the base of the thumb wears away. Without this cushion, the affected joints grind over each other, causing further joint damage. The most common causes of basilar joint arthritis include wear and tear of the hand or a thumb injury. This often leads to pain, weakness, and difficulty with gripping and pinching.
What are Common Arthritis Symptoms?
Arthritis can include both mild and severe symptoms, depending on the progression of the condition. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of arthritis include the following.
- Joint pain (mild and severe pain)
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Redness
According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis affects over 50 million adults in the United States alone.
Risk Factors for Arthritis
Several factors can increase a person’s risk of developing arthritis, including:
- Family history of arthritis/genetics
- Physically demanding jobs
- Obesity
- History of joint injuries
Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Arthritis Pain
At Neaman Hand Therapy & Surgery, we provide a range of non-surgical treatments and assistive devices to help manage arthritis pain and preserve function, including:
- Over-the-counter pain medications, anti-inflammatory medications, and prescription corticosteroids.
- Custom splints can also be used to support the hands, including the thumb and wrist.
- Stretching and strengthening exercises
- Hot and cold compresses
- Reducing stress in your life
- Occupational therapy with a trained occupational therapist
Our goal is to help patients improve joint health, reduce discomfort, and maintain an independent life without surgery.
Surgery to Address Severe Arthritis
When a patient develops arthritis pain that is more severe and non-surgical treatment options are no longer effective, surgical procedures are the next option.
For basilar joint arthritis, we offer basilar joint arthritis surgery, an outpatient procedure that allows patients to regain their range of motion and strength in their thumb.
For wrist and hand arthritis, we offer three different surgical options:
- Joint Fusion: Stabilizes affected joints using plates and screws.
- Joint Replacement: Restores movement with artificial implants that replace the damaged joint.
- Tendon Transfer: Long-term inflammation from arthritis can cause the tendons to rupture. To treat this, healthy tendons are transferred to replace the affected tendons and restore hand function.
Benefits of Tools and Techniques with Arthritis
Some of the benefits of the nonsurgical tools and treatments we offer include:
- Relieve arthritis pain
- No need for surgery
- Improve joint function
- Protect joints
- Reduce the chance of further joint problems
- No need for surgical procedures or invasive treatments
While more invasive, surgery can also come with its own benefits. Some of the benefits include addressing severe arthritis symptoms and reducing pain, improving quality of life, improving function of the hand and wrist, and reducing stiffness.
For seniors, nonsurgical and surgical treatments can give them back their lives and their independence.
Schedule a Consultation
Whether you’re looking to relieve pain, improve hand strength, or regain independence, our specialists at Neaman Hand Therapy & Surgery are here to help! To learn more and discover how we can help you, schedule a consultation today. Call our Salem, OR office or message us via our online contact form.
