Hand Surgery: Know More About Joint Replacement Procedure Article

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Hand Surgery: Know More About Joint Replacement Procedure

Many people commonly experience pain in their joints, especially depending on the lifestyle that they are leading or have led. Arthritis is incredibly common and can make the hand very painful and almost useless.

Author: Anna Woodward

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Are you constantly in pain? Do you have trouble grasping things or feel pain whenever you exert pressure on your hand joints? You are not alone. Many people suffer from different stages of arthritis and have always been told that it's just something that happens in life and to take over the counter pain medication to manage. They are told to take it easy.

Arthritis works because of pressure. Pressure rubs away at the cartilage, which exposes the bone. When that is not protected, the bones rub on each other causing inflammation, swelling and stiffness. Cartilage lubricates the bones to keep them in full operating order. When it is gone, the function starts to deteriorate.

For some people that is not an option. If you are unable to stop working, or just need the use of your hand for whatever reason, it is necessary to find treatment that will allow it. This treatment is called arthroplasty. This is the replacement of the joint with a new, fake joint that will be easy to use.

In hand joint replacement surgery, first there is an evaluation consisting of medical history and x-rays. The extent of the damage is assessed and then decisions are made about whether to do surgery or not. There are typically three options available. The first is to clean the joints. This is best for small shows of arthritis. Bone spurs can form but can be removed, which will alleviate the pain involved.

The second option is to fuse the joints together. This is reserved for very advanced arthritis. It literally fuses the joint in to one bone which takes away all the pain, but also takes away any movement. If the pain is predominantly in the wrist, these two are recommended more than any other options.

The third option is total replacement. In this surgery, the joint is removed and replaced with a prosthetic. The material of the prosthetic varies from joint to joint and person to person. One that has had large success is one that is made of silicone and has hinges. It also has tapered ends that insert into the bone so provide the most functionality.

The only person who can help you decide which option is best for you is your doctor. He or she will be able to look at your problems and to recommend a course of action. If joint replacement is found to be the best option, rest assured that you will soon have movement of your hand and can go back to living your life.

About Author

In Houston, hand surgery expert performs joint replacement surgery on patients suffering from arthritis like problems such as pain in the joints, inflammation, swelling and stiffness. To know more about the procedure, visit http://cyfairhandandwrist.com

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