According to the Arthritis Foundation, one-quarter of all men, and half of all women, experience pain and stiffness of the hand by age 85 as a result of arthritis. Of course, there are several forms for arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and lupus, but more than 400,000 people in the UK suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, with the condition affecting women more often than men.

Hand Pain and Rheumatoid Arthritis

As all sufferers know, rheumatoid arthritis commonly attacks the joints in the knees, hands, and wrists. In a joint with rheumatoid arthritis, the lining of the joints usually becomes inflamed causing damage to the joint tissue, which leads to chronic pain, deformity, and unsteadiness. Sadly, rheumatoid arthritis can affect your ability to do everyday activities. They include using your smartphone, or TV remote, getting dressed, or even eating and drinking.

Often RA in the fingers is found in more than one joint and the swelling and tenderness will be painful at best and, at worst, make it impossible for the sufferer to hold even lightweight coffee cups or mugs. When these symptoms are combined with the related feelings of fatigue and emotional decline, then the impact can be extreme and even dangerous.

In what ways does RA affect my hand functions?

Current scientific research tells us that:

• Hand dexterousness, grasp power, and the ability to squeeze objects between the thumb and other fingers are affected by RA
• Hold strength is even further reduced when the Rheumatoid Arthritis irritation levels are high
• Difficulties with hand function are due to the damage to joints resulting from RA

That damage weakens muscles and tendons and can cause deformity. And because the early stage of the disease coincides with a high degree of early joint damage, it is important to seek treatment as quickly as possible.

What Hand Joints Are Most Affected By RA?

Our two hands comprise 54 joints and the ones most likely to exhibit evidence of the effects of rheumatoid arthritis are:

• Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints (the large knuckles) are the point at which the fingers and thumb connect with the hand. These are the key joints for flexing, extension, and lateral motion
• Proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints (which are the middle knuckles)
• The wrist joints connecting the eight carpal bones to each other, along with the forearm bones (radius and ulna), the carpometacarpal joint, midcarpal joint, radiocarpal joint, and the intercarpal joints

What Are the Most Common Complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis has several physical and social complications. If not diagnosed early, it can cause disability, pain, or even premature death. One of the most common complications of rheumatoid arthritis is heart disease.

Another complication is employment. Rheumatoid arthritis is a leading cause of work disability among adults. In fact, 1 in every 25 working adults aged 18 to 64 face work limitations due to rheumatoid arthritis.

How to Manage Rheumatoid Arthritis

All sufferers will hope to find effective ways to manage rheumatoid arthritis and improve their quality of life. We realise that while there is no cure or absolute way to relieve the condition, there are gains to be had from changes to lifestyle, including choosing a Mediterranean-style diet and incorporating reasonable and appropriate exercise into our day.

It is also the case that there are now many specially designed or adapted products available to help us manage these challenging daily tasks. This is particularly true where rheumatoid arthritis is centred in the hands and fingers and where strength and mobility are depleted as a result.

These products include everything from arthritis gloves to adapted gardening tools. There is also a growing range of cups for disabled adults, such as a disabled drinking cup with a straw, or an adult drinking beaker. These, and other examples, are excellent choices for people with a weakness in their hands, fingers, or other joints that make it difficult to hold and use a regular cup.

Final Thoughts

To reduce the pain that results from rheumatoid arthritis, we must try to maintain a good diet, get enough sleep, and make a commitment to sensible exercise.

But we can also explore the options of offer from the range of arthritis aids and adapted products. So, whether it is a specially designed dinner plate or an adapted lightweight coffee mug, many items will improve the quality of daily living despite suffering from arthritis in the hands and fingers.

Take a look at some great examples of cups for people with arthritis here.