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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful, degenerative disease that causes a gradual wearing down of the cartilage that surrounds the joints. OA of the fingers can make buttoning a shirt nearly impossible. While there is no cure, treatments can lessen the severity of symptoms.
Drugs
The Mayo Clinic suggests acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to alleviate the pain of OA of the fingers. If pain is extreme, prescription pain killers or cortisone shots can be effective.
Therapy
A physical or occupational therapist can teach you ways to increase your range of motion and put less stress on joints, thereby reducing the pain of OA. The Arthritis Foundation also has classes on how to cope with the disorder.
Surgery
Joint replacement might be an option to alleviate the pain in fingers. Replacing finger joints can also improve appearance and mobility.
Alternative Medicine
Alternative therapies suggested by the Mayo Clinic include yoga and tai chi; acupuncture; ginger, glucosamine and condroitin supplements; and avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASUs), which are oils that may help promote cartilage repair.
On the Horizon
A biomedical engineer at Johns Hopkins University hopes to eventually enable patients to grow new cartilage by injecting in them a cocktail of stem cells and a chemical hardener.
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