What causes osteoarthritis of the wrist?
No one knows for sure what causes osteoarthritis to develop in the wrist but some risk factors include: • Previous wrist injury or fracture • Family history of osteoarthritis • Damage to the wrist from another type of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout • Increasing age • Repetitive activity with hands and wrists over a period of time Can osteoarthritis of the wrist be detected on X-ray? In some cases osteoarthritis of the wrist can be diagnosed based on the medical history and physical examination. An x-ray may be ordered to determine how much joint damage there is. Sometimes blood tests or joint fluid tests are ordered to confirm the diagnosis or to distinguish between different types of arthritis. Other tests like bone scans or MRI’s are not usually required. What is the treatment for osteoarthritis of the wrist? Treatment options for osteoarthritis of the wrist include exercises to improve range of motion of the wrist, strengthening exercises, medications to relieve pain
