Arthritis affects over 350 million people worldwide each year and can attack any joint in the body. However, one of the most common areas for arthritis to strike is in the hands, wrists, and fingers. Arthritis of the fingers can be uncomfortable, causing symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. These symptoms make hand motions like grasping and pinching difficult, which restricts a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks.
There are three types of arthritis that commonly affect the fingers:
- Osteoarthritis – also called wear-and-tear arthritis, is the most common type of finger arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes normal cartilage to wear away. This exposes bare bone at the joints.
- Rheumatoid arthritis causes a different type of joint destruction. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that affects the whole body. It causes the immune system to attack the soft tissues surrounding the joints.
- Gout is a condition that occurs when crystals develop within the joints. These crystals can form in one or more joints when there is too much of a substance called uric acid in the body.
Symptoms of finger arthritis include:
- Joint pain.
- Swelling.
- Stiffness.
- Loss of motion.
Irrespective of the type of finger arthritis you may have, it can result in acute pain or even chronic pain, which can lead to frustration and depression. While there are various medicines used to treat the root cause of the arthritis, a Photizo Pain Relief device can aid in reducing the level of pain experienced.
How will light therapy help provide relief from the pain in the fingers caused by arthritis?
Photizo Pain Relief light therapy alleviates pain and inflammation and will help to:
- Reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and increase anti-inflammatory cytokines
- Reduce inflammation by modulating inflammatory cells
- Reduce oxidative stress
- Improve drainage of the lymphatic vessels
- Increase quality sleep.
