Experts Reveal Link Between Muscle Cramps in the Hands and Arthritis

(Newswire.net — July 11, 2017) Orlando, FL — Muscle cramps can be triggered by a variety of contributory factors. However, they are often associated with the development of arthritis, which is a painful and debilitating condition.

Experts reveal the link between muscle cramps in the hands and arthritis. While the most common symptoms of arthritis are finger joint stiffness and pain, there are also those who suffer from muscle cramps in the hands.

Muscle cramps can happen when typing, writing, or even cooking. Doing these tasks can seize up the muscles in the hand, and this can cause pain and cramping. For individuals suffering from pain and inflammation in the hands, doing certain tasks can be quite challenging.

This is also true for individuals who suffer from stiffness in the fingers and other symptoms due to rheumatoid arthritis. It is also important to remember that rheumatoid arthritis can have negative impacts on muscle function. There are sufferers who report flare-ups that involve muscle cramps in the hands that are debilitating.

According to Richard Brasington, MD, a rheumatologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University in St. Louis, spasms in the muscles that are adjacent to the joints can be caused by inflammation in the joints.

This is probably the main reason why people suffer from hand cramps. Whatever type of dysfunction that occurs in the joint can also affect the adjacent muscles. This is believed to be due to the fact that muscles need to pull harder because of the friction in the arthritic joint.

While normal cartilage works by eliminating friction, in cases of rheumatoid arthritis, it is damaged. Frequent hand cramping can be due to the narrowing of the arteries, which deliver blood to the hands and other extremities.

Hand cramping can also be due to dehydration and vitamin D deficiency. It can also be caused by typing and a repetitive motion done on a daily basis.

Natalie Azar, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine and Rheumatology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, states that the muscles can be affected by swollen joints. This effect may also contribute to chronic hand cramps typically experienced by individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis is a debilitating and painful condition. This is why many sufferers turn to the use of natural alternatives, such as glucosamine supplements. Glucosamine is considered to be a safer alternative to pain and anti-inflammatory medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Glucosamine doesn’t cause side effects and is also thought to have the potential ability to repair cartilage damage. This natural option is quite popular among individuals with arthritis and athletes.

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