Is it Harmful to Ice RA Hands?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when a person's body mistakenly attacks body tissues in places like the fingers and hands, according to Mayoclinic.com. Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation in the synovial membranes, which lubricate hand and finger joints. Ice can be an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and is usually not harmful to the hands. However there are some things to be aware of when using ice as a treatment for RA.

Considerations

• People with rheumatoid arthritis usually have swelling and stiffness in their hands, especially when they get up in the morning. Symptoms tend to improve as the day goes on. Though ice can generally relieve swelling, it can temporarily exacerbate stiffness in a particular joint.

Other Considerations

• Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause nodules on the skin as well as damage to blood vessels. Moreover, it can aggravate an itchy and rash-infected skin condition called urticaria. The use of ice could aggravate either of these hand conditions.

Benefits

• Ice can be used effectively to treat most rheumatoid arthritis hand pain as it constricts the flow of blood to reduce swelling from broken blood vessels.

Effects of Ice Vs. Heat

• Since the symptoms of hand rheumatoid arthritis are usually worse early in the day, heat may be more effective than ice in the morning. Heat is a vasodilator, which means it increases blood flow. An increase in circulation can help assuage a person's tight muscles or stiff joints. The staff at Mayoclinic.com suggests that a hot shower may help relax pain and muscle tension caused by rheumatoid arthritis. A person often needs to experiment as to whether heat or ice works best throughout the day.

Warning

• Ice should never be applied directly against the skin because it can cause frost bite. Place the ice in a plastic bag to prevent leaks, then wrap the bag with a towel to avoid direct skin contact.