De Quervain's Disease & Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating autoimmune disease that can affect the organs, joints and tissue around the joints. People with rheumatoid arthritis may develop a secondary condition called de Quervain's disease, a painful inflammation of the wrist tendons at the base of the thumb.

History

• In 1859 a physician in London named Sir Alfred Garrod developed the clinical term "rheumatoid arthritis" to describe the disease. De Quervain's disease was discovered by Swiss surgeon Fritz de Quervain in 1895.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain, swollen or tender joints, red and puffy hands, fatigue, morning stiffness, lack of appetite, fever and weight loss.
  Symptoms of de Quervain's disease include pain and swelling near the base of the thumb, numbness in the back of the thumb and index finger, and difficulty when moving the thumb and wrist.

Causes

• While rheumatoid arthritis is one cause of de Quervain's disease, another cause is repetitive stress to the hand and wrist, such as typing, knitting, golfing or tennis. A person may also develop de Quevarian's disease from an injury to the hand or wrist.

Treatments and Remedies

• Rheumatoid arthritis first-line drugs are fast-acting and used to reduce pain and inflammation. Slow-acting second-line drugs are used for disease remission and prevention of potential joint degeneration. If the joint is too diseased surgery may be required.
  Treatments for De Quervain's disease include a combination of rest, splinting, ice, anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections.

Prevention

• There is no prevention for rheumatoid arthritis because the exact cause of the disease is unknown.
  Minimizing gripping, twisting and repetitive hand movements is a possible way to prevent pain from de Quervain's disease.

Misconceptions

• Having rheumatoid arthritis does not mean that one will develop de Quervain's disease. Likewise, having de Quervain's disease does not mean that the person has or will develop rheumatoid arthritis.
  While anyone can get de Quervain's disease or rheumatoid arthritis, both conditions appear more often in women than in men.

Famous Ties

• Famous people that have rheumatoid arthritis include Lucille Ball (actress), James Coburn (actor), Kathleen Turner (actress) and Pierre Auguste Renoir (painter).