Can hand arthritis heal on its own?
Generally, whether hand arthritis can heal on its own mainly depends on its type and severity. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical treatment at a formal hospital. Detailed analysis is as follows:
If the hand arthritis is traumatic arthritis and the condition is mild, caused only by slight sprains or strain, and the joint cartilage and surrounding tissues are not severely damaged, it may gradually heal on its own through rest and reducing hand strain. The body's self-repair mechanisms can promote the subsiding of local inflammation, allowing damaged tissues to slowly recover and symptoms to alleviate and eventually disappear.
If the hand arthritis is of types such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, or if the condition is severe with significant joint cartilage wear, bone spurs, or joint deformities, it is unlikely to heal on its own. These types of arthritis are mostly chronic progressive diseases; persistent inflammation continuously damages the joint structure, and without timely intervention, symptoms will gradually worsen and may even lead to joint dysfunction.
In daily life, it is important to protect the hand joints by avoiding prolonged strenuous work or repetitive fine movements to reduce joint wear. Additionally, keeping the hands warm and avoiding cold exposure can help delay the progression of joint disease.