Arthritis Hand Treatment in India

Navya Gupta, a 58-year-old classical sitar...

Navya Gupta, a 58-year-old classical sitar teacher from Kolkata, began noticing stiffness and pain in her right thumb and index finger two years ago. As a musician, her hands are her livelihood. The pain became sharp and constant, making it difficult to hold her sitar's strings or demonstrate techniques to students. Simple tasks like opening jars or writing became agonizing. Her rheumatologist, Dr. Sharma, diagnosed her with severe osteoarthritis at the base of her thumb (CMC joint arthritis). After conservative treatments like splints and steroid injections provided only temporary relief, Dr. Sharma recommended a trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction, a surgery to remove the arthritic bone and stabilize the joint. Navya was terrified at the thought of surgery on her precious hand. The procedure went smoothly, but the initial recovery in a cast was frustrating. With dedicated hand therapy, she gradually regained motion. Six months later, while she still has some stiffness in the morning, the debilitating pain is gone. She can play her sitar again, teaching her grandchildren simple melodies. Her emotional journey moved from fear of losing her identity to profound gratitude for reclaiming her passion and independence.