Hand osteoarthritis
Arthritis in the finger joints that causes pain, swelling and stiffness.
Grip, write and open jars again
For hand, thumb and wrist arthritis pain that hasn't responded to splints, therapy or medicine, our team evaluates whether TAME may be an option.
- Minimally invasive options
- Outpatient care, no hospital stay
- Insurance checked before your visit
- Se habla español
TAMETranscatheter arterial microembolization
Why it matters
Small joints, big problems
Arthritis in the finger joints, at the base of the thumb or in the wrist can make it hard to grip, write, open jars or do everyday tasks. Hand arthritis often involves inflamed, swollen joints.
Care usually starts with splints, hand therapy and medicine. When pain keeps going, transcatheter arterial microembolization (TAME) may calm the inflamed joints. Research on TAME for the hand and wrist is at an early stage, and your specialist will talk with you about what is known, the possible benefits and risks, and other treatments.
Common symptoms
Does this sound familiar?
If any of these keep you from the things you enjoy, a visit can help find the cause and the options that fit you.
- Pain in finger joints
- Pain at the base of the thumb
- Swollen hand joints
- Trouble gripping or pinching
- Long-lasting wrist pain
- Stiffness in the hand
Conditions we treat
Conditions we evaluate and treat
Thumb-base arthritis
Arthritis at the base of the thumb that makes gripping and pinching painful.
Wrist arthritis and chronic wrist pain
Long-lasting wrist pain from arthritis or an old injury.
Color changes in the fingers
Raynaud's or poor blood flow to the fingers needs a closer look, since it may mean TAME is not a good fit.
Treatments
Treatment options
Every plan starts with an evaluation. Your provider reviews your history, imaging and the treatments you have tried, then explains which options may fit.
TreatmentSplints and hand therapy
Splints rest painful joints, and hand therapy builds strength and protects your joints. Tools with large grips can make daily tasks easier.
- First-line care for hand arthritis
- Helps you get the most from any treatment
Who it may help: Everyone with hand or thumb arthritis pain.
TreatmentMedicine and injections
Topical or oral anti-inflammatory medicines and joint injections can ease pain for some people. Your specialist can also discuss PRP injections.
- Topical options may suit people who can't take pills
- Often tried before a procedure
Who it may help: People whose pain continues despite splinting and therapy.
TreatmentTAME
Transcatheter arterial microembolization
A thin catheter is usually placed in an artery at the wrist. Contrast dye and X-ray find small arteries with extra blood flow around the painful joints, and tiny particles are released to reduce that flow. Because hand arteries are very small, extra-fine catheters and small amounts of particles are used.
- Outpatient, catheter-based procedure
- Usually through a small wrist puncture
- Research is at an early stage
- Results vary
Who it may help: People with persistent hand, thumb or wrist arthritis pain despite splinting, therapy and medicine.
Find out which options fit you
Our team checks your insurance before your visit.
What to expect
From first visit to follow-up
Screening visit
We review your history, examine your hand and wrist and look at your imaging. Bring your medication list, insurance card, recent X-rays or MRI reports, and a list of treatments you have tried.
An honest plan
You and your specialist make a plan together, usually starting with the simplest options. We explain benefits, risks and alternatives, and if a procedure is not a good fit, we will tell you and suggest next steps. We check your insurance before anything is scheduled.
Outpatient treatment
If you are a candidate, the procedure is done at our main center through a small puncture, with numbing medicine and relaxing medicine. Most people rest a few hours and go home the same day.
Follow-up
We check in after treatment and track your pain, grip and daily tasks. Hand therapy helps as pain eases.
Our team
Led by experienced physicians
Chief Medical Officer
Vinod Kumar, MD, FACC, RPVI
Dr. Kumar is a board-certified cardiologist and vascular specialist who leads the Heart Vascular & Leg Center and Advanced Joint Pain & Vascular Center team. He treats arterial and venous disease, nonhealing wounds and joint pain with minimally invasive, image-guided techniques, and trained in joint embolization in Tokyo with Dr. Yuji Okuno.
Serving Kern County since 1992Part of Heart Vascular & Leg Center.
Minimally invasive careImage-guided options, done as outpatient procedures.
Insurance checked firstWe verify coverage and referrals before your visit.
Se habla españolOur team speaks English and Spanish.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is TAME for the hand?
Transcatheter arterial microembolization uses the same approach as knee GAE. It reduces blood flow to small vessels around inflamed hand or wrist joints to calm inflammation and ease pain.
Which joints can be evaluated?
The finger joints, the base of the thumb and the wrist. Your specialist will ask which joints hurt most and review your imaging.
Who may not be a good fit?
People with Raynaud's, scleroderma or poor blood flow to the fingers may not be a fit. Tell us if your fingers change color in the cold. An active infection, advanced kidney disease or a severe contrast dye allergy may also rule it out.
How strong is the evidence?
Early studies have reported pain improvement, but research is at an early stage. Results vary from person to person.
Is embolization safe?
It is done through a tiny puncture, not surgery, but like any procedure it has risks. The most common are soreness, a short-term increase in joint pain and a bruise at the puncture site. Less common risks include temporary skin color change over the treated area, a reaction to contrast dye, infection or injury to the artery. Your specialist will talk through the risks for someone like you before you decide.
Will my insurance cover it?
Coverage for joint embolization varies, and some plans consider it still being studied. Before your visit, our team verifies your coverage, referral requirements and any expected costs. We accept Medicare and many other plans, but plan acceptance does not mean every procedure is covered.
Locations
Find a location near you
Enter your ZIP code or city to see our offices sorted by distance. Procedures are done at our main center; our other offices see patients for consultations and follow-up visits.
Visit us
- Call for an appointment
- (661) 324-4100
- Locations
- 8 offices across Central and Southern California. Find the one nearest you
- Main website
- heartandleg.com