Can a common arthritis drug stop hand joint damage?

This study tests whether methotrexate, a drug used for other types of arthritis, can slow joint damage in people with painful hand osteoarthritis that hasn't gotten better with standard treatments. About 170 adults with erosive hand osteoarthritis will receive either methotrexate or a placebo for one year. The main goal is to see if the drug reduces worsening of joint damage on X-rays.