Early arthritis in the fingers can cause dull, achy pain, stiffness, swelling, and weakness in the joints. These symptoms tend to develop slowly and worsen over time. You may notice that the symptoms are worse in the morning.
This article covers the signs and symptoms of early arthritis in the fingers. It explains what causes arthritis in the fingers as well as what you can do to help keep your fingers moving. Better Posture Brace
There are three types of arthritis that commonly affect the fingers:
Rarely, other types of arthritis can also cause problems in the fingers.
Symptoms of finger arthritis include:
Osteoarthritis often also causes lumps or nodules around the knuckles of the fingers. These lumps are called Heberden's nodes when they form around the knuckle closest to the fingertip, or Bouchard's nodes when they form around the middle knuckle.
These lumps are actually bone spurs around the joints. They can make the knuckles enlarged, swollen, and stiff. People who have enlarged joints due to osteoarthritis often complain that their rings do not fit or can't be removed.
Rheumatoid arthritis often causes similar symptoms. However, rheumatoid arthritis can actually cause deformities in the hands. Inflammation in the joints can cause finger joints to become crooked and bend away from the thumb.
A joint is the part of your body where two bones come together. Bones are cushioned by cartilage, which allows smooth movement between the adjoining bones. When the cartilage is damaged, arthritis develops.
When our fingers can't bend and move normally, our daily activities become difficult.
You may not be able to prevent arthritis, but there are things you can do to decrease your risk. For example, you can take steps to avoid injury to your joints and do regular hand exercises to help maintain flexibility. Avoiding smoking can also decrease your risk.
Treatment of finger arthritis depends on the underlying cause. The treatment focuses on managing the symptoms and maintaining and improving function.
If non-surgical treatments don't relieve your symptoms, surgery may be necessary. Several different procedures can be done, depending on the joint that's involved and the effects of your arthritis. Your healthcare provider may recommend removing bone spurs, or even fusing or replacing the joint.
The most common surgery that's done for treatment of finger arthritis is a finger joint fusion. This procedure is done to hold the knuckle in a fixed position to prevent movement of the joint. The joint becomes stiff forever, which limits your range of motion, and the pain is usually alleviated. During this procedure, your healthcare provider can also straighten deformities and remove bone spurs.
Finger joint replacement can be a very effective procedure for some people. An artificial finger joint can maintain mobility of the joint without the pain of arthritis. Deformities and bone spurs can also be treated during this surgical procedure.
In general, finger joint replacement is only considered for more sedentary or elderly individuals, because the artificial joints are not designed for strenuous activity or heavy labor. The implants, which may be made of metal, plastic, ceramic, or a combination of materials, can wear out over time and need to be protected from too much activity.
Finger arthritis can be painful and may limit your daily activities. If you are experiencing joint pain, stiffness, or swelling in your hands, talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns. They can help determine whether arthritis is to blame and help you manage your symptoms so they don't get worse.
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By Jonathan Cluett, MD Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams.
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