Arthritis Symptoms in Fingers

Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints. While arthritis can invade any body joint, the first symptoms of arthritis are visible in the fingers. Tenderness, warmth and redness around the joints is common in arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two types of arthritis that attack the finger joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive condition, marked by inflamed joints, lasting for quite some time. Osteoarthritis, normally seen in older people (above 65) occurs due to wear and tear of the joints.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms in Fingers
Symptoms of arthritis in finger joints can be clearly noticed as these body parts are the worst effected. Stiffness of fingers is the most common symptom associated with osteoarthritis. It is accompanied by pain and swelling. Bending the fingers becomes a difficult task. Due to inflammation, the joints do not work properly, thus restricting the motion of the fingers. The person may experience persistent pain within the thumb base which is an indication of osteoarthritis of the basilar joint. Sometimes, the thumb's base may get swollen. Arthritis of the fingers usually affects the joints located in the fingertip and knuckles of the mid finger.

In some cases, osteoarthritis of fingers causes development of nodules or lumps around the knuckles. As a result, the knuckles get stiff, swollen and enlarged. People suffering from arthritis in the fingers often find that the grip strength has reduced considerably. They are not able to hold objects firmly. Opening a jar or turning a key is no more a simple task. This loss of strength is a warning sign of finger osteoarthritis. The wrist joint is also affected and interferes with the mobility of the arms.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms in Fingers
This type of arthritis is known to damage the middle finger joints. However, rheumatoid arthritis being a progressive condition can also affect other finger joints causing severe pain. Rheumatoid arthritis brings stiffness in the finger joints, due to which the person finds it impossible to straighten out his fingers. This results into loss of motion, thereby making it quite difficult to carry out daily activities. Pain and swelling of finger joints generally lasts for a period of 6 weeks or more. Immobility and joint stiffness occurring at irregular intervals is a sign of finger rheumatoid arthritis. This is a disease that affects the same joints of both the hands. Tingling or numbness in the fingers can also occur. Complex deformities are also observed in the hands which signal rheumatoid arthritis. Deformities like 'swank neck' or 'Boutonniere' are noticed. This causes shifting of the fingers from their normal position The fingers began to move away from the thumb.

Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms in Fingers
In this form of arthritis, the small joints that are close to the nails are damaged. Changes in the appearance of the nail such as ridging, thickening, pitting and yellow-orange discoloration are prominent. This type of arthritis is very rare and generally occurs in men.

Treatment for arthritis aims at decreasing the joint pain in order to manage the symptoms. Special arthritis diet needs to be followed to lesson the symptoms. Anti-inflammatory medications are commonly prescribed to treat arthritis symptoms in fingers. These medicines help reduce the swelling and inflammation associated with the joints. The pain of arthritis can be controlled to a great extent with this form of treatment. Cortisone injections can also help to diminish the inflammation, thereby providing relief from the pain. Surgical treatment is essential if the aforementioned treatments fail to relieve arthritis symptoms in fingers.