Arthritis Finger Pain: An Overview
Arthritis finger pain affects many people, and can be a painful condition that has a dramatic effect on the sufferer's quality of life.
There are several different types of arthritis that can affect the fingers, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
Let's look at each of these types individually.
Osteoarthritis Finger Pain
Osteoarthritis in finger joints can cause swelling, stiffness and pain. The movement of the fingers can be restricted, and there might be persistent pain and swelling in the thumb base. Nodules or lumps can also form around the knuckles, causing stiffness and swelling.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Finger Pain
Rheumatoid arthritis in fingers is a progressive condition that often starts with the middle finger joints, and then moves on to affect other finger joints as well. Often the person affected with this type of arthritis in fingers has difficulty straightening the fingers. The arthritis finger pain can be severe, and can include swelling and stiffness that often makes it difficult to do daily tasks, and can alter the natural position of the fingers.
Psoriatic Arthritis Finger Pain
Psoriatic arthritis in fingers is a rare variety of arthritis, and is more common in men. The joints closest to the fingernails are affected, and can be accompanied by changes in the nails, such as discoloration, thickening and the formation of nail ridges.
Causes of Arthritis in Fingers
There are a number of reasons why arthritis in fingers occurs. Over time, joints can degenerate or wear out, and degenerative forms of arthritis in fingers occur simply because of the normal wear and tear on the finger joints. Past injuries to joints can also contribute to arthritis, because after an injury the fingers might move slightly differently, and the misalignment of the joints can cause arthritis over time. It is not uncommon for those people who work in a job that requires repetitive motion, or repetitive small motor skills (like assembly jobs or other types of factory work) to suffer from arthritis finger pain.
Symptoms of Arthritis Finger Problems
The primary symptom of finger arthritis is pain. In the beginning, this pain might only be apparent at the beginning of an activity, and lessens as the joints limber up. As the condition progresses, often the pain is even felt when at rest. Affected joints may suffer from inflammation, and may be warm to the touch. There is generally visual evidence of arthritis in fingers, with swelling, nodules and enlargement of the joints being apparent.
Treating Arthritis Finger Pain
In most cases, the treatment of arthritis in fingers concentrates on managing the arthritis finger pain. Sometime the pain and inflammation can be managed by the use or heat, topical rubs, or by resting the affected finger joints. Stretching exercises that can help maintain proper range of motion are also helpful, and can strengthen muscles in the hands and arms so that finger joint are subjected to less stress.
Treatment for arthritis finger pain often includes anti-inflammatory medications, which can help to reduce the swelling and inflammation of the affected joints. Sometimes cortisone injections are also used to lessen the inflammation and reduce arthritis finger pain. Some people who suffer from arthritis in fingers also find some relief by altering their diet to exclude foods that contain items such as sugar and gluten, and by eating foods that are high in vitamin C, Omega 3 essential fatty acids, and magnesium.
Occasionally surgical options become necessary, such as using an artificial join replacement or join fusion procedure. Surgical remedies for arthritis finger pain, while highly effective, are used only in rare instances as a last resort.
