Some individuals develop finger arthritis at some point in life. It is important to note that the joints in the hands and fingers are highly delicate. Once arthritis develops, it can cause pain and eventually loss of function and deformity.
Close look on the signs of finger arthritis
Pain
During the initial phases, finger arthritis triggers a dull, burning sensation in the fingers. The discomfort can be felt after a day of physical activity. The pain during the early phases might come and go.
As the condition worsens, more cartilage is worn out. Without the protective barrier to cushion the joints, pain is triggered even if the hands are not used or if used minimally. In some cases, the pain can be intense that it wakes the individual from sleep.
Swelling
The cartilage and tissue in the hands and fingers are structured to protect the finger joints. If a joint is under excessive stress or damaged, the tissues lining the joint become swollen. As a result, the fingers and hand appear puffy than normal.
Rigidity
Finger arthritis can lead to stiffness or rigidity of the joint. Once swollen, the joint could not freely move. The rigidity is likely to arise in the morning if the joint was not used for several hours.
Deformity
The cartilage in the joints might wear out unevenly. In addition, the ligaments and tissues holding the joints in place weaken as arthritis progresses. As the condition worsens, the deformity becomes more evident.
Grinding sensation
Once the cartilage wears out and disappears, the individual experiences a grating or grinding sensation in the joints. This can be quite painful, and the loss of cartilage is detected in an X-ray as loss of joint space.
Warmth
If a joint is damaged, the tissues and ligaments adjacent the joint can end up inflamed. The inflammation results to warmth of the joint along with redness
Formation of cysts
Small sacs filled with fluid might form in the affected hand. These cysts manifest as small-sized dents or ridges on the fingers. In most cases, they form at the tip of the finger or under a fingernail.
Bone spurs
Bone spurs might also form in the finger joints affected by arthritis. As the damage worsens, the body reacts by producing extra bone. The growths cause the fingers and hand to end up with a gnarled appearance. Over time, the bone spurs prevent the joint from working properly.