Arthritis, a chronic, inflammatory condition that affects the joints, is the leading cause of patient disability within the United States, according to health officials with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Symptoms of arthritis in the hand can be uncomfortable and may become worse over time. Patients who develop symptoms of arthritis in the hand should seek additional medical care from a health care professional.
Pain
Pain within the joints of the hands and fingers is the most common symptom associated with arthritis in the hand. Patients can develop a dull or burning pain within the hands, which may arise upon waking in the morning, explains the AAOS. Sensations of pain can affect one or both hands and may be worse after using the affected hand. Affected patients may also experience sensations of stiffness in conjunction with hand or finger joint pain. These painful symptoms of arthritis in the hand typically become worse over time as this disease progresses. Additionally, pain within the joints of the hands can affect a patient's ability to use or move the affected hand normally. Treatment options for chronic pain symptoms within the hands due to arthritis are available and should be discussed with a medical professional.
Swelling
Patients with arthritis in the hands can develop significant swelling of the fingers or hands as a symptom of this condition. The affected hand can become unusually enlarged and may appear red or inflamed, explain medical professionals with the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Certain patients may also notice that the affected joints feel warm to the touch. Swelling of the hands due to arthritis often accompanies symptoms of pain and may affect a patient's ability to use the symptomatic hand. Refraining from strenuous hand activities, such as typing or playing the piano, can help limit swelling symptoms in certain patients. Patients who experience persistent joint inflammation within the hands should seek further treatment from a doctor.
Lumps or Nodules
Unusual soft or solid lumps can develop along the fingers as a symptom of arthritis in the hand, reports the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. These nodules may be tender to the touch and may extend from the hand up into the elbow. Patients who exhibit these arthritis in the hand symptoms should contact a physician for further evaluation and care.
Deformity
Because it is an inflammatory condition, arthritis of the hands can cause the finger joints to become deformed. The fingers of the affected hand may be unusually bent, which can interfere with a patient's ability to extend the fingers normally. Such symptoms of arthritis can severely limit a patient's use of the affected hand. Joint deformity due to arthritis in the hand is typically permanent and may become worse over time.
