If you experience frequent pain or swelling in the joints of your fingers, you could have a condition called arthritis. This is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect any joint within your body. Your hand has numerous joints that allow you to perform tasks such as signing a check or typing an email that can be effected by arthritis.
Pain
The most common symptom associated with arthritis of the fingers is pain. Initially, pain within the hands and fingers can develop as a dull, burning sensation. You could find that you experience pain after prolonged use of your finger joints, such as after playing the piano or a round of golf. As this disease progresses the cartilage within your finger joints typically begins to disintegrate and can cause the bones to rub together. If this occurs, you could experience severe pain within your hands that may even wake you while you are sleeping. Normal daily activities such as opening a bottle or locking the door to your home can become difficult due to the pain.
Swelling
If you develop arthritis within your fingers, they can appear enlarged and swollen. Frequent use of your fingers can increase inflammation and irritate the joints within your hand. This can cause your fingers to appear sausage-like and is likely to interfere with your ability to use your fingers normally.
Warmth
Inflammation due to arthritis can cause the skin covering your joints to feel warm to the touch. Sensations of warmth can also be accompanied by pain, tenderness or swelling at the effected finger joint.
Grinding
The cartilage between the joints of your fingers can begin to wear away as this condition progresses. When this occurs, the bones of the finger joints are not protected and begin to rub against each other. As the bones rub together, you could notice a grating or grinding sensation---a condition referred to as crepitation by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Such sensations are likely to be accompanied by moderate to severe pain within your finger joints.
Cysts
If you develop arthritis with the end joints of your fingers, you could also develop cysts at the effected joint. A cyst is a small fluid-filled sack that can appear as a raised bump on your finger. If you develop a cyst as a result of arthritis in your finger, the nail of the effected finger can become dented or ridged.
