Arthritis occurs in the joints of the body. According to the book "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment," both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis affect the joints of the fingers. The two differ not only in their origins but also in their presentation of symptoms. OA, a degenerative disorder, has no systemic symptoms. Its effects happen solely at a joint site. RA, an inflammatory systemic disease, involves the joints but also has far-reaching debilitating effects throughout the body. Distinguishable from each other by certain...
Physical changes in the hands and fingers can occur for different reasons. While some cases can indicate a debilitating condition, such as arthritis, other changes are relatively benign and may heal on their own. For best resul...
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons indicates that one out of every five Americans has at least one symptom of arthritis. Arthritis of your fingers -- and hand -- can make performing daily tasks, such as preparing dinn...
Arthritis in the fingers can cause pain, deformity and loss of range of motion. This can make it hard to hold onto objects such as writing and eating utensils. It may also be more difficult to dress and groom, which can lead to...
The fingers are a common site for arthritis. This can include both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis that affects the fingers can be mild and be present with few symptoms. It can also cause joint deformity that...
The Arthritis Foundation reports that about 46 million people, nearly 1 in 5 adults, in the U.S. were affected by at least one form of arthritis as of 2006. Behind heart disease, arthritis remains the second-leading cause of wo...
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 numerou...
Arthritis, regardless of the type or cause, can be an extremely debilitating condition. It can be particularly troublesome when it affects the hands and fingers because this, in turn, affects virtually all aspects of work, pla...
Arthritis is generally characterized by inflammation in the joints. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are more than 100 different arthritic conditions that can affect the fingers with the painful swelling symptoms. There...
When the joints in your fingers begin to hurt, it can limit your daily activities. According to the Hand University, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, arthritis is characterized by redness, swelling and pain in the joints, caused ...