Arthritis in the Fingers: Symptoms and Visual Changes
Arthritis in the fingers can lead to joint swelling, loss of function, and other symptoms. Additionally, it may alter the appearance of the affected joints. Finger joints, including knuckles, are among the most delicate in the body and usually function harmoniously like a well-oiled machine, enabling you to perform daily tasks effortlessly.
However, the onset of arthritis can cause changes to the shape and function of these joints, leading to decreased dexterity and functionality in your fingers.
The most common types of arthritis that affect the fingers include:
- Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
Read on to learn how arthritis in the fingers manifests both visually and physically.
Pain
In its earliest stages, arthritis causes a dull, achy sensation in the fingers. You might notice this pain more pronounced after a day of extensive hand use. Early-stage arthritis pain tends to come and go.
As arthritis progresses, the protective cartilage wears away, leaving your delicate joints without the necessary cushioning. This deterioration leads to pain even with minimal hand use or when at rest. In severe cases, the pain can become intense enough to wake you up at night.
Swelling
The tissues and cartilage in your hands and fingers typically protect your delicate joints. However, if a joint experiences damage or excessive stress, the tissues lining the joint may swell, making your hands and fingers appear puffier than usual.
In some cases, the entire finger — rather than just an individual joint — may swell. This condition is known as dactylitis, which results from severe inflammation. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is the most common cause of dactylitis, though it can also occur in individuals with other types of arthritis.
Joint Stiffness
Arthritis also leads to joint stiffness. When tissue and cartilage swell, joint movement becomes restricted.
You may find it difficult to make a fist or move your fingers, and a weakened grip can make holding objects like cups challenging, causing you to drop things more easily.
Joint stiffness is particularly common in the morning after several hours of inactivity. It can also occur after a long day of movement when the joints have been subjected to more stress than usual.
Changes to Joint Structure
The cartilage in your joints can wear away unevenly. Furthermore, as arthritis progresses, the tissues and ligaments that normally hold the joints in place may weaken. These developments can lead to visible changes in the joints of your hands and fingers.
As arthritis worsens, these changes become more pronounced.
Arthritis in the hands typically affects the distal interphalangeal (DIP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), or metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints. The DIP joints are located at the fingertips, the PIP joints are situated just below the DIP joints, and the MCP joints are your knuckles, located further down the hand.
The specific joints affected can often indicate the type of arthritis. The DIP joints are typically involved in osteoarthritis (OA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) commonly affects the PIP and MCP joints but not the DIP joints.
Warm Joints
When a joint experiences damage, the tissues and ligaments around it can become inflamed, causing the joint to feel warm. This inflammation often makes the joints very painful, especially when pressure is applied or the joint is moved.
Inflammation may also cause redness or discoloration around the affected joint.
Grinding of the Joints
In a healthy joint, a layer of cartilage covers and cushions the bones. In an arthritic joint, this cartilage wears away and can disappear entirely.
As the cartilage erodes, you may experience a grinding or grating sensation in your joints due to bone-on-bone contact. This contact is often painful, and the loss of cartilage will appear on X-rays as a reduction in joint space.
Bone Spurs
Bone spurs may also develop in arthritic joints. In response to joint damage, the body may produce extra bone.
These knobby growths can give your hands and fingers a gnarled appearance. While they rarely cause pain, they may eventually interfere with the proper functioning of the joint.
Myxoid Cysts
Myxoid cysts are small fluid-filled sacs that may appear as small dents or ridges on your fingers. Also known as digital mucous cysts, they typically measure 5 to 8 millimeters in diameter.
Myxoid cysts are most likely to develop at the end of the finger and may occur under the fingernail, sometimes appearing as a round “pearl” on top of the hand near the nail at the DIP joint.
These cysts are more common in people in their 60s and affect females more often than males. They are closely associated with osteoarthritis (OA).