Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns and SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs and Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Osteoarthritisoften affects thefingers and hands. This causes limitations indaily activitiesthat require fine motor finger movements. Like other types of arthritis, finger osteoarthritis can develop with age or stress on the joints. Several treatments can diminish the pain and increase mobility, helping you continue to perform daily tasks with ease.

This article discusses the signs of arthritis in your fingers. It also covers diagnosis, treatment, and ways to prevent finger arthritis.

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Arthritic hands trying to open prescription medicine pill bottle

What Does Osteoarthritis Feel Like in the Fingers?

Finger osteoarthritis produces severalsigns and symptoms. You may experience any combination of the following:

With finger osteoarthritis, your pain is most severe when you begin using your hands for physical activity, diminishing as your activity progresses. The pain and stiffness usually return after you stop using your hands or while you are resting.

Affected Joints

You have several joints in your fingers that connect the bones to each other and move like hinges to allow the flexible movements of your fingers. Any combination of these joints in one or both of your hands can develop osteoarthritis, and some may be more affected than others.

What Causes Osteoarthritis in the Fingers?

While it can be hard to pinpoint the cause of primary finger osteoarthritis, there are some risk factors, including advancing age, heavier weight, and genetics. Women and Caucasian people are also at higher risk.

Diagnosing Osteoarthritis in the Fingers

Thediagnosisof finger osteoarthritis is based on your medical history, a physical examination, and X-rays, or blood tests if necessary.

How Do You Treat Osteoarthritis in the Fingers?

Typically, osteoarthritis is not reversible, buttreatmentcan help prevent the worsening of the condition. The pain can be managed with treatment, improving your mobility and function. Treatment may include physical or occupational therapy, medication, or surgery, depending on how severe your condition is and how much treatment you can tolerate.

Medication and Therapeutic ModalitiesYour healthcare provider may recommend one or more of the following:Anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin orNSAIDsCortisone injectioninto the jointPhysical therapy including range-of-motion and strengthening exercisesOccupational therapy: A therapist can recommend modifications. You may find it helpful to try splinting or supportive gloves, as well as easy-to-hold tools, which are specially made for individuals with hand osteoarthritis and other gripping issues.Topical rubs, such as Capsaicin, Icy Hot, and BengayHeat application or cold packs

Medication and Therapeutic Modalities

Your healthcare provider may recommend one or more of the following:Anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin orNSAIDsCortisone injectioninto the jointPhysical therapy including range-of-motion and strengthening exercisesOccupational therapy: A therapist can recommend modifications. You may find it helpful to try splinting or supportive gloves, as well as easy-to-hold tools, which are specially made for individuals with hand osteoarthritis and other gripping issues.Topical rubs, such as Capsaicin, Icy Hot, and BengayHeat application or cold packs

Your healthcare provider may recommend one or more of the following:

Diet is a controversial topic when it comes to osteoarthritis. Processed foods that are high in trans fats cause inflammation, and avoiding them has been proposed as a possible strategy for managing osteoarthritis. The benefits of avoiding these foods reach far beyond alleviating osteoarthritis.

Surgery

When medical treatment and therapy do not produce satisfactory relief, surgery may be beneficial in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Surgical options for finger osteoarthritis includearthrodesis(fusion) or joint replacement, depending on the affected joint.

How to Slow Osteoarthritis in the Fingers

Preventative strategies may be effective in slowing or averting the development of osteoarthritis. Protecting your hands from injuries is a good idea. If you work in a job that requires repetitive hand movements, or if you play sports that put you at risk of hand injuries, you can try to wear protective gloves or to optimize your position in a manner that protects against injury.

Summary

Osteoarthritis in the fingers can cause pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion, making it difficult to do daily activities. Your healthcare provider may diagnose finger osteoarthritis through a physical exam, medical history, and imaging tests.

Some treatments can help reduce your pain and discomfort to increase your mobility so that you can continue to enjoy activities that you do with your hands. Medication such as aspirin and cortisone injections can help as well as physical and occupational therapy. Surgery may also be considered in some cases.

Protecting your hands from injuries may help prevent or slow finger osteoarthritis.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Arthritis Foundation.Osteoarthritis of the hands.Spies CK, Langer M, Hahn P, Müller LP, Unglaub F.The treatment of primary arthritis of the finger and thumb joint. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(16):269-275. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0269Arthritis Foundation.Surgery for aching hands.Additional ReadingVansteenkiste S, Reneman MF, van der Eerden PJ, Soer R, Dijkstra PU, van der Sluis CK.Upper limb functional capacity of working patients with osteoarthritis of the hands: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of Hand Therapy. 2017;pii:S0894-1130(17)30007-8. doi:10.1016/j.jht.2017.01.003Østerås N, Kjeken I, Smedslund G, et al.Exercise for hand osteoarthritis: a cochrane systematic review.J Rheumatol. 2017;44(12):1850-1858. doi:10.3899/jrheum.170424

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Arthritis Foundation.Osteoarthritis of the hands.Spies CK, Langer M, Hahn P, Müller LP, Unglaub F.The treatment of primary arthritis of the finger and thumb joint. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(16):269-275. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0269Arthritis Foundation.Surgery for aching hands.Additional ReadingVansteenkiste S, Reneman MF, van der Eerden PJ, Soer R, Dijkstra PU, van der Sluis CK.Upper limb functional capacity of working patients with osteoarthritis of the hands: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of Hand Therapy. 2017;pii:S0894-1130(17)30007-8. doi:10.1016/j.jht.2017.01.003Østerås N, Kjeken I, Smedslund G, et al.Exercise for hand osteoarthritis: a cochrane systematic review.J Rheumatol. 2017;44(12):1850-1858. doi:10.3899/jrheum.170424

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Arthritis Foundation.Osteoarthritis of the hands.Spies CK, Langer M, Hahn P, Müller LP, Unglaub F.The treatment of primary arthritis of the finger and thumb joint. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(16):269-275. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0269Arthritis Foundation.Surgery for aching hands.

Arthritis Foundation.Osteoarthritis of the hands.

Spies CK, Langer M, Hahn P, Müller LP, Unglaub F.The treatment of primary arthritis of the finger and thumb joint. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(16):269-275. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0269

Arthritis Foundation.Surgery for aching hands.

Vansteenkiste S, Reneman MF, van der Eerden PJ, Soer R, Dijkstra PU, van der Sluis CK.Upper limb functional capacity of working patients with osteoarthritis of the hands: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of Hand Therapy. 2017;pii:S0894-1130(17)30007-8. doi:10.1016/j.jht.2017.01.003Østerås N, Kjeken I, Smedslund G, et al.Exercise for hand osteoarthritis: a cochrane systematic review.J Rheumatol. 2017;44(12):1850-1858. doi:10.3899/jrheum.170424

Vansteenkiste S, Reneman MF, van der Eerden PJ, Soer R, Dijkstra PU, van der Sluis CK.Upper limb functional capacity of working patients with osteoarthritis of the hands: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of Hand Therapy. 2017;pii:S0894-1130(17)30007-8. doi:10.1016/j.jht.2017.01.003

Østerås N, Kjeken I, Smedslund G, et al.Exercise for hand osteoarthritis: a cochrane systematic review.J Rheumatol. 2017;44(12):1850-1858. doi:10.3899/jrheum.170424

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