Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of a person’s joints. Although most noticeable in seniors, the condition can also manifest itself in the younger generations—causing pain, inflammation, and immobility for a short period.
Currently, there are more than a hundred different types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. Although the most common is osteoarthritis, people who often suffer joint pains and the inability to move experience the other two. But one of the areas in the body where arthritis most occurs is the fingers.
What Is Finger Arthritis?
Finger arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the joints of a person’s fingers. Rheumatoid arthritis often causes it, with a few early signs and symptoms involving pain, swelling, and stiffness.
The pain can become episodic and may increase in intensity after doing excessive activities. Meanwhile, the swelling occurs due to extreme stress and joint damage on the fingers. People who often lift weights or do other strenuous activities may experience more swelling than those who don’t.
Lastly, the stiffness manifests after the swelling and pain occur on the fingers. Due to inflammation, the patient with arthritis on the fingers may not move their hands for a while.
What Causes Finger Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks its tissues rather than the harmful microbes that enter the body. However, health factors that increase RA risk are sex, age, family history, toxin exposure, and obesity.
In general, more women are at a higher risk of developing RA than men. Frequently, the signs and symptoms appear in middle age, caused by long-standing health history. Meanwhile, other factors include vices like smoking or environmental exposure to asbestos or silica. Lastly, people below the age of fifty-five who are obese are more likely to be at risk for RA.
Signs of Finger Arthritis
Aside from the three typical symptoms, pain, swelling, and stiffness, finger arthritis may manifest through popping sounds, joint deformities, warmth, mucus cysts, and bone spurs. The popping sounds become more noticeable as the patient tries to flex their joints more. It can also signify the beginning of arthritis.
Meanwhile, warmth becomes a sign of arthritis as it is linked with inflammation. The mucus cysts appear as dents or ridges on the fingers, usually at the end or under the fingernails. Lastly, bone spurs only manifest if arthritis progresses to a later stage, which may mean the patient would need medical care as soon as possible.
Possible Treatments for Finger Arthritis
As of writing, there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis or the leading cause of finger arthritis. Since it is an autoimmune disease, health professionals find it challenging to find a cure because it’s challenging to track down the cause of it.
However, people can consult their family doctors and ask for ways to lessen the pain and inconvenience the condition can bring. Doctors will often issue anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers, and even steroids for more extreme cases.
Conclusion
Having finger arthritis isn’t the end of the world. However, it should kickstart the change in lifestyle, which includes the patient’s diet, activities, and other health practices that can help with the disorder. For older people, it might be best to enroll them in a transitional care center where professionals can look after them while they experience the symptoms. In a way, it would be better for them than staying in a household where none of the family members know how to act in case arthritis manifests itself.
Gateway Home Health Hospice in Denver is a transitional care center that aims to deliver high-quality senior home health care services. We want nothing but the best for our patients, and it’s our pride to provide the things they’ll need along the way—request more information about our programs by browsing our website today!