Morning Finger Swelling and Stiffness: Beware of Osteoarthritis of the Finger Joints - Risk Factors and Self-Care Tips

"Osteoarthritis of the finger joints" is the condition discussed.Swollen, stiff finger joints in the elderly, though not life-threatening, significantly impact quality of life and daily activities. Let's check symptoms, risk factors, and proper treatment methods.

"Osteoarthritis of the finger joints" is common among older adults, with prevalence increasing with age and affecting patient quality of life. Although not directly life-threatening, pain, stiffness, and deformities can hinder daily activities.

What is osteoarthritis of the finger joints?

Osteoarthritis of the finger joints involves wear of the joint cartilage supporting finger joints, causing bones to rub together. This leads to pain, swelling, or bone spurs that make the fingers appearswollen and bumpy.Most cases occur at the middle finger joints, distal finger joints, and the base of the thumb.

Risk factors for developing the condition.

Risk factors for osteoarthritis of the finger joints can be divided into unmodifiable and modifiable factors as follows:

1. Unmodifiable factors

• Age: Risk increases with age due to the natural degeneration of joints over time.
• Female sex: Women, especially postmenopausal, have a higher risk because estrogen affects cartilage health.
• Genetics: Family history plays an important role; having relatives with the condition increases one’s risk.
• Ethnicity: White populations have a higher prevalence than Asians.

2. Modifiable factors

• Excessive use: Overuse or repetitive strain on fingers accelerates joint wear.
• Occupation: Jobs requiring frequent hand gripping or finger movements, such as housekeepers, gardeners, and dentists, have a higher risk.

Warning signs of osteoarthritis of the finger joints.

Patients often show physical signs that can be observed as follows:

• Pain: Occurs in middle or distal finger joints or base of the thumb, worsening with activities like gripping, squeezing, or repetitive hand use.
• Joint stiffness: Typically felt in the morning or after periods of inactivity, causing difficulty and tightness in joint movement.
• Swelling: Results from inflammation or bone changes, leading to pain and reduced hand mobility.
• Finger deformities: As the disease progresses, fingers may become misshapen, especially in affected middle or distal joints, with swelling and bumps; thumb base deformities can make thumb extension difficult.

Medical diagnosis.

Doctors diagnose osteoarthritis of the finger joints through physical examination to identify abnormalities and tender areas, assessing if pressure causes increased pain. X-rays help reveal joint space narrowing or bone spurs, aiding accurate diagnosis.

Proper treatment and prevention.

Current treatment approaches for osteoarthritis of the finger joints focus on symptom relief and slowing joint degeneration and include two main methods:

Medication treatment.

• Includes topical and oral drugs primarily aimed at alleviating pain.

Non-medication treatment and behavioral adjustments.

• Hand exercises: Soaking hands in warm water and opening and closing the hand help reduce pain and stiffness, combined with muscle strengthening around the thumb base for joint support.
• Use of supportive devices: Those with thumb joint problems may use braces to support the thumb, reducing joint pressure; devices can be rigid or soft.
• Patients with middle or distal joint osteoarthritis and deformities may wear supports to maintain proper finger alignment.

Daily behavior modifications.

• Use upper arm parts instead of painful hands, for example, using the elbow to open doors by replacing doorknobs with lever handles operated by the elbow.
• Avoid gripping objects with fingers; instead, use the palm to hold items. Employ assistive devices to reduce hand exertion and avoid squeezing joints.
• Use of assistive tools.Forthose with severe symptoms, assistive devices such as button hooks or enlarged-handled utensils like spoons, forks, and pens help reduce pressure on finger joints.
• Occupational adaptation: Jobs involving daily wrist use, such as baking or crafts, should incorporate assistive tools to lessen wrist strain.

If you experience finger joint pain as described, you should promptly consult a doctor for treatment and proper guidance.

Source: Dr. Apisara Keesukphun, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.