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Arthritic finger and thumb can pain be most debilitating.
Arthritis in your fingers and thumbs is actually located in
the joints between the bones. The two main types of
arthritis
Osteoarthritis
&
Rheumatoid Arthritis
have different symptoms.
In Osteoarthritis the joint pain in your fingers and
thumbs is usually localized to one or more joints in your
fingers or thumbs. Pain will be most intense at the beginning of your
activity and will gradually subside as you continue the
action (pinching, grasping, typing, knitting, needlepoint,
sewing, gripping tools, woodworking, auto wrenching etc).
The condition is degenerative meaning that pain and joint
problems get worse over time.
It's actually the articular cartilage covering the bone
ends that is most affected. When you are young the cartilage
(gristle) is plump and protective. As we age the cartilage
gets thinner, loses moisture and elasticity, becomes damaged
and loses its ability to protect the bone ends. If the
cartilage thins, the body will automatically start to lay
down more calcium to in an effort to protect the joints.
These calcification deposits are sometimes rough or even
sharp. When these rough edges rub together the nerves
register pain in an attempt to prevent further damage.
The Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis in your fingers and thumbs
will show more swelling and puffiness of the thumb and
finger joints. The pain is equally annoying but more spread
out - even throughout other areas of your body. In most
cases the inflammation of Rheumatoid Arthritis is equally
balanced on both sides of the body - both fingers, thumbs,
knuckles and hands at the same time. Other symptoms include
fatigue, lack of gripping strength, thumb, finger and hand
deformity, possibly have a fever, and an over all sense of
malaise or depression. |
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