Symptoms of Fingers Arthritis

Arthritis Symptoms

Painful fingers, warm stiff joints, swollen knuckles and trouble moving fingers are some of the most common symptoms of arthritis in fingers.

Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints. While arthritis can invade any joint, the first symptoms of arthritis are visible in the fingers. Tenderness, warmth and redness around the joints is common in arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two common types of arthritis that affect the finger joints. Arthritis of the fingers usually affects the joints located in the fingertip and knuckles of the mid finger.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Symptoms of arthritis in finger joints can be clearly noticed as these body parts are the worst affected. Stiffness of finger is the most common symptom associated with osteoarthritis. It is accompanied by pain and swelling. In osteoarthritis, bending the fingers becomes a difficult task. Due to inflammation, the joints do not work properly, thus restricting the motion of the fingers. The person may experience persistent pain within the thumb base which is an indication of osteoarthritis of the basilar joint. Sometimes, the thumb's base may get swollen.

In some cases, osteoarthritis of fingers causes development of nodules or lumps around the knuckles. As a result, the knuckles get stiff, swollen and enlarged. People suffering from arthritis of fingers often find that their grip strength has reduced considerably. They are not able to hold objects firmly. Opening a jar or turning a key is no more a simple task. This loss of strength is a warning sign of finger osteoarthritis. The wrist joint is also affected and interferes with the mobility of the arms.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Initially, rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune disorder) affects the middle finger joints but over time the condition progresses and spreads to other fingers. Morning stiffness is a common complaint in rheumatoid arthritis patients. So, after getting up the first thing they notice, is that the joints have become stiff. This usually lasts for about an hour, making it difficult to start your daily schedule. Due to stiffness in joints, the person finds it impossible to straighten out his fingers. This is a disease that affects the same joints of both the hands. Tingling or numbness in the fingers can also occur. Complex deformities are also observed in the hands which signal rheumatoid arthritis. Deformities like 'swan neck' or 'Boutonniere' are also noticed. This causes shifting of the fingers from their normal position. As a result, finger movement gets distorted and is away from the thumb.

Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms

Sausage-like shape of fingers is often seen in people affected with psoriatic arthritis (autoimmune disease). In this form of arthritis, the small joints that are close to the nails are damaged. Changes in the appearance of the nail such as ridging, thickening, pitting and yellow-orange discoloration are prominent. This type of arthritis is very rare and generally occurs in men.

Causes

Osteoarthritis occurs due to gradual deterioration of cartilage (part of aging), tough elastic tissue attached at the end of the bone. Due to loss of cartilage, the affected bones rub against each other, causing inflammation of the joints. However, the onset of arthritis is not always due to wear and tear of cartilage. Unhealthy eating habits and diet lacking in nutrition can cause toxic matter to accumulate in the joints. This buildup of toxic matter is what causes the immune system to overreact and attack the joint tissues, leading to inflammation and pain.

Relieving Arthritis Symptoms

Healthy Diet

Did you know that a change in diet will help improve pain? As aforementioned, many times arthritis pain is due to accumulation of toxins in our body that impede cell function. In order to get rid of these toxins and promote cell regeneration, one has to specifically follow a raw diet. Raw foods do an excellent job of neutralizing toxins, which in turn provides relief from pain. Completely switching to raw diet temporarily is necessary to eliminate toxins. One can include raw vegetables, fruits, buttermilk and coconut water in the diet but cooked food and milk should be strictly avoided. Eat only raw food just for 3 weeks and one can expect the pain to fade away. Even after the pain vanishes ensure that 50% of your meal is made up of raw food.

Herbs

Herbs such as ginger and garlic display anti-inflammatory properties, hence can be extremely effective to treat inflammatory conditions like finger arthritis. Including these anti-inflammatory foods is one of the best ways to prevent flare-ups. You can simply grate any of these herbs and sprinkle it over your salad. Preparing tea made from these herbs can also contribute in controlling arthritis. Turmeric, a frequently used condiment is well-known for its potent anti-inflammatory activity. So, using it as a salad dressing can also work to combat arthritis effectively.

Exercise

Hand arthritis does restrict your movement of fingers but keeping the fingers immobile all the time can make matters worse. So, in order to improve flexibility of joints and muscles, it is crucial to do little bit of exercise. Opening and closing the palm and stretching the fingers wide apart are some of the exercises that may help to increase mobility in joints.

Conventional treatment that involves use of anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen) may help to decrease joint pain and inflammation. Cortisone injections may also help to control arthritis symptoms. Surgical treatment such as joint replacement surgery is essential if the aforementioned treatment options fail to relieve arthritis symptoms.

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Legs Arthritis Symptoms

Arthritis, in the simplest terms, can be defined as a condition marked by inflammation of one or several joints. It is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. There are several types of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, etc. Pain and swelling in legs, knees or feet are the most common symptoms of arthritis.

Causes

What exactly causes arthritis is unknown; however, several factors are believed to contribute in the same. Arthritis can be caused due to numerous reasons; with increasing age being one of the most common causes. Apart from age, excess weight and genetics are important causes of arthritis. Injury, trauma, illness or infection in the joints can also result in arthritis. Sometimes, abnormal metabolism and overactive immune system can also cause arthritis.

Symptoms

Pain in the legs is one of the most common and prominent symptoms of arthritis; and is observed in all arthritis types. Apart from leg pain, the following are the symptoms that are seen in arthritis.

Pain: Joint pain in the arms and legs is the most prominent symptom of arthritis. This pain may be dull to severe, depending on the severity and type of arthritis. In most cases, arthritis pain in legs gets severe when the person wakes up after a night's sleep, gets up or bends his leg after keeping it in prolonged resting position. Pain in feet can cause a lot of discomfort and can even restrict your movements.

Stiffness: Stiffness in nearly all joints of the body like arms, legs, fingers and wrists is also one of the most common arthritis symptoms. Similar to the arthritis pain, stiffness is experienced when a person wakes up after a night's sleep. As no movement of leg occurs all night, it stiffens in the morning and the stiffening lasts for nearly an hour. Pain and stiffness are symptoms of all types of arthritis.

Swelling: Painful swelling is yet another symptom of arthritis in legs. All the signs of inflammation, like swelling, heat, tenderness, etc. are observed in arthritis. Among all the other arthritis symptoms in legs, swelling is the only one that is easily noticeable, and hence can help in identifying the disease quickly.

Along with these major symptoms, one can also observe other symptoms like chills, sudden pain, loss of flexibility and extreme tenderness in joints. Due to the pain and swelling, a person suffering from arthritis experiences difficulty in walking or even moving around in the house. Arthritis symptoms in feet also include inflammation of the feet, suffering from claw feet, etc. If a person suffers from infectious arthritis, he will also experience symptoms like fever, chills, sharp pain, etc. In case of children, symptoms related to arthritis like loss of appetite, weight loss and anemia are also observed. It has also been observed that a child develop rashes on the joints when suffering from juvenile arthritis.

Treatment

If a person experiences the above mentioned symptoms due to any unknown cause, he should consult the doctor to check for the possibility of arthritis. Similarly, if frequent leg pain or stiffness, that worsens over the time is observed, one should consult the doctor. Blood tests, physical examination and X-ray help in diagnosis of arthritis. The swelling in joints may not be noticed in the X-ray in the initial stage, but can be found in a more advanced stage. Similarly, advanced techniques like an MRI can be used for diagnosing arthritis.

One should remember that there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. However, there certainly are medications and treatment options that help in relieving the pain and reducing other symptoms of arthritis. Therefore, once arthritis is diagnosed, the doctor may prescribe you anti-inflammatory drugs to ease pain and swelling. Physiotherapy can also be effectively used to improve joint movement and prevent stiffness.

Physical therapy, massage and exercises can help ease arthritis symptoms in feet and legs. Lastly, it is advised to consult the doctor immediately if aforementioned symptoms are observed. Early diagnosis and treatment can definitely lessen the pain and prevent the condition from worsening.

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Feet Arthritis Symptoms

The most common types of arthritis experienced in the feet are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis. There can be some other types as well. These are psoriatic arthritis of foot, Reiter's syndrome, and ankylosing spondylitis.

All these conditions cause discomfort, including pain that ranges from an intensity of mild to very sharp. Your feet may swell and redden because of this condition.

Symptoms

Mild to Severe Pain

The human foot has over 30 joints and 28 bones. An injury due to a fall or wear and tear due to aging often causes inflammation of one or many of these joints. This causes mild to severe pain in the foot, toes, heel or even arches, which you absolutely cannot ignore, as it prohibits you from doing even routine chores. Thus, we can say that pain is one of the first-noticed indications of arthritis.

Swelling

This is one of the most visible symptoms that you should look out for. The human body has a set mechanism to treat anything that goes wrong. When there is inflammation of the joints in your feet, they receive an increased supply of blood for treatment, which results in the swelling of the area. The body tends to take the tissues in the joint as foreign bodies and tries to destroy them. Hence, medical treatment is the right and only answer for this condition, as you need immune system suppressants to bring it under control.

Redness and Heat

Because of inflammation and an increase in the number of blood vessels in the affected foot, you may get a feeling of increased body heat. The same reason causes reddening of the feet as well. These sensations and the redness usually disappear after treatment of the condition.

Appearance of Claw-like Feet

In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, due to dissolution of joint tissues, it becomes very difficult to stretch the feet, extend them, or flex the toes. This gives them a clawed appearance. The onset of such a condition requires immediate orthopedic attention.

Stiffness of Foot

Another common indication is a feeling of stiffness or unresponsiveness, and feet feel numb and unresponsive. This might be because the affected joints are unable to react in accordance with the signal received from the brain. This can be accompanied by pain, though it is not always the case. Though this stiffness is observed in a majority of cases, it may not be experienced by everyone.

Difficulty in Walking

Because of one or more of the above-mentioned indications, it becomes quite difficult to walk. The motions in the joints get reduced to a significant extent, and difficulty in walking greatly affects the day-to-day life. Taking rest and following the remedial options assigned to you will assist in treatment.

No doubt, arthritis is very uncomfortable and makes your life miserable. Fortunately, there are efficacious treatments available in large numbers, out of which physical therapy and exercises come first. Generally, these painful symptoms are known to lessen or disappear with medication and other remedies. However, it is advisable to take these medications only if they are prescribed by a medical practitioner.

From your side, you can wear comfortable footwear with a high and wide toe box that will accommodate your strained toes very well. Avoid indulging in foods that are believed to elevate the symptoms associated with this condition. Needless to say, a healthy diet will boost your immune system and keep all these problems away.

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Symptoms of Knee Arthritis

The word arthritis originates from a Greek word, meaning 'inflammation of the joints'. Arthritis is the disorder of body joints. The most common types of arthritis seen among aging people, are osteoarthritis (OA), psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and septic arthritis. When the cartilage of the joint, deteriorates gradually, it is called osteoarthritis. As it hardens over a period of time, it leads to deformity. Inflammation of synovial membranes that protect tendons and joints in the body is a symptom of the autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis. An overactive immune system and an abnormal immune response can lead to arthritis. It affects the joints in the body like fingers, wrists, ankles and knees.

Knee Arthritis Causes

Wear and tear of the body due to age, being overweight, common knee injuries (torn meniscus, damaged ligament, bone fractures), trauma to the knee joint, an illness, an infection, and certain genetic factors can lead to knee arthritis. A metabolic disorder can also affect the function of the knee joint. People over 50 years of age are more likely to suffer from this degenerative joint disease. With dysfunction of the knee joint, the person may have difficulty in carrying out day-to-day activities.

Symptoms

Fever, fatigue, swollen knee, pain with activities, loss of appetite, loss of energy, weight loss, are some of the common symptoms of knee arthritis. The symptoms may vary from person to person.

• Pain: The person may experience constant pain in the affected knee. Negligence and lack of proper treatment may worsen the joint pain.
• Burning Sensation: The person may experience a burning sensation in the area surrounding the affected joint. Repeated use of the joint may worsen the situation. The pain may get aggravated in the later part of the day.
• Crunching Sensation: Once the cartilage is worn out, a sensation of grinding or crunching is sensed in the knee joint. It is associated with a bone grinding against another bone. A clicking or cracking sound can be heard during the movements.
• Limited Motion: Degeneration of the joint seriously affects the function of the joint. This results in restricted movement of the joint and pain. Difficulty in bending and strengthening the leg can be noticed.
• Difficulty to Use Stairs: Difficulty in climbing the stairs or difficulty while stepping down is one of the common knee arthritis symptoms.
• Deformity of Knee: Wearing away of the protective cartilage may expose the bone within the joint. Knock knees or bow legs are often noticed in the elderly, as the disease adversely affects the structure of the joint.
• Knee Stiffness: Stiffness in the knee joint upon waking up in the morning is an early symptom of arthritis. During day time, there can be some amount of improvement; but stiffened joint usually results in restricted movement and pain.
• Inflammation: Redness, swelling and tenderness around the affected joint can be noticed in any arthritic patient. The swollen knee is puffy to touch.
• Hard Bumps: Hard bumps can appear around the knee.

Home remedies like heat and cold therapy, hot baths or spas, massage with essential oils, and certain herbal medicines work great for arthritis. Knee replacement surgery has become quite common, but it should be the last option to treat arthritis. In case of mild pain and stiffness, regular exercise may help lower the symptoms. Changing the pattern and type of workout routine and wearing a light brace on the knee during exercise may help relieve the pain. Knee exercises are considered as a part of arthritis treatment. Aerobic exercises, especially water aerobics are used to treat arthritis. Overweight patients need to lose weight. Weight loss helps lower the pressure on the knees. The patients should consult a physician to know which foods to avoid and which to include in their regular diet. A specially designed arthritis diet helps manage the disease. Anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers help ease the pain and swelling.

People usually tend to ignore knee pain or difficulty in knee movement. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment help prevent worsening of the situation. If you are experiencing stiffness and pain in a knee, you should consult your physician as soon as possible. Following the instructions of the physician can help slow the advancing disease. Simple dietary and lifestyle changes, prompt medication, use of supplements, and regular exercise help control knee arthritis.

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Symptoms of Seronegative Arthritis

Arthritis is a general term that is used with reference to joint disorders that are characterized by inflammation of one or more joints. Stiffness of joints, swelling, pain and reduced joint mobility are some of the common symptoms of arthritis. There are various types of arthritis, and symptoms of each of these subtypes vary depending on the location or spread of inflammation. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common types of arthritis. While osteoarthritis is associated with the age-related degeneration of protective cartilage in joints, rheumatoid arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis that occurs when antibodies start targeting the joints.

While doctors can observe the impact of the disease through a physical examination, blood tests such as complete blood count, C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor are often conducted in order to ascertain the type of arthritis the patients may be suffering from. Rheumatoid factor is an autoantibody that is commonly present in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, which is why, testing one for rheumatoid factor helps in the differential diagnosis of arthritis. While a majority of people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis test positive for rheumatoid factor, some people may test negative. Such people are diagnosed with seronegative arthritis. In this article, we will find out about seronegative arthritis symptoms and treatment.

Seronegative Arthritis

Causes and Types

Besides osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation of joints is also a characteristic feature of conditions such as gout, septic arthritis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and Still's disease. Rheumatoid factor test is one of the tests that is conducted when the patient seems to be exhibiting signs of arthritis. This test helps doctors to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis or assess the patient's chances of developing it at a later stage. However, testing negative for rheumatoid factor does not mean that one can never suffer from an arthritis condition. As mentioned earlier, a person is diagnosed with seronegative arthritis if the signs of inflammation of joints are present, even when one tests negative for the rheumatoid factor. It is believed that autoimmune responses or genetic predisposition may be the underlying cause of this arthritic condition. Conditions such as ankylosing arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis and inflammatory bowel conditions that are associated with this type of arthritis.

These conditions may occur as a result of production of autoantibodies. Autoantibodies are antibodies that target the body's cells or tissues instead of the pathogens or foreign invaders. Such autoimmune responses could be triggered by certain pathogenic infections. For instance, reactive arthritis, which is also referred to as Reiter's syndrome, is an autoimmune arthritic disease that is believed to be triggered by a bacterial infection. Ankylosing spondylitis is another seronegative arthritic condition, which is characterized by the inflammation of the bones and intervertebral discs in the spine. This condition may also cause inflammation of the sacroiliac joints. Those who are born with HLA-B27 protein are believed to be at an increased risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis as well as reactive arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is another condition that is characterized by the inflamed skin and joints. Genetic predisposition or environmental factors may play a role in the development of this ailment. Sometimes, inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis may also coexist with arthritis.

Symptoms and Treatment

The symptoms of seronegative arthritis would depend on the arthritic condition one may be suffering from. While joint pain and stiffness are characteristic signs of arthritis, each of these conditions may affect different joints. For instance, a person suffering from ankylosing spondylitis would suffer from lower back pain due to the inflammation of the spinal bones and sacroiliac joints. There is a risk of spinal bones fusing together, leading to a spinal deformity and reduced mobility. On the other hand, psoriatic arthritis, gives rise to sausage-like swelling on finger and/or toes. There are various types of psoriatic arthritis wherein joints located in different parts of the body may get inflamed. Inflammation of joints is also accompanied by inflammation on various parts of the skin such as the fingertips, nails, scalp, knees, elbows or the genital region. Reactive arthritis is another seronegative arthritic condition wherein swelling, pain and stiffness in the large joints may be accompanied by inflammatory eye problems and urogenital conditions.

Since all the forms of arthritis are characterized by inflamed joints, arthritis treatment is mainly aimed at reducing the inflammation. The treatment of seronegative arthritis also involves the use of anti-inflammatory drugs for reducing inflammation and improving joint mobility. Drug therapy certainly helps in alleviating the early symptoms of arthritis. Treating the underlying condition would also help in alleviating the symptoms to a great extent. Drug therapy may also involve the use of pain relievers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immune-modifying drugs, antibiotics, or drugs for treating specific pathogenic infections. Since inflammation of joints affects joint mobility, physical therapy may also be recommended by the doctors. Other alternative healing therapies such as massage, acupuncture or yoga may also prove beneficial in preserving the range of motion of the affected joint.

Arthritis is a debilitating disease, that can cause severe discomfort, and affect one's ability to perform simple activities. However, the symptoms of this inflammatory disease can be successfully managed, if it is diagnosed and treated in the early stages. Arthritis can strike at an early age, therefore, young adults or elderly people who have begun to experience joint pain or other symptoms of arthritis, must get a thorough medical checkup done at the earliest.

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Arthritis Alternative Treatment

If the right arthritis treatment options are utilized, dealing with arthritis is not a problem. Although your health care professional is the best judge of your problem, it is important that you are also well aware about the various treatment methods for arthritis which are now available. When a patient is to be treated for arthritis, a few things are taken into consideration, like lifestyle, health, needs of the patient, etc. The aim of this treatment is to manage the pain and improve functioning of the affected part. Now, let us turn our attention to treatment options for arthritis.

Treatment Options for Arthritis

• Exercise
  
  According to a research that was carried out, exercises have proved to be very beneficial to treat arthritis, especially osteoarthritis. It is seen, that exercise helps in reducing pain, increasing flexibility, maintaining weight, improving blood flow to all parts of the body. They act like a mood stabilizer and promotes general fitness too. Exercises can be used to extend the range of movements which is restricted due to arthritis, keep the extremities of the body strong and also reduce weight. There are many different types of exercises, which can become a part of your schedule. Some of them are yoga exercises, water exercises, strength training with exercise band, walking exercise, etc. Talk to your health care professional before you start any of the exercise programs. He will be in a better position to prescribe the right kind of exercises for you. Your doctor may also prescribe some therapeutic exercises.

• Rest
  
  Are you aware that if you do not take adequate rest, your arthritis problem can aggravate? You have to make sure you do not overexert yourself. This will help in reducing the pain caused by overexertion. There are stress management and relaxation techniques, which can prove to be beneficial to you.

• Medication
  
  Medication is one of the options used for treating osteoarthritis as well as rheumatoid arthritis. These medications are prescribed to reduce the pain and inflammation in mild to moderate cases of arthritis. Often, the health care professionals prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to deal with such patients. If the patient has severe case of arthritis, corticosteroids are prescribed. They help in relieving the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. In some cases, injections of these steroids may also be given in the joints, the effects of which can be temporary or even long-lasting. If the arthritis is as a result of problem with the immune system, drugs which act on the immune system are given.

• Surgery
  
  It is usually the last treatment resort, in case of arthritis. If the damage caused to the joint is severe and none of the treatments are giving the desired results, the doctor may recommend surgery. There are different surgery options, which can be recommended like, removal of the inflamed lining of the joint, releasing of the trapped nerves, fusing of joints, etc. For treating arthritis of the knee joint, there are many choices which can be utilized. These days, there are a number of patients who do not want to go in for a knee replacement and hence look for knee replacement alternatives.

• Splints and Braces
  
  Splints and braces help in keeping the joints in the appropriate position and in relieving the pain. There are splints for the knee, fingers, wrist, etc. The splints can either be made of plastic or cast material.

• Weight Loss
  
  If you read any manual, which contains information on treatment methods for arthritis, you will find that weight loss is said to be one of the main treatment options. Often, the condition aggravates due to obesity. After talking to your doctor, you will have to decide, which is the apt exercise for your condition, that can help you in weight loss.

Of all the treatment options, I feel exercise is the option which is the cheapest and also the one with least side effects. However, when you exercise, make sure you do not overdo and cause more harm to your condition. Before you try any of the treatment methods, make sure you have spoken to your doctor. After a go ahead from your doctor should you start with the treatment. All the best!

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Arthritis Pain Relief

Conventional relief for arthritis pain often involves the use of nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs however these have unwanted side effects such as stomach pains. Fortunately, there are good natural alternatives.

The main cause of arthritis is due to untreated injuries exacerbated by an acid diet.

The first task is to adopt an acid alkaline diet to prevent further damage The latest Russian scenar treatment administered at home or by a qualified therapist is very effective in treating all types of arthritis pain. Meditation gives more pain relief than pain relieving drugs such as morphine.

arthritis pain relief using other natural remedies

Traditional Chinese acupuncture as practiced at the lake district pain management clinic

Capsaicin ointments and creams

Capsaicin is available at pharmacies or health stores, and is helpful for acute problems such as an an arthritis flare up.

For arthritis try capsaicin cream one to four times daily for an analgesic effect.

Zyflamend or InflaThera

These contain ginger, turmeric, and basil which have anti inflammatory properties and can ease inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Arnica and aurum

Homeopathic arnica and aurum can be used in cojunction to ice, herbs, or conventional pain medication.

Aquamin

This is a red seaweed supplement that is rich in magnesium and calcium and can reduce joint inflammation in osteoarthritis.

SAM-e

SAM-e is made from natural amino acids it can reduce inflammation in osteoarthritis and increases feel good brain chemicals dopamine and serotonin.

Fish oils

Can help relieve and cure joint pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia and bursitis, try 2000 to 4000 mg daily for rheumatoid arthritis.

Methylsulfonyl-methane

MSM can prevent joint and cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis and back or elbow problems and works better when combined with glucosamine.

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