Hand and Finger RA | Arthritis Information

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful inflammatory disease that causes swelling, stiffness, joint destruction, and deformity. This autoimmune disease has an effect on the cells that coat and lubricate joints (synovial tissue).

Although osteoarthritis (the "wear and tear" arthritis") may affect one joint, such as hand arthritis or finger arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis usually happens symmetrically. For instance, RA may affect both wrists, both hands, both knees, and both ankles and feet.

What are the symptoms of hand and finger RA?

The wrist joints and the finger joints closest to the hand are common targets of hand RA. With hand and finger RA, you may feel the following:

Hand pain, finger pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Hand joints and finger joints that are warm and tender to the touch.
The same joints affected symmetrically (both wrists, fingers on both hands).
Finger joints that "creak" when moved; this is called crepitus.
Deformities in finger joints, particularly the middle joint.
Carpal tunnel symptoms such as numbness and tingling of the hands.

http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/guide/hand-and-finger-ra