What are the symptoms of arthritis of the hand and wrist?
Dr. Schiffman says most patients with hand arthritis complain of pain, swelling and stiffness in the fingers. With osteoarthritis, bony nodules may develop at the middle and/or end joints of the finger. A deep, aching pain at the base of the thumb is typical of osteoarthritis of the basilar joint. It also may be characterized by a swelling and a bump at the base of the thumb where it joins the wrist. Grip and pinch strength may be diminished, causing difficulty with activities such as opening jars or turning keys. Pain, swelling, stiffness, and diminished strength are also seen with osteoarthritis of the wrist.
