What is Osteoarthritis of the DIP and PIP Joints of the Finger?
Osteoarthritis is a fairly common disease that usually occurs in later life, much more commonly affecting women than men. Also called degenerative joint disease, it is a slowly progressive condition that may be hereditary or aggravated by injuries earlier in life. In women, it often develops within a few years of menopause, perhaps affecting the hands, feet, shoulders, or large weight-bearing joints of the body. Some people develop osteoarthritis in the bones of the neck. By the age of 70, nearly everyone has some degree of osteoarthritis, although only some people experience symptoms. When osteoarthritis develops in the joints of the fingers, the cartilage cushioning these joints begins to wear out. While everyone experiences wear and tear in their joints as they age, the development of osteoarthritis represents increased stress on these joints. There are usually changes in the appearance of the fingers, pain and tenderness in the specific joints, and a progressive loss of motion. Bon
