Arthritis means an illness involving damage to the joints of the body. It is very painful as wearing away of joints make bones contact directly and every movement becomes unbearable. Among other types of the condition finger and thumb arthritis are the most frequent. There are three bones and three joints that constitute a finger and if arthritis has attacked them it can considerably complicate your daily life. There are differentiated two types of finger arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The former is responsible for rapid degeneration of joint cartilage; it is as well prone to influence the joints at the knuckles and joints at the base of the thumb. In the case of the latter the synovial membrane that lines the joints becomes inflamed causing a systemic degradation of the cartilage and anklyosis.

The symptoms of the condition are joint pain, swelling and stiffness of fingers. Lumps around the knuckles are also frequent in case of osteophytes development. Rheumatoid arthritis patients can suffer from deformities, or ulnar drifts. It is a condition when the affected finger tends to point sideways and not straight.

Anti-inflammatory medications are usually used for the treatment of the condition and also cortisone injections. But the latter can be recommended only by a doctor.

For the treatment of the condition occupational and physical therapy are used. This is non-operative treatment and it is designed to relieve pain. The therapy also presupposes a number of arthritic finger exercises. Arthritic water exercises are done to the affected part and are very useful and helpful.

Another treatment method is the fusion of joint bones where the individual bones are allowed to grow and fuse to become one. This method presupposes surgery and cannot guarantee that bones will not fuse completely. It is also fraught with the permanent loss of movement in these bones. In some cases joint replacement surgery can be required.

Arthritis can be helped a lot by maintaining a proper diet. All in all it is important to follow all the recommendations and take prescribed treatment in order to relieve and cure the condition.