Pain between knuckles on top of hand. Pain in the finger joints is the most common symptom of arthritis. In common diseases known as rheumatoid arthritis, pain in the small joints of the fingers draws attention.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain between knuckles, near the fingers, which is a painful inflammation of tissue, such as cartilage, overlying the joint. The pain is relieved by stretching the joint and applying a medicine called interferon or steroids. Sometimes pain persists long after the symptoms subsides, as in rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, and its progression can also be accelerated by age, so watch for it as you get older.
When to see your doctor?
You should seek medical care if:
- Pain spreads or is constant, or it is severe.
- There is no physical reason for your pain, such as the normal wear and tear of aging.
Your pain is accompanied by:
- Restlessness
- Aching or tender points
- Lack of sleep or appetite
Possible medical or psychological complications such as:
- Lack of appetite
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Hemorrhagic shock
- Sudden death
What are the causes of rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis usually occurs in childhood or late adolescence, and it tends to run in families, so you are more likely to be affected by a specific gene defect or another cause of rheumatoid arthritis. There are several genetic mutations.
The most common causes of rheumatoid arthritis involve the gene GDF11 that is known as the FTO gene. If your risk of rheumatoid arthritis is high, you may carry a defective version of FTO in addition to another inherited gene or another mutation.
Some common causes of the FTO gene include:
Down syndrome and Down syndrome related diseases (TSRD)
— If your family has one copy of the defective gene for FTO and you have one other copy of the normal gene for the gene for FTO, you are at a higher risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis. If you also have a mutated version of the gene for FTO, it is possible that your mother was exposed to the gene in utero.
Rheumatoid factor
— If your father’s mother carried a defective copy of the gene for FTO, it is likely that she may have had the genetic condition Rheumatoid factor. This is likely to be inherited on her father’s side. You may be a carrier if your mother was exposed to the gene through birth.
Type 1 diabetes
— If you inherit the defective gene for FTO, you may have a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
Other genetic causes of rheumatoid arthritis
— Some conditions predispose an individual to rheumatoid arthritis.
You have a higher chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis if you:
- Are male
- Mention your sex to doctors
- Have a condition known as rheumatoid arthritis or another disorder that causes the joints to become inflamed
Complications of rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis may lead to other problems. Sometimes rheumatoid arthritis can go untreated and worsen in a person who is already compromised by other illnesses.
Other complications include:
Inflammatory arthritis
— Sometimes a portion of the tendon that connects the knee joints to the bone becomes inflamed. This condition is called medial or medial ligamentitis. Severe inflammation may require the use of an anesthetic.
Collateral ligamentitis
— Collateral ligamentitis often results when the cartilage below the kneecap becomes inflamed.
Scleroderma
— This disease is an inflammatory disease of the connective tissue between the joints. It can lead to the inflammation of the joint cartilage of the knee and joint cartilage of the hip. The inflammation can be especially severe when the joints are involved in activities like running or jumping or other activities requiring high strain.
