Health Tip: When Arthritis Affects the Hands

Signs that you may need treatment

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(HealthDay News) -- Arthritis in the hands can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks. While the condition can be managed with proper medical care, first you must recognize its common warning signs.

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The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers this list:

• Dull or burning pain in the fingers and hands, especially after you've been holding tightly to an object for an extended period.
• Swelling and warmth in and around the joints.
• A feeling of being able to move the joints less easily.
• A feeling that the joints in your hand are grinding together.
• A feeling that your joints are loose, or not as stable as they once were.
• Cysts, or small bumps that appear around the joints of the fingers.

-- Diana Kohnle