How to Get Rid of Arthritis in Fingers: (What Actually Works)

If you’re wondering how to get rid of arthritis in your fingers, you’re not alone. Arthritis in the fingers can cause persistent discomfort and make daily tasks—like buttoning clothes, opening jars, or typing—much more difficult. Morning stiffness is especially common. While there isn’t a single “cure” for arthritis, there are many strategies to relieve pain, improve mobility, and protect joint health.

Understanding Arthritis in Your Fingers: What’s Happening?

Arthritis is generally defined as inflammation of the joints. The types that commonly impact fingers include:

• Osteoarthritis (OA): Often described as “wear and tear” arthritis, OA involves the breakdown of cartilage, affecting joints like DIP, PIP, and the base of the thumb.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): This autoimmune disease leads to symmetrical joint inflammation.
• Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA): Associated with psoriasis, it frequently causes ‘sausage fingers’ or dactylitis.
• Gout: Characterized by uric acid crystal buildup, it results in intense acute pain.

Signs of Early Arthritis in Hands Treatment

Recognizing the first signs of arthritis in your Hands/fingers is crucial for early intervention. Symptoms can include:

• Pain: Often a dull ache at first, which may become more persistent.
• Stiffness: Especially noticeable in the morning or after periods of inactivity.
• Swelling: Joints may appear puffy or enlarged.
• Tenderness: Discomfort upon touch or pressure.
• Reduced Range of Motion: Difficulty in fully bending or straightening fingers.
• Grinding or Clicking Sensations (Crepitus): These occur when bones rub against each other.
• Weakness: Impedes gripping or pinching.
• Warmth/Redness: Especially common in conditions like RA or gout.
• Numbness/Tingling: Can indicate RA due to nerve compression.

Medical Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis in Fingers: A Doctor’s Approach

Effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in fingers and other types starts with a professional diagnosis. Approaches include:

• Medications:
  • Topical NSAIDs (e.g., diclofenac gel): Recommended for hand OA (conditional) and often a good first step due to lower systemic side effects. Oral NSAIDs can help when appropriate.
  • Injections: Corticosteroid injections can give short-term relief for flares in selected joints.
  • RA/PsA therapies: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics reduce inflammation and prevent damage; used under clinician supervision.
• Therapy & supports:
  • Hand therapy + exercise: Improves motion, strength, and function; recent reviews show benefit for hand OA and thumb CMC OA.
  • Splints/orthoses: Strongly recommended for thumb CMC OA to reduce pain during activities; other hand joints have conditional support.
• Surgery (for severe cases)
  When pain and loss of function persist despite conservative care—especially at the thumb base—procedures like CMC arthroplasty or fusion may be considered.

How to Get Rid of Arthritis Bumps on Fingers Naturally

For those wondering how to get rid of arthritis bumps on fingers naturally, consider the following approaches:

1) Heat & cold
Warm water soaks, heating pads, or paraffin baths can relax stiff hands; ice helps after activity if joints feel hot or swollen. (Paraffin has randomized-trial support for short-term pain/function gains.)

2) 5–10 minutes of hand exercises daily
Gentle fist-open sequences, finger bends, thumb-to-fingertip “O”s, and opposition drills. A therapist can tailor a routine, which improves stiffness and function.

3) Joint protection & smart tools
Use jar openers, ergonomic pens, key turners; avoid tight pinch (especially with CMC OA). A short thumb spica brace during heavy tasks can help.

4) Medications—start with topical
For hand OA, try a topical NSAID first; escalate (or switch) with your clinician if relief is incomplete.

5) Lifestyle foundations
Heart-healthy, Mediterranean-style eating supports overall inflammation control; if gout is suspected, managing uric acid is key.

About “arthritis bumps.” Those firm knobby enlargements are Heberden’s (DIP) or Bouchard’s (PIP) nodes—bony changes from OA. Pain can improve, but the bumps often remain; the goal is comfort and hand function.

When to see a doctor urgently

• A suddenly red, hot, very painful joint (possible gout or infection).
• Morning stiffness lasting >60 minutes, or symmetric hand swelling (possible RA).
• Worsening pain, weakness, or loss of function despite home care. You may benefit from medications, injections, splints, and therapy.

How Arrae Health can help

We’ll confirm your arthritis type and build a plan that fits your life—topical/oral meds, targeted splints, hand therapy referrals, injections when appropriate, and a home program you can actually stick with. Book a visit or your Annual Wellness appointment to get started.

Read More: Managing Arthritis in Seniors: Identifying Symptoms and Finding the Right Treatment

FAQs

Q. Is there a cure for finger arthritis?

A) There’s no one-time cure, but many people get excellent control of pain and function with the right mix of therapies.

Q. Do splints really help?

A) Yes—especially for thumb CMC OA, where orthoses are strongly recommended to reduce pain during activities.

Q. Are heat treatments worth it?

A) For many, yes. Paraffin baths show short-term pain and function benefits in clinical trials; they’re a practical at-home option.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for education only and isn’t a substitute for personalized medical advice.