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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Osteoarthritis In An Elderly Person

Posted on Sat, 11 Feb 2017

Question: Hello. My wife is 57, and she began experiencing osteoarthritis in her fingers about 12 years ago.
Could you explain why the painless distortions in her finger joints are exclusively the top joints beneath her nails on the pointing finger and pinky finger? Does the fact that it only affects those joints mean anything specific?
She also has some osteoarthritis in her lower spine and knees.
Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Heberden's nodes

Detailed Answer:
Hi there

Thanks for the query

She is having the distortion due to Heberden's nodes. These are firm to bony swellings that develop in Osteoarthritis at the joints close to the finger tips. It is a common finding in patients of Osteoarthritis.

Warm fomentation can be done to relieve any pain.

I hope I have answered your query.

I will be available to answer your follow up queries.

Regards,

Dr. Aashish Raghu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Aashish Raghu (1 hour later)

Thank you. Actually she has no pain or swelling, only finger above the joint is turned, mainly in those two fingers. In any case it has not affected any other finger joints except at that level on those two fingers on both hands. Is there a reason that it is limited mainly to them over the last 10 years?

Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Early changes in most used joints

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your reply.

Usually the nodes don't have any particular preference and can involve any of the joints nearest to the fingertips. In her case, it's possibly the most used joints which have been degenerating earlier.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj