Can swollen finger joints return to normal?
Whether thickened finger joints can recover depends on the underlying cause. If caused by trauma, recovery is generally possible; however, if due to long-term labor or conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, recovery may be difficult.
If the thickening of the finger joints is due to a short-term injury, recovery is usually possible following timely treatment and appropriate management. Local heat application, massage, and similar methods can promote blood circulation and reduce inflammation, aiding in joint recovery.
For physiological joint enlargement caused by long-term manual labor, complete recovery is more challenging. However, symptoms can often be relieved, and further progression prevented, by reducing excessive finger use and regularly performing hand massages. Additionally, when finger joint thickening is related to rheumatoid arthritis, complete recovery is also difficult. Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to synovial proliferation, cartilage damage, and bone destruction, resulting in joint deformity, swelling, and thickening. Although active treatment may improve symptoms to some extent, complete joint recovery is unlikely.
In daily life, it is important to protect the finger joints from injury and overexertion. One should also avoid prolonged repetitive finger movements and maintain proper sitting and sleeping postures.