What should I do if my finger joints are swollen and painful?

Treatment of finger joint swelling and pain begins with identifying the underlying cause. Common causes generally fall into two major categories. One category involves aseptic inflammation of the finger joints resulting from osteoarthritis, rheumatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Such aseptic inflammation produces pain-inducing mediators, leading to swelling and pain in the finger joints.

For this etiology, treatment typically involves symptomatic oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), administered according to the dosage and instructions provided in the product labeling. Generally, after one week of consistent use, finger joint swelling and pain will significantly subside.

The other major cause of finger joint swelling and pain is purulent bacterial infection, resulting in suppurative finger joint arthritis. This condition can be treated with intravenous or oral antibiotics.