What are the causes of chronic joint pain in my hands?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have had severe pain in my joints for the past 10 years. I am not under medication, nor did I do tests for this. What should I do to stop this pain? I am not able to even cut the veggies.

What tests should I do as I am 35 years old now? The joints are swollen, especially the small joints in my fingers in both hands. What will be the initial treatment that will be given to me?

Kindly suggest.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

It sounds like you are experiencing significant joint pain, especially in your fingers, and it is important to address this as soon as possible, especially since it has been going on for nearly 10 years now without any clear diagnosis or treatment, which can understandably be very frustrating and concerning.

Swelling in the small joints, especially if it is affecting both hands, is a common sign of inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or other forms of autoimmune arthritis. I will suggest you plan for:

Blood tests are required. It includes complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies, which help identify markers of inflammation and autoimmune disease.
X-rays or ultrasound, these imaging tests can help check for joint damage or inflammation. If your symptoms are caused by a condition like rheumatoid arthritis, early imaging might reveal signs of joint damage.
If your rheumatologist suspects other conditions like gout or infection, they may analyze fluid from your joints (joint fluid analysis). Once a diagnosis is made, treatment will depend on the specific condition identified. For rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune arthritis, typical initial treatments may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain and inflammation.
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like Methotrexate or biologic agents slow disease progression and prevent joint damage.
Corticosteroids are used to control flare-ups.
Physical therapy can improve joint mobility and strength, and help you manage daily tasks like cutting vegetables more easily, which you may already be finding difficult because of the hand pain.

In the meantime, lifestyle modifications like maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding repetitive motions, and gentle exercises (e.g., swimming) may help manage pain. Splints or braces for your hands could also help stabilize joints during activities. Please seek medical advice soon so that you can start with the right treatment plan and avoid further complications.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.