I am 38, female. Why am I having stiffness in the joints?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 38-year-old woman experiencing stiffness and pain in my hands and wrists that is worse in the morning and lasts for over an hour. Both sides of my body are affected equally, and the joints feel warm and swollen to the touch. I am also feeling unusually tired and have lost some weight recently, despite having a normal appetite. The pain and stiffness are making it difficult to open jars or button my clothes in the morning.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Based on the pattern of your joint symptoms, stiffness and swelling in the hands and wrists lasting more than an hour in the morning, affecting both sides symmetrically, along with warmth, fatigue, and unintentional weight loss, this picture is quite suggestive of an inflammatory arthritis, with rheumatoid arthritis being the most common cause in women your age.

Morning stiffness lasting over an hour and difficulty with fine motor tasks like opening jars and buttoning clothes typically indicate inflammation within the joints rather than simple wear-and-tear. The fact that multiple joints on both sides are involved, and that you are also experiencing systemic symptoms like fatigue and weight loss reinforces the need for a prompt assessment.

The next steps would involve blood tests to look for inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein) and autoantibodies, such as rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP). Imaging techniques like X-rays or ultrasound are also recommended to assess joint erosions.

Early diagnosis is particularly important in rheumatoid arthritis because starting disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) early can help control inflammation, relieve pain, and prevent long-term joint damage. In the meantime, gentle hand exercises and anti-inflammatory pain relievers may help with comfort, but I would recommend seeing a rheumatologist soon so we can confirm the diagnosis and start appropriate treatment to protect your joints and quality of life.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.