General Signs of Joint Deformity
Joints most likely to become deformed include those in the fingers, hands, hips, knees, toes, lower back, and neck. Here are some common signs of joint deformity.
- You may or may not experience pain in the affected joint. If you do have pain, it is likely to diminish if you rest the affected area. Pain may result from stretching and swelling of the tissues surrounding your joint as cartilage within the joint does not contain nerve endings.
- If you have widespread joint deformities, your posture, coordination, and mobility may be impaired.
- Your symptoms may be worse in humid environments. The old tales that people tell about being able to predict when a storm is coming by their joint pains are true. Your joints may be painful in the presence of wet weather.
- You may feel or hear grating when you move affected joints.
- If joint damage is advanced, you may see the deformity. Your joint may become partially dislocated and the bone may thicken and be irregularly shaped.
Red, Painful, Swollen Lumps on Fingers
Check with your health care provider for a diagnosis if you have red, swollen lumps on your fingers, but hey are likely to be nodules. Nodules commonly develop in the joints which are closest to the tips of fingers. Some nodules affect the finger joints are closest to the hand; but they are less common.
Typical symptoms of both types of nodules include achiness, redness, swelling, and tenderness. Women are more likely than men to develop them. They tend to run in families. Nodules are made out of bone.
While they may not decrease your ability to use your fingers, they are unattractive. It is common for nodules to occur in several fingers. Unfortunately, they do not seem to be preventable. Treatments are aimed at promoting comfort.
Changes in Hips
Osteoarthritis of the hip and its resulting deformities results in a serious condition that may require joint replacement. It may occur due to congenital malformation or obesity. One or both hips may be affected.
Men are more likely to suffer from deformities of the hips than women are. You may or may not experience pain in your hip. Pain may arise in your knee, inside of your thigh, or groin.
As the deformity worsens, the pain and changes with the hip joint may become disabling. Pain may increase with movement. Rising from a chair may be particularly difficult. Over time the mobility of the joint may become very limited.