Arthritis bumps on your fingers can be painful and get in the way of your daily activities. These bumps are called Heberden’s nodes when they occur at the fingertips and Bouchard’s nodes when they appear at the joint in the middle of your finger.[1] These bumps are caused by bone growths from osteoarthritis, and while you can’t make them disappear completely, you can take steps to reduce your pain, swelling, and discomfort. We’ll show you how to alleviate inflammation in your hands and get relief from arthritis bumps in no time.

3

Over-the-counter pain medication

  1. Try taking a common pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These over-the-counter medications can help you reduce pain from arthritis bumps in your fingers.[5] Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) also can help you reduce swelling so you can keep your joints moving comfortably.[6]
    • Doctors recommend acetaminophen (like TYLENOL, Ofirmev, and Mapap) first over NSAIDs, because acetaminophen has fewer side effects.[7]
    • Ask your doctor about the proper dose for your pain management plan. A typical dose might be up to 4,000mg.[8]
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5

CBD oil

  1. Many people report that CBD oil helps them manage pain from arthritis. While you don’t have to worry about safety concerns with moderate CBD doses, studies are mixed on whether CBD oil is really effective.[11] You can try taking CBD oil orally, topically, or even using it as a spray, but talk to your doctor first. You’ll want to make sure CBD won’t interfere with other meds you’re taking.[12]
    • Create a treatment plan with your doctor, and start with a low dose, taken at night.
    • Only use CBD products that have a “Good Manufacturing Practices” (GMP) certification.
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6

Splints and gloves

  1. Wear a brace to support your finger joints and promote better alignment. Heberden’s nodes and Bouchard’s nodes are caused by irritation from cartilage wearing down, making bones rub together. Your joints deserve a break, and you can help them rest by wearing specially designed splints and arthritis gloves that you can pick up from your local drugstore or your doctor's office.[13] The short period of immobility can protect your joints moving in ways that further inflame your arthritis bumps.[14]
    • Talk to your doctor about the type of brace you should use, and how long you should wear it.
7

Supplements

  1. Try glucosamine, chondroitin, fish oil, SAM-e, or curcumin. If you’re looking for natural remedies for arthritis bumps, look no further! These popular supplements offer anti-inflammatory properties to soothe your joints.[15] However, you shouldn’t substitute a full arthritis treatment with supplements. Talk to your doctor before you start taking any of these to make sure they won’t interact with any medications you’re taking.[16]
    • Glucosamine and chondroitin are components of cartilage, and they might reduce pain and swelling when taken together. A typical dosage is 500mg, 3 times per day.[17]
    • Fish oil contains omega-3-fatty acids that support joint health. Buy a fish oil supplement that contains at least 1 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per dose.[18]
    • SAM-e (s-adenosyl-methionine) is an anti-inflammatory compound that naturally occurs in your body. A typical daily dose is 1,200 mg.
    • Curcumin is the active, anti-inflammatory compound in the spice turmeric. A typical daily dose is 1,500 mg.
    • Studies support glucosamine sulfate for pain relief in osteoarthritis of the knee, but more studies are needed to prove it’s effective on fingers.[19]
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8

Anti-inflammatory diet

  1. Start the Mediterranean diet to improve finger joint pain. The Mediterranean diet won’t just help reduce inflammation in your Heberden’s or Bouchard’s nodes, but it can also work to improve your overall health. Incorporate fish, nuts and seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, and whole grains into your diet to get plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and healthy fiber.[20]
    • Aim for 3–4 oz (85–113 g) of fish twice a week.
    • Try eating a handful of nuts daily.
    • Get 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily (about 1 cup or 110 g).
    • Eat 6 oz. (170 g) of whole grains daily.
9

Exercises and stretches

  1. Improve your finger joint function with easy movements. Exercises can strengthen the muscles around your joints so that you don’t lose finger mobility from your arthritis bumps.[21] A physical therapist can help make sure you’re performing the movements correctly, but you can practice stretching your hands at home. If you can, perform multiple repetitions of each exercise on each hand:[22]
    • Try to touch each fingertip to the tip of your thumb, one at a time.
    • Form a fist with your hand, then slowly relax it.
    • Try to bend your knuckles all at once, then slowly release them.
    • Bend your thumb across your palm, towards your pinky finger.
    • Stop if you feel any pain.
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11

Steroid injections

  1. Talk to your doctor about corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections. Steroid injections can provide short-term relief for 4 to 8 weeks in cases of severe pain from arthritis bumps. If you opt for injections, your symptoms might get worse for 24 hours after treatment, but after 48 hours, you’ll start feeling the improvement.[23]
    • Studies show these injections are quite effective at treating osteoarthritis in knees, but studies are mixed about how effective injections are for osteoarthritis in hands.
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12

Surgery

  1. Arthritis bumps rarely need surgery, except in severe cases. If arthritis bumps severely impact your mobility, you can talk to your doctor about joint replacements and joint fusions. Joint replacements help you maintain full joint function with the help of an implant. Joint fusions relieve pain but will cause a loss of mobility.[24]
    • Consider low light laser therapy (LLLT) to reduce your pain and improve your movement.[25] Just keep in mind studies haven’t definitely proven that this is effective for everyone.

Expert Q&A

  • Question
    Does the anti-inflammatory diet work to reduce arthritis symptoms?
    Siddharth Tambar, MD
    Siddharth Tambar, MD
    Board Certified Rheumatologist
    Dr. Siddharth Tambar, MD is a board certified rheumatologist at Chicago Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. With over 19 years of experience, Dr. Tambar specializes in Regenerative Medicine and Rheumatology, with a focus on platelet rich plasma and bone marrow derived stem cell treatments for arthritis, tendinitis, injuries, and back pain. Dr. Tambar holds a BA in Economics from State University of New York at Buffalo. He earned his MD from State University of New York at Syracuse. He completed his Internship, Residency in Internal Medicine, and his Rheumatology Fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr Tambar is board certified in both rheumatology and internal medicine. He also holds Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Diagnostic and Interventional certifications from the American College of Rheumatology and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.
    Siddharth Tambar, MD
    Board Certified Rheumatologist
    Expert Answer
    It's a very good question. I have seen people perform elimination diets to reduce certain food groups that may help reduce flare ups. Some people appear to have success with a diet heavy in plant-based foods. It looks like there's some benefit there. In terms of preventing the spread of the disease, there doesn't seem to be any good studies to support it. In general though, improving your diet is never a bad idea.
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About This Article

Siddharth Tambar, MD
Co-authored by:
Board Certified Rheumatologist
This article was co-authored by Siddharth Tambar, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Kira Jan. Dr. Siddharth Tambar, MD is a board certified rheumatologist at Chicago Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. With over 19 years of experience, Dr. Tambar specializes in Regenerative Medicine and Rheumatology, with a focus on platelet rich plasma and bone marrow derived stem cell treatments for arthritis, tendinitis, injuries, and back pain. Dr. Tambar holds a BA in Economics from State University of New York at Buffalo. He earned his MD from State University of New York at Syracuse. He completed his Internship, Residency in Internal Medicine, and his Rheumatology Fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr Tambar is board certified in both rheumatology and internal medicine. He also holds Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Diagnostic and Interventional certifications from the American College of Rheumatology and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. This article has been viewed 37,951 times.
5 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 9
Updated: March 14, 2022
Views: 37,951
Categories: Arthritis

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

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