One of the two most common forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, affects the small joints of your wrists, hands and fingers, as well as your feet and ankles. Sacks of fluid called ‘bursae’ that allow the tendons to move over bone in the hands and feet can become inflamed, along with the tendons themselves.
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused when your body’s immune system attacks the joints in your hands and feet even though nothing is wrong. The cause of this reaction in your body is still unknown, but is believed to be either genetic or as a result of environmental or hormonal conditions on your nervous system. Symptoms will include pain in the joints along with swelling, stiffness, and/or redness. This will often occur on the knuckles and joints in the fingers and toes.