Doctor, I Have a Lump on a Finger Joint... Could It be Arthritis?

Finger joint lumps and bumps can be disfiguring and a cause of great concern for the patient. Here are some potential causes.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, often affects the hands. When it does, it often causes local inflammation of the distal interphalangeal joints (DIP or last row) and proximal interphalangeal joints (PIP or next to last row). This inflammation causes the joints to swell and hurt. The lumps that form are called Heberden