What does rheumatoid arthritis feel like in hands?

For me, it is like this weird dull ache in my knuckles that makes typing on my laptop so frustrating. Sometimes there is this burning feeling, like my joints are hot from inside. I have to take frequent breaks during my college assignments because my grip just goes weak.

Beta, it starts with a lot of stiffness early in the morning, making it hard to fold your hands or hold a spoon. The finger joints swell up and look a bit red, and they hurt a lot if you press them. I always keep my hands warm with warm water in the morning, it helps a little.

In my case, it started with my middle knuckles feeling tender and puffy, like there was water trapped inside them. I could not squeeze my fingers into a tight fist at all. I am only sharing what I went through, so please consult a rheumatologist for your specific issue.

I already deal with joint pain from my PCOS inflammation, and when I asked about hand pain, my doctor said RA feels more like a symmetrical stiffness in both hands together. It is usually worst after resting for a while. Please do not self-diagnose though, get a simple blood test done to be absolutely sure.

Please do not ignore this if you are feeling a constant stiffness in the morning that lasts for hours. I kept thinking it was just weakness and delayed seeing a specialist, which only made my joint damage worse. Go to a good doctor immediately and get it checked.