Health Tip: Is Arthritis Affecting Your Hands?

(HealthDay News) -- Arthritis can affect the many small joints in the hands, making daily tasks difficult and painful.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons mentions these warning signs of hand arthritis:

• A dull or burning pain in the hands, particularly after gripping or grasping large or heavy objects.

• Stiffness and pain that often appears in the morning. Or, pain that interferes with daily activities, such as opening jars or bottles.

• Swelling of the hand's joints.

• Joints that feel warm to the touch, or cysts forming on the joints.

• A grating or grinding sensation in one or more joints, or a feeling of instability or looseness.