Why do arthritic fingers hurt sometimes, but not always (even just once in a whi!

I'm no doctor, so I can't say with any certainty why this happens, and am able to speak only from experience.

I have both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, with my hands, fingers, and wrists being affected to varying degrees. I've noticed that in warm, dry weather, my hands rarely ache, or ache mainly towards the end of the day. During humid, wet, or cold weather, the pain is nearly constant. I've always surmised that dampness and/or falling barometric pressure plays a part in this, but I'm not entirely sure why that is. Perhaps lower air pressure allows for more inflammation.

At other times, increased activity causes my hands to swell and ache. Examples include paring and cutting apples for a pie, sewing, carrying something for a length of time, or something which may be too heavy, holding a book open to read, writing, etc.

There are also occasions where my hands ache because I have not been using them enough, and stiffness sets in. Or, I may have slept with my hands curled under me, held one position for too long, etc. On other occasions, they ache simply because I am experiencing a flare up of disease activity. As you can see, while some things will cause aching, at other times it just happens.

If you are experiencing arthritis symptoms and are not under a doctor's care, then I highly recommend you seek medical treatment. While over the counter creams, rubs, and pain relievers are helpful, there are alternate treatments available, and your doctor will discuss these with you.

Something you might wish to try is a paraffin wax spa for your hands. You simply dip your hands in melted wax, allow it to remain on your hands for several minutes, and enjoy the relief. Also beneficial are compression gloves or heated gloves to help in reducing pain, moist heat pads (my personal favorite) or soaking your hands in a basin of warm water. While I greatly dislike washing dishes, one benefit is that upon finishing, my hands are free of stiffness and pain.

I don't know that I've provided the answers you are looking for, but I hope this has helped. Best wishes.