Discover Natural Remedies for Heberden's Nodes & Reduce Joint Discomfort

9. Symptoms

A Herbeden’s node is about the size of a pea. One finger may have a single node or multiple. Some people feel warmth or swelling at the joint before the node develops, a sign of inflammation caused by friction-induced rupture and a leak in the membrane lining the joint cavity.

Heberden’s nodes are sometimes, but not always, painful. Once the node has developed, the pain usually subsides or goes away altogether. Stiffness or numbness occurs in the fingers, causing a limited range of motion. The nodes may also interfere with nail growth, changing the surface shape.