Heberden’s node is one of the more common signs of OA.  Though, It doesn’t usually develop during the acute stage – it usually develops during the chronic stage of OA.  Are you worried about you possibly having Herbenden’s nodes and want to know exactly what they are?  Well, A Herbenden’s node is a bony and knobby deformation at the end of the fingers, and was named after the famed British doctor William Heberden after he determined that it differered from gout tophi.  The nodes are caused by the formation of calcific spurs on the joints cartilage, and they usually form from repeated trama to the joints.

Herbenden’s nodes seem to be more common in women then men, and mostly develops while people are middle aged.  During the begining stages, it typically starts out with chronic swelling of the joints, or a painful attack of numbness, redness, and loss of ability.  The pain caused from this will eventually go away, but unfortunately, a permanent bony growth is left on the sufferer’s fingers.  The growth often skews the fingertips sideways.

Sometimes Herbenden’s nodes may also be accompanied with Bouchard’s nodes.  Bouchard’s nodes are a lot like Herbenden’s, but form in the PIP joints, or in more common terms, they middles of your fingers.  They are also associated with OA.