Osteoarthritis Community

every winter for the past four years i've noticed that my fingers will swell, particularly at the joints, and stiffen considerably. there really is no pain to speak of, but the condition is rather annoying as i am a mechanic and rely on my hands being able to function properly. the condition first appeared when living in Colorado right into the beginning of fall and 30-degree mornings. at the time i stocked groceries overnite which meant tearing open cardboard boxes with my bare hands over and over again. my thought was that the combination of the cold and strain on the hands was the issue but it continued after moving back to Texas and mild winters (albeit not near as bad). i called the condition 'sausage fingers' because my fingers literally swelled to puffy sausage-like digits. now i am living in Connecticut and this is my first real winter and with it the sausage fingers have returned in earnest. i can't easily close my fist anymore and there is a good amount of stiffness in my fingers particularly in the middle joint of my ring fingers on both hands. i have noticed the back of my hands swell a little too. that and my hands get cold easily in certain indoor locations. anyhow, i think i have some type of arthritis which is discouraging considering that i'm only 31 and make my living with my hands. i've read that a drug/supplement(?) called, 'Flexcerin' may help. does anyone have thoughts on Flexcerin or any other suggestions? thank you.