I have arthritis, have had it for many years. Over the past three months or so I have had some increasing issues with the three middle fingers on each hand. It started with not being able to make a tight fist and has now advanced to my pointer, middle and ring fingers feeling like clubs. They are very hard to bend and also swollen. I know what arthritis feels like and this really doesn't "feel" like usual. I don't know if this is relevant or just some additional "fun", but just before all of this started I developed very coarse skin around the fingernails and now it is moving down each finger. The skin is more like callouses and they keep cracking and breaking the skin open. This skin issue is also effecting the thumb on my right hand. Lotion does nothing to relieve this. I use some Aquafor every night but that just gives me mild relief. Any ideas, or do you these things are related? I have a arthritis Doctors appointment for Feb. 17th, but this is driving me crazy.