Fingers are the main tool with which we can perform various work functions. Therefore, it is not surprising that when the joints of the fingers hurt, it is difficult to perform their direct tasks or do their homework. Medical help is necessary when the first painful sensations appear, otherwise, at an advanced stage, serious consequences associated with the destruction of the joints are possible.
What to do if the joints of the fingers hurt? It is necessary to contact a rheumatologist for examination and treatment as soon as possible. Only after the specialist has established the true cause of the pain and clarified the diagnosis, he will be able to choose an effective treatment regimen and prescribe the necessary drugs.
Why do the joints of the fingers hurt - the main reasons
There are many reasons that can trigger joint pain. The factors provoking pathological changes in the joints are:
- the influence of the external environment (eg, prolonged hypothermia, physical injuries);
- occupational factor associated with a constant increase in stress on the joints;
- hormonal disorders;
- diseases of the immune and endocrine systems;
- hereditary factor;
- chronic infectious diseases.
The joints of the fingers often hurt during pregnancy, and this condition is caused by a lack of calcium, which manifests itself most strongly during this time. An increase in the production of the hormone relaxin (which negatively affects the condition of cartilage tissue), as well as a weakening of immunity associated with the restructuring of a woman's body during the period of gestation, also play arole.
In addition, experts identify a number of diseases that lead to deformation and destruction of the joints and are accompanied by a characteristic symptom - pain. These are pathologies such as:
- infectious arthritis;
- osteoarthritis;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- psoriatic arthritis; rhizarthrosis
- ;
- drop;
- stenosing ligamentitis.
Let us dwell on the symptoms of diseases that cause joint damage and talk about the methods of diagnosis and treatment of these pathologies.
Finger joints hurt - what diseases can we talk about
The causes of pain in the joints of the fingers are most likely associated with one of the following diseases:
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease associated with damage to the small joints of the arms and legs. The inflammatory process often affects the metacarpophalangeal joints of the middle finger and index finger. If your fingers are swollen and your joints hurt in the morning, it could be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.
With an exacerbation of the inflammatory process, the skin of the joints swells, turns red, becomes hot to the touch, and you can feel tight nodules underneath. The pains are so intense that a person cannot make a fist. Symmetrical damage to the joints of both hands is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. The main symptom of the disease is morning joint stiffness, accompanied by increased pain.
The pain usually goes away in the evening. The danger of the disease is that the diagnosis is usually made at later stages, when the cartilage tissue has already been destroyed. If your joints hurt and your fingers become numb, try not to postpone the visit to the doctor, otherwise a neglected inflammatory process will lead to deformation of the fingers and hands and lead to disability.
Psoriatic arthritis
This is one of the forms of psoriasis, when, in addition to skin manifestations, the distal (nail) joints of the phalanges of the fingers are involved in the inflammatory process. At the same time, a change in shape is observed, they swell, swell, do not unfold, the skin becomes red and inflamed, and the fingers themselves become like sausages.
If the finger joints of the right hand hurt (for example, index and little fingers), then by the way the finger joints of the left hand hurt, a preliminary diagnosis can be made byfull confidence. In psoriatic arthritis, the inflammatory process will be asymmetric, that is, the phalanges of the middle and ring fingers will be affected.
Infectious and septic arthritis
These diseases usually occur with severe pain in the joints and worsening of the general condition, which is manifested by fever, chills, fever, symptoms of intoxication of the body.
Inflammation of a joint of a viral or bacterial nature is often associated with injury to a joint, where infectious agents enter damaging the skin. But not uncommon and polyarthritis, when several joints are infected at once, in this case, the inflammatory symptoms become especially pronounced.
Osteoarthritis
This disease is not inflammatory in nature and manifests itself by deformity of the joints, their progressive thickening and limited mobility. If the finger joint hurts when bending, the fingers take the shape of a spindle with a characteristic thickening in the middle, this indicates the development of osteoarthritis.
The disease is typical of older people and is more often diagnosed in women after 40 years of age, which is associated with changes in hormone levels and the onset of menopause. In addition, occupational factors, metabolic disorders and a genetic predisposition can become the causes of osteoarthritis.
Drop
This disease is caused by metabolic disorders in which salts of uric acid are deposited in the joints. Most often, gout is diagnosed in men between the ages of 40 and 60, which is due to excessive consumption of fatty, spicy and salty foods, as well as addiction to alcohol.
The lesion mainly affects the toes, but with an atypical course of the disease, the metacarpophalangeal joints of the thumb in the hands may also be affected. The gout pains are burning, unbearable. They differ in intensity and are accompanied by swelling and redness of the skin on the affected joint area.
Stenosing ligamentitis
This pathological condition resembles osteoarthritis or arthritis. Therefore, an x-ray examination is necessary to clarify the diagnosis. The main symptoms are: pain when flexing and extending the fingers, sometimes the joint can get stuck in a bent state and some effort must be applied to extend it.
Therefore, if the middle finger joint of the hand hurts and characteristic clicks are heard when extending it, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. With an exacerbation of the inflammatory process, numbness of the fingers appears, a burning sensation, swelling, a bluish complexion in the affected area.
Rhizatrosis
If the joint of the thumb on the hand hurts, it may be a sign of this pathology. The disease is usually associated with constant overloading of the joint, penetrating infection or trauma. A common symptom is increased pain when performing certain actions, for example, turning door handles, turning a key in a lock, opening lids.
It is necessary to treat the disease as soon as possible, otherwise the joint will be deformed and the pain will become constant, chasing a person even at rest. Over time, bone growths form at the base of the thumb, which practically immobilizes the hand and leads to disability, as the slightest movement causes unbearable pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
This disorder is neurological in nature, as it develops as a result of compression of the median nerve passing through the wrist. This happens due to regular loads on the joints and ligaments in the hand. At risk are people who, because of their profession, are forced to work constantly with their fingers (stenographers, computer scientists, musicians, artists). The pain is usually localized in the area of the thumb and forefinger, and the precision of movements when performing certain actions is impaired. In addition, the compression of the nerve can lead to poor circulation and numbness in the fingers.
Pinching of the spinal nerves, bursitis, rheumatological pathologies, unhealthy lifestyle and other factors can lead to pain in the joints of the hands. It is important to pay attention to alarming symptoms in a timely manner and seek qualified help.
Which doctor will help you if your finger joints hurt?
At the initial stage, you can make an appointment with a therapist who, after taking a history, will refer you to a narrow specialist (doctor - rheumatologist). It is this specialist who deals with joint diseases, he will provide the necessary assistance and make a precise diagnosis.
In addition, you may need to see a surgeon or neurologist. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment, taking into account the cause of the joint damage, the severity of the symptoms, possible contraindications and the individual characteristics of the patient.
Diagnostics
Activities required for a correct diagnosis are visual examination, laboratory tests of blood, urine, and referral of the patient for an X-ray examination. An x-ray of the hands usually gives a necessary idea of the nature of the pathology and the degree of joint damage.
In order to get the most complete information about the nature of the pain and the causes of the inflammatory process, the doctor may refer the patient for ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These are the most modern and informative research methods that allow you to identify the slightest changes in the early stages of the disease and help prevent its further development and the serious consequences associated with the deformation and destruction of the joints.
Sometimes, if you suspect gout, a special blood test is done to check the level of uric acid. To identify pathological changes occurring in bone tissue, a contrast discography procedure is used using a special dye.
The most effective diagnostic method today is electrospondylography, which began to be used several years ago. This procedure allows you to examine the parts of the spine that are responsible for the functioning of the upper extremities and to identify pathological abnormalities in the early stages.
Processing methods
After the diagnosis has been made, the doctor will select a treatment regimen based on the causes of pathological changes in the joints. The principles of treatment, if the joints of the hands hurt, are based on the use of drugs, physiotherapeutic procedures, therapeutic exercises, adjustment of diet and lifestyle.
In the event of an inflammatory process, the doctor will prescribe analgesics, hormonal or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These can be systemic drugs (oral tablets) or external drugs in the form of ointments, creams, sprays, which help to quickly relieve pain. The doctor may prescribe hormonal agents in the form of injections into the joint cavity in case of severe pain. Such procedures quickly relieve the patient's condition and contribute to the transition of the disease to a state of remission. With infectious arthritis, antibacterial agents are prescribed.
The development of degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system is facilitated by a decrease in the level of chondroitin in the cartilaginous tissue of the joint. Therefore, patients are prescribed drugs - chondroprotectors, which can stop the further destruction of the joint and restore the structure of cartilage tissue.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy methods are an important aspect of complex treatment. These include electrophoresis with novocaine, UHF, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, amplipulse therapy, phonophoresis. The number of sessions and the duration of treatment are determined individually by the doctor.
Therapeutic exercises and massage are necessary to restore joint mobility, improve blood circulation and improve metabolic processes. During the periods of remission of the disease, the patient is recommended to follow sessions of balneotherapy (treatment with natural mud), manual therapy. A very good effect is provided by a spa treatment with a trip to favorable climatic zones.
In addition, the patient is advised to lead a healthy lifestyle, to stop drinking and smoking, and to adhere to certain dietary restrictions. It is advisable to completely exclude fatty meats and fish from the diet, to abandon dairy products and fermented dairy products with a high fat content. Smoked meats, spicy, salty, marinated dishes, seasonings, mayonnaise, citrus fruits, baked goods, strong tea and coffee are prohibited. Do not eat foods containing oxalic acid (rhubarb, sorrel, spinach).
The daily menu should include low-fat sour milk drinks, herbs, salad of fresh vegetables with vegetable oil, lean meat, seafood, low-fat fish. Fruits, berries, nuts, ginger, figs, natural vegetable oils high in omega fatty acids (especially flax seeds and olive oil) are useful. An increased drinking regimen is recommended up to 1. 5-2 liters of drinking water per day.
Alternative remedies
Today on the shelves of pharmacies you can find many innovative products designed to treat joint pain. The most suitable drug will be selected by a specialist.
Recipes of traditional medicine
Folk remedies for pain in the joints of the fingers will complement the main treatment regimen, provide relief and speed up recovery.
- In case of exacerbation of the inflammatory process, you can apply a gauze napkin dipped in apple cider or table vinegar to the painful joint. It will help reduce pain, relieve burning and swelling. You can make compresses from baked onions, boiled potatoes or heat with hot sea salt and rub with fir oil.
- Oven-baked onion ointment. The onion head is baked, cooled, chopped. The resulting mass is mixed with an equal amount of liquid honey and vegetable oil (1 teaspoon each), add 10 g of beeswax and 20 g of dry grass from the golden mustache. The composition is boiled in a water bath, with continuous stirring, until the mixture becomes homogeneous and thickens. The finished ointment is removed from the heat, slightly cooled. In a warm form, rub into the sore joints, put cotton gloves on top. The procedure is best performed at night.
- Honey mustard ointment. To prepare the ointment, mix 5 g mustard with 1 tbsp. honey, add a large spoonful of olive oil and 20 g of dry leaves of Caucasian hellebore. Then the mixture is evaporated in a water bath to a thick and homogeneous state, cooled and used for the daily treatment of diseased joints.
- Compresses. Compresses made from natural ingredients play a special role in relieving pain and inflammation. You can boil the potato tubers, crush them, wrap them in a gauze napkin and apply them to the affected area. The same therapeutic effect is possessed by common salt, preheated in a saucepan. Dry heat can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It is recommended to use regular chalk as a compress. It should be crushed, mixed with any fermented milk drink, soaked in a gauze napkin and made a compress overnight. For the same purpose, you can use steamed oatmeal.
- Tincture of lilac. Decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs have a good anti-inflammatory effect, improve blood circulation and restore mobility to the affected joints. Tincture is prepared in the spring as soon as the lilac blooms. Collect the inflorescences, fill them with alcohol or vodka and insist in a dark place for 3 weeks. The finished tincture is filtered and rubbed over the aching joints, after which gloves are put on to keep the hands warm.
There are many popular recipes for treating joint pain. For their use to be beneficial, be sure to consult your doctor first and get their approval for the procedure.