It's hard to imagine a person's life without little helpers and employees - fingers. They carefully grab a cup of coffee, write tirelessly, do all the small and difficult work. Due to this high performance, the fingers are susceptible to a number of diseases. In order not to lead to irreversible pathological processes, it is necessary to know why the joints of the hands hurt and how they can be treated.
What is finger joint pain
The human musculoskeletal system consists of more than 300 joints. The fingers of the hands contain the smallest and most mobile ones. The joints in the tips of the hands have a thin synovial membrane and a small joint surface, so they are often exposed to various diseases. Each finger consists of three joints (proximal phalanx, middle phalanx, distal phalanx) and three bones (proximal, middle, distal phalanx).
Pain can be caused by inflammation of the joints. Against the background of hypothermia of the hands, pain may occur, accompanied by cyanosis of the skin, which turns red. Paroxysmal pain occurs as a result of injury or compression of the wrist joint. Acute and cutting sensations accompanied by a sensation of electric current passing through the fingers may indicate cervical osteochondrosis.
The duration of symptoms depends on the cause of the disease. The more they ignore the pain syndromes in their hands, the more disturbed their motor activity becomes. If the first signs of developing diseases of the fingers are not treated, a person may be allowed to have irreversible deformation of the joints in which they are disabled.
The Most Dangerous Complications:
- necrosis of bone tissue;
- osteomyelitis (purulent-necrotic process developing in the bone);
- osteolysis (complete resorption of bone tissue elements);
- generalized sepsis (purulent infection.
Why do fingers hurt
As a rule, pain in the joints of the upper extremities is a sign of the development of hand diseases. Often such symptoms are manifestations of diseases of other organs. Pain in the phalanx is a sign of cervical osteochondrosis, cardiovascular disease and peripheral nerve pathology. If the joints of the fingers are sore, it is important to quickly determine the cause in order to identify possible risk factors for human health.
bending
The following conditions can cause painful joints when bending the phalanges:
- Compression of the spinal nerves. Nerve roots extending from the spinal cord occur when squeezing hernias, cartilage, tumors, spasmodic muscles, tendons, or other vertebrae.
- Osteoarthritis. Degeneration of joint cartilage and the development of osteophytes in the bones, which leads to impaired mobility.
- Tunnel Syndrome. There is compression of the middle nerve, which protects the nerve fibers from compression and passes from the carpal tunnel into the palm. Later it can cause tendovaginitis - an inflammatory disease of the tendons and tendon sheaths;
- Ligament stenosis. It is characterized by obstruction of the phalanges in an elongated or bent position. More often the pain in the thumb of the hand hurts. Refers to diseases of the pathological tendon-garden apparatus.
- Rhizarthrosis. Deformation of the cartilage plates in the articular joint of the thumb occurs after injury or excessive stress.
- Vibration disease. An occupational disease that occurs when working with a vibrating tool.
Finger joints are swollen and painful
Both elderly patients and young people face the problem of edema. Sometimes the fingers swell due to fluid retention in the body, but if they are also damaged, it may indicate pathological changes in the bone joints.
The reasons for this situation can be:
- open wounds, abrasions, cuts;
- fractures, dislocations, injuries;
- insect bites;
- radial nerve neuropathy;
- heart and / or kidney pathology;
- fibromyalgia (muscle and joint pain);
- polycythemia (abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood);
- bursitis (inflammation of the joint capsule);
- osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue);
- chronic arthritis of various origins (rheumatoid, gout, septic, neglected, purulent and others).
Morning
Any disease in the finger joints manifests itself in the morning pain. To prevent the development of pathology, it is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis and undergo an appropriate examination. More and more fingers ache in the morning with arthritis of various origins. The disease can not be contagious, but manifests itself due to disorders of the immune system.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the articular cartilage of the index finger, where small seals appear, is more painful. With this pathology, symmetrical damage to the joints of both hands can also develop. Infectious arthritis affects several fingers at the same time and develops under the influence of viruses or bacteria. In addition to pain, there is an increase in body temperature in the morning, intoxication of the whole body. The phalanges ache in the morning and with psoriatic arthritis, gout and osteoarthritis.
In addition to morning pain, the latter disease is characterized by stiffness and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is more common in middle-aged women because its development is associated with fluctuations in estrogen levels. Gout may be accompanied by unbearable paroxysmal pain in the morning or at night, redness and swelling of the joint.
Acute pain
Narrowing of the wrist ligament is accompanied by burning pain in all fingers except the little finger. Burning and numbness are felt not only on the tips of the hands, but also along the entire length of the palm. Symptoms worsen at night and get better during the day. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is also accompanied by sharp pain in the joints of the extremities, but the numbness is visible only on the little finger.
Panaritium (purulent inflammation of the tissues of the hand) can also cause such a symptom. The disease is caused by an infectious infection. The pain is sharp, twitching and gradually intensifies, especially at night. The phalanges swell, turn red, it is very painful to touch, and the body temperature often rises. Panaritium requires urgent medical attention, otherwise a person can not avoid serious complications.
In Raynaud's syndrome, first there is a cold and spasm in the arteries, and then there is a sharp pain that swells and bruises on the human fingers due to impaired blood flow. In the third stage of the disease, when blood flow improves, this symptomatology disappears. A painful attack lasts from a few minutes to half an hour. Raynaud's disease is a consequence of atherosclerosis of the extremities, so it should be treated first.
During pregnancy
Why do finger joints hurt during pregnancy and after birth? Gynecologists know this for sure.
Swelling of the limbs while carrying a child indicates the following pathologies:
- presence of joint diseases;
- Increased levels of relaxin, a hormone responsible for softening ligaments;
- seizure of the middle nerve;
- calcium deficiency in the body;
- Fibromyalgia due to depression.
Painful feelings can pass quickly and sometimes get worse every day. This often occurs in the 35th week of pregnancy, which is associated with rapid weight gain, which causes compression of the nerve trunks that connect the hand to the arm.
The problem is that a woman suffers not only from joint pain, but also from other symptoms:
- burning, itching of the palms;
- sudden sharp pain in the wrist;
- Harmony of upper limbs.
After sports
The appearance of painful symptoms in the hands after any physical activity is a clear sign of vascular disease. Painful sensations are accompanied by joint numbness, cramps and rapid hand fatigue. The skin becomes pale and cold, the hairline becomes thinner, the nail plates thicken. The pathology becomes chronic over time, as a result of which it is impossible to feel the pulse in the radial artery, the lumen of the vessels narrows, the blood flow to the extremities is disturbed. The pain is persistent and reappears with slight force.
As a person gets older, the cartilage becomes thinner, more fragile, and a crisis is heard as it moves. If the pain in the hands occurs after physical exertion, this symptomatology may indicate developing polyosteoarthritis. The disease is characterized by destructive changes in painful joints when the fingers are used or before the weather changes. It is difficult for a person to straighten and bend a brush. Pain syndrome is reduced when manual labor is excluded.
Diagnostics
Early diagnosis will help to eliminate the symptoms of joint diseases and completely recover. Only an experienced specialist (neurologist, surgeon, traumatologist) can accurately determine the cause of these symptoms. The diagnosis is made based on the results of examinations and the patient's history. When collecting information, the nature of the complaints, the time of onset of the first pain, the presence of joint pathologies in a close relative are revealed. Family tendencies play an important role in the development of arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Research needed for pain complaints in the joints of the extremities:
- radiography;
- ultrasound examination;
- computed tomography;
- electrospondylography (computer diagnostics of the spine);
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- contradictory discography;
- blood and synovial fluid tests;
- puncture (injection of a drug into the drug cavity);
- skin biopsy.
Treatment
Therapeutic tactics are determined by the type of pathology, the severity of symptoms, the dynamics of the inflammatory process and the characteristics of the clinical course of the disease. When prescribing drug treatment, it is taken into account that the patient has a high sensitivity to the active components of the drug. Complex treatment includes the appointment of chondroprotectors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticosteroids.
In addition to medications, local massage and specially designed gymnastic exercises are also prescribed. An excellent therapeutic effect can be achieved with the help of acupuncture and other physiotherapy procedures.
The basic rules should be set for diet table 10:
- reduction of salt intake;
- once a week fasting days for vegetables and dairy products;
- Tomatoes, sorrel, spicy foods, diet without fatty meat.
In case of joint pain, doctors recommend a spa treatment. For each patient, doctors choose an individual rehabilitation program that will be most effective in each specific situation. The sanatorium teaches healthy lifestyle skills, conducts therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy, massage. As a rule, after such treatment, the patient forgets about relapses of the disease for a long time.
Medication
When prescribing medication, two goals are sought: to alleviate the inflammatory process and relieve pain. Basically, doctors use cyclooxygenase inhibitors (NSAIDs) and prescribe steroids if the cause of the disease lies in autoimmune pathology. Antibiotics can be used for acute infections.
Topical medications (creams, ointments, gels) are prescribed to relieve symptoms quickly. The use of chondroprotectors with dystrophic lesions of the joint surfaces is recommended.
Massage
Medication alone is not enough for arthritis or osteoarthritis of the fingers. Specialists in the period of elimination of the disease recommend therapeutic massage courses with the number of sessions, which will be determined individually by the doctor. The procedure begins by kneading each part of the hand. If the patient does not feel severe pain, the effect on the affected joints begins in the first session.
The preparatory stage of the massage is to warm the arm in a spiral motion from the elbow to the fingers. The patient is in a sitting position, the hand is placed on the table, the bent elbow rests on the support and a roll is placed under the hand. After warming up, the specialist kneads each finger separately with stroking movements without affecting the joints. 2-3 approaches are made for the best effect.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy helps speed recovery, relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
Patients with severe pain in the fingers are advised to pay attention to the following methods:
- Electrophoresis. Treatment is based on deep subcutaneous injections of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. The procedure takes place under the influence of a constant electric current. The course of treatment is 10 procedures, each lasting 25 minutes.
- Ultrasound treatment. Tissue micromassage during the session uses ultrasonic vibrations with a frequency of 800-900 kHz. Ultrasound activates metabolic processes, removes excess uric acid, increases local immunity. Exposure time is 1-5 minutes depending on the zone. The session lasts 12-15 minutes. The course of treatment is 10-12 procedures.
- Microwave (microwave therapy). The treatment is based on the use of electromagnetic waves with a wave of up to 1 m. The effect is aimed at restoring the biological processes and functional systems of cell structures. Exposure time is 8-12 minutes. Number of sessions - from 2 to 12.
- Thermal procedures. Includes exposure of the affected joints to heat. Used in steam baths, with the addition of essential oils, salts or herbs. The duration of the course is 12-20 procedures, each lasting 15-20 minutes.
- Barotherapy. Treatment in a low or high pressure chamber helps to saturate the body with oxygen, which leads to faster recovery of muscles, tissues and joints. The duration of the procedure is 60 minutes. The full course consists of 22-25 sessions.
Folk remedies
Alternative treatment will help prevent the destruction of joint cartilage in the fingers.
The most popular definitions:
- Take a solid fermented milk product, mix it with pre-chopped oatmeal. Put the mixture on your painful fingers overnight, wrap it in a cloth;
- 500 g Kalanchoe pass through a meat grinder, pour 1 liter of vodka, leave for 5 days. Rub into painful joints daily after tincture;
- Mix 1 tablespoon. l. olive oil with a few drops of freshly squeezed garlic. Drink on an empty stomach in the morning
Prevention
In order not to suffer from inflammatory processes in the finger joints and not to treat osteoarthritis and arthritis for a long time, it is necessary to follow simple preventive measures:
- keep your hands warm;
- exclude alcohol, smoking;
- Include more fruits and vegetables in your daily menu;
- Do not tolerate colds in the legs;
- Eliminate the habit of "hitting" your fingers;
- Replace tea and coffee with herbal decoctions;
- Manage body weight.