It is difficult to imagine a person's life without little helpers and workers - fingers. They carefully hold a cup of coffee, write tirelessly, do all the small and difficult work. Due to this high performance, the fingers are subject to a number of diseases. In order not to take pathological processes to irreversible consequences, it is necessary to know why the joints in the hands hurt, how they can be cured.
What is pain in the joints of the fingers
The human musculoskeletal system contains more than 300 joints. The fingers of the hands contain the smallest and most movable. The joints at the ends of the hands have a thin synovial membrane and a small joint surface, so they are often exposed to various diseases. Each finger of the hand consists of three joints (proximal phalanx, middle phalanx, distal interphalangeal) and three bones (proximal, middle and distal phalanx).
Pain can be caused by inflammation of the joints. In the context of hypothermia of the hands, pain may occur, accompanied by cyanosis of the skin, which later turns into redness. As a result of injury or compression of the wrist joint, paroxysmal pain occurs. Sharp and sharp 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 time to ignore hand pain syndromes, the more your motor activity is disturbed. If the first signs of developing finger disease are not treated, irreversible deformation of the joints can be allowed, in which the person is disabled.
Most dangerous complications:
- necrosis of bone tissue;
- osteomyelitis (purulent-necrotic process that develops in the bone);
- osteolysis (complete resorption of bone tissue elements);
- generalized sepsis (purulent infection.
Why my fingers hurt
As a rule, pain in the joints of the upper extremities is a sign of the development of diseases in the hands. Often, these symptoms indicate manifestations of diseases of other organs. Pain in the phalanges is a sign of cervical osteochondrosis, coronary heart disease and pathologies of peripheral nerves. If your finger joints ache, it is important to quickly determine the cause to identify possible risk factors for human health.
Fold
The following conditions can cause pain in the joints when flexing the phalanges:
- Spinal nerve clamping. It occurs when the nerve roots that extend from the spinal cord compress hernias, cartilage, tumors, spasmodic muscles, tendons or other vertebrae.
- Osteoarthritis. Degeneration of the articular cartilage occurs and the development of osteophytes in the bones, which leads to impaired mobility.
- Tunnel syndrome. There is a compression of the median nerve, which passes to the palm of the hand through the carpal tunnel, which protects the nerve fibers from compression. Subsequently, it can lead to tendovaginitis - an inflammatory disease of the tendons and tendon sheaths;
- Stenosing ligamentitis. It is characterized by the blocking of the phalanges in an extended or folded position. Most often, the thumb joint in the hand hurts. Pathology refers to diseases of the tendon-ligament system.
- Rizarthrosis. Deformation of the cartilaginous plaques in the thumb joint occurs after injury or excessive stress.
- Vibrating motion sickness. An occupational disease that occurs when working with a vibrating instrument.
The finger joints are swollen and painful
Both elderly and young patients face the problem of swelling. Sometimes the fingers swell due to fluid retention in the body, but if they also hurt, it can indicate pathological changes in the bone joints.
The reasons for this condition can be as follows:
- open wounds, abrasions, cuts;
- fractures, dislocations, injuries;
- insect bites;
- neuropathy of the radial nerve;
- pathology of the heart and / or kidneys;
- 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, gouty, septic, neglected, purulent and others).
In the morning
Any disease of the finger joints is manifested by pain in the morning. In order to prevent the progression of the pathology, it is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis and, for that, to carry out an adequate examination. Most often, the fingers ache in the morning with arthritis of various origins. The disease may not be of an infectious nature, but it manifests itself due to disorders of the immune system.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the articular cartilage of the index fingers is more likely to hurt, in which small seals are visible. With this pathology, symmetrical joint injuries can also occur in both hands. Infectious arthritis affects several fingers at the same time and develops under the influence of viruses or bacteria. In addition to the pain, there is an increase in body temperature in the morning, intoxication of the whole body. Phalanges hurt in the morning and with psoriatic arthritis and with gout and with osteoarthritis.
The last disease, in addition to morning pains, is characterized by stiffness and stiffness. Most of the time, osteoarthritis is seen in middle-aged women, as its development is associated with fluctuations in estrogen levels. Gout can be identified by intolerable paroxysmal pain in the morning or at night, accompanied by redness and swelling of the joint.
Acute pain
Stenosing wrist ligamentitis is accompanied by burning pain in all fingers except the little finger. Burning and numbness are felt not only on the tips of the hand, but also along the entire length of the palm. Symptoms worsen at night and improve during the day. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is also accompanied by acute pain in the joints of the limbs, but numbness appears only on the little finger.
Panaritium (purulent inflammation of the tissues of the hand) can also cause this symptom. The disease arises as a result of an infectious infection. The pain is acute, spasmodic and intensifies gradually, especially at night. The phalanxes swell, turn red, touching them is very painful and the body temperature often increases. Panaritium requires immediate medical attention, otherwise the person cannot avoid serious complications.
In Raynaud's syndrome, at first, there is a cold and spasm in the vessels, and then, due to impaired blood flow, the person feels a sharp pain in the fingers, which swell and turn blue. In the third stage of the disease, when blood flow improves, this symptom disappears. A painful attack lasts from several minutes to half an hour. Raynaud's disease is a consequence of atherosclerosis of the extremities, so it must be treated first.
During pregnancy
Why do my finger joints hurt during pregnancy and after giving birth? Gynecologists know for sure.
When the limbs are swollen during the transport of a child, this indicates the following pathologies:
- presence of joint diseases;
- increased level of relaxin, a hormone responsible for the softening of ligaments;
- compression of the median nerve;
- lack of calcium in the body;
- Fibromyalgia due to depression.
Painful sensations can pass quickly and sometimes get worse every day. This usually 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 the woman is plagued not only by joint pain, but also by other symptoms:
- burning, itchy palms;
- sharp and sudden pain in the forearm;
- numbness of the upper limbs.
After exercise
The appearance of painful symptoms in the hands after any physical activity is a clear sign of vascular disease. Painful sensations are accompanied by numbness in the joints, cramps and rapid hand fatigue. The skin is pale and cold, the hairline is thinner, the nails are thicker. The pathology takes on a chronic form over time, as a result of which it becomes impossible to feel the pulse in the radial artery, the light of the vessels narrows, the blood flow of the extremities is disturbed. The pain becomes constant and reappears, even with small efforts.
As a person ages, the cartilage becomes thinner, more fragile and a crackling sound is heard as it moves. If pain in the hands appears after physical exertion, this symptom may indicate the development of poliosteoarthritis. The disease is characterized by destructive changes in joints that hurt when fingers are used or before climate change. It is difficult for a person to straighten and bend the brush. The pain syndrome decreases when manual labor is excluded.
Diagnosis
Early diagnosis will help to remove symptoms of joint disease and to heal completely. Only an experienced specialist (neuropathologist, surgeon, traumatologist) can accurately determine the cause of this symptom. The diagnosis is made based on the test results and the patient's history. In the collection of information, the nature of the complaints is determined, the moment of the appearance of the first pains, the presence of joint pathologies in the closest relatives. The predisposition of the family in the development of arthritis and osteoarthritis plays an important role.
Research required for complaints of pain in the joints of the extremities:
- radiography
- ;
- ultrasound examination;
- computed tomography;
- electrospondylography (computerized diagnosis of the spine);
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- contrasting discography;
- blood and synovial fluid tests; puncture
- (injection of drug into the nodule cavity);
- skin biopsy.
Treatment
Therapeutic tactics are determined by the type of pathology, the severity of the symptoms, the dynamics of the inflammatory process and the peculiarities of the clinical course of the disease. When prescribing drug treatment, it is taken into account that the patient is hypersensitive to the active components of the drugs. Complex treatment involves the appointment of chondroprotectors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticosteroids.
In addition to medications, local massages and specially designed gymnastic exercises are prescribed. An excellent therapeutic effect can be achieved with the help of acupuncture and other types of physiotherapy procedures.
The diet table number 10 must receive the main rules of which:
- reducing salt intake;
- once a week fasting days for vegetables and dairy products;
- diet without tomatoes, sorrel, spicy foods, fatty meats.
In case of joint pain, doctors recommend a spa treatment. For each patient, doctors select an individual rehabilitation program that will be most effective in each specific case. The sanatorium teaches healthy lifestyle skills, performs therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy, massage. As a rule, after this treatment, the patient for a long time forgets the recurrences of the disease.
Medication
When prescribing medications, two objectives are pursued: the relief of the inflammatory process and the elimination of pain. Basically, doctors use cyclooxygenase inhibitors (NSAIDs) and, if the cause of the disease is an autoimmune pathology, then steroid drugs are prescribed. Antibiotics can be used for acute infections.
Topical medications (creams, ointments, gels) are prescribed to quickly relieve symptoms. In dystrophic lesions of joint surfaces, the use of chondroprotectors is recommended.
Massage
Medication alone is not enough for arthritis or osteoarthritis of the fingers. Specialists in the period of remission of the disease propose to take massage therapy courses, the number of sessions the doctor will determine individually. The procedure begins by kneading each section of the hand. If the patient does not experience severe pain, the effect on the affected joints begins as early as the first session.
The preparatory step of the massage is to warm the arm from the elbow to the fingers with spiral movements. The patient is seated, the hand is placed on the table, the flexed elbow rests on the support and a roller is placed under the hand. After heating, the specialist kneads each finger separately with stroking movements without affecting the joints. For the best effect, 2-3 approaches are made.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy helps to speed recovery, relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
Patients who experience severe pain in their fingers are advised to pay attention to the following techniques:
- Electrophoresis. Treatment is based on deep injections of anti-inflammatories and pain relievers under the skin. The procedure takes place under the influence of a constant electric current. The course of treatment is 10 procedures, 25 minutes each.
- Ultrasound therapy. During the session, tissue micromassage is performed using ultrasonic vibrations with a frequency of 800-900 kHz. Ultrasound activates metabolic processes, removes excess uric acid and increases local immunity. The exposure time is 1-5 minutes per zone. The session lasts 12-15 minutes. The course of treatment is 10-12 procedures.
- Microwaves (microwave therapy). The treatment is based on the use of electromagnetic waves with a wave of up to 1 m. The impact aims to restore biological processes and functional systems of cellular structures. The duration of the exposure is 8-12 minutes. The number of sessions - from 2 to 12.
- Thermal procedures. Includes exposure of the affected joints to heat. Steam baths are used with the addition of essential oils, salts or herbs. The duration of the course is 12-20 procedures, 15-20 minutes each.
- Barotherapy. The treatment in a pressure chamber with low or high pressure helps to saturate the body with oxygen, which makes muscles, tissues and joints recover faster. The duration of the procedure is 60 minutes. The full course includes 22 to 25 sessions.
Folk remedies
Alternative treatment will help prevent the destruction of the articular cartilage of the fingers.
Most popular recipes:
- Take a thick fermented milk product, mix with the oats, which must be pre-chopped. Leave the mixture on your aching fingers overnight, wrapped in a cloth;
- Pass 500 g of Kalanchoe through a meat grinder, pour 1 liter of vodka, leave for 5 days. After tincture, rub daily on painful joints;
- Mix 1 tbsp. me. olive oil with a few drops of freshly squeezed garlic. Drink in the morning on an empty stomach
Prevention
In order not to suffer inflammatory processes in the finger joints and not to treat arthrosis and arthritis for a long time, it is necessary to adhere to simple preventive measures:
- keep your hands warm;
- excludes alcohol, cigarettes;
- include more fruits and vegetables in the daily menu;
- does not tolerate colds in the legs;
- removes the habit of "clicking" with your fingers;
- replace tea and coffee with herbal decoctions;
- control body weight.