Everyone can experience joint discomfort and pain.The reasons why the joints of the fingers of the hands hurt, as well as the types of treatment of the diseases that cause this pain, can be very different.Lack of timely and proper treatment can lead to loss of mobility in the affected areas.Therefore, it is important to determine the cause of the problem and start therapy.
Pain when bending and straightening the fingers
Finger pain not only causes discomfort, but also impairs quality of life, making the simplest daily activities painful.It is most often manifested especially strongly after physical impact.
The main reasons for this phenomenon include the following:
- gout;
- bruises and fractures;
- arthritis;
- dislocation or violation of the integrity of the connections;
- Kienböck's disease;
- osteoarthritis;
- synovitis;
- psoriasis;
- lupus erythematosus;
- stenosing ligamentitis;
- tunnel syndrome;
- pregnancy and childbirth;
- exposure to prolonged physical activity.
Which doctor should I contact?
Finger joints hurt (the causes and treatment may be unexpected), so you should consult a specialist without trying to self-medicate.
Depending on the complexity and characteristics of the situation, you may need the help of the following doctors:
- rheumatologist.
- A neuropathologist.
- A surgeon.
- Hematologist.
- Traumatologist.
Diagnosis
There are several basic methods that allow you to make a diagnosis with great accuracy:
- Radiography.A study to help determine the presence of a disability.For the most complete picture, it is necessary to take three photos in different projections.The main disadvantage of this type of examination is the inability to evaluate the soft tissues of the hand.
- Ultrasound examination.It is prescribed as an auxiliary measure that helps establish a more accurate diagnosis.Thanks to ultrasound, it is possible to identify the consequences of injury and inflammation in soft tissues.
- Nuclear magnetic resonance.Widely used to diagnose a wide variety of diseases.Thanks to the use of MRI, it is possible to determine not only the exact location of the pathology, but also the degree of its development.
- Electrospondylography.This highly effective research method has only recently been used.Its main advantage is that it allows you to identify various limb diseases in the early stages.
- Computed tomography.It is performed to obtain a complete picture of the disease and to identify all changes in the joints and bone tissue.
- Contrast discography.It is regularly used to determine bone tissue pathologies using a special dye.
- Joint puncture.It is performed to collect fluid for analysis or to administer a drug.
- Skin biopsy.Taking a tissue sample for research is prescribed very rarely.This is done to confirm or rule out the diagnosis.
Gout pain
Finger joints hurt: only a specialist can determine the causes and treatment.Gout is a fairly rare disease, so it is not very difficult to diagnose.It mostly affects men, but nowadays women also experience it frequently.If the disease affects the hands, the thumbs usually become inflamed.
The joint swells, the finger becomes distinctly red, and the skin becomes hot to the touch.
Even a light touch to the affected area causes severe pain.This may last 3-4 days, after which the attack disappears completely.But after a while the pain reappears.Initially, the intervals between attacks are very long - from 1 to 8 months, but over time the picture of the disease changes.
The intervals become shorter and the attacks longer and more painful.If gout is not treated, the pain becomes constant.This disease leads to the gradual destruction of the articular cartilage and cavities filled with microscopic crystals of sodium urate are formed in the adjacent bones.
The disease is well treated and contact with a competent doctor will help to quickly reduce the pain.The main condition for successful recovery is compliance with the diet prescribed by a specialist.
In the acute form of the disease, NSAIDs or specially developed drugs based on the tropolone alkaloid are prescribed.Compresses with vodka are acceptable as a local treatment.Xanthine oxidase inhibitors are also used.
Some folk remedies can have a pronounced positive effect on this disease:
- Mustard compress with soda and honey.Mustard, honey and soda, taken in equal proportions, are thoroughly mixed and applied to the preheated joint.
- Lotions with activated charcoal.10 charcoal tablets are ground and mixed with water.The mixture is applied to the joint and left overnight under the film.
- Sea salt bath.For one liter of very warm water, take half a tablespoon of sea salt.Place your hand in the resulting bath and wait until the water cools completely.
For bruises and fractures
Finger joint injury is usually caused by sports or careless behavior at home.It is not always possible to find out on your own if there is a fracture, but there are some signs that you should pay attention to.
If the finger is bruised, mobility is preserved.A characteristic swelling appears, which may increase during the first day.The pain lasts for several hours, then subsides.If the injury is severe, a severe hematoma may occur.
If the injury turns out to be more serious and the integrity of the bones is broken, this can be detected by the inability to move the finger or, conversely, by its unnatural mobility.In addition, with a fracture, the pain in the damaged area does not decrease, but increases (this is due to the displacement of the damaged areas of the bones).
A traumatologist can detect a fracture with the naked eye, but to confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to take an X-ray.
In case of a bruise, the doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatory and pain relievers, as well as offer ointments for external use, which will relieve swelling and have a healing effect on the damaged tissue.
If there is no displacement during the fracture, a special fixator is applied.The period of wearing such retainers is approximately 1 month.If the bone fragments are displaced, they are first compared and then a cast is applied for 2-3 weeks.In advanced cases, operative intervention under general anesthesia and placement of metal wires is necessary.
After 1 month, they are removed and the cast is placed again for a period of up to 5 weeks.After removing the fixation devices, it is important to immediately begin to "develop" the finger through active movements.
If folk remedies are unacceptable for fractures, then for bruises, especially small ones, they can be very useful:
- To relieve swelling, you can apply a slice of fresh potato or potato peel to the bruised finger, wrap it with a bandage and leave it for several hours.
- Plantain juice, which is used as a lotion 2-3 times a day, will help get rid of the bruise faster.
- As an anti-inflammatory, you can use bodyaga powder diluted with water to form an ointment.
For dislocation and ligament damage
A dislocation or tear of connective tissue is always painful, with immediate onset of symptoms.Most often this happens with the thumb, which is explained by the structure of the joint.
Among the signs are:
- visible deformation of the joint;
- sharp pain;
- inability to bend the finger;
- swelling of the joint;
- pallor of the finger.
The doctor's actions include pain relief, moving the joint and applying a plaster cast for up to 2-3 weeks.Severe injuries may require surgery.
For arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joint.It can affect any joint, but arthritis of the fingers is particularly severe.This disease is much more common than arthrosis.
Normally, the function of natural joint lubrication of the joint is performed by a special fluid secreted by the synovial membrane.Thanks to it, the articular cartilage can receive nutrients.Arthritis is an inflammation of this membrane.As a result, the amount of the released fluid increases, its composition changes, and a serous, hemorrhagic or purulent exudate begins to be released.
The disease can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- traffic violation;
- pain;
- violation of the structure and deviation of the size of the joint from the norm;
- swelling and redness of the skin.
For the hands, the most typical is polyarthritis, in which the lesion affects several joints at once.But sometimes inflammation also develops in one joint - monoarthritis.There are cases where arthritis is accompanied by gout.Arthritis is treated with medication, physical therapy, and massage.
NSAIDs are used to suppress the inflammatory process.The use of steroid hormones that are injected into the joint cavity is also common.For the treatment of arthritis of an infectious nature, antibiotics, including broad-spectrum ones, are prescribed.Restoration of articular cartilage is ensured by taking chondroprotectors.
After the inflammation subsides, the specialist can prescribe physiotherapy and therapeutic massage.
The following folk remedies can be used as an auxiliary treatment aimed at reducing symptoms:
- baths with decoction of birch leaves;
- taking warm milk with garlic juice;
- Compresses from leaves of cabbage, burdock or subalpine.
With Kienböck's disease
The causes and treatment of diseases in which the joints of the fingers hurt, in some cases do not tolerate the slightest delay.For example, if we talk about Kienbeck's disease.It consists in disrupting the normal blood circulation of the lunate bone of the wrist and has an unpredictable course.
With this pathology, patients usually complain of pain in the wrist, which increases with physical exertion.MRI helps to make the most accurate diagnosis in this case.If it is possible to identify the disease at an early stage, a relatively low-traumatic operation is performed - shortening of the radius.
If the bone is already partially destroyed, it can be replaced with an artificial implant.Physiotherapy and conservative treatment do not help to deal with the disease, but they can help relieve the pain.
For osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a pathological condition that affects the joints of the fingers and leads to the breakdown of cartilage tissue and deformation of the joint.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the following manifestations:
- feeling of stiffness in the fingers in the morning;
- joint swelling, skin redness;
- the appearance of cysts;
- increasing pain as the disease progresses.
There is no complete cure, so therapy is usually aimed at minimizing inflammation, relieving pain, slowing deformity, and improving quality of life.Physiotherapy, exercise and a number of anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
The use of traditional methods will help alleviate the patient's condition:
- Oatmeal compresses;
- application of hot sea salt;
- onion compresses;
- baths with sage, string or chamomile.
For lupus erythematosus
Lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease.At the moment, the exact reasons for its development are not known, which complicates the treatment.The most common manifestation of the disease is damage to the joints.Painful sensations can be in one or several joints and have different duration and intensity.
Finger joints hurt - the causes and treatment may be unexpected for the patient.For example, lupus erythematosus is not completely curable, so the main goal is a sustained remission.The basis of the treatment is vitamin D and a 4-aminoquinoline derivative;in active manifestations of lupus, hormonal therapy is prescribed.
For synovitis
Synovitis is an inflammatory process in which fluid accumulates in the cavity of the joint lining.As a rule, it develops only in one joint.It can be caused by an injury or one of the above diseases.
Synovitis is usually accompanied by joint enlargement, pain and a feeling of bursting.Sometimes malaise and mild hyperthermia occur.Since synovitis is often a symptomatic manifestation of other diseases, the patient is referred to the appropriate specialist: endocrinologist, hematologist.If the etiology of the synovitis cannot be determined, hospitalization may be required.
For psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that affects the surface of the skin, nails and, in severe cases, the joints.The first specific plaques appear on the surface of the hands and then begin to spread.Articular psoriasis is considered one of the most severe forms of the disease.It first affects the joints between the phalanges and then spreads to other articular cartilages.
The treatment of psoriasis of the joints is similar to the treatment of arthritis: anti-inflammatory drugs, immunomodulators and sometimes corticosteroid hormones are used.In severe forms of the disease, blood purification is sometimes prescribed.
Psoriasis is difficult to treat, so therapy can be supplemented with traditional methods:
- salt hand baths;
- crushed garlic compresses;
- applying fish oil to plaques;
- wiping the skin with a gel-based lotion.
With stenosing ligamentitis
Ligamentitis is an inflammatory damage to the ligaments caused by injuries or infectious diseases.It is accompanied by discomfort and pain in the joint ligaments and a pronounced decrease in working capacity.It is usually located in one specific ligament.
Treatment, depending on the cause of the disease, can be conservative (immobilization of the joint, drug therapy with anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticosteroids, physiotherapy) or surgical.
Folk remedies help relieve discomfort in the early stages of the disease:
- aloe leaf compresses;
- raw potato compresses;
- calendula ointment.
About carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs as a result of compression of the median nerve.
Before contacting a doctor, it can be recognized quite easily, as it has very specific signs:
- numbness of the fingers;
- numbness;
- arm weakness;
- unpleasant but not sharp pain in the wrist.
Treatment consists of fixing the wrist in the correct position, electrophoresis with anesthesia, prescription of NSAIDs and topical application of glucocorticoid.Advanced disease requires surgery.
Finger joint pain during pregnancy
In addition to the listed diseases, a pregnant woman may feel pain in the joints of her fingers due to the following reasons:
- Production of the hormone relaxin, which is responsible for softening the joints.This is necessary for a more natural and painless delivery, but it has a detrimental effect on the joints of the whole body.There is no cure for this condition, but it goes away after the baby is born.
- Lack of calcium, vitamins and other nutrients.You can find out exactly what your body is missing with a blood test.
Baths with the addition of sea salt, birch leaves, pine needles or bran are most suitable for relieving symptoms.
After giving birth
Within 2 weeks after childbirth, a woman may experience pain in the joints associated with the period of restoration of the natural balance in the body, including water-salt.At this time, it is better to refrain from stressing your hands and consult a specialist who will prescribe vitamin and mineral complexes.
After sports
Pain and crunch in the joints of the fingers after exercise is very common.They are usually not related to any disease or injury.
If it is only a matter of physical overload, taking the following supplements will help get rid of the problem:
- Omega-3 fats;
- glucosamine and chondroitin;
- betaine.
All these products are sold in pharmacies and are actively used by athletes whose physical activity is much higher than that of ordinary people.
Diet for joint pain
Poor nutrition is one of the most important factors that negatively affect joint health.You can prevent the development of diseases such as gout, arthritis and arthrosis, as well as ease their course by restricting your diet.
People prone to joint diseases are advised to consume foods rich in:
- collagen (gelatin, broths, jellied meat);
- sulfur (chicken, cereals and legumes, radishes, cabbage, apples);
- selenium (milk, cod, whole grain bread, seafood, seaweed);
- Omega-3 fats (fatty fish, flaxseed oil).
Foods that are not recommended for consumption depend on the specific joint disease.
But according to general recommendations you should avoid:
- alcoholic beverages;
- salted and smoked products;
- canned meat;
- meat offal.
After consultation with your doctor, you can clarify which nutritional plan is indicated in a particular case.
Finger gymnastics
Finger joints hurt - the causes and treatment must be determined by a specialist.To fight the disease, you can resort to additional measures.
The exercises are indicated for osteoarthritis, as well as for its prevention:
- Gently curl your fingers into a fist for 30-60 seconds, relax by maximally increasing the distance between the fingers.
- Gently press the palm of your hand onto a flat surface (such as a table).
- Pinch movements (you can use a ball of soft material).
- Pressing your palm against a flat surface and lifting each finger one at a time.
When performing these exercises, there should be no pain in the joints of the fingers.Movements should be as smooth and soft as possible.By regularly performing gymnastics, you can improve the mobility of your hands for many years.
Caring for joint health is important at any age.If you find out in time the reasons why the joints of your fingers hurt and choose the appropriate treatment for the disease, you can avoid complications in the future.