It is difficult to imagine the life of a person without small helpers and workers - fingers. They carefully hold a cup of coffee, write tirelessly, do all the small and hard work. Due to this high productivity, the fingers are susceptible to a number of diseases. In order not to lead the pathological processes to irreversible consequences, it is necessary to know why the joints of the hands hurt, how they can be cured.
What is pain in the joints of the fingers
The human musculoskeletal system contains over 300 joints. The fingers contain the smallest and most mobile. The joints at the ends of the hands have a thin synovial membrane and a small joint surface, which is why they are often exposed to various diseases. Each finger of the hand consists of three joints (proximal phalanx, middle phalanx, distal interphalange) 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 appear, accompanied by cyanosis of the skin, which subsequently turns into redness. Paroxysmal pain occurs as a result of injury or compression of the wrist joint. Sharp 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 longer the pain syndromes in the hands are ignored, the more their motor activity is impaired. If the first signs of developing diseases of the fingers are not treated, irreversible deformation of the joints can be allowed, in which a person is injured.
Most dangerous complications:
- bone necrosis;
- osteomyelitis (purulent-necrotic process developing in the bone);
- osteolysis (complete resorption of bone elements);
- generalized sepsis (purulent infection.
Why do my fingers hurt
As a rule, pain in the joints of the upper extremities is a symptom of developing diseases of the hands. Often such symptoms indicate manifestations of diseases of other organs. Phalangeal pain is a sign of cervical osteochondrosis, ischemic heart disease and peripheral nerve pathology. If the joints of the fingers hurt, 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 the phalanges bend:
- Spinal nerve pinching. This occurs when nerve roots extending from the spinal cord squeeze hernias, cartilage, tumors, spasmodic muscles, tendons or other vertebrae.
- Osteoarthritis. There is degeneration of articular cartilage and the development of osteophytes on the bones, which leads to impaired mobility.
- tunnel syndrome. There is a pinching of the median nerve, which passes to the palm 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;
- Stenotic ligamentitis. It is characterized by obstruction of the phalanges in an elongated or bent position. The joint of the thumb hurts more often. Pathology refers to diseases of the tendon-ligament apparatus.
- Rizarthrosis. Deformation of the cartilaginous plates in the joint of the thumb occurs after injury or excessive stress.
- Vibration disease. Occupational disease that occurs when working with a vibrating tool.
The finger joints are swollen and inflamed
Both elderly patients and young people face the problem of puffiness. Sometimes the fingers swell due to fluid retention in the body, but if they also hurt, it can mean pathological changes in the bone joints.
The reasons for this condition can be the following:
- open wounds, abrasions, cuts;
- fractures, dislocations, injuries;
- insect bites;
- radial nerve neuropathy;
- pathology of the heart and / or kidneys;
- fibromyalgia (muscle and joint pain);
- polycythemia (unusual increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood);
- bursitis (inflammation of the joint capsule);
- osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone tissue);
- chronic arthritis of various origins (rheumatoid, gouty, septic, neglected, purulent and others).
In the morning
Any disease of the joints of the fingers manifests itself in pain in the morning. In order to prevent the progression of the pathology, it is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis and to undergo an appropriate examination. More often the fingers hurt in the morning with arthritis of various origins. The disease may not be infectious, but may be due to disorders of the immune system.
Rheumatoid arthritis is more likely to injure the articular cartilage of the index finger, which shows small seals. In 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 a rise in body temperature in the morning, intoxication of the whole body. The phalanges hurt in the morning with psoriatic arthritis, gout and osteoarthritis.
The latter disease, in addition to morning pains, is characterized by stiffness and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is most commonly seen in middle-aged women, as its development is associated with fluctuations in estrogen levels. Gout can be identified by unbearable paroxysmal pain in the morning or at night, accompanied by redness and swelling of the joint.
Acute pain
Stenotic ligamentitis of the wrist is accompanied by burning pain in all fingers except the little finger. Burning and tingling is felt not only at the ends of the hand, but 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 sharp pain in the joints of the limbs, but the tingling occurs only in the little finger.
Panaritium (purulent inflammation of the tissues of the hand) can also provoke such a symptom. The disease occurs as a result of an infectious infection. The pain is sharp, trembling and gradually intensifies, especially at night. The phalanges swell, turn red, their touch is very painful and the body temperature often rises. Panaritium requires urgent medical attention, otherwise a person can not 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, a person feels sharp pain in the fingers, which swell and turn blue. In the third stage of the disease, when blood flow improves, these symptoms disappear. The painful attack lasts from a few minutes to half an hour. Raynaud's disease is a consequence of atherosclerosis of the limbs, so it must first be treated.
During pregnancy
Why do finger joints hurt during pregnancy and after birth? Gynecologists know for sure.
When the limbs are swollen while carrying a child, this indicates the following pathologies:
- presence of joint diseases;
- increase in the level of relaxin, a hormone responsible for softening the ligaments;
- entrapment 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 often occurs at 35 weeks of gestation, which is associated with rapid weight gain, which causes compression of the nerve trunks that connect the arm to the arm.
The problem is that the woman is haunted not only by joint pain, but also by other symptoms:
- burning, itching of the palms;
- sudden sharp pain in the forearm;
- tingling in the upper limbs.
After training
The appearance of painful symptoms in the hands after each physical activity is a clear sign of vascular disease. Painful sensations are accompanied by tingling in the joints, cramps and rapid fatigue of the hands. The skin becomes pale and cold, the hairline becomes thinner, the nail plates thicken. The pathology over time acquires a chronic form, as a result of which it becomes impossible to feel the pulse of the radial artery, the lumen of the vessels narrows, the blood flow to the limbs is disturbed. The pain becomes constant and reappears, even with light exertion.
As you age, your cartilage thins, becomes brittle, and you hear a crunch as you move. If the pain in the hands occurs after exercise, then these symptoms may indicate the development of polyosteoarthritis. The disease is characterized by destructive changes in the joints that hurt when using the fingers or before changes in weather. It is difficult to straighten and bend the brush. The pain syndrome subsides when handwork is turned off.
Diagnostics
Early diagnosis will help eliminate the symptoms of joint disease and cure it completely. Only an experienced specialist (neurologist, surgeon, traumatologist) can accurately determine the cause of these symptoms. The diagnosis is made based on the results of the examinations and the patient's history. When collecting information, the nature of the complaints, the time of onset of the first pains, the presence of articular pathologies in close relatives are determined. Family predisposition plays an important role in the development of arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Study needed for complaints of limb joint pain:
- radiography;
- ultrasound examination;
- computed tomography;
- electrospondylography (computer diagnostics of the spine);
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- contrast discography;
- blood and synovial fluid tests;
- puncture (injection of a drug into the lump 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 peculiarities of the clinical course of the disease. When prescribing drug treatment, the patient's hypersensitivity to the active components of the drugs is taken into account. Complex treatment includes the appointment of chondroprotectors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticosteroids.
In addition to medication, local massage and specially developed 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 should be set the basic rules, of which:
- reduction of salt intake;
- once a week fasting days for vegetables and dairy products;
- diet without tomatoes, sorrel, spicy dishes, fatty meats.
In case of joint pain, doctors recommend spa treatment. For each patient, doctors choose an individual rehabilitation program that will be most effective in each case. The sanatorium teaches skills for a healthy lifestyle, conducts therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy, massage. As a rule, after such treatment, the patient forgets for a long time about the recurrence of the disease.
Medicine
When prescribing drugs, two goals are pursued: relieving the inflammatory process and eliminating the pain. In general, doctors use cyclooxygenase inhibitors (NSAIDs) and if the cause of the disease lies in autoimmune pathology, then steroid drugs are prescribed. Antibiotics can be used in an acute infectious process.
Topical medications (creams, ointments, gels) are prescribed to quickly relieve symptoms. In dystrophic lesions of the joint surfaces, it is recommended to use chondroprotectors.
Massage
The drug alone is not enough for arthritis or osteoarthritis of the fingers. Specialists in the period of remission of the disease offer to conduct courses of therapeutic massage, the number of sessions that the doctor will determine individually. The procedure begins with kneading each part of the hand. If the patient does not feel severe pain, then the effect on the affected joints begins in the first session.
The preparatory stage of the massage is to warm the hand from the elbow to the fingers with spiral movements. The patient is in a sitting position, the arm is placed on the table, the bent elbow rests on the support, and a roller is placed under the arm. After heating, the specialist kneads each finger individually with stroking movements without affecting the joints. 2-3 approaches are made for the best effect.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy helps speed up recovery, relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
Patients who experience severe finger pain are advised to consider the following techniques:
- Electrophoresis. Treatment is based on deep injections of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs under the skin. The procedure takes place under the influence of direct 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, increases local immunity. Exposure time is 1-5 minutes per 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 oscillations with a wave of up to 1 m. The impact is aimed at restoring the 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. Treatment in a pressure chamber with low or high pressure helps to saturate the body with oxygen, which provokes muscles, tissues and joints to recover faster. The duration of the procedure is 60 minutes. The full course includes 22-25 sessions.
Folk remedies
Alternative treatments will help prevent the destruction of articular cartilage in the fingers.
Most popular recipes:
- Take a thick fermented dairy product, mix with oatmeal, which must be pre-cut. Leave the mixture on sore fingers overnight, wrapped in a towel;
- Pass 500 g of Kalanchoe through a meat grinder, pour 1 liter of vodka, leave for 5 days. After the tincture, rub it daily into diseased joints;
- Mix 1 tablespoon olive oil with a few drops of freshly squeezed garlic. Drink in the morning on an empty stomach
Prevention
In order not to suffer from inflammatory processes in the joints of the fingers and not to treat osteoarthritis and arthritis for a long time, it is necessary to adhere to simple preventive measures:
- keep your hands warm;
- exclude alcohol and cigarettes;
- include more fruits and vegetables in your daily menu;
- does not tolerate colds on the feet;
- eliminate the habit of "snapping" fingers;
- replace tea and coffee with herbal decoctions;
- control your weight.