Any person can experience discomfort and pain in the joints.The reasons why the joints of the fingers hurt, as well as the types of treatment for diseases that cause this pain, can be very different.Lack of timely and correct treatment can lead to loss of mobility in the affected areas.Therefore, it is important to determine the cause of the problem and begin therapy.
Pain when bending and straightening fingers
Finger pain not only causes discomfort, but also affects your quality of life, making the simplest daily tasks painful.Most often it is especially pronounced after physical impact.
The main reasons for this phenomenon include the following:
- gout;
- bruises and fractures;
- arthritis;
- dislocation or disruption of the integrity of the ligaments;
- Kienbock's disease;
- osteoarthritis;
- synovitis;
- psoriasis;
- lupus erythematosus;
- stenosing ligamentitis;
- tunnel syndrome;
- pregnancy and childbirth;
- exposure to prolonged physical activity.
Which doctor should I contact?
The joints of the fingers hurt (the causes and treatment may be unexpected), so you should consult a specialist without attempting self-medication.
Depending on the complexity and characteristics of the situation, you may need help from the following doctors:
- Rheumatologist.
- Neuropathologist.
- Surgeon.
- Hematologist.
- Traumatologist.
Diagnostics
There are several main methods that allow you to make a diagnosis with great accuracy:
- X-ray.A study to help determine the presence of damage.For a more complete image it is necessary to take three photographs in different projections.The main disadvantage of this type of study is the impossibility of evaluating the soft tissues of the hand.
- Ultrasound examination.Prescribed as an auxiliary measure that helps establish a more accurate diagnosis.Thanks to ultrasound it is possible to identify the consequences of injuries and inflammation in the soft tissues.
- Magnetic resonance imaging.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 begun to be used.Its main advantage is that it allows you to identify various limb diseases in the early stages.
- Computed tomography.It is carried out to obtain a complete picture of the disease and identify all changes in the joints and bone tissue.
- Contrasting discography.It is regularly used to determine pathologies of bone tissue using a special dye.
- Joint puncture.Done to collect fluids for analysis or administer a medication.
- Skin biopsy.Very rarely is it prescribed to take a tissue sample for examination.This is done to confirm or refute 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 affects men more often, but nowadays women often experience it too.If the disease affects the hands, the thumbs usually become inflamed.
The joint swells, the finger becomes clearly red, and the skin becomes hot to the touch.
Even a light touch on the affected area causes severe pain.This can last 3-4 days, after which the attack disappears completely.But after some time the pain returns.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 become longer and more painful.If gout is left untreated, the pain becomes permanent.This disease leads to the gradual destruction of articular cartilage, and cavities filled with microscopic crystals of sodium urate form in the adjacent bones.
The disease is well treated, and contacting a competent doctor will help 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 alkaloid tropolone are prescribed.As a local treatment, vodka compresses are acceptable.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 a pre-warmed joint.
- Activated charcoal lotions.10 charcoal tablets are ground and mixed with water.The mixture is applied to the joint and left under the film overnight.
- Bath with sea salt.For a liter of very hot water, take half a spoonful of sea salt.Place your hand in the resulting bath and wait until the water has completely cooled.
For bruises and fractures
Injuries to the finger joints are usually caused by playing sports or careless behavior at home.It is not always possible to independently understand if there is a fracture, but there are some signs you should pay attention to.
If a finger is injured, mobility is maintained.A characteristic swelling appears, which may increase during the first day.The pain persists for several hours, after which it disappears.If the injury is severe, a severe hematoma may appear.
If the injury turns out to be more serious and the integrity of the bones is compromised, this can be detected by the inability to move the finger or, on the contrary, by its unnatural mobility.In addition, with a fracture, the pain in the injured area does not decrease, but increases (this is due to the displacement of the damaged bone areas).
A traumatologist can detect a fracture with the naked eye, but an x-ray should be taken to confirm the diagnosis.
In case of a bruise, the doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatories and painkillers and offer ointments for external use that will relieve swelling and have a healing effect on damaged tissue.
If there is no displacement during the fracture, a special fixator is applied.The period of use of such fixatives is approximately 1 month.If the bone fragments have been displaced, they are first compared and then a cast is applied for 2-3 weeks.In advanced cases, surgery under general anesthesia and the installation of metal wires are necessary.
After 1 month they are removed and the patch is reapplied for up to 5 weeks.After removing the fasteners, 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 in a bandage and leave for several hours.
- Plantain juice, used as a lotion 2-3 times a day, will help speed up the elimination of a bruise.
- As an anti-inflammatory agent, you can use bodyaga powder, diluted with water to form an ointment.
For dislocations and ligament damage
A dislocation or tear of the connective tissue is always painful and symptoms appear immediately.This occurs most often 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 a finger;
- swelling of the joint;
- paleness of the finger.
The doctor's actions include pain relief, realignment of the joint and application of a plaster cast for up to 2-3 weeks.Serious 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 serious.This disease is much more common than osteoarthritis.
Normally, the natural joint lubrication function of the joint is performed by a special fluid secreted by the synovial membrane.It is thanks to it that the articular cartilage can receive nutrients.Arthritis is an inflammation of this membrane.As a result, the amount of released fluid increases, its composition changes, and serous, hemorrhagic or purulent exudate begins to be released.
The disease can be identified by the following symptoms:
- movement disorder;
- Pain;
- violation of the structure and deviation of the size of the joint from the norm;
- swelling and redness of the skin.
For hands, polyarthritis is more typical, in which the lesion affects multiple joints at once.But sometimes inflammation of a joint also develops - monoarthritis.There are cases when arthritis is accompanied by gout.Arthritis is treated with medications, physical therapy and massage.
NSAIDs are used to suppress the inflammatory process.The use of steroid hormones, which are injected into the joint cavity, is also common.To treat arthritis of an infectious nature, antibiotics are administered, including broad-spectrum ones.The restoration of the articular cartilage is ensured by taking chondroprotectors.
After the inflammation subsides, the specialist can prescribe physical therapy and therapeutic massage.
The following folk remedies can be used as an auxiliary treatment aimed at reducing symptoms:
- baths with birch leaf decoction;
- take warm milk with garlic juice;
- compresses made from cabbage leaves, burdock or coltsfoot.
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 are talking about Kienbeck's disease.It consists in the interruption of the normal blood circulation of the lunate bone of the wrist and has an unpredictable course.
With this pathology, patients usually complain of wrist pain, which intensifies with exercise.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 the beam.
If the bone is already partially destroyed, it can be replaced with an artificial implant.Physiotherapy and conservative treatment do not help to cope with the disease, but can help relieve pain.
For osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a pathological condition that affects the joints of the fingers and leads to the degradation of the cartilaginous tissue and joint deformation.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the following manifestations:
- feeling of stiffness in the fingers in the morning;
- swelling of the joints, redness of the skin;
- the appearance of cysts;
- increased pain as the disease progresses.
There is no complete cure, so therapy is usually aimed at minimizing inflammation, relieving pain, slowing deformation, and improving quality of life.Physiotherapy, physical therapy and a number of anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
The use of traditional methods will help alleviate the patient's condition:
- oatmeal compresses;
- apply warm 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 unknown, which complicates treatment.The most common manifestation of the disease is joint damage.Painful sensations can affect one or more joints and have variable duration and intensity.
Finger joints hurt: causes and treatment may be unexpected for the patient.For example, lupus erythematosus is not completely curable, so the main goal is sustainable remission.The basis of the treatment is vitamin D and a derivative of 4-aminoquinoline;for active manifestations of lupus, hormone therapy is prescribed.
For synovitis
Synovitis is an inflammatory process in which fluid accumulates in the cavity of the joint shell.As a rule, it develops in only one joint.It can be caused by an injury or one of the above diseases.
Typically, synovitis is accompanied by joint expansion, pain, and a popping sensation.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 synovitis cannot be determined, hospitalization may be necessary.
For psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that affects the surface of the skin, nails and, in more severe cases, joints.The first specific plaques appear on the surface of the hands and then begin to spread.Joint psoriasis is considered one of the most serious forms of the disease.It first affects the joints between the phalanges and then spreads to other articular cartilage.
The treatment of joint psoriasis 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 using traditional methods:
- saline hand baths;
- crushed garlic compresses;
- apply fish oil to plaques;
- rubbing the skin with a lotion based on celandine.
With stenosing ligamentitis
Ligamentitis is an inflammatory lesion of the ligaments, caused by injury or infectious disease.It is accompanied by discomfort and pain in the ligaments and a marked decrease in working capacity.Usually located in a specific ligament.
Treatment, depending on the cause of the disease, can be conservative (immobilization of the joint, pharmacological 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.
For carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs due to compression of the median nerve.
Before contacting a doctor, you can recognize it quite easily, as it has very specific signs:
- numbness of the fingers;
- tingling;
- hand 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 local administration of a glucocorticoid.Advanced disease requires surgery.
Finger joint pain during pregnancy
In addition to the listed diseases, a pregnant woman may experience pain in the joints of the fingers for the following reasons:
- Production of the hormone relaxin, responsible for softening the joints.This is necessary for a more natural and painless course of labor, but has a harmful effect on the joints of the whole body.This condition has no cure, but disappears after the baby is born.
- Lack of calcium, vitamins and other nutrients.You can find out what exactly your body is missing with a blood test.
To relieve symptoms, baths with the addition of sea salt, birch leaves, pine needles or bran are best suited.
After giving birth
Within 2 weeks after giving birth, a woman may experience joint pain associated with the period of restoration of natural balance in the body, including sea salt.At this time, it is better to refrain from stress on the hands and consult a specialist who will prescribe vitamin and mineral complexes.
After sport
Pain and crunching in the finger joints after training are very common occurrences.They are usually not associated with any illness or injury.
If it is purely a question of physical overload, taking the following supplements will help eliminate 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 affects joint health.You can prevent the development of diseases such as gout, arthritis and arthrosis, as well as alleviate their course, by limiting your diet.
People prone to joint diseases are advised to consume foods rich in:
- collagen (gelatin, broths, jellied meat);
- sulfur (chicken meat, cereals and legumes, radishes, cabbage, apples);
- selenium (milk, cod, wholemeal bread, seafood, seaweed);
- Omega-3 fats (fatty fish, flaxseed oil).
The foods whose consumption is not recommended depend on the specific joint disease.
But, according to general recommendations, you should avoid:
- alcoholic beverages;
- salted and smoked products;
- canned meat;
- meat by-products.
After consulting with your doctor, you can clarify which diet is indicated in a particular case.
Finger gymnastics
The joints of the fingers hurt: the causes and treatment should be determined by a specialist.To combat the disease, you can resort to additional measures.
Exercises are indicated for arthrosis and its prevention:
- Gently squeeze your fingers into fists for 30-60 seconds, open them with a maximum increase in the distance between the fingers.
- Gently press your palm onto a flat surface (like a table).
- Pinching movements (you can use a ball of soft material).
- Pressing the palm of your hand 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.
Taking care of joint health is important at any age.If you identify in time the reasons why the joints of the fingers hurt and choose appropriate treatment for the disease, you can avoid complications in the future.