The fingers are the main tool thanks to which we can perform various work functions. Therefore, it is not surprising that when finger joints hurt, it is difficult to carry out your direct tasks or cope with the task. Medical help is needed when the first painful sensations appear, otherwise, in advanced stages, serious consequences associated with the destruction of the joints are possible.
What to do if the finger joints hurt? It is necessary to contact a rheumatologist for an examination and treatment as soon as possible. Only after the specialist establishes the true cause of the pain and clarifies the diagnosis, she will be able to select an effective treatment regimen and prescribe the necessary medications.
Why do my finger joints hurt? The main reasons
There are many reasons that can cause joint pain. The factors that cause pathological changes in the joints are:
- the influence of the external environment (for example, prolonged hypothermia, physical injury);
- professional factor associated with a constant increase in stress on the joints;
- hormonal disorders;
- diseases of the immune and endocrine systems;
- hereditary factor;
- chronic infectious diseases.
Finger joints often hurt during pregnancy, and this condition is explained by a lack of calcium, which manifests itself most acutely during this period. An increase in the production of the hormone relaxin (which adversely affects the state of cartilage tissue), as well as a weakening of immunity associated with the restructuring of a woman's body during the gestation period, also play a role.
In addition, experts identify a series of diseases that lead to the deformation and destruction of the joints and are accompanied by a characteristic symptom: pain. These are pathologies like:
- infectious arthritis;
- osteoarthritis;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- psoriatic arthritis;
- rhizarthrosis;
- drop;
- stenosing ligamentitis.
Let's dwell on the symptoms of diseases that cause joint damage and talk about the methods of diagnosis and treatment of such pathologies.
Finger joints hurt. What diseases can we talk about?
The causes of pain in the finger joints are probably associated with one of the following diseases:
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease associated with damage to the small joints of the arms and legs. The inflammatory process often affects the metacarpophalangeal joints of the middle and index fingers. If your fingers are swollen and your joints ache in the morning, this could be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.
With an exacerbation of the inflammatory process, the skin over the joints becomes swollen, red, warm to the touch, and tight nodules can be felt underneath. The pains are so intense that a person cannot make a fist. Symmetrical damage to the joints of both hands is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. The main symptom of the disease is morning joint stiffness, accompanied by increased pain.
The pain usually subsides at night. The danger of the disease is that the diagnosis is usually made in later stages, when the cartilage tissue has already been destroyed. If your joints hurt and your fingers go numb, try not to postpone your visit to the doctor, otherwise a neglected inflammatory process will lead to the deformation of the fingers and hands and lead to disability.
Psoriatic arthritis
This is one of the forms of psoriasis, when, in addition to the cutaneous manifestations, the distal (nail) joints of the phalanges of the fingers are involved in the inflammatory process. At the same time, a change in their shape is observed, they swell, swell, do not bend, the skin becomes red and inflamed, and the fingers themselves become like sausages.
If the joints of the fingers of the right hand hurt (for example, the index and little fingers), then by the way, the joints of the fingers of the left hand hurt, a preliminary diagnosis can be made with confidence. In psoriatic arthritis, the inflammatory process will be asymmetric, that is, the phalanges of the middle and ring fingers on the other hand will be affected.
Infectious and septic arthritis
These diseases usually present with severe pain in the joints and a worsening of the general condition, manifested by fever, chills, fever, symptoms of intoxication of the body.
Inflammation of a joint of a viral or bacterial nature is often associated with damage to a joint, where infectious agents penetrate through damage to the skin. But it is not uncommon and polyarthritis, when several joints are infected at once, in this case the inflammatory symptoms become especially pronounced.
Osteoarthritis
This disease is not inflammatory in nature and is manifested by deformity of the joints, their gradual thickening and limited mobility. If the finger joint hurts during flexion, the fingers take the form of a spindle with a characteristic thickening in the middle, this indicates the development of osteoarthritis.
The disease is typical of older people and is most often diagnosed in women after age 40, which is associated with changes in hormone levels and the onset of menopause. Also, occupational factors, metabolic disorders, and genetic predisposition can become the causes of osteoarthritis.
Drop
This disease is caused by metabolic disorders in which uric acid salts are deposited in the joints. Most often, gout is diagnosed in men between the ages of 40 and 60 and this is due to excessive consumption of fatty, spicy and salty foods, as well as addiction to alcohol.
The injury mainly affects the toes, but with an atypical course of the disease, the metacarpophalangeal joints of the thumb of the hands can also be affected. The pains of gout are burning, unbearable. They differ in intensity and are accompanied by swelling and redness of the skin over the affected joint area.
Stenosing ligamentitis
This pathological condition looks like osteoarthritis or arthritis. Therefore, an X-ray examination is necessary to clarify the diagnosis. The main symptoms are: pain when flexing and extending the fingers, sometimes the joint can get stuck in a bent state and some effort must be applied to extend it.
Therefore, if the joint of the middle finger hurts and characteristic clicking sounds are heard during its extension, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. With an exacerbation of the inflammatory process, numbness of the fingers, burning sensation, swelling, bluish skin tone appear in the affected area.
Rhizatrosis
If your thumb joint hurts, this may be a sign of this condition. The disease is usually associated with constant overload of the joint, penetration of an infection, or trauma. A common symptom is increased pain when performing certain actions, for example, turning door handles, turning a key in a lock, opening covers.
It is necessary to treat the disease as soon as possible, otherwise the joint will be deformed, and the pain will become constant, haunting a person even at rest. Over time, bony growths form at the base of the thumb, practically immobilizing the hand and leading to disability, as the slightest movement causes excruciating pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
This disorder is neurological in nature, as it develops as a result of compression of the median nerve that runs through the wrist. This happens due to regular loads on the joints and ligaments of the hand. At risk are people who, by virtue of their profession, are forced to constantly work with their fingers (stenographers, computer scientists, musicians, artists). The pain is usually localized in the area of the thumb and index finger, and the precision of movements is affected when performing certain actions. Also, compression of the nerve can cause poor circulation and numbness in the fingers.
Pinching of the vertebral nerves, bursitis, rheumatological pathologies, an unhealthy lifestyle and other factors can cause pain in the joints of the hands. It is important to pay attention to alarming symptoms in a timely manner and seek qualified help.
What doctor can help if my finger joints hurt?
At the initial stage, you can schedule an appointment with a therapist who, after taking an anamnesis, will refer you to a limited specialist (doctor - rheumatologist). It is this specialist who deals with joint diseases, will provide the necessary assistance and make an accurate diagnosis.
Also, you may need to see a surgeon or neurologist. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment, taking into account the cause of the joint damage, the severity of the symptoms, possible contraindications, and the individual characteristics of the patient.
Diagnosis
The activities necessary for a correct diagnosis are visual examination, laboratory analysis of blood, urine and referral of the patient for radiographic examination. An X-ray of the hands usually gives the necessary idea of the nature of the pathology and the degree of joint damage.
To obtain the most complete information on the nature of the pain and the causes of the inflammatory process, the doctor may refer the patient for an ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These are the most modern and informative research methods that allow you to identify the slightest changes in the early stages of the disease and help prevent its further development and serious consequences associated with joint deformation and destruction.
Sometimes if you suspect you have gout, a special blood test is done to check your uric acid level. To identify pathological changes that occur in bone tissue, a contrast discography procedure with a special dye is used.
The most effective diagnostic method today is electrospondylography, which began to be used several years ago. This procedure allows you to examine the parts of the spine that are responsible for the functioning of the upper extremities and identify any pathological deviations from the norm in the early stages.
Treatment methods
Once the diagnosis is made, the doctor will select a treatment regimen based on the causes of the pathological changes in the joints. The principles of treatment, if the joints of the hands hurt, are based on the use of drugs, physiotherapeutic procedures, therapeutic exercises, adjustment of diet and lifestyle.
If there is an inflammatory process, the doctor will prescribe pain relievers, hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs or non-steroids. It can be systemic drugs (oral tablets) or external drugs in the form of ointments, creams, sprays, which help to quickly relieve pain. The doctor may prescribe hormonal agents in the form of injections into the joint cavity for severe pain. Such procedures quickly alleviate the patient's condition and contribute to the transition of the disease to a state of remission. With infectious arthritis, antibacterial agents are prescribed.
The development of degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system is facilitated by a decrease in the level of chondroitin in the cartilage tissue of the joint. Therefore, patients are prescribed drugs, chondroprotectors, which can stop further destruction of the joint and restore the structure of cartilage tissue.
Physiotherapy procedures
Physiotherapy methods are an important aspect of complex treatment. These include novocaine electrophoresis, UHF, magnetotherapy, laser treatment, amplipulse therapy, phonophoresis. The number of sessions and the duration of treatment are individually determined by the doctor.
Therapeutic exercises and massages are necessary to restore joint mobility, improve blood circulation and metabolic processes. During periods of remission of the disease, the patient is recommended to perform balneotherapy sessions (treatment with natural mud), manual therapy. A spa treatment provides a very good effect with a trip to favorable climatic zones.
In addition, the patient is advised to lead a healthy lifestyle, stop drinking and smoking, and adhere to some dietary restrictions. It is advised to completely exclude fatty meats and fish from the diet, to abandon dairy and fermented milk products with a high degree of fat content. Smoked meats, spicy, salty, pickled dishes, condiments, mayonnaise, citrus fruits, baked goods, strong tea and coffee are prohibited. Do not eat foods that contain oxalic acid (rhubarb, sorrel, spinach).
The daily menu should include low-fat dairy drinks, herbs, fresh vegetable salads with vegetable oil, lean meats, seafood, low-fat fish. Fruits, berries, nuts, ginger, figs, natural vegetable oils with a high content of omega fatty acids (especially flaxseed and olive oil) are useful. A higher drinking regimen is recommended up to 1. 5-2 liters of clean drinking water per day.
Alternative remedies
Today, on the shelves of pharmacies, you can find many innovative products designed to treat joint pain. The most suitable drug will be selected by a specialist.
Traditional medicine recipes
Home remedies for finger joint pain will complement the main treatment regimen, provide relief and speed recovery.
- In case of exacerbation of the inflammatory process, you can apply a gauze napkin soaked in apple cider or table vinegar to the sore joint. This will help reduce pain, relieve burning and swelling. You can make compresses from baked onions, boiled potatoes, or heat them with hot sea salt and rub them with fir oil.
- Baked onion ointment. The onion head is baked in the oven, cooled and minced. The resulting mass is mixed with an equal amount of liquid honey and vegetable oil (1 teaspoon each), add 10 g of beeswax and 20 g of dried golden mustache herb. The composition is boiled in a water bath, stirring continuously, until the mixture becomes homogeneous and thick. The finished ointment is removed from the fire, slightly cooled. In a warm form, rub on sore joints, put on cotton gloves on top. The procedure is best done at night.
- Honey mustard salve. To prepare the ointment, mix 5 g of mustard with 1 tsp. honey, add a large tablespoon of olive oil and 20 g of dried leaves of Caucasian hellebore. Then the mixture is evaporated in a water bath to a thick and homogeneous state, cooled and used for the daily treatment of diseased joints.
- Compress. Compresses based on natural ingredients play a special role in relieving pain and inflammation. You can boil the potato tubers, mash them, wrap them warm in a gauze napkin and apply to the affected area. The same therapeutic effect is possessed by common salt, preheated in a pan. Dry heat can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It is recommended to use ordinary chalk as a compress. It should be crushed, mixed with any fermented milk drink, soaked in a gauze napkin, and made into a compress overnight. Steamed oatmeal can also be used for the same purpose.
- Lilac tincture. Decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs have a good anti-inflammatory effect, improve blood circulation and restore the mobility of the affected joints. The tincture is prepared in spring as soon as the lilac blooms. Collect the inflorescences, fill them with alcohol or vodka and insist in a dark place for 3 weeks. The finished tincture is filtered and rubbed into the sore joints, after which gloves are put on to keep the hands warm.
There are many popular recipes for treating joint pain. In order for its use to be beneficial, be sure to check with your doctor first and get their approval for the procedure.