Pain in the joints of the fingers when bending is most often caused by age-related changes, as well as irreversible processes in the body that provoke negative manifestations and the development of an uncomfortable state in the patient. Such a pathology requires mandatory medical intervention, which includes all methods based on the causes of the symptoms of pain in the upper extremities.
causes of pain
The fingers should be treated if the factors that caused such a problem are identified. As a rule, doctors divide pain in the joints of the hand into 2 groups (mechanical and inflammatory).
Mechanical pain is accompanied by a local, slightly expressed inflammatory process, which "erases" the picture of the disease. Very often, patients do not pay attention to these symptoms, unlike inflammatory pain. In this case, there is stiffness of movement in the morning, which can last more than 1 hour. The pain decreases slightly during physical activity.
We list the diseases that can cause such symptoms.
Rheumatoid arthritis
With the development of rheumatoid arthritis, small joints are affected, but it is quite possible that internal organs and large joints are involved in the pathological process. Rheumatoid pain is accompanied by swelling and redness of the metacarpal phalanx of the middle and index fingers.
With this disease, the fingers are very painful when bent, and a similar symptom is observed on the other hand. A characteristic symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is pain that appears immediately after waking up, while the pain decreases at night.
Psoriasic arthritis
This disease mainly affects the skin and the pain appears mainly in the distal phalanges. With psoriatic arthritis, intense swelling of the fingers occurs, which take on a bluish color. In addition, with this disease it is quite difficult to straighten the thumbs.
infectious arthritis
With infectious arthritis, there may be no systemic disorder, but it is characterized by the appearance of an acute attack of pain when bending a finger, which can last from 2-3 hours to 2-3 days. Sometimes chills and hyperthermia occur.
Drop
This disease is the most common, but in most cases, patients completely unexpectedly discover the real reason why the joints of the fingers hurt when bending them, after clarifying the diagnosis. Most often, the disease occurs in people over 50 years of age.
The main cause of the progression of gout is a disturbance in the metabolism of uric acid, which is quite difficult to eliminate from the body, depositing itself in cartilage and joints, creating a serious obstacle to their normal functioning. Characteristic signs of gout include burning and severe pain.
Osteoarthritis
Among the most common reasons for the development of osteoarthritis are hereditary factors, as well as disorders of metabolic processes in the body, activities associated with increased physical activity, etc. In most cases, osteoarthritis occurs among mature women and is due to hormonal changes.
A characteristic symptom of the disease, in addition to unbearable pain in the joints of the hand, is the appearance of swelling and subcutaneous nodules, which cause deformation of the fingers and thickening of their middle part.
Stenosing ligamentitis
This pathological process can have symptoms similar to those of osteoarthritis and arthritis, so an X-ray examination is required to clarify the diagnosis. The clinical manifestations are quite typical: the patient finds it painful to stretch and bend his hands, and in some cases the clenched palm may become stuck. In addition, the extension of the fingers is accompanied by characteristic clicks.
Rhizarthrosis
If pain appears in the thumb joint, this condition most likely indicates rhizarthrosis, which manifests itself as intoxication, previous infections and various types of injuries.
During the initial examination of the patient, the localization of pain is determined, which intensifies under specific loads (turning a key, turning a door handle, opening a screw cap, etc. ). At the initial stage of development of the disease, the finger on the hand hurts when bent only after physical exertion, but the progression of rhizarthrosis leads to the fact that the pain begins to bother the patient even at rest. Little by little, a deformation of the joint occurs with limitation of motor activity.
In addition to all of the above diseases, the development of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is most often diagnosed in young patients, can cause unpleasant sensations in the area of the thumb or index finger. This is due to prolonged sitting at the computer, during which the ulnar nerve is compressed, which in turn leads to the development of pain in the fingers.
Symptoms of pathology.
Serious signs of the presence of diseases that can have a number of negative consequences are:
- nodular neoplasms in the tendon area;
- crunching of fingers when moving;
- pain on palpation of the hands;
- sharp, stabbing pain and impaired fine motor skills;
- compaction in the curves of the fingers and hyperemia of the inflamed area;
- inability to clench little fingers;
- local and local increase in body temperature;
- increased night pain in the arms;
- Special attention should be paid if the finger suddenly becomes swollen and deformed.
If the patient discovers such manifestations, an urgent consultation with a doctor is necessary, who will carry out diagnostic measures and prescribe complex therapy to relieve pain symptoms and the inflammatory process.
Diagnostic methods
Patients who experience pain in their hands, especially after sleeping, should undergo treatment, but only after clarifying the causes of the development of the pathological condition.
In this case, diagnosis involves the following methods:
Bone scan
The most informative way to determine tumor-like neoplasms, various injuries and inflammatory processes in the joints of the fingers and hands is an X-ray examination.
Despite the high effectiveness of radiography, it has a significant drawback - the impossibility of assessing the condition of soft tissues.
Ultrasonography
Using ultrasound, the presence of an inflammatory process in the tissues is determined and the consequences of a joint injury are identified. This procedure is most effective for synovitis, arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis and osteoarthritis. In cases where the middle finger is numb and painful, an ultrasound examination of the blood vessels can be performed to determine impaired blood flow in the upper extremities.
computed tomography
To obtain a more accurate picture of the pathology of bone tissue and joints, it is recommended to perform a CT scan, which lasts 5-7 minutes and is well tolerated by patients. The difference between computed tomography and x-ray is that the information obtained is displayed directly on the monitor screen, which makes it possible to obtain more reliable information.
Electrospondylography
A very effective and universal examination method is electrospondylography, which has been used in medicine relatively recently. This test can detect early damage to the area of the spine responsible for the functionality of the upper extremities, including the fingers.
magnetic resonance
MRI is rightly considered an informative and accurate study, therefore it is often used in the diagnosis of various diseases, including those of the joints. The pathological process is determined using electromagnetic waves, which form an image of the tissue, localization and degree of development of the inflammatory process.
Additionally, blood tests (clinical and biochemical), urine tests for the presence of blood and protein, as well as joint punctures for persistent pain in the fingers are prescribed.
Important! It is necessary to take into account that fingers can hurt for various reasons, however, only a highly qualified specialist should correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe individual pain treatment.
Treatment
If pain symptoms appear, the main therapeutic measures should be aimed at eliminating the causes of the development of the pathological process.
Complex therapy includes both drug therapy and treatment with folk remedies.
Pharmacotherapy
To alleviate the pathological process, the doctor prescribes the patient treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which, in addition to reducing inflammation, relieve pain symptoms and reduce tissue inflammation.
In case of osteoarthritis, prolonged use of chondroprotectors is recommended to nourish the cartilage and prevent further destruction. These medications help prevent the disease from recurring.
In cases where there is unbearable pain in the fingers and the inflammatory process is in an advanced stage, glucocorticosteroids are prescribed. They quickly relieve the symptoms of inflammation and regulate the body's metabolic processes, thus accelerating tissue regeneration.
If the main cause of painful symptoms in the finger area is a bacterial infection, the doctor prescribes antibiotics and antibacterial agents, depending on the severity of the symptoms and the body's sensitivity to a group of such drugs.
Important! You should not self-medicate, as this can cause allergic reactions and side effects. At the beginning of therapy, restoration of damaged joints is required. And only in the calm stage is it recommended to resort to auxiliary methods (physiotherapy, hand massages, gymnastics, etc. ).
Physiotherapy
Pain in the joints of the hands indicates a violation of the functionality of the body as a whole and, in particular, the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to limit physical activity and reduce physical stress on the joint.
Physiotherapeutic measures include resonance therapy, electrosleep and electrophoresis with the addition of novocaine. Also, during the period of remission, therapeutic exercises, the use of mud baths, hydrogen sulfide and radon, as well as massage, including manual massage, have a positive effect.
Diet
Proper nutrition is of great importance to prevent the onset of pain, since the body must receive a sufficient amount of microelements such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins, mainly through food.
Products that can reduce pain in the finger joints when bending:
- Fish oil and linseed oil. These products contain large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which improve the state of the vascular system and participate in the normalization of fat metabolism.
- Apple cider vinegar, since it enhances the elimination of salts and participates in the blood alkalization process.
- Radishes, lettuce and walnuts.
- Egg yolk, juice and pomegranate fruit.
- Blackcurrant and fig.
- Ginger and cauliflower.
- Low calorie cheeses and olive oil.
It is necessary to limit (and in some cases completely exclude from the diet) high-fat dairy products, sweet and high-calorie foods. Smoked meats, alcoholic beverages, coffee, strong tea, as well as products containing oxalic acid.
Home remedies
At the initial stage of the disease, pain can be treated with traditional medicine, for example, using a compress of kefir and chalk, diluted to a pasty state. Oats, previously boiled and slightly cooled, have a similar effect.
You can prepare a cream for massaging your hands from an equal amount of crushed bay leaves and juniper pine with the addition of softened butter to this powder. After mixing the ingredients well, the ointment can be used for its intended purpose.
In case of exacerbation of pain symptoms, it is recommended to mix 1 tbsp. a tablespoon of olive oil with 5 drops of garlic juice, then drink the prepared mixture in the morning, 30 minutes before breakfast. The procedure must be repeated for 3-4 days.
Sudden and severe pain in the finger interferes with the performance of daily tasks and causes unbearable suffering to the patient. These manifestations should not be neglected, as they can indicate a number of serious diseases that can cause pain symptoms.
Only early diagnosis and timely intervention by an experienced doctor make it possible to determine the etiology of the disease, from which the doctor decides how and what to treat to obtain the most positive result. With timely intervention, the prognosis for full recovery is favorable.