Osteoarthritis of small joints is a disease that destroys the layer of cartilage between joints.The disease affects the joints of the hands, fingers and feet.Osteoarthritis of small joints is less common than that of large joints.The disease usually develops in old age.
Mechanism of development of the disease.
Osteoarthritis begins with a violation of blood circulation in the subchondral layer of the periosteum.Because of this, cartilage nutrition deteriorates, it loses elasticity, becomes thinner, and cracks appear.The amount of synovial fluid decreases, due to strong friction, the joints become inflamed.
Progressive osteoarthritis is very dangerous.If treatment for osteoarthritis of the hand or foot is not started on time, the joints begin to take on unnatural and ugly shapes and may lose mobility.
The disease usually occurs in women during menopause.Hormone levels change in the female body and less estrogen is produced.Because of this, the body loses a lot of moisture, which causes cartilage and joints to become more brittle.
Species
Depending on the location, osteoarthritis is of two types:
- joints of the hands and fingers.
- Small joints of the foot, big toe.
Osteoarthritis of the joints of the hands and fingers.
Osteoarthritis of the hands is often found among typists, pianists, programmers and secretaries.The disease affects the interphalangeal joints.With osteoarthritis of the fingers, the joint tissues dry out and crack.Small subcutaneous nodules often appear on the joints of the hands.They usually don't disappear anymore.
As the disease progresses, bone tissue becomes denser and growths appear.They cause intense pain when moving the fingers.In advanced cases, a person loses the ability to move the hand and fingers.
Symptoms of the disease: crackling in the joints when moving the fingers, pain in the fingers after exercise, seals in the joints of the fingers, swelling of the periarticular tissues.
Osteoarthritis of the foot joints.
Ballerinas, dancers, gymnasts, wrestlers and jumpers are susceptible to osteoarthritis of the feet.The disease affects the joints of the toes.Bone spurs appear in the small joints of the foot.Because of them, it is painful for a person to move his foot.As the disease progresses, the deformation of the joints is very noticeable and the person practically cannot move their foot.
Osteoarthritis of the big toe is the most common type of osteoarthritis in the feet.When the disease occurs, a "bone" forms in the area of the thumb joint.Osteoarthritis of the big toe is caused by wearing tight shoes.
Symptoms of foot osteoarthritis: pain in the foot after physical activity, cracking in the joints when moving, increase in joint size.When walking, a person limps and rests on the outer edge of the foot.
Causes of occurrence
Osteoarthritis can be primary or secondary.
Primary osteoarthritis appears due to problems with the cartilage tissue of the joint, namely:
- genetic disorders in the composition of the cartilaginous tissue of the joints;
- joint hypermobility;
- dysplasia, flat feet, wide feet.
Secondary osteoarthritis is the result of joint damage and other diseases.Among his reasons:
- injuries, microtraumatization of joints;
- acute and chronic arthritis, synovitis;
- metabolic disorders, lack of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals;
- gout, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis;
- diabetes mellitus and other diseases of the endocrine system.
Risk factors
Risk factors for the disease include:
- hereditary predisposition;
- heavy physical work, heavy load on the joints of the fingers;
- overweight, excessive alcohol consumption;
- prolonged wearing of uncomfortable and tight high-heeled shoes;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- hypothermia of the feet.
If your work often puts pressure on the joints of your fingers and toes, or if you have family members who suffer from small joint osteoarthritis, you should think about prevention.We will talk about it at the end of the article.
Symptoms
Among the signs of osteoarthritis of small joints of the foot, fingers and hands:
- pain in hands and feet, disappear or reappear;
- moving your fingers or toes causes pain;
- the joints swell, bend and straighten with a "crunch";
- the tissues surrounding the joint become inflamed;
- the shape of the joints changes: they thicken, Heberden and Bouchard nodules appear;
- The sensitivity of the fingertips decreases.
Stages of osteoarthritis of small joints.
There are three stages of the disease.
- The first stage of the disease is accompanied by periodic pain in the joints of the fingers or toes during movement or active work.The pain subsides after rest.Joints may begin to crack and swelling may form near them.
- Second stage of osteoarthritis.The disease progresses, the pain intensifies and becomes constant.Moving your fingers causes pain.Heberden and Bouchard nodules form in the joints.Its appearance is accompanied by burning and pain.After a few months, the redness and swelling disappear and the nodules harden.
- The third stage of small joint osteoarthritis is the most serious.The fingers and toes become deformed and it is almost impossible to move them.The area around the affected joint becomes red and swollen.Acute pain in the joints is felt not only during movement, but also at rest.A person walks with difficulty, going up and down stairs becomes a challenge for him.
Diagnosis
If you notice symptoms of osteoarthritis of small joints, do not postpone visiting an orthopedist.The disease is curable at an early stage.In the second and third stages, it is only possible to slow down its development.
To diagnose osteoarthritis of small joints, a thorough study will be necessary.With its help, the doctor will determine the cause of the disease and prescribe effective treatment.The initial appointment is made by neurologists and orthopedists.They accurately diagnose osteoarthritis of the joints of the hands and feet using the following methods:
- MRI.magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
- Densitometry
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Daily ECG monitoring
- Comprehensive medical examination of the body (check-up)
- Bioimpedance analysis of the body as part of the "Smart Weight Loss" program
- laboratory research
How we treat osteoarthritis of small joints.
An integrated approach is the best way to deal with the disease.Our doctors treat osteoarthritis of small joints using non-surgical methods.They stop the development of the disease and heal the body as a whole.
The attending physician prescribes an individual course of treatment for the patient, taking into account the cause of osteoarthritis, the condition, age, sex and characteristics of the patient's body.The treatment of osteoarthritis of small joints of the foot, hands and fingers will last a maximum of a month and a half.The patient undergoes procedures 2-3 times a week.Joint pain will disappear after the first week of treatment.The course of treatment consists of the following procedures:
- Percussion-vibration therapy on the device.
- High intensity magnetic therapy
- Isometric kinesiotherapy using the Pilates method
- UHF Resonance Wave Therapy
- Fermatron injections
Treatment of osteoarthritis of small joints in clinics relieves joint pain and inflammation.The patient's blood circulation and cartilage nutrition are improved and the destruction of cartilage and joint tissue is stopped.Our doctor will advise you what you can do on your own to prevent the disease.
Prevention
Doctors at Taller de Salud advise avoiding joint problems:
- more walking, running, swimming, water aerobics, skiing;
- do not get too cold;
- control your weight;
- avoid joint injuries;
- walk with comfortable shoes.
When it comes to nutrition, we recommend following the following principles:
- eat more avocados, grapefruits and kiwis;
- limit the consumption of tomatoes and legumes;
- include cartilage, gelatin and garlic in your diet;
- eat less fatty and fried meats, sugar, chocolate, coffee and cookies;
- stop smoking and drinking alcohol;
- Drink at least two liters of water a day.
therapeutic massage
To prevent osteoarthritis of the hands and fingers, do the following exercises:
- Rub your palms together.
- Rub the fingers of one hand with the fingers of the other, first in the direction from the base to the nail and in the opposite direction.
- Bend and straighten your fingers 10 times without clenching them into a fist.
- Press your palms together tightly and press the fingers of one hand onto the fingers of the other.
- Spread your palms apart and continue pressing your fingers together.