Why do finger joint pains occur and how are they treated?

Pain in the joints of the fingers can occur for various reasons. Any pathological condition requires competent treatment.

Joint diseases require an integrated approach. It includes the use of drugs, diet, physical therapy, special gymnastics, and alternative medicine.

Possible causes of pain in the joints of the fingers

Joint pain can occur at any age. There are many possible reasons for this phenomenon.

Polosteoarthritis

Pain in the joints of the fingers in 40% of cases is caused by this cause. This pathology is also often called polyarthrosis or gnarled fingers. It belongs to dystrophic diseases and is characterized by slow progression, which is why patients often ignore the first stage of the disease.

The disease most often affects people over 50 and rarely occurs in people under 40.

The causes of polyosteoarthritis are often called heredity, but there are other factors that cause it:

• climax;
• violation of the exchange of material;
• pathology of the thyroid and other endocrine glands;
• diabetes mellitus.

The joints contain cartilage which begins to degrade. This means that natural lubrication is impaired, causing dryness and cracking.

Due to the lack of lubrication and drying, the joint cartilages rub against each other, causing an inflammatory process. Against this background, abnormal inflammatory joint fluid is produced, expanding the joints from the inside. As a result, their deformation occurs, accompanied by painful sensations.

Polyosteoarthritis is accompanied by other symptoms. They are mainly represented by Bouchard and Heberden nodules:

• Bouchard's nodulesare characterized by a slow development without complications. They usually form on the lateral surfaces of the joints, giving them a fusiform shape.
• Heberden's nodulesaffect the distal interphalangeal joints on their dorsal and lateral parts. They are characterized by a symmetrical development on both hands. Lump formation is often accompanied by swelling and redness of the skin around the joints. Painful sensations and burning sensations appear, although in 30% of cases the pathology is asymptomatic.

As polyosteoarthritis progresses, joint stiffness increases. The consequence of the pathology is the nodularity of the fingers.

Rheumatoid arthritis and Still's disease

This disease belongs to systemic pathologies of the connective tissue and has a complex autoimmune pathogenesis. The disease rarely occurs in patients under the age of 30. In men, it occurs 5 times less often.

The signs of rheumatoid arthritis depend on its stage:

1. The initial stage of the disease is characterized by periarticular edema of the bursae. This leads to pain, swelling of the periarticular region and a local increase in temperature.
2. In the second stage, the cells begin to divide rapidly, as a result of which the synovium becomes denser.
3. In the third stage, the inflamed cells produce an enzyme that affects both the cartilage and the bone, so the affected joints are usually deformed. This phase is accompanied by increased pain and loss of motor functions.

There are three groups of possible causes of rheumatoid arthritis:

• Inheritance.
• Infections. Pathological changes can be caused by some paramixoviruses, herpes viruses, hepatoviruses, retroviruses.
• Activation factors. Pathological changes can be triggered by hypothermia, intoxication, stress, taking certain drugs, hyperinsolation, endocrinopathy.

Still's disease is a form of rheumatoid arthritis. It is usually accompanied by fever, rash and itching. This disease is most often diagnosed in children. In addition to the joints, Still's disease can affect the lymph nodes, provoke pleurisy, pericarditis.

Psoriatic arthritis

This pathology is one of the forms of arthritis and can occur after 20 years. It develops against the background of psoriasis, but in some cases it precedes it.

In addition to painful sensations, the pathology is accompanied by the following signs:

• joint swelling;
• the acquisition of a bluish-purple skin in the periarticular region;
• the appearance of bumps and depressions on the nails;
• slight stiffness.

There is a destructive form of pathology, characterized by rapid bone erosion. It is fraught with loss of joint mobility.

The inflammatory process can affect not only the joints, but also some organs. The skin plaques characteristic of psoriasis in this form of arthritis are often accompanied by the appearance of acne.

The possible causes of psoriatic arthritis are the following:

• alcohol abuse;
• smoke;
• stress;
• skin damage;
• side effects of some drugs;
• change in hormone levels;
• excess of ultraviolet radiation.

Infectious arthritis

This type of arthritis is also called septic and is characterized by an inflammatory process caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites.

There are many possible symptoms of pathology: the clinical picture depends on the causative agent of the infection.

The main signs of the disease are:

• soreness;
• limitation of mobility;
• hyperemia of the affected area;
• swelling.

Since the cause of the pathology is an infection, it can be accompanied by fever, chills and intoxication syndrome.

Infectious arthritis can develop against the background of another disease: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, obesity. The reason may be alcohol and drug addiction, sexually transmitted infections.

Gout

This condition is also called gouty arthritis. It is a metabolic disease. In this case, uric acid or sodium monourate are deposited in the tissues of the body. Among women, gout is much less common.

The pathology is characterized by a paroxysmal character. The flare-ups can last anywhere from 3 days to a week and a half. Attacks are characterized by an acute appearance and the same rapid cessation. The presence of convulsions means an inflammatory process.

The exacerbation of the disease often begins at night and may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• pain that gets worse with movement;
• the skin over the inflamed joint turns red;
• the body temperature rises;
• tophi form around inflamed joints - whitish growths under the skin;
• lesions are usually one-sided.

In addition to the acute period, there are latent and chronic stages of the pathology. In the first case, the course of the disease is asymptomatic, and its only sign is hyperuricemia (an indicator of the blood test). The chronic stage is characterized by long periods of remission.

Rhizarthrosis

This pathology is a form of osteoarthritis in which only the thumb is affected. In most cases, rhizarthrosis is a manifestation of polyosteoarthritis, but in every 4-5 patients it is an independent disease.

Trauma is the cause of this pathology in about one in two people. It can be domestic or sports.

There are other causes of pathology:

• incomplete rehabilitation in case of a fracture of the wrist bone;
• permanent minor injuries to the joint capsule;
• inheritance;
• joint dysplasia;
• disorders of the endocrine system;
• metabolic disorder;
• the effects of some drugs that cause changes in cartilage tissue.

There are 3 stages of the disease:

1. At first, the person feels only discomfort.
2. Then bone growths appear and painful sensations intensify due to the exposure of nerve endings.
3. In the last stage, the thumb is severely deformed and its mobility can be completely lost.

Pain is the main symptom of the disease. Increases with movement, the drop in atmospheric pressure, under cold or hot water. At first, the pain hurts, and in the last stage of the pathology it becomes simply unbearable.

De Quervain's disease (tenosynovitis)

In this case, only the ligaments of the thumb become inflamed. This pathology is caused by constant and monotonous movements of the hands, which cause minor damage to the tendon that runs along the back of the wrist. Trauma can be another cause of the disease.

The disease is often a companion of people of certain professions:

• musicians;
• seamstresses;
• painters;
• athletes (tennis players, skiers);
• bricklayers;
• typists.

This pathology can develop at any age. Painful sensations with it can occur spontaneously, but more often they are provoked by the load on the thumb - pressing, stretching, trying to grab an object.

Stenosing ligamentitis

This pathology is also called Knott's disease or snap finger. The cause is inflammation of the tendon and the formation of knots on it.

In this case, the affected finger bends and returns to its original position in a problematic way.

Painful sensations occur when the finger is flexed and extended. In addition to pain, other symptoms are characteristic of the disease:

• numbness;
• increased sensitivity;
• joint swelling;
• formation of lumps (knots).

Stenosing ligamentitis can be triggered by rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus and severe stress on the joints.

Risk Factors

In the case of each pathology, there are several possible reasons for its development. There are also a number of risk factors that make finger joint development more likely:

• hereditary predisposition;
• chronic infection;
• diseases of the immune system;
• pathology of material exchange;
• changed the hormonal background;
• trauma and microtrauma;
• negative long-term impact.

Diagnostics

When painful sensations in the joints of the fingers first appear, they usually turn to a therapist who prescribes the initial examinations and sends them to a narrower specialist - a surgeon, neurologist, traumatologist, arthrologist, rheumatologist, orthopedist, reflexologist, osteopath, endocrinologist, nutritionist, phytisiatric.

In any case, the diagnosis begins with a visual inspection. Next, the specialist prescribes standard laboratory blood and urine tests. They allow to identify the inflammatory process in the body and to evaluate some important indicators (albumin, globulin fractions, amount of iron).

Joint puncture belongs to laboratory methods. A needle is inserted into its cavity to collect synovial fluid. This test is also called arthrocentesis.

Of the instrumental diagnostic methods, the following studies can be performed, depending on the circumstances:

• Radiography.This method allows you to identify trauma, fractures, tumors and other damage to bone tissue.
• Ultrasound scan.This technique is used to examine soft tissue. Also, using an ultrasound examination, it is possible to check the condition of the vessels.
• Tomography- computer, magnetic resonance. CT is preferable for examining bone structures: the examination is similar to radiography, but much more informative. MRI is most effective in studying soft tissue
• Scintigraphy.This search is done using a radio indicator.
• Electrocardiogram.This diagnosis makes it possible to verify whether the pathology has affected the heart.

Treatment of pain in the fingers of the joints of the hands

Any disease requires certain measures. The basis of treatment in most cases is drug therapy in combination with physiotherapy and special gymnastics. Some diseases require a special diet. Folk recipes can also be effective in treating joint pathologies.

Drug therapy

Various drugs are the mainstay of treatment for most diseases.

The following drugs are used for joint damage:

• Preparations of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory group.Such funds are used for various inflammatory processes. Not only do they reduce inflammation, but they also reduce pain and fever. Such drugs are produced in different dosage forms: for topical use, oral administration, injection.
• Antibiotics.Such medicines are used in the inflammatory process, as well as the infectious origin of the pathology. For the appointment of antibiotic therapy, the causative agent of the disease is first identified in order to determine its sensitivity to the drug.
• Glucocorticosteroids.These drugs are steroidal and anti-inflammatory. Their action speeds up the recovery process. They are also available in various dosage forms.
• Chondroprotector.These drugs are used as part of a comprehensive treatment. They accelerate the recovery process, prevent the recurrence of the pathology.
• Analgesicscan be used for severe pain that cannot be tolerated. These can be local remedies in the form of a cream or gel, or medicines for oral administration or injections.
• Immunosuppressants.Such drugs are used when the disease is autoimmune in nature.

The drug should only be prescribed by a doctor. Each patient needs an individual approach, so even with the same diseases in different people, the set of required drugs can be radically different.

Traditional medicine

Alternative medicine is used in the treatment of various diseases, including those affecting the joints.

The following popular recipes can be effective:

• Dissolve propolis and mix it with vegetable oil - sunflower or corn oil is more suitable. The resulting composition should be used as an ointment, rubbing it into the affected areas.
• Rubbing with honey and horseradish. Products must be mixed in equal proportions.
• Dissolve a tablespoon of mustard powder in half a glass of vodka and massage the affected areas with this composition.
• Boil the unpeeled potatoes, knead and apply warm compresses to the inflamed areas.
• Grind the onion to a mushy state and apply a compress to the affected areas. You need to hold it for half an hour, repeating the procedure up to three times a day.
• Lilac flower tincture helps a lot. You need to fill 3 tbsp. L. raw with a glass of vodka and leave for a week in the dark. Scrub the affected areas daily with a filtered mixture for at least half a month.
• Boil rolled oats so that they acquire the consistency of jelly, cool slightly, dip a bandage into them and apply to the affected areas, fixing it with polyethylene. Remove the compress after an hour.
• In case of inflammation, dissolve 1 tsp. sodium bicarbonate in milk and drink.
• If the inflammatory process is aggravated, you can apply a fresh cabbage leaf smeared with honey on the affected area.
• Legs with affected joints can be kept in a bath with the addition of birch broth.
• Heat salt or buckwheat in a pan, put them in a cloth bag and attach them to the affected area, leaving for several hours.
• It is useful to use the laurel infusion inside. To do this, pour a glass of boiling water over several leaves and insist.
• Black radish juice with honey is useful. Three times a day you need to take a spoonful of such a remedy.
• Juice is useful for joint pathologies. A glass of cranberry juice or cranberry, birch juice is enough per day.

Traditional medicine alone is appropriate in the early stage of disease development. In other cases, it should be used in conjunction with traditional methods. Self-medication may not bring any results, and the pathology will only worsen during this period.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is one of the components of a global approach to joint pathologies. It is performed only as directed by a doctor. There are many methods of physiotherapy, so the appropriate option is selected on an individual basis.

For various pathologies of the joints of the fingers, the following procedures are appropriate:

• magnetotherapy - constant, pulse;
• electrophoresis;
• UHF;
• laser therapy;
• phonophoresis;
• therapy with ozokerite;
• cryotherapy;
• galvanized;
• diadynamic therapy;
• oxygen therapy;
• balneotherapy;
• shock wave therapy;
• ozone therapy.

Various therapeutic methods are designed to restore joint mobility, restore blood circulation, muscle tone, improve the metabolic process and accelerate recovery.

Any method of physiotherapy has certain contraindications, so it is worth resorting to them only as prescribed by a doctor.

Finger gymnastics

Special finger exercises are part of a comprehensive therapeutic approach. Such gymnastics allows you to restore blood circulation and mobility, reduce pain and have a general strengthening effect.

Before gymnastics, you can warm your hands if there are no contraindications for this. Simply dip your hands in hot water for 5 minutes or apply a heating pad to them.

The following exercises are effective for various joint pathologies:

• Fists clench and open. You need to gently clench your hand into a fist so that your thumb is above the rest. In this position, you need to linger for 0, 5-1 minute, then open your fist, spreading your fingers as much as possible. You have to do at least 4 reps for each hand.
• Finger heating. You need to put the palm of your hand on a hard surface and press it firmly. Alternatively, lift each finger, doing 10 repetitions for each hand.
• Contact. You need to turn your hand with the palm towards you and alternately connect the tip of each finger with the tip of the thumb, forming a circle. Each contact must be maintained for 0. 5-1 minute. Do 4 or more reps for each hand.
• Exercise for the thumb. The palm should be on a solid surface. You have to move your thumb along it, away from the rest as far as possible. At the extreme point, you need to linger for 0, 5-1 minute, then return to the starting position. Do 10-15 repetitions for each hand. Do the exercise every 2-3 days.
• There is another thumb exercise. You need to turn your hand with the palm towards you, move your thumb to the side as much as possible, then bend it so that its tip touches the base of the little finger. At this point, you need to linger for 0. 5-1 minute. Do 4 or more reps in each hand.
• Elongated brush. You need to put your palm on the table and straighten the brush so that it becomes as flat as possible. In this position, you need to stay for 0, 5-1 minute. Do 4 repetitions for each hand.
• Finger stretch. You need to turn your hand with the palm towards you and bend your fingers so that they touch the skin on their bases. In this position, you need to linger for 0. 5-1 minute, then smoothly straighten your fingers. Do 4 or more reps in each hand.
• Stretching the thumb. You need to turn your hand with the palm towards you and bend your thumb so that its tip touches the base of the index finger. In this position, you need to linger for 0, 5-1 minute, do 4 repetitions.
• There is another option to stretch your thumb. The starting position is the same. The thumb should be pulled to the base of the little finger, moving only the lower joint. At the extreme point, linger for 0, 5-1 minute, do 4 repetitions for each hand.
• Strengthening exercise. It is necessary to take a soft ball and squeeze it as much as possible, lingering at the extreme point for a few seconds. Do 10-15 repetitions for each hand. The exercise itself should be done not every day, but every 2-3 days, giving the hands rest.
• You pinch. This exercise also requires a soft ball. It needs to be pinched so that there is a thumb on one side and all the others on the other. In this position, you need to linger for 0, 5-1 minute. You need to do 10-15 reps for each hand. Exercise every 2-3 days.

In addition to these exercises, it is also useful to work with clay or plasticine. The material can be simply rolled and kneaded or made into various crafts.

Finger gymnastics should not be performed when the pain is too severe. In this case, exercise can only do harm.

Diet

One of the principles of treatment for various joint pathologies is proper nutrition.

The diet should be organized according to the following principles:

• Weight normalization. This is necessary for detours in any direction. In case of fat metabolism disorders, lipids are deposited on the joints.
• Salt restriction. If there is too much of it in the body, the joints lose elasticity.
• Avoid alcohol.
• For gout, the emphasis should be on plant foods to alkalize the body.
• Reduce your intake of animal protein. The amino acids contained in it penetrate into the synovium, causing inflammation and pain.
• It is better to refuse meat broths or to use secondary broths.
• It is better to use meat not in its pure form, but as cutlets, meatballs, meatballs.
• With gout, you have to give up blue fish, caviar, cod liver, offal, eggs, butter with cream, sour cream, nuts.
• You should refuse sweets, confectionery products, cereals after pre-processing, instant products.
• The diet must be saturated with vitamin C. For this, you need citrus fruits, blueberries, apples, peppers, black currants, Brussels sprouts, broccoli.

Prevention

Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. As a prophylaxis for various joint injuries of the fingers, the following measures are appropriate:

• Proper nutrition. The diet should be rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, lean protein foods and unsaturated fatty acids.
• Adequate intake of vitamins and minerals. If there is not enough of them in the diet, you should resort to pharmacy funds.
• Proper alcohol consumption regimen. Lack of fluids slows down metabolism, which impairs blood circulation and nutrition in the joints and reduces the volume of synovial fluid they contain. The drinking regime should be based on clean water without gas. On average, you need to drink 2 liters of fluids per day.
• No bad habits.
• Adequate physical activity. It is important for the normal speed of metabolic processes in the body, good blood circulation, strengthening of the muscles and periarticular ligaments.
• Special gymnastics for the fingers. It is especially important when the fingers are subjected to constant stress. This is true of some athletes and professions.
• Competent alternation of activity and rest. The night of sleep should be complete.
• Minimal stress.
• Regular medical checks. They can detect the initial stage of the pathology or the prerequisites for its development, which allows you to take the necessary measures in a timely manner.

Pain in the joints of the fingers cannot be ignored. Even in the absence of accompanying symptoms, such a phenomenon can be the first sign of serious pathology. An integrated approach is used in the treatment of joint diseases. Therapeutic methods should be prescribed by a doctor, since each patient needs an individual approach.