Our hands are constantly working - they help us take care of ourselves, do chores at home and at work and do other useful things. The most accurate work can be done with your fingers. All of this is possible thanks to the joints. But when your finger joints hurt, we immediately look for reasons for this and treatment options. These pains cannot be neglected and do not work, because they directly affect life.
Why finger pain occurs - the main causes
There are several factors that lead to the development of the disease, among them:
- damage to the immune system;
- chronic infections;
- change in hormone levels. This only affects pain during pregnancy and after delivery; metabolic disorder
- ;
- heredity. If there were people in the family suffering from joint disease, this predisposition could be inherited;
- negative factors. Among them - the frequent meeting of hands in cold water.
Pay attention!Pain syndrome can manifest itself in athletes who receive many microtrauma. It may also be associated with professional characteristics.
Diseases that cause injuries
We will list the main diseases that can cause pain in the joints of the fingers.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This pathology can develop in adults and children. Above all, women are susceptible to this, as they have this diagnosis 2 to 3 times more. The site that suffers from this disease are the small joints. The symmetrical wrapping of both arms is a characteristic. Other symptoms that need to be observed by a doctor include:
- Swelling of the finger joints.
- The rigidity of finger movements is felt in the morning.
- The distal joints are numb and cold.
- Liquid accumulation in the joint capsules.
- A neoplasm appears under the skin. These are the rheumatoid nodules.
- The fingers are curved and fan-shaped.
This disease manifests itself not only in the condition of the fingers, it can complicate the internal organs, hence the question: "what to do? " only in this case is relevant. First - see a doctor urgently!
Gouty arthritis
The cause of this disease is a violation of the purine metabolism, which leads to the deposition of salts. In this case, it is important to understand why this process develops. Men over 40 suffer from it. In addition, the prerequisites for defeat are: increased consumption of fatty foods, alcohol. Less commonly, gouty arthritis is one of the symptoms of leukemia.
Inflammation does not spread to all joints, most often it affects the thumbs. The symptoms are pronounced:
- night pains;
- the skin over the affected area is purple and swollen;
- the sore finger is very sensitive, it is impossible to touch it, it does not bend;
- pain occurs in attacks that occur after prolonged physical exertion.
Psoriatic arthritis
This is one of the complications of psoriasis. According to statistics, it occurs in 15%. Arthritis affects the distal phalanges, there is a sharp pain sensation. Severe edema develops, fingers are like sausages, skin is red.
Osteoarthritis
With this disease, dystrophic changes in cartilage occur. The reasons are different: injuries, metabolic disorders, hereditary factors, hormonal changes, professional workload.
Pay attention!This injury is especially common in the elderly.
Osteoarthritis, in most cases, is asymptomatic in the early stages. The disease develops slowly and gradually, so often the question of how to relieve the pain does not arise, since the syndrome is mild.
Arthralgia
It is a pain in the joints of the fingers, which prevents a person from living fully. He cannot write normally, pick up even light objects, perform simple actions. All fingers are affected, including the little finger. Pain syndrome can cause mechanical damage or inflammation. The first option is trauma, hematoma, sprain. The second is a consequence of the development of the disease. In this case, the joint swells, turns red. Finding the answer to the question of what to treat is only possible after the final diagnosis.
Important!Problems with the joints of the hands can be a complication of previous diseases, including: rubella, salmonellosis, exacerbation of sinusitis, tonsillitis, ARVI.
Vibrating motion sickness
This is an occupational disease that develops in people who constantly work with hand tools that create vibration. In this case, the disease can develop in several stages:
- First, there is pain, numbness, "chills" in the fingers.
- In addition, the pain intensifies, over time, the sensitivity of the skin decreases, including vibration. There is a violation of vascular tone.
- In the last stage, trophic complications occur. This involves the loss of both the individual fingers of the hand and the amputation of the hand.
Panaritium
This audible name denotes inflammation of the finger's soft tissues. It occurs if the infection has penetrated through a cut, puncture and so on. The first obvious sign is a strong throbbing pain. It gets worse at night, the skin swells, pus comes out of the wound.
Methods for the treatment of pain in the finger joints
You can find out how to relieve pain and be cured by a specialist. But for that you need to know which doctor you are treating - you are a rheumatologist or an orthopedist. But you will have to go to the surgeon if the disease is neglected.
The main task in the early stages of treatment is to alleviate the manifestations of the disease. The measures to be taken depend on the nature of the pain. Among them are the following:
- If they occur as a result of inflammation, antibiotics, hormones and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
- If the lesions are dystrophic, the first step is to restore the cartilage. For this, chondroprotectors and auxiliary measures in the form of massage and physiotherapy are used.
Pay attention!Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can have several side effects, including nausea, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea.
Medical treatment of joint pain
The first aid for exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis is glucocorticosteroids. Its reception is combined with the use of special ointments that act as anesthetics. After the exacerbation has been removed, the body must be supported. For this, cytostatics are used.
What you need to know about chondroprotectors
These drugs are supplements that stimulate the repair of cartilage tissue.
Chondroprotectors stimulate the formation of the main component of cartilage, prevent the destruction of joint structures, activate the production of intra-articular fluid. They also have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.
Pay attention!In case of serious damage to the joints, only chondroprotectors will not help - an integrated approach is necessary.
Gymnastics, manual therapy
A set of special exercises is selected according to the severity of the condition and only after the acute pain has been removed. All manipulations aim to optimize joint mobility, guaranteeing normal blood flow, metabolic processes. In this case, no heavy loads are applied - this can lead to complete tissue destruction. If you feel pain, you don't have to stretch your fingers hard.
Regarding physical therapy, standardized localized methods are used:
- electrophoresis
- ;
- microwave resonance therapy; amplipulse therapy
- ;
- magnetic therapy; laser treatment
- .
The key to successful treatment will be not only strict compliance with the doctor's recommendations and participation in all recommended procedures, but also a healthy lifestyle.
Fatty, salty and spicy foods should be excluded from the diet. It is worth giving up alcohol, reducing the frequency of smoking.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of finger joints
Folk remedies for this problem are also used. But these remedies do not cure, they only provide temporary pain relief.
Polishes
The ointment can be prepared with propolis and oil. You need to bring corn or sunflower. Proportion: one part of propolis and three parts of oil. The ingredients must be melted and mixed well. After cooling, pour into an opaque glass container and use two to three times a day.
Hellebore herb ointment. To prepare it, you need:
- twenty grams of hellebore (herb), chopped.
- twenty grams of honey.
- ten grams of vegetable oil.
- five grams of dry mustard.
Put all the ingredients in an enamel bowl and melt in a water bath. Stir until smooth. Cool, transfer to a glass container, keep cold. Use at bedtime on affected areas.
Compresses
Treat with fruit vinegar. The material soaked in it should be applied to the affected area for ten to fifteen minutes.
Another effective compression is done like this:
- mix 1 part of vodka;
- 1 part of valerian tincture;
- put 2 pods of pepper in the mixture;
- keep the dye in a dark place for at least 3 hours.
Use it by moistening a cotton swab and apply to the affected area several times a day.
Garlic juice is used for compresses and to swallow with warm milk. In the spring, you can make a tincture of lilac flowers. They need to be crushed and insist on alcohol or vodka for 2 weeks. Then use to rub sore joints. Hands should be kept warm until the effect of the dye is felt.
Conclusion
The causes of pain in the finger joints can vary, so the treatment methods are different. Self-medication is not worth it. It is best to consult a doctor for qualified help - this will help to avoid complications in the future.