Why does finger joint pain occur and how is it treated?

6 October 2020

causes of pain in the joints of the fingers

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

Joint diseases require an integrated approach. This 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.

Polyosteoarthritis

Pain in the joints of the fingers in 40% of cases is caused by this cause. This condition is often also called polyarthrosis or knotty 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 commonly 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 hardware exchange;
pathology of the thyroid and other endocrine glands;
diabetes mellitus.

The joints contain cartilage which is starting to break down. This means that the natural lubrication is compromised, causing dryness and cracking.

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

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

Bouchard's nodulesare slow developing without complications. They usually form on the lateral surfaces of the joints, giving them a spindle shape.
Heberden's Nodulesaffect the distal interphalangeal joints on the back and sides. They are characterized by symmetrical development of 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 gnarled fingers.

Rheumatoid arthritis and Still's disease

why there is pain in the joints of the fingers

This disease belongs to the systemic pathologies of the connective tissue and presents a complex autoimmune pathogenesis. The pathology rarely manifests itself in patients under 30 years of age. In men, this happens 5 times less often.

The signs of rheumatoid arthritis depend on its stage:

The initial stage of the disease is characterized by periarticular edema of the bursa. This causes pain, swelling of the periarticular area and a local rise in temperature.
During the second stage, the cells begin to divide rapidly, causing the synovium to become denser.
In the third stage, the inflamed cells produce an enzyme which affects both the cartilage and the bones, so the affected joints are usually deformed. This stage 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 certain paramyxoviruses, herpesviruses, hepatoviruses, retroviruses.
Trigger factors. Pathological changes can be triggered by hypothermia, intoxication, stress, taking certain medications, hyperinsolation, endocrinopathy.

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

Psoriatic arthritis

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

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

swelling of the joints;
Acquisition by the skin in the periarticular area of a blue-violet color;
the appearance of bumps and depressions on the nails;
slight stiffness.

There is a form of destructive 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 certain organs. The characteristic skin patches of psoriasis in this form of arthritis are often accompanied by the appearance of acne.

The possible causes of psoriatic arthritis are as follows:

alcohol abuse;
smoke;
stress;
skin damage;
side effects of certain medications;
changes in hormonal levels;
excess 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:

pain;
limitation of mobility;
hyperemia of the affected area;
.

The cause of the pathology being an infection, it may 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, a sexually transmitted infection.

Drop

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

The pathology is characterized by a paroxysmal character. Episodes of exacerbation can last from 3 days to a week and a half. The attacks are characterized by a sharp appearance and the same quick termination. The presence of seizures means an inflammatory process.

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

pain worse with movement;
the skin of the inflamed joint turns red;
the body temperature rises;
tophi form around inflamed joints - whitish growths under the skin;
lesions are usually unilateral.

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 (indicator of blood test). The chronic stage is characterized by long periods of remission.

Rhizarthrosis

how to get rid of pain in the joints of the fingers

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 4-5 patients it is an independent disease.

In about one in two people, this condition is caused by trauma. It can be domestic or sporty.

There are other causes of pathology:

incomplete rehabilitation in the event of a fractured wrist bone;
minor permanent injuries to the joint capsule;
;
joint dysplasia;
endocrine system disorders;
;
the effects of certain medicines which cause changes in cartilage tissue.

There are 3 stages of the pathology:

At first the person feels only discomfort.
Then bone growths appear and the pain sensations intensify due to the exposure of the nerve endings.
In the last step, the thumb is severely deformed and its mobility may be completely lost.

Pain is the main symptom of the disease. It intensifies with movement, the drop in atmospheric pressure, under cold or hot water. At first the pain is painful, and at 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, monotonous movements of the hands, which causes minor damage to the tendon that runs along the back of the wrist. Trauma can be another cause of the disease.

Illness is often a companion of people in certain professions:

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

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

Stenosing ligamentitis

This condition is also called Knott's disease or broken finger disease. 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;
;
block formation (node).

Stenosing ligamentitis can be triggered by rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and high 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 the finger joints more likely to grow:

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

Diagnostics

When painful sensations in the joints of the fingers first appear, they usually turn to a therapist who orders initial examinations and refers them to a more narrow specialist - surgeon, neurologist, traumatologist, arthrologist, rheumatologist, orthopedist, reflexologist, osteopath, endocrinologist, nutritionist, phthisiatrist.

In all cases, the diagnosis begins with a visual inspection. After that, the specialist orders standard laboratory blood and urine tests. They make it possible to identify the inflammatory process in the body and to assess some important indicators (albumin, globulin fractions, amount of iron).

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

disease diagnosis for pain in the joints of the fingers

Among 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.This technique is used to examine soft tissue. In addition, with the help of an ultrasound examination, you can check the condition of the vessels.
Tomography- computer, magnetic resonance imaging. Computed tomography is preferably used to examine bone structures - an exam is similar to an x-ray, but much more informative. MRI is more effective at studying soft tissue
Scintigraphy.This search is performed using a radio indicator.
Electrocardiogram.Such a diagnosis makes it possible to check 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 the treatment of joint pathologies.

Drug treatment

Various drugs are the mainstay of treatment for most illnesses.

In case of joint damage, use the following drugs:

Preparations of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory group.These funds are used for various inflammatory processes. They not only relieve inflammation, but also reduce pain and fever. These drugs are produced in different dosage forms - for topical use, oral administration, injection.
Antibiotics.Such drugs are used in the inflammatory process, as well as in the infectious origin of 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 accelerates the recovery process. They are also available in various dosage forms.
Chondroprotectors.These medicines are used as part of a comprehensive treatment. They accelerate the recovery process, prevent the recurrence of pathology.
pain relieverscan be used for severe pain that cannot be tolerated. These may be local remedies in the form of a cream or gel, or drugs for oral administration or injections.
Immunosuppressants.Such drugs are used when the pathology is autoimmune in nature.

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

Traditional medicine

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

The following folk recipes can be effective:

Melt 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.
Rub with honey and horseradish. The products should be mixed in equal proportions.
Dissolve a spoonful of mustard powder in half a glass of vodka and massage the affected areas with this composition.
Boil unpeeled potatoes, knead and apply hot compresses to inflamed areas.
Grind the onion into a pasty state and apply a compress to the affected areas. You need to keep it for half an hour, repeating the procedure up to three times a day.
Tincture of lilac flowers helps a lot. You need to fill 3 tbsp. l. raw with a glass of vodka and let stand for a week in the dark. Rub the affected areas daily with a filtered mixture for at least half a month.
Boil oatmeal so that they acquire the consistency of jelly, cool slightly, soak a bandage in it and apply to the affected areas, securing it with polyethylene. Remove the compress after an hour.
If ignited, dissolve 1 tsp. baking soda 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, place it in a cloth bag and apply to the affected area, allowing it to sit for several hours.
It is useful to use the infusion of laurel inside. To do this, pour a glass of boiling water over a few leaves and insist.
Black radish juice with honey is useful. Three times a day you need to take a spoon of such a remedy.
For joint pathologies it is useful to use juices. A glass of cranberry or lingonberry juice, birch juice is enough per day.

Traditional medicine alone is appropriate at the initial stage of development of the pathology. In other cases, it must be used in combination 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 comprehensive approach to joint pathologies. It is performed only as directed by a physician. There are many methods of physiotherapy, so the appropriate option is selected on an individual basis.

methods of treating pain in the joints of the fingers

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

- constant, impulse;
;
UHF;
;
phonophoresis;
ozokerite therapy;
;
galvanized;
diadynamic therapy;
;
;
shock wave therapy;
.

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

Any method of physiotherapy has certain contraindications, so it is worth using it only on prescription from 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 up your hands if there are no contraindications for this. Just soak your hands in lukewarm water for 5 minutes or apply a heating pad to them.

The following exercises are effective for various joint pathologies:

The fists clench and loosen. You should gently clench your hand in a fist so that your thumb is above the rest. In this position, you need to linger for 0. 5-1 minute, then loosen your fist, spreading your fingers as much as possible. You need to do at least 4 reps for each hand.
Warming the fingers. You should place your palm on a hard surface and press it firmly. Alternately lift each finger, doing 10 repetitions for each hand.
Contact. You need to turn the 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 should be maintained for 0. 5 to 1 minute. Do 4 or more repetitions for each hand.
Thumb exercise. The palm should be on a firm surface. You need to move your thumb along it, keeping it as far away from the rest as possible. At the extreme point, you need to linger for 0. 5-1 minute, then return to the starting position. Do 10 to 15 repetitions for each hand. Do the exercise every 2-3 days.
There is another exercise with the thumb. You should turn your hand with the palm towards you, move your thumb to the side as much as possible, and 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 repetitions per hand.
Stretch the 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 to 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 gently straighten your fingers. Do 4 or more repetitions per hand.
Thumb stretch. You should turn the hand with the palm towards you and bend the 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 the thumb. The starting position is the same. The thumb should be pulled towards the base of the little finger, moving only the lower joint. In the extreme, linger for 0. 5-1 minute, do 4 reps 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 to 15 repetitions for each hand. The exercise itself should not be done every day, but every 2-3 days, giving your hands a rest.
pinches. This exercise also requires a soft ball. You have to pinch it so that there is an inch 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 to 15 repetitions 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 harm.

Diet

One of the principles of treatment of various joint pathologies is good nutrition.

The regime must be organized according to the following principles:

Weight normalization. This is necessary for deviations in any direction. In the event 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 their elasticity.
Avoid alcohol.
For gout, the focus should be on plant foods to alkalize the body.
Reduce the intake of animal protein. The amino acids it contains enter the synovium, causing inflammation and pain.
It is better to refuse meat broths or use secondary broths.
It is better to use meat not pure, but in the form of chops, meatballs, meatballs.
With gout you need to give up oily fish, caviar, cod liver, organ meats, eggs, creamed butter, fatty sour cream, nuts.
You must refuse sweets, confectionery products, cereals after pretreatment, instant products.
The diet should be saturated with vitamin C. For this you need citrus fruits, blueberries, apples, peppers, black currants, Brussels sprouts, broccoli.

Prevention

All disease is easier to prevent than to cure. As a prophylaxis of various joint lesions of the fingers, the following measures are suitable:

Good 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 it in the diet, you need to resort to funds from the pharmacy.
Correct consumption regime. Lack of fluid slows down the metabolism, which impairs blood flow and nutrition in the joints and reduces the volume of synovial fluid they contain. The consumption regime should be based on clean water without gas. On average, you need to drink 2 liters of fluid 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. This is especially important when the fingers are under constant stress. This is true for some athletes and some professions.
Competent alternation of activity and rest. The night's sleep should be over.
Minimum constraint.
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 a 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.