Our hands are constantly working, helping us to serve ourselves, to perform tasks at home and at work, to do other useful things. The most precise work can be done with your fingers. All of this is possible thanks to the joints. But when the finger joints hurt, we immediately look for the reasons for this and the treatment options. Such pains cannot be neglected and will not work because they directly affect life.
Why does my finger pain occur? The main causes
There are a number of factors that lead to the development of the disease, including:
- damage to the immune system;
- chronic infections;
- change in hormone levels. This only affects pain during pregnancy and after delivery;
- metabolic disorder;
- inheritance. If there are people in the family who suffer from joint diseases, then this predisposition can be inherited;
- negative factors. Among them, the frequent finding of hands in cold water.
Pay attention!The pain syndrome can manifest itself in athletes who receive a lot of microtraumas. It can also be associated with professional characteristics.
Diseases that cause injury
Let's list the main diseases that can cause pain in the joints of the fingers.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This pathology can develop in both adults and children. Above all, women are susceptible to it, they have such a diagnosis 2-3 times more often. The place that this disease suffers are the small joints. The symmetrical participation of both arms is a characteristic feature. Other symptoms that should be seen by a doctor include:
- Swelling of the finger joints.
- Stiffness of finger movements is felt in the morning.
- The distal joints feel cold and numb.
- Accumulation of fluid in joint capsules.
- A neoplasm appears under the skin. These are rheumatoid nodes.
- The fingers are curved and fan-shaped.
This disease shows itself not only in the condition of the fingers, it can give complications to the internal organs, therefore the question: "what to do? " only in this case is relevant. First of all, urgently to see a doctor!
Gouty arthritis
The cause of this disease is a violation of purine metabolism, which leads to the deposition of salts. In this case, it is important to understand why such a process takes place. Men over 40 have it. Also, the prerequisites for defeat are: an increased amount of consumption of fatty foods, alcohol. Less commonly, gouty arthritis is one of the symptoms of leukemia.
The inflammation does not spread to all joints, most often affecting the thumbs. The symptoms are pronounced:
- night pains;
- the skin over the affected area becomes purple and inflamed;
- 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 feeling of shooting pain. Severe edema develops, the fingers become sausage-like, the skin reddens.
Osteoarthritis
With this disease, dystrophic changes occur in the cartilage. The reasons are different: injuries, metabolic disorders, hereditary factors, hormonal changes, work stress.
Pay attention!This injury is especially common in older people.
Osteoarthritis in most cases is asymptomatic in the early stages. The disease develops slowly and gradually, so the question of how to relieve pain often does not arise, since the syndrome is mild.
Arthralgia
It is a pain in the joints of the fingers that prevents a person from living fully. Can not write normally, take even light objects, perform simple actions. All fingers are affected, including the little finger. Pain syndrome can lead to 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 possible only after the final diagnosis has been made.
Important!Hand joint problems can be a complication of past illnesses, including: rubella, salmonellosis, sinus exacerbation, tonsillitis, ARVI.
Vibration sickness
This is an occupational disease that develops in people who constantly work with hand tools that generate vibrations. In this case, the disease can develop in several stages:
- First, there is pain, numbness, "goose bumps" on the fingers.
- In addition, the pain intensifies, over time, the sensitivity of the skin, including vibration, decreases. There is a violation of the vascular tone.
- Trophic complications develop in the last stage. This is fraught with the loss of individual fingers and the amputation of the hand.
Panaritium
This sound name denotes inflammation of the soft tissues of the finger. It occurs if the infection has penetrated through a cut, a puncture, etc. The first obvious sign is severe throbbing pain. It worsens at night, the skin swells, pus is released from the wound.
Methods for treating pain in the joints of the fingers
You can find out how to relieve pain and be cured by a specialist. But for this, you need to know which doctor you are treating - it is a rheumatologist or an orthopedist. But you will have to see the surgeon if the disease is neglected.
The main task in the initial 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, 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, physiotherapy are used.
Pay attention!Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can have a number of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and diarrhea.
Medical treatment of joint pain
First aid for an exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis is glucocorticosteroids. Its reception is combined with the use of special ointments that act as anesthetics. Once the exacerbation has been eliminated, 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 and activate the production of intra-articular fluid. They also have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.
Pay attention!In severe joint damage, only chondroprotectors will not help; an integrated approach is needed.
Gymnastics, manual therapy
A set of special exercises is selected according to the severity of the condition and only after elimination of acute pain. All manipulations are aimed at optimizing joint mobility, ensuring normal blood flow, metabolic processes. In this case, no strong loads are applied; this can lead to complete tissue destruction. If you feel pain, you do not need to straighten your fingers.
With regard to physiotherapy, standard localized methods are used:
- electrophoresis;
- microwave resonance therapy;
- amplipulse therapy;
- magnetic therapy;
- laser treatment.
The key to successful treatment will be not only strict adherence to the doctor's recommendations and attendance at 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 are also used for this problem. But these remedies will not cure, they will only temporarily relieve pain.
Ointments
The ointment can be prepared from propolis and oil. You need to take corn or sunflower. Proportion: one part propolis and three parts oil. The ingredients should melt and mix 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.
Place 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 it at bedtime on the affected areas.
Compress
It is treated with fruit vinegar. The material soaked in it should be applied to the affected areas for ten to fifteen minutes.
Another effective compression is done like this:
- mix 1 part of vodka;
- 1 part valerian tincture;
- put 2 hot pepper pods in the mixture;
- keep the tincture in a dark place for at least 3 hours.
Use by moistening a cotton swab and applying it 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 lilac flower tincture. They must be crushed and insisted in alcohol or vodka for 2 weeks. Then use it to rub sore joints. The hands should be kept warm until the effect of the tincture is felt.
Conclusion
Causes of finger joint pain can vary, so treatment methods are different. Self-medication is not worth it. It is better to consult a doctor for qualified help; This will help avoid complications in the future.