Our hands work constantly: they help us to take care of ourselves, to complete tasks at home and at work and to do other useful things. The most precise work can be done with your fingers. All this is possible thanks to the joints. But when the joints of the fingers 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 finger pain occurs: 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 childbirth;
- metabolic disorder;
- inheritance. If there were people in the family who suffered from joint diseases, this predisposition can be inherited;
- negative factors. Among them - the frequent finding of hands in cold water.
Be careful!Pain syndrome can occur in athletes who receive many microtraumas. It can also be associated with professional characteristics.
Diseases that cause injury
We list the main diseases that can cause the onset of pain in the joints of the fingers.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This pathology can develop in both adults and children. Most importantly, women are susceptible to it, they have such a diagnosis 2-3 times more often. The place that suffers from this disease is the small joints. Symmetrical involvement of both arms is a feature. Other symptoms that need to be seen by a doctor include:
- Swelling of the joints of the fingers.
- The stiffness of finger movements is felt in the morning.
- The distal joints feel numb and cold.
- Accumulation of fluid in the joint capsules.
- A neoplasm appears under the skin. These are rheumatoid nodes.
- The fingers are curved and fan-shaped.
This disease manifests itself not only on the condition of the fingers, but can give complications to the internal organs, so 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 develops. Men over 40 suffer from it. In addition, the prerequisites for defeat are: an increased amount 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. Symptoms are pronounced:
- night pains;
- the skin over the affected area becomes 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.
Psoriatric 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 aching pain. Severe edema develops, the fingers become like sausages, the skin turns red.
Osteoarthritis
Dystrophic changes in cartilage occur with this disease. The reasons are different: injuries, metabolic disorders, hereditary factors, hormonal changes, professional workload.
Be careful!This injury is particularly common in older people.
Osteoarthritis in most cases is asymptomatic in the early stages. The disease develops slowly and gradually, so often the question of how to relieve pain does not arise, since the syndrome is mild.
Arthralgia
This is pain in the joints of the fingers, which prevents a person from living fully. He cannot write normally, take 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, bruise, 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!Problems in the joints of the hands can be a complication of previous diseases, including: rubella, salmonellosis, exacerbation of sinusitis, tonsillitis, ARVI.
Vibration disease
This is an occupational disease that develops in people who constantly work with hand tools that create vibrations. In this case, the disease can develop in several stages:
- First, there is pain, numbness, "goosebumps" in the fingers.
- In addition, the pain intensifies, over time, the sensitivity of the skin decreases, including vibrations. There is a violation of the vascular tone.
- In the last stage, trophic complications develop. This is fraught with the loss of both fingers and the amputation of the hand.
Panaritium
This sonorous name denotes inflammation of the soft tissues of the finger. It occurs if the infection has entered through a cut, puncture, and so on. The first obvious sign is severe throbbing pain. At night it worsens, 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 treated by a specialist. But for this you need to know which doctor is treating: is it a rheumatologist or an orthopedist. But you will have to go to 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 are used in the form of massage, physiotherapy.
Be careful!Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can have a number of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, indigestion and diarrhea.
Joint pain medication
The first aid for the exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis are glucocorticosteroids. Their reception is combined with the use of special ointments that act as an anesthetic. After the exacerbation is removed, the body must be supported. For this, cytostatics are used.
What you need to know about chondroprotectors
These medicines 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 marked anti-inflammatory effect.
Be careful!In case of severe damage to the joints, only chondroprotectors will not help - an integrated approach is needed.
Gymnastics, manual therapy
A set of special exercises is selected based on the severity of the condition and only after the acute pain is removed. All manipulations are aimed at optimizing joint mobility, ensuring normal blood flow, metabolic processes. In this case, strong loads are not applied - this can lead to complete destruction of tissues. If you feel pain, you don't need to stretch your fingers by force.
As for physiotherapy, standard localized methods are used:
- electrophoresis;
- microwave resonance therapy;
- therapy with ampullae;
- magnetic therapy;
- laser treatment.
The key to successful treatment will not only be strict adherence to 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 will not cure, they will only give temporary pain relief.
Ointments
The ointment can be prepared with propolis and oil. You need to take corn or sunflower. Ratio: one part of propolis and three parts of oil. The ingredients must be dissolved and mixed thoroughly. After cooling, pour into an opaque glass container and use two or three times a day.
Hellebore herbal 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 enameled container and melt them in a water bath. Mix until smooth. Allow to cool, transfer to a glass container, store in the cold. Use before bedtime on affected areas.
Compress
Treat with fruit vinegar. The material immersed 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 of valerian tincture;
- put 2 chilli pods into the mixture;
- keep the tincture in a dark place for at least 3 hours.
Use it by wetting a cotton ball and applying it to the affected area several times a day.
Garlic juice is used for compresses and for swallowing with warm milk. In the spring, you can make a lilac flower tincture. They must be crushed and insisted on alcohol or vodka for 2 weeks. Then use to scrub sore joints. Hands should be kept warm until the effect of the dye is felt.
Conclusion
The causes of pain in the joints of the fingers can vary, so the methods of treatment differ. Self-medication is not worth it. It is best to consult a doctor for qualified help - this will help avoid complications in the future.