Brushes are considered to be the most mobile part of the human body. Thanks to the large change in the range of motion, it is possible to do the finest work with the smallest details. That’s why it’s important to keep your hands healthy at all times. Today, many people, including the younger generation, complain of joint pain in their fingers. In some cases, it becomes so strong that one literally loses the ability to move normally.
general information
The human hand can be divided into three distinct parts: the wrist, the wrist, and the fingers. The metacarpus is made up of eight tiny, irregularly shaped bones. Each is arranged in two rows. The metacarpus is represented by five tubular bones, each with a base, body, and head. The bases are attached to the wrist and the heads form joints with the walls of the fingers. The latter, in turn, consists of three walls. The exception in this case is the thumb. He only has two phalanxes.
The human hand is an extremely fine and precise instrument. The fingers are exactly the devices that allow coordinated movement. Without them, normal life is not possible. All of these movements are due to joint mobility. However, due to the high daily activity, there is a high risk of developing other diseases, mechanical injuries and injuries in this area. Joint pain in the fingers is usually accompanied by such pathological changes. The treatment in this case depends solely on the factor that caused the discomfort.
Main reason
According to experts, pain in the joints of the fingers can be caused by a wide variety of causes. The most common violations are listed below:
- Arthritis.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Bursitis.
- Mechanical injuries and injuries.
- Osteomyelitis.
Arthritis
Arthritis refers to acute or chronic arthritis. Isolated lesions of the fingers are very rare. Usually in such patients, the pathological process also affects other joints. Joint pain in the affected area is characterized by intensity. They occur not only with the movement of the fingers but also at rest. In addition, severe edema, a change in the normal tone of the skin, occurs in the areas affected by arthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. It is an infectious and allergic disease of the connective tissue that is predominantly systemic in nature. Severe colds, frequent stress, and hypothermia contribute to the development of this disease. Rheumatoid arthritis begins with pain in the index finger joint. Affected areas swell, patients complain of fever, weakness, chills.
- Psoriatic arthritis. Usually, this type of pathology develops in patients who already have psoriatic manifestations on the skin. These are reddish, dry scaly patches. As the disease develops, the finger acquires a purple tinge and a sausage-like shape.
- Gouty arthritis. Gout is a fairly common disease characterized by metabolic disorders, namely purines. According to experts, such a disease can be triggered by an increase in uric acid levels and then the deposition of its salts directly in the joint tissues. Gout attacks usually begin with severe discomfort in the big toe joint. In the absence of timely treatment, the pathology spreads to other joints. Gout attacks most often occur at night. They are characterized by a rise in temperature around the affected area and severe pain. The disease develops very quickly. After a while, the patient may experience joint pain in the fingers of both hands. The duration of a typical attack of the disease is typically 2-14 days.
Osteoarthritis
This disease results from the sequential destruction of cartilage in the area of the joint surface. In the case of this pathology, the painful discomfort initially occurs only after prolonged physical exertion. Then, as the disease progresses, the intensity of the pain increases, even at night.
Finger joint is a fairly common problem. Insignificant damage can also give impetus to its development. During the onset of the disease, the fingers may change their normal shape as they bend sideways.
Rhizarthrosis. As the disease develops, the joint at the base of the thumb is involved, which also connects the wrist to the metacarpus. This disease is caused by overloading the area. Pain in the thumb joint, visual deformity of the bones are the most common symptoms of this pathology.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the so-called joint bags of the fingers, which is accompanied by the accumulation of fluid in their cavity, is called bursitis. This pathology is characterized by painful sensations in the affected area, the appearance of edema, redness. The main symptom of bursitis is the development of a round swelling in the joint area characterized by a soft consistency. Easily identifiable visually.
With a prolonged course, bursitis often turns into a chronic stage. In such a situation, the deposition of salts in the affected area is associated with the inflammatory process. All of this usually causes pain in the joints of the fingers.
If the problem is caused by a hand injury, the abnormal microflora often joins the inflammatory process. In this case, we are talking about the development of purulent bursitis. Fever, headaches and weakness accompany the whole body.
Injuries and mechanical damage
The displacement of the bones in the joints is called dislocation. Most often, athletes have to deal with this problem. It is accompanied by the following symptoms: severe swelling of the affected area, joint deformity and severe pain syndrome.
The most common injury is a dislocation of the thumb. Such a separate arrangement exposes him to every bad move every time. However, the thumb is characterized by a strong tape apparatus and is characterized by a certain load threshold beyond which stretching occurs. All this involves the displacement of the joint surfaces.
The most common cause of thumb movement is an unfortunate fall on an open palm. It is very easy to determine the presence of a problem because the externally affected area appears to be deformed. Severe thumb pain can interfere with normal activities, work, and exercise. This part of the skin usually gets a reddish tinge.
Osteomyelitis
The purulent process that affects the joints and nearby soft tissues is called osteomyelitis. This pathology is caused by the penetration of bacteria into the body, producing pus all the time.
Acute osteomyelitis usually begins with a 40-degree rise in temperature. The patient's condition worsens very quickly, which is caused by severe poisoning of the body. In addition, the patient may experience the following symptoms: joint pain in the fingers, chills, loss of consciousness, vomiting.
In the first two days, the hand pain gradually increases. Active finger movements are usually impossible. The pathology develops rapidly, which is manifested in the occurrence of edematous phenomena in the muscles of the hand and even in the forearm. The skin in the affected area turns purple.
Diagnostics
Timely medical advice, diagnosis and competent treatment - all these factors allow the diagnosis of the disease and prevent its further progression, the development of serious complications. Pain in the joints of the fingers should not be ignored, as even a small pathology can lead to complete loss of movement and the patient can become disabled. The following diagnostic steps may be required to identify the problem:
- X-ray of the hand.
- Blood tests (clinical / biochemical) and urine tests.
- Determination of purines.
What should be the treatment for finger joint pain?
Regardless of the true cause of the pathology, therapy must be comprehensive and simultaneously address three problems: treating the underlying disease, restoring the primary function of the hand, and relieving pain.
Of course, the fight against a particular disease depends on its nature. Your doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment in all cases. However, general rules apply to the mitigation and functional development of hand-held inconveniences.
Modern medicine offers a variety of medicines to relieve discomfort. Most commonly, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
Glucocorticosteroid hormones are used to relieve pain caused by autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis). They have an excellent anti-inflammatory effect and provide the desired relief relatively quickly.
Special ointments containing anesthetic components may slightly increase the effect of the drugs.
Conclusion
In summary, it should be noted that pain in the joints of the fingers should not be ignored. The treatments offered by modern medicine are most often effective in overcoming the problem. The most important thing is to seek medical help in a timely manner and perform the necessary diagnostic test. To be healthy!