Because?The causes of pain in the finger joints may be completely different, but the resulting problem is the same. This is an incredible discomfort, which is quite capable of poisoning life, because it is with our hands that we make many movements during the day.
To do?There are different ways to minimize pain. It is very difficult to completely eradicate the problem, but it is also possible. The main thing is to make the correct diagnosis with the help of specialists and select a treatment regimen. However, it is even more important not to neglect preventive measures.
The main causes of pain in the joints of the fingers.
Hand injuries
The pain caused by a bruised finger is quite moderate and goes away fairly quickly. It is true that it is not without consequences: bleeding, hematomas, hyperemia or swelling may occur in the area of the hematoma. But the finger will function as usual, with slight alterations. A hematoma on the finger on the palm is characterized by pain of moderate intensity and subsequent peeling of the skin (dark blood accumulates in the cavity).
Subungual hematomas are much more difficult to endure: they are accompanied by severe shooting pains and spasms, which are especially felt when lowering the arm. After a bruise, the nail plate may come off completely or partially.
Severe, explosive pain can be caused by a broken finger. These lesions are accompanied by acute pain, which then weakens somewhat, but does not disappear. The finger stops functioning normally, swells, turns into a continuous bruise, sometimes becomes pathologically immobile, deformed (in the joints and not only) and makes crackling noises. If he tries to move the sore finger joint, jump and resist.
Freezing of the hands is accompanied by slight tingling in the first hours, which then increases and turns into burning. The finger turns blue and swells. In severe frostbite, the distal parts lose sensitivity, the fingers turn pale and remain cold, and pain is felt between the injured and healthy areas.
Infectious infections
The cause of rapidly increasing pain in the finger joint may be panaritium. An abscess forms, the finger swells, turns blue, and hyperemia is observed. The nature of the pain is stabbing and spasmodic. It bothers the patient at night, especially if a crook has developed under the nail or deep in the limb (tendon, bone, joint crook). Superficial forms of this disease (subcutaneous and cutaneous, peri- and subungual) do not particularly affect general well-being, but deep panaritium can cause fever and general intoxication.
A more exotic cause of finger joint pain is chinga. It affects people who cut and process the carcasses of commercial marine animals. A small wound, crack or abrasion in the skin is enough for the infection to penetrate inside and affect the entire finger. The disease begins with a mild dull pain at the site of injury, but after one or two days discomfort arises and in the joint, most often in the proximal one, the pain intensifies, the joint begins to ache and throb, the finger swells and turns pale. or turns bluish in color.
Arthritis of the joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common cause of symmetrical pain in the finger joints of the upper extremities. The intensity of the symptoms varies: in the first degree, only slight arthralgia and stiffness of movement (which, however, quickly passes), in the second - long periods of stiffness, redness of the affected joints, limitation of their mobility, constant pain (both at rest and in movement), and with the third, it becomes impossible to move the diseased joint at all, stiffness and swelling do not go away, hyperemia and pain are constant and very noticeable.
Usually it is women who wonder about the causes and methods of treating pain in the joints of the fingers: the beautiful half of humanity most often suffers from gouty arthritis. It can affect one or several finger joints at a time, causing sudden and intense pain, swelling, hyperemia, increased body temperature and immobilization of the affected finger.
The usual symptoms of the disease are increased pain at night and at rest, but lessening during the day and during movement, as well as swelling of the fingers and blue or purple skin. The interphalangeal joints of the fingers are the most affected. The finger is gradually deformed in several places.
Post-traumatic arthritis affects only one joint. In arthritis caused by allergic and infectious causes (for example, diseases of a viral and bacterial nature), several joints of the fingers can be affected at once. Occupational peripheral arthritis affects only those joints that are most loaded.
In any case, pain in the joints of the fingers, the cause of which is arthritis of one form or another, bothers mainly at night and disappears during the day, leaving only local swelling, difficulty moving and some stiffness in the morning. . Long-term advanced arthritis leads to deformation of the fingers.
Joint degeneration due to disease.
In the initial stage of osteoarthritis of the hands, pain in the fingers is characterized by short duration, periodicity and uncertainty. In the morning, joint movements are limited. As osteoarthritis progresses, the pain becomes stronger and longer, accompanying every movement of the fingers, its character is sometimes burning. Housework and minor operations are increasingly difficult to perform with the affected hand. Lateral deformations occur and Bouchard and Heberden nodules are noted.
Tendon and ligament pathologies.
Pain in the palm and at the base of the finger is usually caused by stenosing ligamentitis. Initially, the pain is felt only with some movements of small amplitude and with pressure, but little by little it begins to appear at rest. Movements are limited, joints click. The more the disease develops, the more noticeable the recoil after such clicks and the flexion contracture.
If the cause of pain in the joints of the fingers is De Quervain's disease, then the discomfort is initially noticeable only when bending and abducting this finger, but subsequently any movement causes pressing pain (and sometimes it is not even necessary to move). anything, the joint also hurts at rest). The pain syndrome often radiates to the distal phalanx, in some cases to the forearm on the side where the first finger grows.
angiotrophoneurosis
When vasospasm occurs, Raynaud's syndrome occurs. Because of this, the fingers become cold and paroxysmally numb. The second phase of the attack is accompanied by aching pain with a bursting and burning effect. The attack doesn't last long. Afterwards, the distal parts of the hands become red and feel hot. The causes of this condition, which causes pain in the joints of the fingers, are very diverse. Could be:
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- systemic lupus erythematosus;
- scleroderma;
- Sharp syndrome;
- antisynthetase syndrome;
- thromboangiitis obliterans of the hands;
- occupational diseases, pathologies of the metabolic and endocrine systems.
If the patient is not diagnosed with any of these diseases, then the cause of pain in the joints of the fingers is Raynaud's disease with its characteristic set of symptoms. Women are more susceptible to it.
Hematologic, neurological, and endocrine diseases can cause erythromelalgia, but it can also occur on its own. The disease is expressed in the form of hyperemia and swelling of the fingers, burning, paroxysmal and paroxysmal pain, sometimes in both hands at the same time or first in one and then in the second. The pain attack is so strong that it is simply impossible to move your fingers. You can relieve the pain by raising or cooling the affected arm (when the limb is warmed and lowered, the pain worsens).
nervous diseases
If you feel burning or stabbing pain in your finger joint, the cause is likely neurological. Especially if, in addition to pain, the sensitivity of the hand is disturbed and vegetative-trophic disorders are observed.
This could be, for example, a neuropathy of the median nerve. With this disease, the palmar side of the first to third fingers hurts and they cannot bend. It is not possible to move the index finger forward, and there are also serious problems when clenching the palm into a fist.
Attacks of pain in the finger joints at night and disappearance of pain when shaking or lowering the hands may indicate carpal tunnel syndrome. With this type of median nerve neuropathy, the pain is also located on the side of the palm.
If neuropathy has developed in the radial nerve, then, on the contrary, the back of the hand and the first finger (sometimes also the second and third fingers) hurt, provided that the wrist or forearm is affected. The back of the hand may become numb and the pain may radiate to the forearm, even if it is healthy.
If the cause of pain in the joints of the fingers is neuropathy of the ulnar nerve, then these pains (in the hand and in the fourth and fifth fingers) are radiating in nature and the main source of discomfort is in the elbow joint . In the morning my elbow and hand especially hurt.
Tumors
In addition to malignant neoplasm of the hands (from which people suffer very rarely), benign tumors can also cause pain in the joints of the fingers - chondroma or osteoid chondroma. The pain in the first case is mild and not localized, but osteoid osteomas, on the contrary, cause acute pain strictly in the affected area.
Other reasons
Writer's cramp, which accompanies a number of neurological and mental disorders (in particular, occupational neurosis), also causes pain in the finger joints in men and women and requires treatment. Writing, typing on a computer keyboard or typewriter becomes painful. A persistent aching pain is accompanied by acute weakness, tremors in the hand and local cramps. Pain in the joints of the fingers can also be due to other pathologies:
- leukemia (Waldenström macroglobulinemia);
- neoplasms in the adrenal glands (aldosteroma);
- complications of diabetes (diabetic neuropathy);
- vascular lesions (distal digital embolism in case of occlusion of the subclavian artery);
- hereditary diseases (Fabry disease);
- typically childhood diseases, for example, neuroarthritic diathesis.
Diagnosis and treatment of pain in the finger joints.
A correct diagnosis will allow us to determine the true causes of pain in the joints of the fingers, whether inflammatory or another pathological process. If the pain is very severe and you find it difficult to straighten and bend your fingers, be sure to seek medical help. Your doctor will likely send you a test, which usually consists of:
- laboratory tests of blood, urine, rheumatic tests;
- bone scan;
- magnetic resonance,
- CT scan of the fingers.
Treatment tactics are aimed not only at relieving pain in the patient's finger joints, but also at eliminating its causes. For example, for inflammation, anti-inflammatory drugs (hormonal or non-steroidal) are prescribed, and for infection, antibiotics.
The main goal of therapy in case of dystrophic joint damage is the restoration of cartilage tissue, for which massage, physiotherapy and chondroprotectors are used. To restore joint mobility, special exercises are prescribed.
Physical therapy has been shown to be the most effective way to treat small joints, including the fingers. These are electrosleep, MRI and novocaine electrophoresis, as well as several other procedures. During remission, it is advisable to undergo treatment in a sanatorium or resort using sources of radon or hydrogen sulfide.
As for diet, for pain in the joints of the fingers, whatever its causes, it is recommended:
- eat more seafood and fish to get phosphorus, calcium and iron;
- take apple cider vinegar to eliminate toxins from the body;
- Consume fish oil and linseed oil (the fatty acids they contain help to normalize fat metabolism).
It is also very useful to add nuts, ginger, fruits (currants and pomegranates), radishes and lettuce to your diet. But it is advisable to limit mayonnaise, sweet and starchy, spicy and smoked foods, as well as fatty dairy products.
Prevent pain in the finger joints.
Eliminate the causes of finger joint pain in men and women so that treatment is not necessary:
- do not cool your hands too much;
- limit your alcohol consumption and, if you smoke, quit;
- maintain a balance of vegetables and fruits in your diet and less canned, spicy and fried foods;
- treat all runny nose and ARVI, without waiting for the disease to go away on its own;
- Make sure your body weight is normal;
- stop snapping your fingers.
Do a simple exercise to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome so you don't have to think about how to treat finger joint pain and what causes it. If you work a lot on the computer, this is a must. Clench all your fingers into a fist, raise your thumb as if in approval and turn it first clockwise and then counterclockwise. There are many other exercises for the finger joints.
Exercises against pain in the finger joints.
make a fist
Extend your palm with your fingers extended to feel the tension in all your joints and muscles. This simple action should not be accompanied by pain.
Do a simple stretch: clench your palm into a fist for half a minute to a minute so that your thumb is on top of the rest, then relax and extend all your fingers, spreading them apart. Do this at least four times with each hand.
Stretch your fingers
To make your finger joints more mobile and relieve pain when bending your fingers (whatever the cause of the pain), repeat a simple exercise.
The palm is placed on a flat surface with the back facing up. The fingers should be straightened without straining the joints and held there for 30 to 60 seconds. Then relax your hand and return to the starting position. Repeat four times with each hand.
Use this exercise to relieve pain and improve joint mobility.
draw claws
Another exercise for the mobility of the finger joints.
Turn your palm with the inside facing you and bend your fingers so that their tips are at the base of the joints and your hand looks like a claw. Hold for half a minute or one minute, repeat four times or more with each hand.
Train your grip
Regardless of the reasons that cause pain in the joints of the fingers, a person needs to somehow hold objects, operate door handles, etc. , so it is advisable to train your fingers.
Squeeze the soft ball as hard as you can for a few minutes. Let go. Repeat 10 to 15 times with each hand, two to three times a week (but with an interval of at least two days between sessions). The exercise is contraindicated in case of injuries to the thumb joints.
larceny
This exercise trains your finger muscles to make it easier to open various packages and doors with your keys and refuel your car. Pinch the soft ball with your thumb and any other fingers, holding it for half a minute or a minute. For each hand, you should repeat the pinch 10 to 15 times. Like the previous exercise, pinching is performed two or three times a week with a mandatory 48-hour interval between sessions and only if the thumb joints are not injured.
raise your finger
This exercise helps the joints have more mobility and the fingers become more flexible.
The palm is placed on a smooth surface with the back facing up. You must lift each finger one by one and put it back down, but you can use all of your fingers immediately at the same time. You should do this 10 to 12 times with each hand.
Retract your thumb
This exercise trains the thumb muscles to make it easier to grip and lift objects (for example, cans and bottles).
Wrap your palm and thumb with an elastic band and place them on a table or any flat surface with the back side up. Using the resistance of the elastic band, move your thumb to the side, hold it there for half a minute or a minute and then relax, and so on 10 to 15 times with each hand. The exercise is performed two or three times a week, but no more than once every 48 hours.
This exercise trains the thumb muscles to make it easier to grip and lift objects (for example, cans and bottles).
Wrap your palm and thumb with an elastic band and place them on a table or any flat surface with the back side up. Using the resistance of the elastic band, move your thumb to the side, hold it there for half a minute or a minute and then relax, and so on 10 to 15 times with each hand. The exercise is performed two or three times a week, but no more than once every 48 hours.
bend your thumb
It is also necessary to develop thumb mobility.
Raise your palm in front of you, turning the back side down. Alternatively, move your thumb to the side and bend it toward your palm to touch the base of your pinky finger. After holding it for half a minute or a minute, relax. Repeat these steps four times for each hand.
touch with thumb
Stiffness and pain in the joints of the fingers occur for various reasons, but, in any case, it is advisable to train the thumbs so that daily operations such as writing by hand, picking up a spoon, brushing your teeth, etc. don't cause problems. .
Place your palm in front of you, straighten your wrist, and touch each other with your thumb to form the letter O. After holding it for half a minute or a minute, relax your palm. Minimum four repetitions for each arm.
Stretch your thumb
You need to stretch your thumbs.
Raise your hand in front of you, turn your palm toward you, and bend your thumb toward your index finger for half a minute to a minute, then relax. Do this four times with each hand. Then, from the same position, stretch your thumb over your palm so that the lower joint becomes tense and hold for half a minute to a minute. There are also four repetitions.
The most common causes of finger joint pain when bending are not only injuries and infections, but also overwork. If your finger joint is sick, you need to take urgent measures: first of all, consult a specialized doctor: a surgeon, neurologist or traumatologist. To relieve pain, make your joints more mobile and your muscles stronger, exercise your fingers and palm regularly.