Why do finger joints ache and how are they treated?

Painful sensations in the finger joints can occur for a variety of reasons. Any pathological condition requires competent treatment.

Joint diseases require an integrated approach. It includes the use of medication, diet, physical therapy, special gymnastics and alternative medicine.

Possible causes of pain in the finger joints

Joint pain can occur at any age. There are many possible reasons for this phenomenon.

Polyosteoarthritis

Pain in the finger joints in 40% of cases is caused by that cause. This pathology is often called polyarthrosis or nodular toes. It belongs to dystrophic diseases and is characterized by slow progression, which is why patients often neglect the first phase of the disease.

The disease most commonly affects people over the age of 50 and rarely occurs in people under the age of 40.

The causes of polyosteoarthritis are often called hereditary, but there are other factors that cause it:

• climax;
• material exchange violation;
• pathology of the thyroid and other endocrine glands;
• diabetes mellitus.

The joints contain cartilage that begins to decay. This means that natural lubrication is compromised, causing dryness and cracking.

Due to the lack of lubrication and drying, the articular cartilages rub against each other, causing an inflammatory process. In that sense, an abnormal inflammatory joint fluid is created, which expands the joints from the inside. As a result, their deformation occurs, accompanied by painful sensations.

Polyosteoarthritis is accompanied by other symptoms. They are mainly represented by Bouchard and Heberden nodes:

• Bouchard's nodulesdevelop slowly without complications. They usually form on the lateral surfaces of the joints, giving them a wavy shape.
• Heberden's nodesaffect the distal interphalangeal joints on the dorsal and lateral parts. They are characterized by symmetrical development on both arms. The formation of nodules is often accompanied by swelling and redness of the skin around the joints. Painful sensations and tingling occur, although in 30% of cases the pathology is asymptomatic.

As polyosteoarthritis progresses, joint stiffness increases. The pathology results in knotty fingers.

Rheumatoid arthritis and Still's disease

This disease belongs to the systemic pathologies of connective tissue and has a complex autoimmune pathogenesis. The pathology is rarely manifested in patients younger than 30 years. It occurs 5 times less often in men.

The signs of rheumatoid arthritis depend on its stage:

1. The initial stage of the disease is characterized by periarticular bursa edema. This leads to pain, swelling of the periarticular region and a local increase in temperature.
2. In the second stage, the cells begin to divide rapidly, causing the synovium to become denser.
3. In the third stage, the inflamed cells produce an enzyme that affects both cartilage and bone, so the affected joints are usually deformed. This phase is accompanied by an increase in pain and loss of motor functions.

There are three groups of possible causes of rheumatoid arthritis:

• Heredity.
• Infections. Pathological changes can be caused by some paramyxoviruses, herpesviruses, hepatoviruses, retroviruses.
• Driving 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 commonly diagnosed in children. In addition to the joints, Still's disease can affect the lymph nodes, causing pleurisy, pericarditis.

Psoriatic arthritis

This pathology is a form of arthritis and can occur after 20 years. It develops in the background of psoriasis, but in some cases it precedes it.

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

• swelling of the joints;
• Acquisition of skin in the periarticular area bluish-purple;
• appearance of bumps and dents on nails;
• slight stiffness.

There is a destructive form of pathology characterized by rapid bone erosion. This is fraught with loss of joint mobility.

The inflammatory process can affect not only the joints, but also some organs. Skin plaques characteristic of psoriasis in this form of arthritis are often accompanied by the appearance of acne.

Possible causes of psoriatic arthritis are as follows:

• alcohol abuse;
• smoking;
• stress;
• skin damage;
• side effects of some drugs;
• change in hormonal level;
• 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 cause of the infection.

The main signs of the disease are:

• pain;
• mobility restriction;
• hyperemia of the affected area;
• swelling.

Since the cause of the pathology is an infection, it can be accompanied by fever, chills and intoxication syndrome.

Infectious arthritis can develop in the background of other diseases - rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, obesity. The reason may be alcohol and drug addiction, a sexually transmitted infection.

Gout

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

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

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

• pain intensifies when moving;
• the skin over the inflamed joint turns red;
• body temperature rises;
• tofus occurs around inflamed joints - whitish growths under the skin;
• lesions are usually unilateral.

In addition to the acute period, there are both latent and chronic stages of pathology. In the first case, the course of the disease is asymptomatic, and the only sign is hyperuricemia (an indicator of blood tests). The chronic phase is characterized by long periods of remission.

Rizarthrosis

This pathology is a form of arthrosis in which only the thumb is affected. In most cases, rhizarthrosis is a manifestation of polyosteoarthritis, but in every 4-5 patients it is an independent disease.

Approximately in every other person this pathology is caused by trauma. It can be a household or a sport.

There are other causes of pathology:

• incomplete rehabilitation in case of joint bone fractures;
• permanent minor injuries to the joint capsule;
• heredity;
• joint dysplasia;
• disorders of the endocrine system;
• metabolic disorder;
• effects of certain drugs that cause changes in cartilage tissue.

There are 3 stages of pathology:

1. Initially, a person experiences only discomfort.
2. Then the growths appear on the bones, and the painful feelings intensify due to the exposure of the nerve endings.
3. In the last stage, the thumb is severely deformed and its mobility can be completely lost.

Pain is the main symptom of the disease. It is intensified by movement, drop in atmospheric pressure, under cold or hot water. In the beginning the pain hurts, and in 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 and monotonous hand movements, which causes minor damage to the tendon that runs along the back of the joint. Trauma can be another cause of illness.

The disease often accompanies people of certain professions:

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

This pathology can develop at any age. Painful sensations with it can appear spontaneously, but they are more often caused by the load on the thumb - by pressing, stretching, trying to grab the object.

Stenotic ligamentitis

This pathology is also called Knott's disease or cracked finger disease. The cause is inflammation of the tendon and the formation of nodules on it.

In this case, the affected finger bends problematically and returns to its original position.

Painful sensations occur when the finger is bent and stretched. In addition to pain, the disease is characterized by other symptoms:

• numbness;
• increased sensitivity;
• swelling of the joints;
• creating nodules.

Stenosis of ligamentitis can trigger rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, 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 finger joints more likely to develop:

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

Diagnostics

When painful sensations first appear in the finger joints, they usually turn to a therapist who prescribes initial examinations and sends them to a specialist - surgeon, neurologist, traumatologist, arthrologist, rheumatologist, orthopedist, reflexologist, osteopathy, endocrinologist, nutritionist.

In either case, the diagnosis begins with a visual examination. After that, the specialist prescribes standard laboratory tests of blood and urine. They allow you to identify the inflammatory process in the body and assess some important indicators (albumin, globulin fractions, iron content).

Joint puncture belongs to laboratory methods. A needle for collecting synovial fluid is inserted into its cavity. This test is also called arthrocentesis.

The following studies can be performed from instrumental diagnostic methods, depending on the circumstances:

• X-ray.This method allows you to identify trauma, fractures, tumors and other bone damage.
• Ultrasound scan.This technique is used to examine soft tissues. In addition, you can check the condition of blood vessels with an ultrasound examination.
• Tomography- computer, magnetic resonance imaging. CT is more desirable for examining bone structures - the examination is similar to X-rays, but it is much more informative. MRI is more effective in studying soft tissues
• Scintigraphy.This research is conducted using radio indicators.
• Electrocardiogram.Such a diagnosis allows you to check if the pathology has affected the heart.

Treatment of pain in the fingers of the wrists

Every 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 treating common pathologies.

Drug Therapy

Various medications are the main way to treat most diseases.

In case of joint lesions, resort to the following medications:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Such agents are used for various inflammatory processes. They not only reduce inflammation, but also reduce pain and fever. Such drugs are produced in different dosage forms - for topical use, oral administration, injections.
• Antibiotics.Such drugs are used in the inflammatory process, as well as in the infectious origin of the pathology. To appoint antibiotic therapy, the cause of the disease is first identified to determine its susceptibility to the drug.
• Glucocorticosteroids.These drugs are steroidal and anti-inflammatory. Their action speeds up the recovery process. They are also available in different dosage forms.
• Chondroprotectors.These drugs are used as part of a comprehensive treatment. They accelerate the recovery process, prevent the recurrence of pathology.
• Analgesicscan be used for severe pain that cannot be tolerated. These can be topical medications in the form of creams or gels or medications 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, and even with the same diseases in different people, the set of drugs needed can be radically different.

Traditional medicine

Alternative medicine is used to treat a variety of ailments, including those that affect 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.
• Rubbing with honey and horseradish. The products must be mixed in equal proportions.
• Dissolve a tablespoon of mustard powder in half a glass of vodka and massage the affected areas with this composition.
• Boil unpeeled potatoes, knead and apply inflamed compresses to inflamed areas.
• Grind the onion to a mushy 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 tablespoons. l. raw with a glass of vodka and leave for a week in the dark. Rub the affected areas with the strained mixture for at least half a month.
• Cook the rolled oats so that they get the consistency of jelly, cool a bit, soak the bandage in it and apply to the affected areas, fixing it with polyethylene. Remove the dressing after an hour.
• In case of inflammation, dissolve 1 tsp. baking soda in milk and drink.
• If the inflammatory process is worse, then you can apply a fresh cabbage leaf smeared with honey on the affected area.
• Legs with affected joints can be kept in a tub with the addition of birch broth.
• Heat salt or buckwheat in a pan, place in a linen bag and apply to the affected area, leaving for a few hours.
• It is useful to use the infusion of bay leaf inside. To do this, pour a glass of boiling water a few leaves and insist.
• Black radish juice with honey is useful. You should take one tablespoon of such medicine three times a day.
• Juice is useful in joint pathologies. A glass of cranberry or cranberry juice, birch sap, is enough daily.

Only traditional medicine is appropriate in the initial stage of pathology development. In other cases, it should be used in combination with traditional methods. Self-medication may not bring any results, and the pathology will only get worse during this time.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is one of the components of a comprehensive approach to joint pathologies. It is performed only according to the doctor's instructions. There are many methods of physiotherapy, so the appropriate option is chosen on an individual basis.

The following procedures are suitable for various pathologies of the finger joints:

• magnetotherapy - constant, pulsed;
• electrophoresis;
UHF;
• laser therapy;
• phonophoresis;
ozokerite therapy; cryotherapy;
• galvanized;
• diadynamic therapy;
• oxygen therapy;
• balneotherapy;
• shock wave therapy;
• ozone therapy.

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

Any method of physiotherapy has certain contraindications, so it is worth resorting to them only as prescribed by your doctor.

Finger Gymnastics

Special finger exercises are part of a comprehensive approach to treatment. Such gymnastics allows you to restore circulation and mobility, reduce pain and generally become stronger.

You can warm your hands before gymnastics if there are no contraindications. Just soak your hands in warm water for 5 minutes or apply a heating pad on them.

The following exercises are effective for various joint pathologies:

• They clench and release with their fists. You should gently squeeze your hand with your fist so that your thumb is on top of the rest. In this position you need to hold 0, 5-1 minutes, then release the fist spreading your fingers as much as possible. You must do at least 4 reps for each arm.
• Warming up with your fingers. You must place your palm on a hard surface and press it firmly. Alternately lift each finger up, doing 10 reps for each hand.
• Contact. You need to turn your hand palm towards you and alternately connect the tips of each finger with the tip of your thumb, forming a circle. Each contact must be kept 0, 5-1 minutes. Do 4 or more reps for each arm.
• Thumb exercise. The palm should be on a firm surface. You need to move your thumb on it, taking it away from the rest as much as possible. At the end point you need to hold 0, 5-1 minutes, then return to starting position. Do 10-15 reps for each arm. Do the exercise every 2-3 days.
• There is another thumb exercise. You need to turn your hand palm towards you, move your thumb as far to the side as possible, and then bend it so that its tip touches the base of your little finger. At this point you need to stay 0, 5-1 minutes. Do 4 or more reps per arm.
• Stretching with a 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 0, 5-1 minutes. Do 4 reps for each arm.
• Stretching the finger. You need to turn your hand palm towards you and bend your fingers so that they touch the skin at the base. In this position you need to stay 0, 5-1 minutes, then smoothly straighten your fingers. Do 4 or more reps per arm.
• Thumb stretching. You have to turn your hand with your palm towards you and bend your thumb so that its tip touches the base of your index finger. In this position you need to stay 0, 5-1 minutes, do 4 repetitions.
• There is another option for stretching the thumb. The starting position is the same. The thumb should be pulled to the bottom of the little finger, moving only the lower wrist. At the end, hold 0, 5-1 minutes, do 4 reps for each arm.
• Strengthening exercise. It is necessary to take a soft ball and squeeze it as much as possible, staying at the extreme point for a few seconds. Do 10-15 reps for each arm. The exercise itself should be done not every day, but every 2-3 days, resting your hands.
• Pinching. A soft ball is also required for this exercise. It must be tightened so that there is a thumb on one side and everyone else on the other. In this position you need to stay 0, 5-1 minutes. You need to do 10-15 reps for each arm. Exercise every 2-3 days.

In addition to such exercises, it is useful to work with clay or plasticine. The material can be easily rolled and kneaded or made into various crafts.

Finger exercises should not be done when the pain is too intense. In this case, exercise can only hurt.

Diet

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

The diet should be organized according to the following principles:

• Weight normalization. This is necessary for deviations in any direction. In the case of disorders of fat metabolism, lipids are deposited on the joints.
• Salt limit. If there is too much of it in the body, then the joints lose elasticity.
• Avoiding alcohol.
• In gout, the emphasis should be on plant foods that alkalize the body.
• Reduce your intake of animal protein. The contained amino acids penetrate the synovium, causing inflammation and pain.
• It is better to refuse meat soups or use secondary soups.
• It is better to use meat not in pure form, but as cutlets, meatballs, meatballs.
• For gout you should give up fatty fish, caviar, cod liver, offal, eggs, butter with cream, fatty sour cream, nuts.
• You should refuse sweets, confectionery, cereals after pre-processing, instant products.
• The diet must be saturated with vitamin C. For this you need citrus fruits, blueberries, apples, peppers, black currants, kale, broccoli.

Prevention

Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. The following measures are suitable as prophylaxis for various joint finger lesions:

• Proper nutrition. The diet should be rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, low-fat protein foods and unsaturated fatty acids.
• Adequate intake of vitamins and minerals. If there are not enough of them in the diet, you should resort to funds from the pharmacy.
• Accurate drinking regimen. Lack of fluid slows down the metabolism, which impedes blood circulation and nutrition of the joints, and reduces the amount of synovial fluid in them. The drinking regime should be based on clean water without gas. On average, you need to drink 2 liters of fluid a 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 periarticular muscles and ligaments.
• Special gymnastics for fingers. It is especially important when the fingers are exposed to constant stress. This is common in some athletes and professions.
• Competent change of activities and rest. A night's sleep should be complete.
• Minimal stress.
• Regular medical examinations. They can detect the initial stage of pathology or the preconditions for its development, which allows you to take the necessary measures in a timely manner.

Pain in the finger joints cannot be ignored. Even if there are no accompanying symptoms, such a phenomenon can be the first sign of serious pathology. An integrated approach is used in the treatment of joint disease. Therapeutic methods should be prescribed by a physician because each patient needs an individual approach.