Pain in the joints of the fingers when bending is often caused by age-related changes, as well as irreversible processes in the body that provoke negative manifestations and the development of a state of discomfort in the patient. Such a pathology requires mandatory medical intervention, which includes all methods based on the causes of pain symptoms in the upper extremities.
Causes of pain
Fingers should be treated if the factors that provoked such a problem are identified. As a rule, doctors divide pain in the joints of the hand into 2 groups (mechanical and inflammatory).
Mechanical pain is accompanied by a local, slightly expressed inflammatory process, which "erases" the picture of the disease. Very often patients do not pay attention to such symptoms, unlike inflammatory pain. In this case, stiffness of movements occurs in the morning, which can last more than 1 hour. The pain decreases slightly during physical activity.
We list the diseases that can cause such symptoms.
Rheumatoid arthritis
With the development of rheumatoid arthritis, small joints are affected, but it is quite possible that internal organs and large joints may be involved in the pathological process. Rheumatoid pain is accompanied by swelling and redness of the metacarpal phalanx of the middle and index fingers.
With this disease, the fingers are very painful when bent, and a similar symptom is observed on the second hand. A characteristic symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is pain that occurs immediately after waking up, while the pain decreases in the evening.
Psoriatic arthritis
This disease mainly affects the skin, and the pain appears mainly in the distal phalanges. With psoriatic arthritis, severe swelling of the fingers occurs, which becomes bluish in color. In addition, with this disease it is quite difficult to straighten the thumbs.
Infectious arthritis
With infectious arthritis, there may be no systemic disorders, but it is characterized by the appearance of a sharp attack of pain when bending a finger, which can last from 2-3 hours to 2-3 days. Chills and hyperthermia are sometimes present.
Gout
This disease is the most common, but in most cases, patients completely unexpectedly discover the real reason why the joints of the fingers hurt when bending, after clarifying the diagnosis. Most often the disease occurs in people over 50 years of age.
The main reason for the progression of gout is a violation of the metabolism of uric acid, which is quite difficult to eliminate from the body, settling in the cartilage and joints, creating a serious obstacle to their normal functioning. Characteristic signs of gout include burning and intense pain.
Osteoarthritis
Among the most common reasons for the development of arthrosis are hereditary factors, as well as disorders of metabolic processes in the body, activities associated with increased physical activity, etc. In most cases, osteoarthritis occurs among mature women, due to hormonal changes.
A characteristic symptom of the disease, in addition to excruciating pain in the joints of the hand, is the appearance of swelling and subcutaneous nodules, which cause deformation of the fingers and thickening of the central part.
Stenosing ligamentitis
This pathological process can be similar in symptoms to arthrosis and arthritis, so an x-ray examination is necessary to clarify the diagnosis. Clinical manifestations are quite typical: it is painful for the patient to straighten and bend his hands, and in some cases the clenched palm can jam. Also, the extension of the fingers is accompanied by characteristic clicks.
Rhizarthrosis
If pain appears in the thumb joint, most likely such a condition may indicate rhizarthrosis, which manifests itself as intoxication, previous infections and various types of injuries.
During the initial examination of the patient, the localization of pain is determined, which intensifies under specific loads (turning the key, turning the door handle, opening the screw cap, etc. ). At the initial stage of development of the disease, the finger hurts when bending only after physical exertion, but the progression of rhizarthrosis leads to the fact that the pain begins to bother the patient even at rest. Gradually, deformation of the joint occurs with limitation of motor activity.
In addition to all of the above diseases, the development of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is often diagnosed in young patients, can lead to unpleasant sensations in the thumb or index finger area. This is due to prolonged sitting at the computer, during which the ulnar nerve is compressed, which in turn leads to the development of pain in the fingers.
Symptoms of pathology
Serious signs of the presence of diseases that can lead to a number of negative consequences are:
- nodular neoplasms in the tendon area;
- crunching of fingers when moving;
- pain when palpating the hands;
- sharp, piercing pain and impairment of fine motor skills;
- compaction in the folds of the fingers and hyperemia of the inflamed area;
- inability to squeeze little fingers;
- local and local increase in body temperature;
- increased pain in the arms at night;
- be especially careful if your finger suddenly becomes swollen and deformed.
If the patient discovers such manifestations, an urgent consultation with a doctor is required, who will carry out diagnostic measures and prescribe complex therapy to relieve pain symptoms and the inflammatory process.
Diagnostic methods
Patients who experience pain in their hands, especially after sleep, should undergo a course of therapy, but only after clarifying the reasons for the development of the pathological condition.
In this case, diagnostics involves the following methods:
X-ray
The most informative way to determine tumor-like neoplasms, various lesions and inflammatory processes in the joints of the fingers and hands is an X-ray examination.
Despite the high efficiency of radiography, it has a significant disadvantage - the inability to assess the condition of soft tissues
Ultrasound
Using ultrasound, the presence of an inflammatory process in the tissues is determined and the consequences of joint injury are identified. This procedure is most effective for synovitis, arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis and osteoarthritis. In cases where the middle finger is numb and painful, an ultrasound examination of the blood vessels can be performed to determine blood flow disorder in the upper extremities.
CT scan
To obtain a more accurate picture of the pathology of bone tissue and joints, it is recommended to perform a CT scan, which takes 5-7 minutes and is well tolerated by patients. The difference between computed tomography and radiography is that the information obtained is displayed directly on the monitor screen, which allows you to obtain more reliable information.
Electrospondylography
A highly effective and universal examination method is electrospondylography, which has been used in medicine relatively recently. This test can early detect damage to the area of the spine responsible for the function of the upper extremities, including the fingers.
magnetic resonance imaging
MRI is rightly considered an informative and accurate study, therefore it is often used in the diagnosis of various diseases, including joints. The pathological process is determined using electromagnetic waves, which form an image of the tissue, localization and degree of development of the inflammatory process.
In addition, blood tests (clinical and biochemical), urine tests for the presence of blood and proteins, as well as joint puncture for persistent pain in the fingers are prescribed.
Important! It is necessary to take into account that the fingers can hurt for various reasons, however, only a highly qualified specialist should correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe individual treatment for pain.
Treatment
If painful symptoms occur, the main therapeutic measures should be aimed at eliminating the causes of the development of the pathological process.
Complex therapy includes both drug therapy and treatment with folk remedies.
Pharmacological treatment
To alleviate the pathological process, the doctor prescribes the patient a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which, in addition to reducing inflammation, relieve pain symptoms and reduce tissue swelling.
For osteoarthritis, long-term use of chondroprotectors is recommended to nourish the cartilage and prevent its further destruction. These drugs help prevent the disease from recurring.
In cases where the pain in the fingers is unbearable and the inflammatory process is in an advanced stage, glucocorticosteroids are prescribed. They quickly relieve the symptoms of inflammation and regulate metabolic processes in the body, thereby accelerating tissue regeneration.
If the main cause of painful symptoms in the finger area is a bacterial infection, the doctor prescribes antibiotics and antibacterial agents, based on the severity of the symptoms and the sensitivity of the body to a group of such drugs.
Important! You should not self-medicate, as this may cause allergic reactions and side effects. At the beginning of therapy, restoration of damaged joints is necessary. And only in the calm phase it is recommended to resort to auxiliary methods (physiotherapy, hand massage, gymnastics, etc. ).
Physiotherapy
Pain in the joints of the hands indicates a violation of the functionality of the body as a whole and, in particular, the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes. That is why it is necessary first of all to limit physical activity and reduce physical stress on the joint.
Physiotherapeutic measures include resonance therapy, electrosleep and electrophoresis with the addition of novocaine. In addition, during the period of remission, therapeutic exercises, the use of mud, hydrogen sulfide and radon baths, as well as massages, including manual massage, have a positive effect.
Diet
Proper nutrition is of no small importance in preventing the onset of pain, since the body must receive a sufficient amount of microelements such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins, mainly through food.
Products that can reduce finger joint pain when bending:
- Fish oil and flaxseed oil. These products contain large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which improve the condition of the vascular system and participate in the normalization of fat metabolism.
- Apple cider vinegar, as it improves the elimination of salts and participates in the blood alkalization process.
- Radishes, lettuce and nuts.
- Egg yolk, juice and pomegranate fruit.
- Blackcurrant and fig.
- Ginger and cauliflower.
- Low-calorie cheeses and olive oil.
It is necessary to limit (and in some cases completely exclude from the diet) high-fat dairy products, sweet and high-calorie foods. Smoked meats, alcoholic beverages, coffee, strong tea and products that contain oxalic acid.
Folk remedies
At the initial stage of the disease, pain can be treated with traditional medicine, for example, using a compress of kefir and chalk, diluted to a pasty state. Oatmeal, pre-boiled and slightly cooled, has a similar effect.
You can prepare a hand massage cream with an equal amount of chopped bay leaves and juniper pine with the addition of softened butter to this powder. After thoroughly mixing the ingredients, the ointment can be used for its intended purpose.
In case of exacerbation of pain symptoms, it is recommended to mix 1 tbsp. a spoonful of olive oil with 5 drops of garlic juice, then drink the prepared mixture in the morning, 30 minutes before breakfast. The procedure must be repeated for 3-4 days.
A sudden and strong pain in the finger interferes with carrying out daily activities, causing unbearable suffering for the patient. Such manifestations should not be overlooked, as they may indicate a number of serious diseases that can cause painful symptoms.
Only early diagnosis and timely intervention by an experienced doctor make it possible to determine the etiology of the disease, on the basis of which the doctor decides how and with what to treat to achieve the most positive result. With timely intervention, the prognosis for full recovery is favorable.