Almost all people notice vague sensations in the phalanges of the fingers. This is mostly noticeable after a hard day at work or in the middle of the night, the hands start to go numb.
Most people prefer not to notice these manifestations, but they do it in vain. In such a situation, it is very important to quickly determine the causes of the appearance of these symptoms, this will allow you to start treatment earlier. As advanced diseases of the joints of the fingers cause quite big health problems.
The reasons
It is worth taking a closer look at why joint pains appear in the fingers. Experts have identified two categories of joint pain:
- inflammatory. . . They manifest themselves as stiffness of movements, which lasts a long time, in the morning. To relieve the pain a little, it is necessary to perform motor gymnastics. In addition to stiffness, they note: redness, swelling and fingers are poorly reduced.
- Mechanic. . . They appear along with all the signs of common inflammation. But mostly they are very minor and many may not notice their manifestations. For a more accurate determination of why the pains in the phalanges of the fingers appeared, it is necessary to deepen the study of diseases a little.
Disease overview
The joints of the fingers can hurt in the presence of the following pathologies:
- Rheumatoid arthritis. . . This disease manifests itself in a chronic form, affects small joints, but in a very neglected state it can go to large ones, as well as to internal organs. They swell when they get hot. Clenching a fist is no longer as easy as it used to be, as the discomfort is very strong. It often affects both hands at the same time. The peculiarity of this disease is that the fingers hurt in the morning and early in the morning.
- Psoriatic arthritis. . . This type of arthritis occurs exclusively on the skin of the fingers. Edema appears, due to which the fingers change shape and become like sausages, red in color with a slight blue tint.
- Infectious arthritis. . . This disease may have no noticeable symptoms. If acute painful sensations appear that last from an hour to several days, it means that the disease is already actively developing. The affected joint is hot and may also have fever and chills.
- Gout. . . Most often this disease affects people over 50. The disease develops due to poor excretion of uric acid from the body, accumulates in the joints.
- Osteoarthritis. . . This disease begins to change the shape of the joints, they become thicker and restricts movement. Older women are more likely to develop this disease. The reasons for the development of osteoarthritis: heredity, increased stress and many other factors. Symptoms of the disease are usually easily noticeable: painful sensations, spindle-shaped deformation of the fingers.
- Stenosing ligamentosis. . . To identify the cause of the disease, it is necessary to undergo x-rays. Symptoms are typical: painful movement of the hand, tightening of the palm. Also, when it is not folding, clicks are usually heard.
- rheumatism. . . This disease often causes severe pain, redness and swelling. A rash may also appear and the temperature may start to rise. Treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor.
- Tunnel syndromecauses pain in the joints of the index finger. In modern times, this disease manifests itself in people who work at the computer for a long time.
Risk factors
Diseases of the joints of the fingers, as well as any other disease, can, if not prevent, predict. To do this, it is worth understanding why such diseases can develop:
- It can occur due to hormonal changes.
- All types of pathologies of the immune system.
- In the presence of various infections in the body.
- If there is a metabolic disorder.
- With prolonged exposure to cold hands.
- Various microtraumas.
Do not delay the visit of a specialist, because a neglected disease is more difficult to cure. The necessary treatment can be determined by a surgeon and a rheumatologist, based on the results of the examination.
Symptoms
It is also worth noting several symptoms of particularly serious diseases:
- Nodular formations appear in the area of the joints.
- You hear the creaking of your fingers.
- When pressed, pain is felt.
- They accompany acute pains.
- Redness of the skin.
- Weakening of fine motor skills.
- Temperature increase.
- Deformation of the joints.
- The seals appear in the crease of the finger.
To find out the method of treatment and to carry out prevention, it is necessary to find the reason why the pain in the joints appears.
How to diagnose?
To begin the treatment of joint pain in the fingers, it is necessary to correctly determine what disease they appeared. To determine what type of disease is prevalent in a person experiencing pain in the joints when bending their arms, doctors recommend undergoing the following procedures:
- Take x-rays.
- Get a computed tomography scan.
- Pass various blood and urine tests.
- Get an MRI.
- It is necessary to check the purine content in the other blood.
If there is pain in the joints when bending the fingers, then one should not rely on the problem itself to be solved. Without going to a doctor in time, a person begins the disease, which is fraught with very serious consequences. Very often the mobility of the fingers is reduced, and in the future, such a problem as the absolute stiffness of the finger may appear. Such consequences sometimes lead a person to a disability.
Treatment
Treatment for a symptom such as joint pain in the fingers is needed to cure the disease that caused them. If inflammation is the cause of the pain, the doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics, harmony, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
If a dystrophic lesion is established, it is necessary to restore the damaged joint with the help of drugs, massage and physiotherapy.
Pharmacological treatment
Also, the doctor prescribes drug treatment. With inflammation, medications are mainly prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation. Today, there are some drug options, so the doctor will choose the most suitable drugs.
If very severe pains have begun, hormonal drugs are used, the reception of which can only be prescribed by the attending physician. They can be injected into the joint cavity. Also, with osteoarthritis, drugs are used that nourish the joint and stop its destruction.
When remission occurs, massage, mud baths and gymnastics are recommended. Doctors recommend visiting various mud springs and sanatoriums. Doctors usually advise giving up physical activity and inventing a diet that must be followed.
Folk remedies
There are also alternative treatments. Some people prefer to use folk remedies, both for treatment and for maintaining health. Such methods will do no harm, but they can be used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. They can be supplemented with medications prescribed by a doctor and relieve pain.
Folk folk remedies for this type of pathology are as follows:
- Grind a bay leaf and juniper needles, mix with butter and massage daily with the resulting gruel.
- Mix chalk and kefir, use the resulting mixture overnight in the form of a compress.
- You can drink birch sap, it heals perfectly and fills the whole body with vitamins.
- Olive oil (1 tablespoon) mixed with 10 drops of garlic juice and drink in the morning before meals.
There are many options to supplement the prescribed treatment, you can consult with your doctor.
Gym
Experts strongly recommend doing finger exercises to develop joints. Their implementation does not take a lot of time and effort. Some exercises can relieve pain and numbness in the hands.
It is important for a person to understand that his health is in his hands. If joint pain has started, there is no need to waste time. It is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible and completely entrust your health to him.
Special gymnastics is able to keep the joints in good condition. The exercises are very simple and require a lot of effort and time. If you spend a few minutes a day now, it is possible to achieve good health in old age.
Joints are a very important part of the whole body, as their poor condition can lead to the restriction of human movement. You have to constantly think about the health of the joints, just like in the situation of the teeth, it is easier to prevent a disease than to cure it.
It is important to understand that if a person experiences at least slight pain in the joints of the fingers, then you should immediately consult a doctor.
It is worthwhile to entrust the treatment to the doctor, because each disease has its irreversible consequences. Thanks to timely medical assistance, you can not only eliminate the symptoms of the disease, but also prevent serious complications.