Almost everyone notices vague sensations in the phalanges of the fingers. This is mainly noted after a hard day's work or in the middle of the night, the hands begin to go numb.
Most people prefer not to notice these manifestations, but they do so 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. Since advanced diseases of the joints of the fingers of the hands cause quite significant health problems.
The reasons
It is worth taking a closer look at why joint pain appears in the fingers. Experts have identified two categories of joint pain:
- Inflammatory. . . They are manifested by stiffness of movement, which lasts a long time, in the morning. To relieve the pain a little, you need to do motor gymnastics. In addition to the stiffness, they note: redness, swelling and fingers are poorly reduced.
- Mechanical. . . They appear with all the signs of joint inflammation. But most of the time they are very minor and many may not notice their manifestations. To find out more precisely why pains in the phalanges of the fingers appeared, you need to deepen the study of diseases a little.
Overview of diseases
The joints of the fingers can hurt in the presence of the following pathologies:
- Rheumatoid arthritis. . . This disease manifests itself in a chronic form, it affects small joints, but in a very neglected state it can affect large, as well as internal organs. They swell when they turn red. Clenching your fist is not as easy as it used to be, because the discomfort is very strong. Often affects both hands at the same time. The peculiarity of this disease is that the fingers hurt in the morning and before 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 not have obvious symptoms. If sharp painful sensations appear that last from an hour to several days, this means that the disease is already actively developing. The affected joint is hot and may also have fever and chills.
- Drop. . . Very often this disease affects people who have passed the age of 50. The disease develops due to improper excretion of uric acid from the body, it accumulates in the joints.
- Osteoarthritis. . . This disease begins to change the shape of the joints, they become thicker and limit 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, deformation of the fingers in the form of a spindle.
- Stenosing ligamentitis. . . To identify the cause of the disease, it is necessary to undergo x-rays. Symptoms are typical: painful movement of the hand, tight palm curl. In addition, when unfolding, 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 on a computer for a long time.
Risk factors
Diseases of the joints of the fingers, as well as any other disease, can, if not prevent, then predict. To do this, it is necessary to understand why such diseases can develop:
- May occur due to hormonal changes.
- All kinds of pathologies of the immune system.
- In the presence of various infections in the body.
- If there is a metabolic disorder.
- In case of prolonged exposure to cold hands.
- Various microtraumas.
Do not delay in seeing 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:
- Lumpy formations appear in the area of the joints.
- The grinding of the fingers is heard.
- When in a hurry, pain is felt.
- Sharp pains accompany.
- Redness of the skin.
- Impairment of fine motor skills.
- Temperature increase.
- Deformation of the joints.
- Seals appear in the fold of the finger.
In order to find out the method of treatment and carry out prevention, it is necessary to find out the reason for the pain in the joints.
How to diagnose?
To start the treatment of joint pain in the fingers, you need to correctly determine what disease they appeared. To determine what type of disease is prevalent in a person who experiences pain in the joints when bending their arms, doctors recommend the following procedures:
- Take x-rays.
- Get a CT scan.
- Take various blood and urine tests.
- Get an MRI.
- It is necessary to check the content of purines in the blood of others.
If there is pain in the joints when you bend your fingers, then you should not rely on the problem itself to be solved. Without going to a doctor in time, a person begins the disease, which has very serious consequences. Very often the mobility of the fingers is reduced, and in the future such a problem as the absolute inflexibility of the finger may appear. Such consequences sometimes lead a person to a disability.
Treatment
Treatment of a symptom such as joint pain in the fingers is necessary in order 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, then it is necessary to restore the damaged joint with the help of drugs, massage and physiotherapy.
Medical treatment
In addition, the doctor prescribes drug therapy. With inflammation, drugs are mainly prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation. Today there are many drug options, so the doctor will choose the most suitable drugs.
If very severe pain began, hormonal drugs are used, the reception of which can be prescribed only by the attending physician. They can be injected into the joint cavity. In addition, with osteoarthritis, drugs are used to nourish the joint and stop the destruction.
In case of remission, it is recommended to perform massages, mud treatments and gymnastics. Doctors advise to visit various sources of mud and sanatoriums. Doctors generally advise stopping physical activity and putting in place a diet to follow.
Folk remedies
There are also alternative treatments. Some people prefer to use folk remedies, both for treatment and for maintaining health. Such methods will not hurt, but they can be used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. They can be supplemented with medications prescribed by a doctor and provide pain relief.
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 porridge.
- Mix chalk and kefir, use the resulting mixture overnight as a compress.
- You can drink birch sap, it perfectly heals and fills the whole body with vitamins.
- Olive oil (1 tablespoon) mixed with 10 drops of garlic juice and to drink in the morning before meals.
There are many options to supplement the prescribed treatment, you can consult your doctor.
Gymnastic
Experts strongly recommend doing finger exercises to develop joints. Their implementation does not require a lot of time and effort. Certain exercises can relieve pain and numbness in the hands.
It is important that a person understands that their health is in their hands. If the 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 are able to keep the joints in good condition. The exercises are very easy and take a lot of effort and time. If you spend a few minutes a day now, it is quite possible to be healthy in old age.
The joints are a very important part of the whole body, as their poor condition can lead to limitation of human movement. You have to constantly think about the health of the joints, just as in the case of 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, you should immediately seek medical attention.
It is worth entrusting your treatment to the doctor, since each disease has its own irreversible consequences. With timely medical assistance, you can not only get rid of the symptoms of the disease, but also prevent serious complications.