Almost all people notice vague sensations in the phalanges of the fingers. This is observed mainly after a hard day's work or in the middle of the night, the hands begin to tingle.
Most people prefer not to notice these manifestations, but do so in vain. In such a situation it is very important to quickly determine the causes of these symptoms, this will allow you to start treatment earlier. Because advanced diseases of the joints of the fingers cause quite large health problems.
The reasons
It is worth taking a closer look at why joint pain occurs in the fingers. Experts have identified two categories of joint pain:
- Inflammatory. . . They manifest as stiffness of movements that lasts for a long time in the morning. To relieve the pain a little, you need to perform motor exercises. In addition to stiffness, they note: redness, swelling and fingers are slightly reduced.
- Mechanical. . . They appear together with all the signs of frequent inflammation. But most of all, they are quite insignificant and many may not notice their manifestations. To more accurately determine why there is pain in the phalanges of the fingers, you need to dig a little deeper into the study of diseases.
Review of diseases
Finger joints can be injured 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 can go to large as well as to internal organs. They swell when they turn red. Just clenching your fist is not as easy as before, as the discomfort is very strong. It often affects both hands at once. The peculiarity of this disease is that the fingers hurt in the morning and before morning.
- Psoriatic arthritis. . . This type of arthritis occurs exclusively on the skin of the fingers. Swelling occurs, causing the fingers to change shape and become like sausages, red in color with a slight blue tinge.
- Infectious arthritis. . . This disease may have no obvious symptoms. If there are sharp painful sensations that last from an hour to several days, it means that the disease is already actively developing. The affected joint is hot and may have a fever and chills.
- Gout. . . Very often this disease affects people who have passed the age of 50. The disease develops due to poor 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 restrict movement. Older women are more likely to develop this disease. The reasons for the development of osteoarthritis: heredity, increased stress and many other factors. The symptoms of the disease are usually easily noticeable: painful sensations, deformity of the fingers in the form of a spindle.
- Stenotic ligamentitis. . . To identify the cause of the disease, it is necessary to undergo X-rays. The symptoms are typical: painful movement of the hand, cycling of the clenched palm. Also, snaps are usually heard when unfolded.
- 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. Nowadays, this disease occurs in people who work for a long time on a computer.
Risk factors
Diseases of the joints of the fingers, like any other disease, can, if not prevent, then predict. To do this, it is worthwhile to understand 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.
- Prolonged exposure to cold hands.
- Various microtraumas.
Do not delay the visit to a specialist, because the neglected disease is more difficult to treat. The necessary treatment can be determined by a surgeon and rheumatologist, based on the results of the study.
Symptoms
It is also worth noting a few symptoms of particularly serious diseases:
- Nodular formations appear in the area of the joints.
- There is a squeak of fingers.
- Pain is felt when pressed.
- Acute pain is accompanied.
- Redness of the skin.
- Weakening of fine motor skills.
- Rising temperature.
- Deformation of the joints.
- Seals appear in the bend of the finger.
In order to find the method of treatment and to carry out prophylaxis, it is necessary to find the cause of the joint pain.
How to diagnose?
To begin the treatment of pain in the joints of the fingers, you need to correctly determine from what disease they arose. To determine what type of disease is prevalent in a person who experiences joint pain when bending the arms, doctors recommend that you undergo the following procedures:
- Make x-rays.
- Get a CT scan.
- They withstand various blood and urine tests.
- Take an MRI.
- It is necessary to check the content of purines in the blood of others.
If there is pain in the joints when bending the fingers, then you should not rely on the problem itself to be solved. Without going to the doctor on time, a person starts 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 flexibility of the finger may occur. Such consequences sometimes lead to injury.
Treatment
It is necessary to treat a symptom such as pain in the joints of the fingers 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 found, it is necessary to restore the damaged joint with the help of drugs, massage and physiotherapy.
Medication treatment
Also, the doctor prescribes medication. In inflammation, medications are prescribed mainly to relieve pain and inflammation. Today there are many options for drugs, so the doctor will choose the most appropriate drugs.
If very severe pain has started, then hormonal drugs are used, the use of which can be prescribed only by the attending physician. They can be injected into the joint cavity. Also, osteoarthritis uses drugs that nourish the joint and stop the destruction.
When remission occurs, it is recommended to perform massages, mud treatments and gymnastics. Doctors advise you to visit various mud springs and sanatoriums. Doctors advise, as a rule, to give up physical activity and to compose a diet that must be followed.
Folk remedies
There are also alternative treatments. Some people prefer to use folk remedies, both for treatment and to maintain health. Such methods will not cause harm, but can be used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. They can be supplemented with medications prescribed by a doctor and relieve pain.
Popular folk remedies for the treatment of this type of pathology are the following:
- Grind bay leaves and juniper needles, mix with oil and massage daily with the resulting slurry.
- Mix chalk and kefir, use the resulting mixture overnight in the form of a compress.
- You can drink birch sap, it perfectly heals and fills the whole body with vitamins.
- Olive oil (1 tablespoon) is mixed with 10 drops of garlic juice and drunk in the morning before meals.
There are many options to supplement the prescribed treatment, you can consult your doctor.
Gymnastics
Experts strongly recommend doing finger exercises for joint development. Their implementation does not require much 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 the joint pain has started, there is no need to waste time. You need to consult a doctor as soon as possible and fully entrust your health to him.
Special gymnastics is able to keep the joints in good condition. The exercises are very easy and require a lot of effort and time. If you spend a few minutes a day now, then it is quite possible to get good health in old age.
Joints are a very important part of the whole body, as their poor condition can lead to restriction of human movement. You need to constantly think about the health of the joints, just as in the situation with the teeth, it is easier to prevent a disease than to cure it.
It is important to understand that if a person feels at least a slight pain in the joints of the fingers, then you should immediately consult a doctor.
It is worth entrusting your treatment to your doctor, as each disease has its own irreversible consequences. Thanks to timely medical care you can not only get rid of the symptoms of the disease, but also prevent serious complications.