Our hands are constantly working - they help us take care of ourselves, do chores at home and at work, do other useful things. The most precise work can be done with your fingers. All this is possible thanks to the joints. But when the joints of the fingers hurt, we immediately investigate the reasons for it and the treatment options. Such pain cannot be overlooked and will not work, as it directly affects life.
Why does finger pain occur - the main causes
There are a number of factors that lead to the development of the disease, among which:
- damage to the immune system;
- chronic infections;
- change in hormonal levels. It just affects the pain during pregnancy and after childbirth;
- metabolic disorder;
- heredity. If there were people in the family with joint diseases, this predisposition can be inherited;
- negative factors. Among them - the frequent discovery of hands in cold water.
Pay attention!Pain syndrome can occur in athletes who receive a lot of strain injuries. It can also be associated with professional characteristics.
Diseases causing lesions
Let us list the main diseases that can cause the appearance of pain in the joints of the fingers.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This pathology can develop in adults and children. Especially, women are sensitive to it, they have such a diagnosis 2-3 times more often. The place that suffers from this disease is the small joints. The symmetrical involvement of both arms is a feature. Other symptoms that should be seen by a doctor include:
- Swelling of the joints of the fingers.
- The stiffness of the movements of the fingers is felt in the morning.
- The distal joints are numb and chilly.
- Accumulation of fluid in joint capsules.
- A neoplasm appears under the skin. They are rheumatoid nodes.
- The fingers are curved and fan-shaped.
This disease manifests itself not only on the condition of the fingers, it can lead to complications in internal organs, hence the question: "what to do? " just in this case is relevant. First of all - urgently see a doctor!
Gouty arthritis
The cause of this disease is a violation of the metabolism of purines, which leads to the deposition of salts. In this case, it is important to understand why such a process is developing. Men over 40 suffer from it. In addition, the prerequisites for defeat are: increased consumption of fatty foods, alcohol. Less commonly, gouty arthritis is one of the symptoms of leukemia.
Inflammation does not spread to all joints, it most often affects the thumbs. Symptoms are pronounced:
- night pains;
- the skin in the affected area turns purple and swollen;
- the painful finger is very sensitive, it is impossible to touch it, it does not bend;
- Pain occurs during seizures that occur after prolonged physical exertion.
Psoriatric arthritis
This is one of the complications of psoriasis. According to statistics, this happens in 15%. Arthritis affects the distal phalanges, there is a feeling of aching pain. Severe edema develops, the fingers turn like sausages, the skin turns red.
Osteoarthritis
This disease causes dystrophic changes in the cartilage. The reasons are different: injuries, metabolic disorders, hereditary factors, hormonal changes, professional workload.
Pay attention!This lesion is particularly common in the elderly.
Osteoarthritis is in most cases asymptomatic in the early stages. The disease develops slowly and gradually, therefore, the question of how to relieve pain often does not arise, since the syndrome is mild.
Arthralgia
It is pain in the joints of the fingers, which prevents a person from living fully. He cannot write normally, even pick up light objects, perform simple actions. All fingers are affected, including the little finger. Pain syndrome can cause mechanical damage or inflammation. The first option is trauma, bruising, sprain. The second is a consequence of the development of the disease. In this case, the joint swells, turns red. Finding the answer to the question of what to treat is only possible after the final diagnosis.
Important!Problems with the joints of the hands can be a complication of previous diseases, among which: rubella, salmonellosis, exacerbation of sinusitis, tonsillitis, ARVI.
Vibration sickness
This is an occupational disease that develops in people who constantly work with hand tools that create vibrations. In this case, the disease can develop in several stages:
- First, there is pain, numbness, "goosebumps" in the fingers.
- In addition, the pain intensifies, over time the sensitivity of the skin decreases, especially vibrations. There is a violation of vascular tone.
- Trophic complications develop in the last stage. This results in the loss of the two individual fingers of the hand and the amputation of the hand.
Panaritium
This sound name refers to inflammation of the soft tissue of the finger. This happens if the infection has entered through a cut, puncture, etc. The first obvious sign is a severe throbbing pain. It gets worse at night, the skin swells, pus is released from the wound.
Methods of treating pain in the joints of the fingers
You can find out how to relieve pain and be cured by a specialist. But for this you need to know which doctor is treating - this is a rheumatologist or an orthopedist. But you will have to go to the surgeon if the disease is neglected.
The main task in the early stages of treatment is to alleviate the manifestations of the disease. The actions to be taken depend on the nature of the pain. Among them are the following:
- If they occur as a result of inflammation, antibiotics, hormones and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
- If the lesions are dystrophic, the first step is to restore the cartilage. For this, chondroprotectors and auxiliary measures are used in the form of massage, physiotherapy.
Pay attention!Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can have a number of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and diarrhea.
Medical treatment of joint pain
The first aid for exacerbating rheumatoid arthritis is glucocorticosteroids. Their reception is combined with the use of special ointments that act as an anesthetic. After the exacerbation is removed, the body must be supported. For this, cytostatics are used.
What you should know about chondroprotectors
These drugs are supplements that stimulate the repair of cartilage tissue.
Chondroprotectors stimulate the formation of the main component of cartilage, prevent the destruction of joint structures, activate the production of intra-articular fluid. They also have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.
Pay attention!With severe damage to the joints, only chondroprotectors will not help - an integrated approach is needed.
Gymnastics, manual therapy
A set of special exercises is selected depending on the severity of the disease and only after the elimination of acute pain sensations. All manipulations are aimed at optimizing joint mobility, ensuring normal blood flow, metabolic processes. In this case, strong loads are not applied - this can lead to complete destruction of tissues. If you feel pain, you don't need to forcefully stretch your fingers.
With regard to physiotherapy, standard localized methods are used:
- electrophoresis
- ;
- microwave resonance therapy;
- amplipulse therapy; magnetic therapy
- ; Laser treatment
- .
The key to successful treatment will be not only strict adherence to the recommendations of the doctor and the presence of all recommended procedures, but also a healthy lifestyle.
Fatty, salty and spicy foods should be excluded from the diet. It is worth giving up alcohol, which reduces the frequency of smoking.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of the joints of the fingers
Folk remedies for this problem are also used. But these remedies do not cure, but only temporarily relieve pain.
Ointments
The ointment can be prepared from propolis and oil. You have to take corn or sunflower. Report: one part of propolis and three parts of oil. The ingredients should be melted and mixed well. After cooling, pour into an opaque glass container and use two or three times a day.
Hellebore herbal ointment. To prepare it, you need:
- twenty grams of hellebore (herb), chopped.
- twenty grams of honey.
- ten grams of vegetable oil.
- five grams of dry mustard.
Place all the ingredients in an enamel container and melt in a double boiler. Stir until smooth. Leave to cool, transfer to a glass container, keep cold. Use at bedtime on affected areas.
Compresses
Treat with fruit vinegar. The soaked material should be applied to the affected areas for ten to fifteen minutes.
Another effective compression is done like this:
- mix 1 part of vodka;
- 1 part of tincture of valerian;
- put 2 pods of hot pepper in the mixture;
- Store the tincture in a dark place for at least 3 hours.
Use it by wetting a cotton swab and applying it to the affected area several times a day.
Garlic juice is used for compresses and for swallowing with hot milk. In the spring, you can make a tincture of lilac flowers. They need to be crushed and insisted on alcohol or vodka for 2 weeks. Then use to rub the painful joints. Hands should be kept warm until the effect of the dye is felt.
Conclusion
The causes of pain in the joints of the fingers can vary, so treatment methods differ. Self-medication is not worth it. It is better to consult a doctor for qualified help - this will help to avoid complications in the future.