The brushes are considered to be the most flexible part of the human body. Thanks to the large change in the range of motion, it is possible to carry out the finest work with the smallest of details. This is why it is important to keep your hands healthy at all times. Today, many people, including the younger generation, complain of joint pain in their fingers. In some cases, it gets so strong that a person literally loses the ability to perform normal movements.
General information
The human hand can be divided into three different sections: the wrist, the wrist, and the fingers. The metacarpal bone is made up of eight tiny, irregularly shaped bones. They are all arranged in two rows. The metacarpal bone is represented by five tubular bones, each of which has a base, body, and head. The bases are connected to the wrist and the heads form joints with the phalanges. The latter in turn consist of three phalanges. The exception in this case is the thumb. It only has two phalanges.
Human hands are considered to be extremely sensitive and at the same time precise instruments. The fingers are precisely the means that enable coordinated movements. Normal life is not possible without them. All of these movements are due to the mobility of the joints. Due to the high daily activity, however, this area is at great risk of developing completely different complaints, mechanical damage and injuries. Joint pain in the fingers, as a rule, is accompanied by these types of pathological changes. Treatment in this case depends solely on the factor that caused the discomfort.
Main reasons
According to experts, pain in the finger joints can have a wide variety of causes. The most common violations are listed below:
- Arthritis.
- Arthrosis.
- Bursitis.
- Mechanical damage and injuries.
- Osteomyelitis.
arthritis
Arthritis is acute or chronic inflammation of the joints. Isolated lesions of the fingers are very rare. As a rule, in such patients, the pathological process affects other joints as well. Arthritic pain in the affected area is characterized by intensity. They arise not only when the fingers are moved, but also when they are at rest. In addition, severe edema, a change in normal skin tone, occurs in the areas affected by arthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. This is a connective tissue disease of an infectious and allergic nature, which is predominantly systemic in nature. The triggers for the onset of this disease are severe colds, frequent stress, and hypothermia. Rheumatoid arthritis begins with pain in the index finger joint. The affected areas swell, patients complain of fever, a feeling of weakness, and chills.
- Psoriatic arthritis. As a rule, this type of pathology develops in patients who already have psoriatic manifestations on the skin. These are dry, scaly patches with a reddish tinge. With the development of the disease, the finger takes on a purple hue and sausage-like shape.
- Gouty arthritis. Gout is understood as a fairly common disease that is characterized by metabolic disorders, namely purines. According to experts, such a condition can be triggered by an increase in the level of uric acid and the subsequent deposition of its salts directly in the joint tissue. Typically, an attack of gout begins with severe discomfort in the joint of the big toe. Without timely treatment, the pathology spreads to other joints. Gout attacks most commonly occur at night. They are characterized by a rise in temperature around the affected area and severe pain. The disease progresses very quickly. After a while, the patient may experience joint pain in the fingers of both hands. Typically, the duration of a typical attack of the disease ranges from two to about 14 days.
arthrosis
This disease arises from the sequential destruction of cartilage tissue in the area of the joint surface. With this pathology, painful discomfort initially appears only after prolonged physical exertion. Then, as the disease progresses, the intensity of the pain increases and can even occur at night.
Finger osteoarthritis is a fairly common problem. Even minor damage can trigger its development. As the disease progresses, fingers can change their usual shape while bending to one side.
Rhizarthrosis. When this disease develops, the joint at the base of the thumb, which also connects the wrist bone to the metacarpal bone, is affected. This disease occurs due to the congestion of this area. Pain in the thumb joint, visual deformity of the bones are the most common symptoms of this pathology.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the so-called joint sacs of the fingers, accompanied by a build-up of fluid in their cavity, is called bursitis. This pathology is characterized by painful sensations in the affected area, the appearance of edema and redness. The main symptom of bursitis is the formation of a round swelling in the joint area, which is characterized by a soft consistency. It is easy to see optically.
With a longer course, the bursitis often becomes a chronic stage. In such a situation, the deposition of salts in the affected area joins the inflammatory process. All of these usually cause pain in the finger joints.
If the cause of the problem is a hand injury, then pathological microflora often joins the inflammatory process. In this case, we are talking about the development of purulent bursitis. It is accompanied by a rise in temperature, headache, and weakness throughout the body.
Injuries and mechanical damage
Displacement of the bones in the joints is called a dislocation. Most of the time, athletes struggle with this problem. It is accompanied by the following symptoms: severe swelling of the affected area, joint deformity and severe pain syndrome.
The most common injury is a dislocated thumb. Such a detached arrangement exposes him to every wrong move every time. The thumb, however, is characterized by a strong ligamentous apparatus and is characterized by a certain load threshold, after which a stretch occurs. All of this leads to a displacement of the articular surfaces.
The most common cause of thumb dislocation is an unfortunate fall on an open palm. It is very easy to determine the presence of this problem because the externally affected area looks deformed. Severe thumb joint pain can interfere with normal activities, work, and sports. The skin in this part, as a rule, acquires a reddish tint.
Osteomyelitis
A purulent process that affects the joints and surrounding soft tissues is called osteomyelitis. This pathology develops due to the penetration of bacteria into the body, which constantly produces pus.
Acute osteomyelitis usually begins with a temperature increase of up to 40 degrees. The patient's condition deteriorates very quickly, which is caused by severe intoxication of the body. In addition, the patient may experience the following symptoms: joint pain in the fingers, chills, loss of consciousness, vomiting.
During the first two days, the pain in the hands gradually increases. Active finger movements are usually impossible. The pathology rapidly progresses, which is manifested in the appearance of edematous phenomena in the muscles of the hand and even the forearm. The skin in the affected area turns purple.
diagnosis
Timely advice from a specialist, diagnosis, as well as competent treatment - all these factors make it possible to determine the disease and prevent its further progression, the development of serious complications. You should not ignore the pain in the finger joints, since even a minor pathology can lead to a complete loss of motion and make the patient disabled. The following diagnostic measures may be needed to identify the problem:
- X-ray of the hand.
- Blood tests (clinical / biochemical) and urine tests.
- Determination of the amount of purines.
What is the treatment for finger joint pain?
Regardless of the real cause of the pathology, therapy should be comprehensive, solving three problems at the same time: treating the main disease, restoring the primary function of the hand and relieving pain.
Of course, the fight against this or that disease depends on its nature. In any case, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. However, the relief of discomfort in the hand and its functional development are subject to general rules.
Modern medicine offers a variety of drugs to alleviate symptoms. Most often, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
To relieve pain due to autoimmune diseases (for example, rheumatoid arthritis), glucocorticosteroid hormones are used. They have an excellent anti-inflammatory effect and bring the desired relief relatively quickly.
Special ointments with anesthetic components can somewhat increase the effect of drugs.
diploma
In conclusion, it should be noted that you should not ignore the pain in the finger joints. The treatment that modern medicine offers is the most effective in combating this problem. The main thing is to seek medical attention in a timely manner and undergo the necessary diagnostic examination. Bless you!