The brush is considered to be the most mobile part of the human body. Thanks to large changes in the range of motion, it becomes possible to do the best job with the smallest 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 becomes so strong that a person completely loses the ability to make normal movements.
general information
The human hand can be divided into three different parts: the wrist, the wrists, and the fingers. The metacarpus consists of eight small irregularly shaped bones. They are all arranged in two rows. The metacarpus is represented by five tubular bones, each of which has a base, body and head. The base connects to the wrist, and the head forms a joint with the phalanx of the finger. The latter, in turn, consists of three phalanges. The exception in this case is the thumb. It has only two phalanges.
The human hand is considered a very delicate and at the same time precise tool. The fingers are precisely the way that allows for coordinated movement. Without them, normal life is not possible. All of these movements are caused by joint movements. However, due to high daily activities, this area is at great risk for various diseases, mechanical damage and injuries. Joint pain in the fingers, as a rule, accompanies this type of pathological change. Treatment in this case depends solely on the factors that trigger the onset of discomfort.
Main reason
According to experts, pain in the finger joints can be caused by a variety of reasons. Below are the most common violations:
- Joint pain.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Bursitis.
- Mechanical damage and injuries.
- Osteomyelitis.
Joint pain
Arthritis refers to acute or chronic inflammation of the joints. Isolated wounds on the fingers are very rare. As a rule, in such patients, pathological processes also affect other joints. Arthritis pain in the affected area is marked by intensity. They arise not only with finger movements, but also rest. In addition, in areas affected by arthritis, there is the appearance of severe edema, changes in the normal shade of the skin.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. These are connective tissue diseases of an infectious and allergic nature, most of which are systemic in nature. The impetus for the onset of the disease is a severe cold, frequent stress and hypothermia. Rheumatoid arthritis begins with pain in the index finger joint. The affected area is swollen, the patient complains of fever, weakness, chills.
- Psoriatic arthritis. As a rule, this kind of pathology develops in patients who already have psoriatic manifestations on the skin. These are dry scaly patches with a reddish color. With the progression of the disease, the fingers acquire a purple color and a sausage -like shape.
- Gouty arthritis. Gout is understood as a relatively common disease characterized by metabolic disorders, namely purines. According to experts, such diseases can be triggered by increased levels of uric acid and the subsequent deposition of its salts directly in the joint tissue. Usually, a gout attack begins with severe discomfort in the big toe joint. If there is no timely treatment, the pathology spreads to other joints. Gout attacks most often occur at night. They are characterized by a rise in temperature around the affected area and severe pain. The disease develops very quickly. After a while, the patient may find 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.
Osteoarthritis
The disease is formed as a result of sequential destruction of cartilage tissue in the articular surface area. In the case of this pathology, painful discomfort initially occurs only after prolonged physical exertion. Later, with the progression of the disease, the intensity of the pain increases, it can appear even at night.
Arthrosis of the fingers is a fairly common problem. Even insignificant damage can be the impetus for its development. In the process of disease progression, the fingers can change their normal shape, while bending to the side.
Rhizarthrosis. With the progression of the disease, the joint located at the base of the thumb is affected, which also connects the wrist bone to the metacarpal bone. The disease occurs due to the load of this area. Pain in the thumb joint, visual defects of the bones are the most common symptoms in this pathology.
Bursitis
The inflammation called the bags of the finger joints, accompanied by the accumulation of fluid in their cavities, is called bursitis. This pathology is characterized by a painful sensation in the affected area, the appearance of edema, 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 easily identifiable visually.
With a prolonged course, bursitis often turns into a chronic stage. In such cases, salt deposition in the affected area joins the inflammatory process. All this, as a rule, causes pain in the joints in the fingers.
If the cause of the problem is a hand injury, then the pathological microflora often participates in the inflammatory process. In this case, we are talking about the development of purulent bursitis. It is accompanied by an increase in temperature, headaches and weakness throughout the body.
Mechanical injuries and damage
Bone displacement in a joint is called dislocation. Often athletes have to deal with this problem. It is accompanied by the following symptoms: severe swelling in the affected area, joint deformity and severe pain syndrome.
The most common injury is a dislocated thumb. Such a separate arrangement exposes it each time to any wrong movement. The thumb is characterized by a strong ligament apparatus, however, and it is distinguished by a certain load threshold, after exceeding the stretching that occurs. All of this requires displacement of the articular surface.
The most common cause of thumb dislocation is as a result of falling on an open palm. It is very easy to determine the presence of this problem, because the externally affected area appears deformed. Severe thumb joint pain can interfere with normal activities, work, and sports. The skin in this part, as a rule, acquires a reddish color.
Osteomyelitis
The purulent process that affects the joints and nearby soft tissues is called osteomyelitis. This pathology develops due to the penetration of bacteria into the body, constantly producing pus.
Acute osteomyelitis usually begins with a rise in temperature of up to 40 degrees. The patient's condition deteriorated rapidly, which was caused by serious body intoxication. In addition, patients may experience the following symptoms: joint pain in the fingers, chills, loss of consciousness, vomiting.
In the first two days, the pain in the hand gradually increased. Active finger movements are usually impossible. The pathology develops rapidly, which is expressed in the occurrence of edematous phenomena on the muscles of the hands and even the forearms. The skin in the affected area turns purple.
Diagnostics
Getting timely advice from specialists, diagnosis, as well as efficient treatment - all these factors make it possible to diagnose the disease and prevent further development, the development of serious complications. You can not ignore the pain in the finger joints, because even a minor pathology can lead to complete loss of movement and cause the patient to be disabled. The following diagnostic steps may be needed to identify the problem:
- X-ray of the hand.
- Blood tests (clinical/biochemical) and urine tests.
- Determination of purine amount.
What is the proper treatment for finger joint pain?
Regardless of the actual cause of the pathology, therapy should be comprehensive and at the same time solve three problems: treatment of the main disease, restoration of the main function of the hand, and pain relief.
Of course, the fight against this or that disease depends on its nature. In each case, the doctor prescribes the appropriate treatment. However, the relief of discomfort in the hand and the development of its function is subject to general rules.
To relieve discomfort, modern medicine offers a variety of remedies. Often, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
To eliminate pain due to autoimmune diseases (e. g. , rheumatoid arthritis), glucocorticosteroid hormones are used. They have an excellent anti-inflammatory effect and provide the desired relief quickly.
Special ointments containing anesthetic components can somewhat enhance the effect of the drug.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that you can not ignore the pain of the finger joints. The treatments offered by modern medicine are most often effective in combating this problem. The main thing is to get timely medical help and undergo the necessary diagnostic examinations. Be healthy!