Our hands are always working - they help us take care of ourselves, complete tasks at home and at work, to do other useful things. The most accurate work can be done with your fingers. All this can be done thanks to the joints. But when the finger joints hurt, we immediately look for reasons for this and treatment options. Such pain can not be ignored, and will not succeed, because it directly affects life.
Why finger pain occurs - the main cause
There are a number of factors that cause the development of this disease, among them:
- immune system damage;
- chronic infections;
- changes in hormone levels. This only affects pain during pregnancy and after childbirth;
- metabolic disorders;
- descent. If there are people in the family who suffer from joint disease, then this tendency can be inherited;
- negative factors. Among them - often find hands in cold water.
Watch out!Pain syndrome can manifest itself in athletes who receive a lot of microtraum. It can also be associated with professional features.
Diseases that provoke lesions
Let's list the major diseases that can trigger the onset of pain in the finger joints.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This pathology can develop in both adults and children. Most importantly, women are vulnerable 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 special feature. Other symptoms that a doctor should see include:
- Swelling of the finger joints.
- Stiffness of finger movements is felt in the morning.
- The distal joint feels numb and cold.
- Fluid accumulation in joint capsules.
- Neoplasms appear under the skin. This is a rheumatoid node.
- Curved and fan-shaped fingers.
The disease is not only manifested in the condition of the fingers, but can cause complications in the internal organs, hence the question: "what to do? " only in this case is relevant. First of all - an appointment with a doctor!
Arthritis Gouty
The cause of this disease is a violation of purine metabolism, which causes the deposition of salts. In this case, it is important to understand why such a process evolved. Men over 40 suffer from it. Moreover, the conditions for such defeat are: an increase in the amount of fatty foods, alcohol. Less commonly, gout arthritis is one of the symptoms of leukemia.
Inflammation does not spread to all joints, it often attacks the thumb. Symptoms pronounced:
- night pain;
- skin on affected area becomes purple and swollen;
- the affected finger is very sensitive, impossible to touch, not bent;
- pain occurs in attacks that occur after prolonged physical exercise.
Psoriatric Arthritis
This is one of the complications of psoriasis. According to statistics, it occurs in 15%. Arthritis affects the distal phalanges, there is excruciating pain. Severe edema develops, fingers become like sausage, skin becomes red.
Osteoarthritis
With this disease, degenerative changes occur in the cartilage. The reasons are different: injuries, metabolic disorders, hereditary factors, hormonal changes, professional workload.
Watch out!This lesion is common in the elderly.
Osteoarthritis in most cases is not symptomatic at an early stage. The disease develops slowly and gradually, therefore, often the question of how to relieve pain does not arise, because the syndrome is mild.
Arthralgia
This is a pain in the finger joints, which prevents a person from fully living. He could not write normally, even take light objects, do simple actions. All fingers, including the little finger, are affected. Pain syndrome can trigger mechanical damage or inflammation. The first choice is trauma, bruising, sprains. The second is due to the development of the disease. In this case, the joints swell, turning red. Finding answers to the question of what should be treated is possible only after a final diagnosis is made.
Important!Problems with the joints of the hands can be a complication of previous diseases, including: rubella, salmonellosis, exacerbation of sinusitis, tonsillitis, ARVI.
Vibration disease
This is an occupational disease that develops in people who are constantly working with hand tools that cause vibration. In this case, the disease can develop in several stages:
- First, there is pain, numbness, "chills" on the fingers.
- Furthermore, pain increases, over time, skin sensitivity decreases, including vibration. There is a violation of vascular tone.
- Trophic complications develop in the latter stages. This is fraught with the loss of both fingers and amputation of the hand.
Panaritium
The name of this sonor indicates inflammation of the soft tissues of the finger. It occurs if the infection has penetrated the wound, puncture, and so on. The first obvious sign is severe throbbing pain. It gets worse at night, the skin swells, pus is released from the wound.
Methods for treating pain in the finger joints
You can learn how to relieve pain and be cured by a specialist. But for this you need to know which doctor is treating - is it a rheumatologist or an orthopedist. But you should go to a surgeon if the disease is ignored.
The main task in the early stages of treatment is to reduce the manifestations of the disease. The steps to be taken depend on the nature of the pain. Among them are as follows:
- If it occurs due to inflammation, antibiotics, hormones, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
- In the case of a dystrophic lesion, the first step is to restore the cartilage. For this, the action of chondroprotectors and aids is used in the form of massage, physiotherapy.
Watch out!Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can bring a number of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea.
Remedy for joint pain
The first aid to worsen rheumatoid arthritis is glucocorticosteroids. Their reception is combined with the use of special ointments that act as anesthesia. Once the exacerbation is removed, the body must be supported. For this, cytostatics are used.
What you need to know about chondroprotectors
This medicine is a supplement that stimulates cartilage tissue repair.
Chondroprotectors stimulate the formation of key components of cartilage, prevent the destruction of articular structures, activate the production of intra-articular fluid. They also have a significant anti-inflammatory effect.
Watch out!In the event of serious damage to the joints, only chondroprotectors will not help - an integrated approach is required.
Gymnastics, manual therapy
A special set of exercises is chosen according to the severity of the condition and only after the elimination of acute pain. All manipulations are aimed at optimizing joint movement, ensuring normal blood flow, metabolic processes. In this case, a strong load is not used - this can lead to complete tissue destruction. If you feel pain, you do not need to stretch your fingers strongly.
With regard to physiotherapy, standard localization methods are used:
- electrophoresis;
- microwave resonance therapy;
- amplipulse therapy;
- magnetic therapy;
- laser treatment.
The key to successful treatment is not only following the doctor's instructions and following all the recommended procedures, but also a healthy lifestyle.
Fatty, salty, spicy foods should be excluded from the diet. Need to stop drinking alcohol, reduce the frequency of smoking.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of finger joints
Folk solutions to this problem are also used. But this medicine will not cure, but only provide temporary relief from pain.
Ointment
Ointment can be prepared from propolis and oil. You need to take corn or sunflower. Ratio: one part propolis and three parts oil. The ingredients must be diluted and mixed thoroughly. Once cool, pour into an opaque glass container and use two to three times a day.
Hellebore Herbal Ointment. To complete it, you need:
- twenty grams of hellebore (herb), chopped.
- twenty grams of honey.
- ten grams of vegetable oil.
- five grams of dried mustard.
Put all the ingredients in an enamel container and melt in a water bath. Stir well. Cool, transfer to a glass container, let cool. Use at bedtime on the affected area.
Compress
Treat with fruit vinegar. The material soaked in it should be rubbed into the affected area for ten to fifteen minutes.
Another effective compress is done like this:
- mix 1 part vodka;
- 1 part valerian color;
- add 2 hot peppercorns to the mixture;
- store colors in a dark place for at least 3 hours.
Apply with a damp cloth and apply to the affected area several times a day.
Garlic juice is used to compress and to swallow with warm milk. In the spring, you can make the color of purple flowers. They need to be crushed and infused with alcohol or vodka for 2 weeks. Then use to rub joint pain. Hands should be taken care of until the tincture effect is felt.
Conclusion
The cause of pain in the finger joints can be different, so treatment methods are different. Medications alone are not worth it. It is best to see a doctor for qualified help - this will help prevent complications in the future.