Brushes are considered the most mobile part of the human body. Thanks to the huge change in range of motion, it becomes possible to do the finest work with the smallest details. That's why it's important to keep your hands healthy at all times. Today, many people, including the younger generation, complain of pain in their finger joints. In some cases, it becomes so strong that the person literally loses the ability to make the usual movements.
General information
The human hand can be divided into three distinct sections: the wrist, wrist and fingers. The metacarpal is made up of eight tiny, irregularly shaped bones. They are all arranged in two rows. The metacarpal is represented by five tubular bones, each of which has a base, body, and head. The bases connect to the wrist and the heads form together with the phalanges of the fingers. The latter, in turn, consists of three phalanges. The exception in this case is the thumb. It has only two phalanges.
Human hands are considered extremely delicate instruments and, at the same time, precise. Fingers are precisely the means that allow coordinated movements. Without them, normal life is not possible. All these movements are due to joint mobility. However, due to the high daily activity, this area is at great risk of developing completely different diseases, mechanical damage and injuries. Pain in the joints of the fingers, as a rule, accompanies these types of pathological changes. The treatment, in this case, depends exclusively on the factor that caused the discomfort.
main reasons
According to experts, pain in finger joints can be caused by several reasons. Below are the most common violations:
- Arthritis.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Bursitis.
- Mechanical damage and injuries.
- Osteomyelitis.
Arthritis
Arthritis refers to acute or chronic inflammation of the joints. Isolated injuries to the fingers are very rare. As a rule, in these patients, the pathological process also affects other joints. Arthritic pain in the affected area is marked by intensity. They arise not only with finger movement but also at rest. In addition, in the areas affected by arthritis, intense edema appears, altering the usual skin tone.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. It is a connective tissue disease of an infectious and allergic nature, predominantly systemic. The impetus for the onset of this disease are severe colds, frequent stress and hypothermia. Rheumatoid arthritis starts with pain in the index finger joint. Affected areas swell, patients complain of fever, feeling weak, chills.
- Psoriatic arthritis. As a rule, this type of pathology develops in patients who already have psoriatic skin manifestations. These are dry scaly patches with a reddish tinge. As the disease develops, the finger takes on a purple hue and sausage shape.
- Gouty arthritis. Gout is considered a very common disease characterized by metabolic disorders, namely purines. According to experts, this disorder can be triggered by an increase in the level of uric acid and the subsequent deposition of its salts directly in the joint tissues. Typically, a gouty attack begins with severe discomfort in the big toe joint. In the absence of timely treatment, the pathology spreads to other joints. Gout attacks most often occur at night. They are characterized by an increase in temperature around the affected area and severe pain. The disease progresses very quickly. After a while, the patient may experience pain in the finger joints of both hands. Typically, the duration of a typical attack of the disease ranges from two to about 14 days.
osteoarthritis
This disease is formed as a result of the sequential destruction of cartilage tissue in the area of the articular surface. In the case of this pathology, painful discomfort initially occurs only after prolonged physical exertion. So, with the progression of the disease, the intensity of pain increases, it can appear until the night.
Finger arthrosis is a very common problem. Even insignificant damage can become an impetus for your development. In the process of disease development, the fingers may change their usual shape while bending to the side.
Rizarthrosis. As the disease develops, the joint located at the base of the thumb is affected, which also connects the wrist bone to the metacarpal bone. This disease occurs due to the overload 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 pockets of the fingers, accompanied by the accumulation of fluid in the cavity, is called bursitis. This pathology is characterized by painful sensations in the affected area, appearance of edema, redness. The main symptom of bursitis is the formation of a round swelling in the joint area, characterized by a smooth consistency. It is easily visually identifiable.
With an extended course, bursitis usually develops into a chronic stage. In this type of situation, the deposition of salts in the affected area joins the inflammatory process. All of this, as a rule, causes pain in the joints of the fingers.
If the cause of the problem is an injury to the hand, the pathological microflora usually 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 bones in joints is called dislocation. Most of the time, athletes need to deal 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. This distanced arrangement always exposes you to any wrong movement. The thumb is characterized by a powerful ligamentous apparatus, however, and is distinguished by a certain load threshold, after which stretching occurs. All of this entails a displacement of the articular surfaces.
The most common cause of dislocation of the thumb is an unfortunate fall onto the open palm. It is very easy to determine the presence of this problem, as the affected area externally looks deformed. Severe pain in the thumb joints can interfere with normal activities, work and sports. The skin in this area, as a rule, acquires a reddish hue.
osteomyelitis
A purulent process that affects the joints and surrounding soft tissue is called osteomyelitis. This pathology develops due to the penetration of bacteria into the body, constantly producing pus.
Acute osteomyelitis usually starts with a temperature rise 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 have the following symptoms: pain in the finger joints, chills, loss of consciousness, vomiting.
During the first two days, the pain in the hands gradually increases. Active finger movements are often impossible. The pathology is progressing rapidly, which is expressed in the occurrence of edematous phenomena in the muscles of the hand and even in the forearm. The skin in the affected area turns purple.
Diagnosis
The timely search for a specialist, diagnosis, as well as competent treatment - all these factors make it possible to determine the disease and prevent its future progression, the development of serious complications. Pain in the joints of the fingers should not be ignored, as even a small pathology can lead to total loss of movement and incapacitate the patient. The following diagnostic measures may be necessary to identify the problem:
- X-ray of the hand.
- Blood tests (clinical / biochemical) and urine tests.
- Determination of the amount of purines.
What Should be the Treatment for Finger Joint Pain?
Regardless of the true cause of the pathology, therapy must be comprehensive and simultaneously address three problems: treating the main disease, restoring primary hand function, and relieving pain.
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 its functional development are subject to general rules.
To alleviate discomfort, modern medicine offers a variety of medications. Most of the time, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
To eliminate pain caused by autoimmune diseases (eg, rheumatoid arthritis), glucocorticosteroid hormones are used. They have excellent anti-inflammatory effects and provide the desired relief relatively quickly.
Special ointments containing anesthetic components may slightly increase the effect of medications.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that one should not ignore pain in finger joints. The treatment offered by modern medicine is most often effective in combating this problem. The main thing is to seek medical help in a timely manner and carry out the necessary diagnostic exam. Be healthy!