Causes of pain in the joints of the fingers and its treatment

Causes

In medicine, the following are the main reasons why pain appears in the joints of the fingers:

• due to the appearance of arthrosis;
• due to the appearance of arthritis;
• through the development of gout;
• after injuries (sprains, bruises, dislocations, etc.).

Arthritis

Arthritis of the fingers is an inflammatory disease. It is accompanied by pain, as well as swelling and swelling of the joints, and the skin begins to turn red. There are such types of pathology:

• bacterial;
• rheumatoid.

The appearance of bacterial arthritis is influenced by bacteria that have entered the joints through the blood. A healthy lifestyle, physical exercise, and preventive measures will help get rid of this problem. Doctors recommend taking frequent walks in the fresh air. If you have pain in the fingers, you need to strengthen the entire shoulder joint.

It is important to note that when problems arise in a particular joint, you need to focus on the paths that lead to it. For example, if you have pain in the knee, you need to pay attention to the hips and lower legs. In case of pathological processes in the area of ​​the fingers, we must not forget about the forearm, shoulders, and wrists.

Rheumatism provokes sharp, unpleasant pain. They also touch the phalanges of the fingers. This pathological change is manifested by redness, swelling, and movements become impaired. The disease is also accompanied by high fever and rash. Then the doctor prescribes treatment.

This disease does not have definitive effective methods of control. In medicine, no medicine has been invented that would completely overcome this pathology.

Arthrosis

Pain in the joints of the fingers also provokes arthrosis. It is characterized by slow deformation of the joints.

This pathology is often encountered in medical practice. More often it affects people over 60 years of age. The development of the disease is gradual. First, the person complains that the joints have begun to ache, and later the hands begin to go numb, and movements become constrained. With this disease, pain occurs symmetrically on both arms. Most often they appear in the area of ​​the thumb, gradually affecting other joints.

Every person should be aware that in old age he can also be affected by this problem. To prevent this from happening, you should constantly massage your arms and shoulders. This way you can take care of your future health.

Gout

Most often, gout is caused by an unreasonable lifestyle. This pathology mainly affects the legs, but it also occurs in the arms. Gout is characterized by the deposition of purines in the joint area. Meat products are saturated with them.

Many doctors emphasize that after eating meat, the body needs physical activity. You should not eat meat at night, before going to bed. Otherwise, you may develop gout. Then the joint of the thumb on the hands will begin to hurt, and over time the pain will appear on the other fingers. Subsequently, a person is able to lose normal mobility of the arm. But in the end, there is no other choice but to go to the doctor and spend money on treatment. You should worry about your health in advance, so you shouldn’t overeat and you need to exercise.

Other reasons

Pregnancy can affect the occurrence of joint pain. This is a unique condition of a woman, her body changes. When pregnancy is accompanied by tumors and painful sensations on the fingers, this may signal the following pathologies:

• the amount of the hormone that softens the ligaments has increased;
• lack of calcium;
• joint diseases develop;
• fibromyalgia appeared.

But not only pregnancy can be accompanied by pain. They can also appear after childbirth. This may also signal a lack of calcium or the development of joint disease.

In some cases, the pain appears in the morning. There is only one explanation for this phenomenon - joint disease has appeared. To make sure of the diagnosis, you should consult a doctor and begin treatment.

If joint pain in the fingers occurs after sleep at any time, this is also a signal of the presence of joint disease. And in some cases, such an unpleasant sensation appears due to swelling of the hands.

Bystrumgel

It contains a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substance called ketoprofen. The indications are almost the same as those of the drugs described above. Not recommended for use in children under 6 years of age.

Since it is applied topically, the number of adverse reactions is minimal. However, you should not exceed the prescribed dosage. Apply to the affected joint morning and evening. If there is no effect within 5-7 days, be sure to consult a doctor.

Read also: Pain when bending the thumb

You can purchase it freely at any pharmacy.

Treatment

Treatment of joint pain should be comprehensive, but the main emphasis should be on drug therapy. If inflammation occurs, the doctor prescribes the patient anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs, which also eliminate pain. It can be:

• ibuprofen;
• indomethacin;
• voltaren;
• piroxicam and others.

If the patient experiences severe pain, hormonal medications will need to be added to the treatment. They are even injected into the joint cavity. With the development of osteoarthritis, the help of chondroprotectors is needed. They provide the necessary nutrition to cartilage, which stops its destruction. For rheumatoid arthritis, you will need to take immunomodulatory drugs.

With such diseases, the joints need rest, so you should not overload the body with physical exercise or hard work. Doctors often advise the use of anti-inflammatory gels and ointments. They show high effect.

Treatment is complemented by physiotherapy. She plays an important role. It includes various procedures such as:

• electrophoresis;
• electrosleep.

Microwave resonance therapy is often used, complementing treatment with laser therapy. When the period of remission begins, it is recommended to use mud, manual therapy, massage, and gymnastics.

Traditional methods

For pronounced pain in the joints of the hands, treatment can be combined with traditional methods. But we should not forget about the main treatment. In addition, you should consult a specialist before using any recipe. The following folk methods of combating joint pain are distinguished:

1. A tincture is prepared from chestnut or lilac inflorescences. It is used to rub joints at night. The collected flowers are added to alcohol, the mixture should stand for 2 weeks. The vessel should be dark and remember to shake periodically.
2. During periods of exacerbation of arthritis, another recipe is used. Birch leaves are mixed with violet and nettle. Next, willow bark is added, and the whole thing is filled with water. The mixture should be infused in a water bath for half an hour. This decoction should be drunk daily before meals.
3. Compresses using apple cider vinegar show a good effect.

We must not forget about nutrition.

You should eliminate fatty, spicy and salty foods, as well as alcohol, from your diet.

If you experience pain in your finger joints, you should contact a traumatologist, neurologist, surgeon, or rheumatologist, depending on the problem that caused the discomfort.

Hands have a complex structure: bones, joints, tendons, muscles. The occurrence of disturbances in them may be accompanied by pain. But of course, it is the joints that most often suffer, because regular physical activity can lead to wear and tear, and there is no point in talking about unpleasant sensations in the hands due to injuries.

Diagnosis and treatment methods for pain in the joints of the fingers

A rheumatologist deals with joint diseases. He prescribes an examination and, if necessary, refers the patient to other specialized specialists.

Diagnostic measures consist of a thorough collection of the patient’s medical history, examination and the use of instrumental and laboratory diagnostic methods

:

• X-ray of articular surfaces. Using this study, you can evaluate the structure of the articular surface, see dystrophic changes, deformation of the joints and the degree of their ossification. Radiography is the most convenient and quite informative way to diagnose joint diseases.
• Ultrasound.
• MRI.
• CT (computed tomography).
• Puncture of synovial fluid. It is one of the main diagnostic methods for joint injuries. The principle is based on the removal of fluid that has accumulated in the joint capsule and its further examination. The joint fluid is also taken for analysis to identify the pathogen if there is an infectious process.
• Blood analysis. Used to assess the general condition of the body.
• Additional research methods (ultrasound of the heart and abdominal organs). The condition of the organs is assessed and associated pathologies are determined.
• Throat swab for detection of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus.

The principles of treatment depend on the specific disease in which the joints of the fingers hurt.

The following treatment measures are usually used

:

• Anti-inflammatory therapy. It is used for infectious and inflammatory diseases and for pain relief. These include the use of NSAIDs (ibuprofen), in the form of tablets or ointments. These drugs relieve inflammation, swelling and pain.
• Antibiotic therapy. This treatment is used when the causative agent of the disease is detected. For example, with angina, osteomyelitis.
• Hormonal drugs (glucocorticosteroids). They are used for autoimmune processes in the body (systemic lupus erythematosus).
• Chondroprotectors. These are drugs that prevent the destruction of joints and strengthen them. Used for various forms of arthritis.
• Surgical opening of a purulent formation in the joint.
• Antiallergic drugs.
• Antispasmodic drugs.
• Painkillers (analgin).
• Antipyretic drugs for body temperature above 38.5℃.
• Ensuring hand rest in case of professional or household injuries.
• Diet with limited meat food (for gout).
• Taking multivitamin complexes.
• Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment. These include electrophoresis with drugs, paraffin therapy, and mud therapy.
• Therapeutic gymnastics for fingers.
• Massage.

Why do my finger joints hurt?

A person does a lot of work with his hands, sometimes even very painstaking and small work. Therefore, pain in the hands can significantly reduce the quality of life, because joint pathologies often lead to disability. The main reasons that provoke the appearance of painful sensations may be:

• various infections (tuberculosis, syphilis);
• joint inflammation (rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis);
• metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, gout);
• age;
• hand injuries

The influence of factors such as temperature, humidity, and vibration also has an adverse effect.

Effect of physical activity

Undoubtedly, work associated with increased load on the hands will negatively affect the condition of the joints. Long-term exposure to damaging factors (mechanical, thermal), monotonous work lead to the fact that the cartilage is “erased.” Therefore, jewelers and tennis players very often suffer from discomfort in their fingers, that is, those people whose hands are under constant tension.

A person who comes into contact with water for a long time often experiences a syndrome called “washerwoman’s hands.” At the same time, the fingertips wrinkle and become cold. Constant exposure to cold and moisture causes inflammation, the symptoms of which are pain and swelling of the hands.

Connective tissue diseases

Pain can occur due to connective tissue pathologies, in particular:

• rheumatoid arthritis;
• crystalline arthritis;
• arthrosis of small joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis

This is an inflammation of the tendons of small joints, which is of an autoimmune nature. It is believed, although not proven, that it occurs due to an infection that enters the body and contributes to a decrease in immunity. As a result, immune complexes are formed that damage connective tissue. Aches, swelling and stiffness of movement appear, especially in the morning. In this case, the limbs are modified and deformed.

Arthritis has a high percentage of disability, since it leads to limited joint mobility, and at the same time to loss of performance. Several risk factors can be identified that contribute to the development of pathology:

• female;
• age over 45 years;
• heredity;
• the presence of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in the blood;
• infectious diseases accompanied by a sharp decrease in immunity;
• deformations of elements of the musculoskeletal system.

Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis involves suppressing the immune system and eliminating inflammation. This is a rather long process, the duration of which depends on the severity of the disease and the extent of the damage. But without proper treatment, the pathology will progress, and the patient’s condition will noticeably worsen.

Microcrystalline arthritis

Changes in the joints, which are characterized by the deposition of salts, which are microlites of uric acid, are called microcrystalline arthritis. Salts can accumulate not only around cartilage, but also in tissues, creating a visible focus of inflammation. In addition, their accumulation can develop as a result of:

• diabetes mellitus;
• obesity;
• thyroid diseases;
• secondary arthrosis.

It is characterized by:

• sharp, increasing pain;
• swelling;
• local temperature increase;
• complete or partial limitation of limb mobility.

Treatment of this pathology includes taking anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and drugs that reduce tissue swelling.

Diseases with pain in the fingers

Each finger has 3 bones and 3 joints. The cause of pain can be inflammatory or traumatic.

Below are the main diseases that can cause joint pain in the hand.

This is a disease of inflammatory etiology. It can occur both acutely and chronically. The joint itself and adjacent tissues are subject to inflammation.

Arthritis symptoms:

• Pain when moving or at rest;
• Local swelling;
• Redness and local increase in temperature;
• Crunch;
• Limited mobility;
• Changing shape.

Rheumatoid arthritis

The connective tissue becomes inflamed, and symptoms most often occur on the middle and index fingers. Characteristic features are the symmetry of the lesion on both hands and increased pain at night.

If left untreated, the disease can spread from small joints to larger ones.

It occurs due to metabolic disorders, in particular purines. The accumulation of salts in the joint provokes inflammation, pain and limited mobility.

It usually starts on the big toe and then spreads to other joints. Inflamed and enlarged bones become very swollen and burn. An exacerbation may last up to several weeks.

Psoriatic inflammation

The lesion is not symmetrical. All the bones on my finger ache. The disease leads to deformation of the joints, as a result of which the fingers of the two hands look different.

When infection gets into the bones or other structural elements of the joint, infectious arthritis appears. How to treat such a disease depends on the nature of the pathogen and the location of the lesion.

Such pathologies are accompanied by additional symptoms:

• General intoxication;
• Increased body temperature;
• Violation of the patient's condition.

Stenosing ligamentitis

Occurs when the ligament is damaged. Pain appears in all fingers of the hand except the little finger. The patient complains of burning and numbness, cyanosis and swelling are visually visible. With this disease, the knuckles are difficult to straighten. Symptoms occur mainly in the morning. Inflammation of the thumb ligament is called de Quervain's disease.

Osteoarthritis

This is the name of the condition when cartilage tissue is destroyed. Why is this happening? The reasons may lie in hormonal or metabolic disorders, genetic predisposition, or prolonged increased stress.

The patient is concerned about:

• Movement restrictions;
• Crunch;
• In the morning the joint aches and does not bend;
• Increased discomfort with exertion.

When the joint of the thumb on the hand hurts, rhizarthrosis is possible, which is also a degenerative disease. If the thumb is under constant stress, the likelihood of a problem increasing.

Read also: Reason for sore fingers

Osteomyelitis

The cause is bacteria that trigger a purulent-necrotic process in the joints and soft tissues. Local symptoms are joined by general ones - fever, headache, malaise.

The consequence may be curvature of bones and immobility of joints.

The inflammation is localized in the joint capsules, where fluid begins to accumulate. You may notice that the finger is swollen, does not bend, and upon palpation there is a sharp pain. The process may involve the addition of a secondary infection and the onset of purulent bursitis.

Vascular disorders

If the pain is accompanied by certain changes in the skin (cyanosis, coldness, and then redness), angiospastic crisis of the peripheral vessels can be assumed.

Neuropathy

An injury to the radiocarpal joint of the left hand provokes pain in the fingers of this hand. At advanced stages, the joints are very difficult to bend and straighten. Nerve conduction disorders also include Raynaud's syndrome, when during uncomfortable sensations the fingertips turn white because no blood flows to them.

White color on the fingertips is a distinctive symptom of this condition, which is quite dangerous due to the high probability of tissue death.

Median nerve clamp

Cervical osteochondrosis

Shooting pain, like an electric discharge, penetrates the patient from the joints of the forearm to the phalanges of the fingers. The pain usually becomes after a load on the spine.

An additional symptom is impaired mobility in some part of the spine and pain when tilting the head.

A dislocated joint or severe bruise of the phalanx can cause severe pain. As a rule, the patient himself knows where he hit himself.

Visible symptoms may be protrusion of the joint of the thumb or, for example, the little finger, redness, and a local increase in temperature.

Vibration disease

Occurs due to frequent work with vibration mechanisms. First, it manifests itself as periodic discomfort, tingling, more often than not, in the middle or ring finger of the right hand. Then the paresthesia becomes permanent and progresses to loss of sensitivity and whitening of the phalanges from the base to the tips.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Quite common in the modern world, although few know what it is. The cause is prolonged work at the computer, as a result of which the nerve leading from the wrist to the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers is pinched.

Arthrosis of small joints

This is a condition that is accompanied by the destruction of the cartilage that connects the joints to each other and a decrease in the volume of synovial fluid. Since it is a lubricant, with arthrosis its production decreases, which makes movement difficult, causes pain, deformation and stiffness, which, of course, provokes unpleasant sensations.

Most often, treatment of this pathology is required by older people and women during menopause. It is also inherent in people of such professions as: machinist, pianist, programmer, etc.

The disease is characterized by:

• crunching when moving fingers;
• pain during physical activity;
• swelling and the appearance of compactions around the cartilage.

Without appropriate treatment, arthrosis can gradually lead to complete immobilization of the affected joints.

A characteristic feature of arthrosis of the small fingers of the hand from arthritis is an improvement in the condition and a decrease in the manifestation of pain after the start of movement, or the “development” symptom. With arthritis, on the contrary, physical activity increases pain.

Injuries

The causes of pain in the hands can be injuries received at home, at work or during sports. Discomfort, which is accompanied by swelling, swelling of the joint, and its redness, can be caused by sprain or even partial rupture of the ligaments. These symptoms may not appear immediately, but only after some time.

Dislocations can also be dangerous, since they can leave keloid adhesions as a result of internal damage to the ligamentous apparatus, which can limit the movements of the arms. Often the compaction does not allow the limb to be fully straightened or bent. In such situations, surgical treatment is usually required.

Peripheral nerve lesions

Injuries (fractures, bruises, dislocations) may be accompanied by damage to the peripheral nerves, which is manifested by loss of sensitivity and motor activity of the fingers. Changes in nerve trunks can also be caused by inflammation, infections or neoplasms. When peripheral nerves are damaged, tunnel syndromes may occur.

Tunnel syndromes

This term refers to a condition in which a peripheral nerve located in the wrist is compressed due to:

• swelling caused by injury;
• formation of a tumor on the nerve trunks of the wrist;
• obesity;
• insufficient blood supply to tissues;
• monotonous manual work.

In this case, the person experiences unpleasant sensations in the hand, such as tingling, numbness of the fingers, weakness (ache), pain.

Common Causes of Pain

The causes of discomfort in the joints of the fingers can be divided into 3 groups:

1. Pain caused by inflammation. They are most pronounced in the morning and after the hands have been at rest for a long time. Decreases with physical activity. There are symptoms such as redness of the skin, swelling, and stiffness when bending and straightening the fingers.
2. Pain associated with disruption of the structure of cartilage and bone tissue. Caused by age-related and hormonal changes, professional stress, and genetic predisposition.
3. Mechanical and post-traumatic pain. Associated with prolonged physical activity and the consequences of injury.