Pain in the joints of the fingers during bending is most often caused by age-related changes, as well as by irreversible processes in the body that provoke negative manifestations and the development of an uncomfortable condition in the patient. Such a pathology requires mandatory medical intervention, which includes all methods based on the causes of pain symptoms in the upper extremities.
Causes of pain
Fingers should be treated if the factors that provoked such a problem are identified. As a rule, doctors divide pain in the joints of the hand into 2 groups (mechanical and inflammatory).
Mechanical pain is associated with a local inflammatory process, which is slightly expressed, which "wipes" the picture of the disease. Very often, patients do not pay attention to such symptoms, unlike inflammatory pain. In this case, there is stiffness of movement in the morning, which can last more than 1 hour. Pain decreases slightly during physical activity.
We list the diseases that can provoke such symptoms.
Rheumatoid arthritis
With the development of rheumatoid arthritis, the small joints are affected, but there are many possibilities that the internal organs and large joints are also involved in the pathological process. Rheumatoid pain is accompanied by swelling and redness of the metacarpal phalanx of the middle and index finger.
With this disease, the fingers are very painful when bent, and a similar symptom is observed in the second hand. A characteristic symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is the pain that appears immediately after waking up, while the pain decreases in the evening.
Psoriatic arthritis
This disease mainly affects the skin and the pain occurs mainly in the distal phalanges. With psoriatic arthritis, there is severe swelling of the fingers, which take on a bluish color. In addition, with this disease it is quite difficult to straighten the thumbs.
Infectious arthritis
With infectious arthritis, there may be no systemic disorders at all, but it is characterized by the appearance of an acute attack of pain during finger flexion, which can last from 2-3 hours to 2-3 days. Sometimes there are chills and hyperthermia.
gout
This disease is more common, but in most cases, completely unexpected patients discover the real reason why the joints of the fingers hurt when bending, after clarifying the diagnosis. The disease occurs more often in people over 50 years old.
The main reason for the progression of gout is a violation of uric acid metabolism, which is quite difficult to remove from the body, depositing in cartilage and joints, creating a serious obstacle to their normal functioning. Characteristic signs of gout include burning, severe pain.
Osteoarthritis
Among the most common reasons for the development of osteoarthritis are hereditary factors, as well as disorders of metabolic processes in the body, activities related to increased physical activity, etc. In most cases, osteoarthritis occurs in mature women, which is due to hormonal changes.
A characteristic symptom of the disease, in addition to excruciating pain in the wrists, is the appearance of swellings and subcutaneous joints, which provoke deformation of the fingers and thickening of their middle part.
Stenotic ligamentitis
This pathological process can be similar in symptoms to arthrosis and arthritis, so an X-ray examination is required to clarify the diagnosis. The clinical manifestations are quite typical: it is painful for the patient to straighten and bend the hands, and in some cases the clenched palm can be blocked. In addition, the extension of the fingers is accompanied by characteristic clicks.
Rhizarthrosis
If pain appears in the joint of the big toe, then, most likely, such a condition can indicate rhizarthrosis, which manifests itself as intoxication, previous infections and various types of injuries.
During the initial examination of the patient, the location of the pain is determined, which intensifies under specific loads (turning the key, turning the door handle, opening the screw cap, etc. ). In the initial stage of the development of the disease, the finger on the hand hurts when bending only after physical strain, but the progression of rhizarthrosis leads to the fact that the pain begins to bother the patient even at rest. Gradually, the deformation of the joint occurs with the limitation of motor activity.
In addition to all the above diseases, the development of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is most often diagnosed in young patients, can lead to unpleasant sensations in the area of the thumb or index finger. This is due to prolonged sitting at the computer, during which the ulnar nerve is compressed, which leads to the development of pain in the fingers.
Symptoms of pathology
Serious signs of the presence of diseases that can lead to a number of negative consequences are:
- nodular neoplasm in the tendon area;
- cracking of the fingers during movement;
- pain when palpating the hands;
- sharp, piercing pain and impaired fine motor skills;
- compression in the bends of the fingers and hyperemia of the inflamed area;
- inability to squeeze little fingers;
- local and local increase in body temperature;
- growing pains at night in the arms;
- special attention should be paid if the finger suddenly swells and deforms.
If the patient detects such manifestations, an urgent consultation with a doctor is necessary, who will carry out diagnostic measures and prescribe complex therapy to alleviate the symptoms of pain and the inflammatory process.
Diagnostic methods
Patients who experience pain in their hands, especially after sleeping, should undergo a course of therapy, but only after clarifying the reasons for the development of the pathological condition.
In this case, diagnosis includes the following methods:
X-rays
The most informative way to determine tumor-like neoplasms, various injuries and inflammatory processes in the joints of the fingers and hands is an X-ray examination.
Despite the high efficiency of radiography, it has a significant drawback - the inability to assess the condition of soft tissues.
Ultrasonography
Using ultrasound, the presence of an inflammatory process in the tissue is determined and the consequences of joint damage are identified. This procedure is most effective for synovitis, arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis and arthrosis. In cases where the middle finger is numb and painful, it is possible to perform an ultrasound examination of blood vessels to determine the disturbance of blood flow in the upper extremities.
CT scan
To get a more accurate picture of the pathology of bone tissue and joints, it is recommended to perform a CT scan, which lasts 5-7 minutes and is well tolerated by patients. The difference between computed tomography and radiography is that the obtained information is displayed directly on the monitor screen, which allows you to get more reliable information.
Electrospondylography
A very effective and universal examination method is electrospondylography, which has been used in medicine relatively recently. This test can detect early damage to the area of the spine responsible for upper limb function, including the fingers.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging is rightly considered an informative and accurate study, therefore it is often used in the diagnosis of various diseases, including joints. The pathological process is determined using electromagnetic waves, which form an image of the tissues, the localization and the degree of development of the inflammatory process.
In addition, blood tests (clinical and biochemical), urine tests for the presence of blood and proteins, as well as joint puncture for persistent pain in the fingers are prescribed.
Important! It is necessary to take into account that the fingers can hurt for various reasons, however, only a highly qualified specialist should correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe individual treatment for the pain.
Treatment
If pain symptoms appear, the main therapeutic measures should be aimed at eliminating the causes of the development of the pathological process.
Complex therapy includes both drug therapy and treatment with folk remedies.
Drug treatment
To alleviate the pathological process, the doctor prescribes to the patient a course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which, in addition to reducing inflammation, relieve pain symptoms and reduce tissue swelling.
For osteoarthritis, long-term use of chondroprotectors is recommended to nourish the cartilage and prevent its further destruction. These drugs help prevent recurrence of the disease.
In cases where there is unbearable pain in the fingers and the inflammatory process is in an advanced stage, glucocorticosteroids are prescribed. They quickly relieve the symptoms of inflammation and regulate metabolic processes in the body, accelerating tissue regeneration.
If the main cause of painful symptoms in the area of the fingers is a bacterial infection, the doctor prescribes antibiotics and antibacterial agents, based on the severity of the symptoms and the body's sensitivity to a group of these drugs.
Important! You should not self-medicate, as this can cause allergic reactions and side effects. At the beginning of therapy, restoration of damaged joints is required. And only in the calm phase, it is recommended to use auxiliary methods (physiotherapy, hand massage, gymnastics, etc. ).
Physiotherapy
Pain in the joints of the hands indicates a violation of the functionality of the body as a whole and, in particular, the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes. This is why, first of all, it is necessary to limit physical activity and reduce physical stress on the joints.
Physiotherapy measures include resonance therapy, electrosleep and electrophoresis with the addition of novocaine. Moreover, during the remission period, therapeutic exercises, use of mud baths, hydrogen sulfide and radon, as well as massage, including manual massage, have a positive effect.
diets
Proper nutrition is of no small importance in preventing the occurrence of pain, as the body must receive a sufficient amount of trace elements such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins, mainly through food.
Products that can reduce pain in the joints of the fingers when bending:
- Fish oil and linseed oil. These products contain large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which improve the condition of the vascular system and participate in the normalization of fat metabolism.
- Apple cider vinegar, as it increases the removal of salts and participates in the process of alkalizing the blood.
- Radish, lettuce and walnuts.
- Egg yolk, juice and pomegranate fruit.
- Black currant and fig.
- Ginger and cauliflower.
- Low-calorie cheeses and olive oil.
It is necessary to limit (and in some cases completely exclude from the diet) high-fat dairy products, sweet and high-calorie foods. Smoked meat, alcoholic beverages, coffee, strong tea, as well as products containing oxalic acid.
Folk remedies
In the initial stage of the disease, the pain can be treated using traditional medicine, for example, using a compress with kefir and chalk, diluted to a paste state. Oatmeal, pre-boiled and slightly cooled, has a similar effect.
You can prepare a hand massage cream from an equal amount of crushed bay leaves and juniper pine by adding softened butter to this powder. After the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, the oil can be used for its intended purpose.
In case of worsening pain symptoms, it is recommended to mix 1 tbsp. a spoonful of olive oil with 5 drops of garlic juice, then drink the prepared mixture in the morning, 30 minutes before breakfast. The procedure should be repeated for 3-4 days.
Sudden and severe pain in the finger interferes with the performance of daily tasks, causing the patient unbearable suffering. Such manifestations should not be neglected, as they can indicate a number of serious diseases that can provoke pain symptoms.
Only early diagnosis and timely intervention by an experienced doctor make it possible to determine the etiology of the disease, based on which the doctor decides how and with what to treat to get the most positive result. With timely intervention, the prognosis for full recovery is favorable.