Pain in the joints of the fingers when bending is most often caused by age-related changes, as well as irreversible processes in the body that provoke negative manifestations and the development of an unpleasant 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 when the factors that provoked such a problem are identified. As a rule, doctors divide pain in the wrists into two groups (mechanical and inflammatory).
Mechanical pain is accompanied by a local inflammatory process, which is mild and "erases" the clinical picture. In contrast to inflammatory pain, patients often do not pay attention to such symptoms. In this case, morning stiffness of movements occurs, which can last for more than 1 hour. The pain decreases slightly with physical activity.
We list the diseases that can cause such symptoms.
Rheumatoid arthritis
When rheumatoid arthritis develops, small joints are affected, but it is quite possible that internal organs and large joints are involved in the pathological process. Rheumatoid pain is accompanied by swelling and redness of the metacarpal phalanx of the middle and index fingers.
With this disease, the fingers hurt very much when bent and a similar symptom is observed on the second hand. A characteristic symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is pain that occurs immediately after waking up and subsides in the evening.
Psoriatic arthritis
This disease mainly affects the skin and pain occurs mainly in the terminal phalanges. Psoriatic arthritis causes severe swelling of the fingers, which become bluish in 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 when bending a finger, which can last from 2-3 hours to 2-3 days. Chills and hyperthermia sometimes occur.
gout
This disease is the most common, but in most cases, after clarifying the diagnosis, patients completely unexpectedly find out the real reason why the finger joints hurt when they bend. The disease most commonly occurs in people over 50 years old.
The main reason for the progression of gout is a disorder of uric acid metabolism, which is difficult to remove from the body, is deposited in cartilage and joints, and seriously impairs their normal functioning. The characteristic signs of gout include burning, severe pain.
arthrosis
The most common reasons for the development of arthrosis include hereditary factors, as well as disorders of metabolic processes in the body, activities that are accompanied by increased physical activity, etc. In most cases, arthrosis occurs in adult women, which is due to hormonal changes.
A characteristic symptom of the disease, in addition to excruciating pain in the joints of the hand, is the appearance of swelling and subcutaneous nodules, which provoke deformation of the fingers and thickening of their central part.
Stenosing ligamentitis
This pathological process can resemble arthrosis and arthritis in its symptoms, so an X-ray examination is necessary to clarify the diagnosis. The clinical symptoms are quite typical: stretching and bending the hands is painful for the patient, and in some cases the clenched palm may become jammed. In addition, extending the fingers is accompanied by characteristic clicking sounds.
Rhizarthrosis
If pain occurs in the thumb joint, such a condition may most likely indicate rhizarthrosis, which is manifested by poisoning, previous infections and various types of injuries.
During the initial examination of the patient, the location of the pain is determined, which increases with certain stress (turning a key, turning a door handle, opening a screw cap, etc. ). At the initial stage of the development of the disease, the finger of the hand hurts when bent only after physical exertion, however, the progression of rhizarthrosis leads to the fact that the pain begins to bother the patient even at rest. Gradually, the joint becomes deformed and motor activity is limited.
In addition to all of the above diseases, the development of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is most often diagnosed in young patients, can cause unpleasant sensations in the area of the thumb or index finger. This is due to prolonged sitting at the computer, which compresses the ulnar nerve, which in turn leads to the development of pain in the fingers.
Symptoms of pathology
Serious signs of the presence of diseases that can cause a number of negative consequences are:
- nodular new growths in the tendon area;
- Creaking of fingers when moving;
- Pain when palpating the hands;
- sharp, stabbing pain and impaired fine motor skills;
- Densification in the crooks of the fingers and hyperemia of the inflamed area;
- inability to squeeze little fingers;
- local and local increase in body temperature;
- increased pain in the arms at night;
- Particular caution is required if the finger suddenly swells and deforms.
If the patient discovers such manifestations, an urgent consultation of a doctor is required, who will carry out diagnostic measures and prescribe complex therapy to relieve the pain symptoms and the inflammatory process.
Diagnostic methods
Patients who experience pain in their hands, especially after sleeping, need to undergo therapy, but only after clarifying the reasons for the development of the pathological condition.
In this case, diagnosis includes the following methods:
Radiography
The most informative method for detecting tumor-like neoplasms, various injuries and inflammatory processes in the fingers and wrists 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
Ultrasonic
Using ultrasound, the presence of an inflammatory process in the tissue is determined and the consequences of a joint injury are identified. This procedure is most effective for synovitis, arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis and osteoarthritis. In cases where the middle finger is numb and painful, it is possible to perform an ultrasound scan of the blood vessels to determine the circulatory disorder in the upper extremities.
CT scan
To obtain a more accurate picture of the pathology of bone tissue and joints, it is recommended to conduct a CT scan, which lasts 5-7 minutes and is well tolerated by patients. The difference between computed tomography and radiography is that the information obtained is displayed directly on the monitor screen, which gives you more reliable information.
Electrospondylography
A highly effective and universal examination method is electrospondylography, which has only been used in medicine relatively recently. This test can be used to detect early damage to the area of the spine, which is responsible for the functionality of the upper extremities, including the fingers.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging is rightfully considered an informative and accurate study, and therefore is often used to diagnose various diseases, including joint diseases. The pathological process is determined using electromagnetic waves, which create an image of the tissue, localization and degree of development of the inflammatory process.
In addition, blood tests (clinical and biochemical), urine tests for the presence of blood and protein, and a joint puncture are prescribed for persistent pain in the fingers.
Important! It should be borne in mind that fingers can hurt for various reasons. However, only a highly qualified specialist should correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe individual pain treatment.
Treatment
When 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.
Medication
To alleviate the pathological process, the doctor prescribes the patient treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which not only relieve inflammation, but also relieve pain symptoms and reduce tissue swelling.
In osteoarthritis, long-term use of chondroprotectors is recommended to nourish the cartilage and prevent its further destruction. These medications help prevent the disease from recurring.
In case of unbearable pain in the fingers and advanced inflammatory process, glucocorticosteroids are prescribed. They quickly relieve symptoms of inflammation, regulate metabolic processes in the body and thereby accelerate tissue regeneration.
If the main cause of painful symptoms in the finger area is a bacterial infection, the doctor prescribes antibiotics and antibacterial agents, depending on the severity of the symptoms and the body's sensitivity to a group of such drugs.
Important! You should not self-medicate as this may cause allergic reactions and side effects. At the beginning of therapy, the restoration of damaged joints is necessary. And only during the rest phase is it recommended to resort to auxiliary methods (physiotherapy, hand massage, gymnastics, etc. ).
physical therapy
Pain in the joints of the hands indicates a violation of the functionality of the entire body and, in particular, the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes. That is why, first of all, it is necessary to limit physical activity and reduce the physical load on the joint.
Physiotherapeutic measures include resonance therapy, electrosleep and electrophoresis with the addition of novocaine. In addition, during the remission phase, therapeutic exercises, the use of mud, hydrogen sulfide and radon baths, as well as massages, including manual massages, have a positive effect.
diet
In order to prevent pain from occurring, proper nutrition is of no small importance, since the body must be supplied with a sufficient amount of microelements such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins, primarily through food.
Products that can relieve pain in the finger joints 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 help normalize fat metabolism.
- Apple cider vinegar, as it promotes the removal of salts and is involved in the alkalinization of the blood.
- Radishes, lettuce and nuts.
- Egg yolk, juice and pomegranate fruit.
- Blackcurrant and fig.
- Ginger and cauliflower.
- Low calorie cheese 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 meats, alcoholic beverages, coffee, strong tea, as well as products containing oxalic acid.
home remedies
At the initial stage of the disease, pain can be treated with traditional medicine, for example, a compress made from kefir and chalk, diluted to a pasty state. Oatmeal, pre-cooked and slightly cooled, has a similar effect.
You can prepare a cream for massaging your hands from an equal amount of crushed bay leaves and juniper pine with the addition of softened butter to this powder. After thoroughly mixing the ingredients, the ointment can be used as intended.
In case of exacerbation of 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, severe pain in the finger interferes with the performance of everyday tasks and causes unbearable suffering for the patient. Such manifestations should not be neglected, as they can indicate a number of serious diseases that can cause 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 in order to achieve the best possible result. With timely intervention, the prognosis for complete recovery is favorable.