Finger joints most often start to hurt after 40-45 years (in 1 out of 10 people this is due to age-related changes in the body).After 60 years, the pain often appears against the background of polyosteoarthrosis (damage, destruction of the articular cartilage of various joints).
Deformation and destruction of the joints of the hands are diagnosed in 10% of the elderly.
Also, pain in the joints of the fingers is a characteristic sign of diseases such as:
- rheumatoid arthritis (in 80% of cases it starts with inflammation of the joints of the fingers);
- psoriatic arthritis (in 70% the fingers are the first to suffer);
- gout (arthritis affecting the fingers occurs in 10-15% of patients with gout);
- osteomyelitis is an infectious inflammation of bones (represents 6.5% of all diseases of the musculoskeletal system).
Most arthritis in which the joints of the fingers are the first to become involved are systemic diseases (that is, they affect different systems of the body, not just the joints).They are equally often diagnosed in people of any age, including young people;in men they occur 3–5 times less often.
Another cause of pain is mechanical injuries, the consequences of blows or bruises on the hands (often among athletes, the prevalence is up to 40% of all traumatic injuries).
Some of the diseases that cause pain in the joints of the fingers cannot be cured completely;over time, they become the cause of damage (rheumatoid, psoriatic arthritis, polyosteoarthritis).And for example, with timely treatment, osteomyelitis can be eliminated forever, but the process quickly becomes chronic and can lead to the loss of a limb (in 30% of cases).
If you suspect a systemic disease (arthritis, polyosteoarthrosis), you should consult a rheumatologist or arthrologist.Osteomyelitis is treated by an orthopedic traumatologist, a surgeon, injuries - by an orthopedic traumatologist.
Why pain occurs in the joints of the fingers: causes and symptoms
Why do my finger joints hurt?There are many reasons, as well as factors that can speed up or push the process.Common predisposing factors for all diseases and injuries can be considered:
- Profession (this category includes people who are forced to work with hands and fingers, musicians, seamstresses, programmers).
- Stress (injuries and microtraumas as a result of long hours of sports training and rehearsals).
- Hormonal changes, disorders (pregnancy, lack of estrogen in elderly women).
- Heredity (close relatives are more susceptible to systemic diseases).
- Deficiencies or diseases of the immune system.
- Metabolic disorders (gout, diabetes).
- Chronic infections (tuberculosis).
- Hypothermia (hypothermia).
- Some long-term negative factors (among them - taking drugs, poisoning with toxic substances in a dangerous enterprise, smoking, alcoholism, etc.).
The article below describes the pathologies and conditions that cause pain in the joints of the fingers.
Injuries
The pain that occurs after an injury is difficult to confuse with something else:
- all symptoms appear immediately after a blow, bruise, compression or other injury;
- severe pain is accompanied by swelling, bruises at the site of the impact, impaired mobility of the joints;
- with moderate and severe damage, the symptoms do not subside for a long time, but become more pronounced - pain, stiffness, swelling;
- discomfort increases when trying to bend or straighten the fingers.
Severe injuries to the fingers of the upper limb are combined with:
- ruptures of muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, hemorrhage in the capsule (hemarthrosis) and soft tissues (hematomas);
- bone fractures and cracks;
- nerve damage (loss of sensation in fingers and skin).
Prognosis: minor injuries heal without scarring in 90-95% of cases.Severe and moderate injuries can leave behind various complications - from impaired sensitivity of the fingers to traumatic arthritis in 70%.
Polyosteoarthrosis
Polyosteoarthrosis is a chronic pathology, as a result of which the joints of the fingers of the hands are gradually deformed and destroyed (there is a form of the disease that affects the joints of the thumbs - rhizarthrosis).
At first, aching pain appears after hard work (sewing, embroidery, many hours of rehearsing a musical instrument).As the disease progresses:
- pain in the joints of the fingers becomes constant and does not disappear with rest;
- the pain is accompanied by clicking and crunching (during movements);
- stiffness appears (minor at first).
During periods of exacerbation, the main symptoms include swelling, swelling, increased local temperature and sometimes redness in the joint area.
Over time, the fingers are deformed:
- On the joints located closer to the nails, Heberden's nodes (bone growths, pea-sized lumps) form.
- Bouchard nodes (overgrowth of joint surfaces, bone spurs) are formed on the middle joints.
Finger joints lose their original shape (become knotted), and over time lose mobility due to ossification of soft tissues (ankylosis).
Prognosis: the pathology is incurable, but in the early stages (before the appearance of deformation) it can be stopped for a long time.Later, this becomes the cause of damage (tissues fuse, ossify, finger mobility can only be restored by surgery).
Rheumatoid arthritis
Chronic inflammatory disease of the joints, which occurs with the participation of other organs and systems in the pathological process (outer shell of the heart, lungs, vascular walls, skin).
Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by:
- gradual increase and intensification of symptoms (initially the exacerbation is replaced by rather long periods of asymptomatic progression, but they become shorter and shorter over time);
- morning stiffness reminiscent of tight gloves (disappears in 30-60 minutes);
- sharp, sharp, dull pain in the joints of the fingers (of both hands), which increases into intolerability when bending;
- redness, swelling, swelling, joint stiffness.
The pain syndrome usually occurs at night or in the morning and slightly decreases in the afternoon.
When the acute symptoms disappear (during remission), the pain becomes less pronounced, painful and increases with movement and when working in cold water.Finger joints hurt when bending and unfolding, remain painful to the touch and slightly swollen.
Gradually, the disease leads to the formation of a stable deformation and dysfunction of the fingers - they turn outward or upward, bend (most often the middle, index and ring fingers are affected, extremely rarely - the little and thumb), other joints are involved in the process (wrist, ankles, knees, shoulders).
Prognosis: the pathology is incurable, rapidly progresses and leads to loss of working capacity, disability - 40% of cases in the first 5 years of development.
Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is one form of severe systemic disease (psoriasis).
The most characteristic signs of damage to the finger joints:
- sudden, acute onset of arthritis;
- damage to the interphalangeal and distal (closer to the nail) joints;
- constant, uniform, severe pain combined with extensive swelling, redness of the skin, limited mobility (the shape of the fingers at this moment resembles a radish or sausage, it is impossible to bend or straighten the joints of the fingers due to pain and swelling);
- increase in general temperature.
In the long term, it leads to the destruction of the nail plates (they crumble and lose their shape), deformation of the fingers (they "turn" outwards or upwards) and loss of working ability.
Prognosis: psoriatic arthritis is incurable, severe, rapidly progressive, and disabling in 90–95% of patients.
gouty arthritis
Gouty arthritis occurs against the background of metabolic disorders, which leads to the accumulation of excess uric acid in the body.It gets into the tissues of the joints, causing inflammation.
Typical signs of gouty arthritis:
- Sharp, sudden, throbbing or burning pain in one or more joints of the fingers.
- Any attempt to move a finger or touch increases the unpleasant symptom.
- It is accompanied by severe edema, which often covers the entire hand, a change in the color of the skin (the finger of the hand becomes bluish-purple) and an increase in the general temperature (the patient has a fever, chills).
- Pain in the joints of the fingers usually occurs at night.
- The attack can last from 2 days to 2 weeks.
Progressive gouty arthritis causes the involvement of new joints in the process and their deformation (destruction of joint surfaces).Tophi appear on the fingers - tissue deposits of uric acid.
Outlook: There is no cure for gout, but normal uric acid levels can be maintained with medication and diet.The disease rarely causes complete disability of the patient (5-8%), but over time it can destroy the joints of the fingers (secondary arthrosis).
Why else would your toe joints hurt?
Other causes of pain may include the following diseases and conditions:
Osteomyelitis
This infectious lesion of the bones (periosteum, spongy and compact substance) usually begins acutely - pain in the joints with osteomyelitis is severe, sharp, twitching, bursting or tearing.When bending or unfolding, it becomes unbearable, accompanied by severe swelling, redness and hardening of the tissues above the joint, fever and signs of general intoxication (weakness, sweating).In 30% of cases, osteomyelitis becomes chronic (can be repeated), and the pain in the fingers becomes painful.The process can cause purulent arthritis, malignancy of bone tissue, deformity of bones and joints.
vasospasm
Vasospasm is a sharp narrowing of the peripheral vessels supplying blood to the upper limbs, hands and finger joints.It is characterized by tingling, numbness and pale skin.At the end of the attack (which can be short-term - from 2 minutes or long-term - up to 60 minutes), the fingers begin to hurt, "hurt" and the skin of the hands becomes red.Over time, this phenomenon (vasospasm) causes the appearance of trophic ulcers (tissue death due to nutritional disorders), bone melting and necrosis of the fingertips.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is not a pathological condition, but it is accompanied by sharp and rapid hormonal changes in the body and accelerated metabolism.Pain in the joints of the fingers, or rather pain, can be caused by a lack of calcium and vitamin D3, as well as an excess of the hormone that prepares the body for childbirth by relaxing the ligaments.
Diagnostics: methods, research
When your finger joint hurts, what should you do?First of all, it is necessary to diagnose the pathologies that cause such a symptom.Most often, the attending physician prescribes a number of tests:
| Method name | What allows you to diagnose |
|---|---|
Radiography |
With its help, pathological changes in the bones, deformation of the joints, deposition of crystals, ossification of the tissues are detected. |
MRI, CT or ultrasound |
These diagnostic methods make it possible to identify all pathological changes in the periarticular tissues and joints that are not visible on radiography |
ECG, ultrasound of internal organs |
Helps to identify extra-articular manifestations characteristic of certain diseases (pericarditis, pneumonitis) |
Angiography |
Examination of blood vessels is informative for pathologies that appear with damage to their walls and can cause vasospasm (rheumatoid arthritis) |
Clinical laboratory tests |
With the help of tests, the cause of the disease is determined, infections and pathogens of the pathological process are identified. |
Therapeutic and diagnostic joint puncture (procedure to extract fluid from the joint capsule) |
A puncture is performed if blood (hemarthrosis), pus (infectious processes) or a large amount of fluid has accumulated in it, which makes mobility difficult and threatens its destruction |
Treatment: principles, drugs, characteristics
Some diseases or conditions that cause pain in the joints of the fingers cannot be cured (vasospasm, osteoarthritis, psoriatic, gouty arthritis).Some are completely cured and without consequences (with timely treatment - osteomyelitis, mild and moderate injuries).
General principles of treatment, methods of pain relief
The common thing in the treatment of all diseases that cause pain in the joints of the fingers is the prescription of drugs that help get rid of severe symptoms.
This is usually:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which successfully relieve inflammation and pain;
- glucocorticoids, which are prescribed if NSAIDs are ineffective;
- pain relievers if joint pain cannot be relieved by other means.
As soon as the symptoms disappear, the patient is prescribed: chondroprotectors to slow down or prevent the destruction of cartilage and physical therapy.
Physiotherapy stimulates metabolic processes and accelerates tissue recovery.The most popular physiotherapy procedures for joint diseases are:
- drug electrophoresis;
- magnetic therapy;
- UHF (ultra high frequency therapy);
- reflexology (acupuncture);
- massage;
- mud therapy;
- balneotherapy (hydrotherapy);
- warming procedures (paraffin applications, ozokerite);
- therapeutic exercises (exercises to strengthen the joints of the fingers).
If it is necessary to eliminate the pain in the joints of the fingers of the hands and its causes, treatment in a sanatorium-resort environment can give a good result.At the direction of the attending physician, the patient has the opportunity to change the climate 1 or 2 times a year, undergo a course of restorative physiotherapy procedures and drink mineral water from natural sources.
Features of the treatment of specific pathologies
In addition to general methods and means, there are nuances in the treatment of each pathology:
| Pathology | Features of treatment |
|---|---|
Injuries |
The treatment of the injury is gradual.First, the victim is given first aid (fixing bandage, ice compress for 24 hours). If necessary, a puncture is performed, tissue integrity is restored (in case of serious damage) and it is immobilized with plaster. On the 3-5th day, they begin to warm up, stimulating healing. |
Polyosteoarthrosis |
At the beginning of the disease, taking chondroprotectors and physiotherapy are effective. Later, only surgery helps (the problem is solved with prosthetics). |
Rheumatoid arthritis |
They prescribe basic anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antibacterial, anti-allergic drugs, drugs that affect the activity of the immune system. |
Psoriatic arthritis |
|
gouty arthritis |
The main disease (gout) is treated by prescribing drugs that regulate the formation and accelerate the excretion of uric acid, drugs that dissolve tissue salt deposits. A mandatory part of the treatment is a strict diet during an attack (Table No. 6), a less strict diet throughout life. |
Osteomyelitis |
Surgical washing of purulent cavities in the bone tissue and opening of ulcers is performed. Antibiotics and antibacterial drugs are used for treatment. |
vasospasm |
How to treat vasospasm?In case of pathology, vasodilators and antispasmodics (relaxing the muscles of the vascular walls), blood thinners are prescribed. Eliminate the provoking factors (for example, smoking) or treat the underlying disease that caused the vasospasm (for example, rheumatoid arthritis). |
Folk remedies (treatment of pathologies, pain relief)
Pain in the joints of the fingers can also be treated with folk remedies:
- Eucalyptus leaf infusion.Take 40 g of eucalyptus leaves, pour a liter of boiling water, let it stand for 60 minutes under a lid.Once ready, strain, pour into a dark glass container and store in the refrigerator.Take every day for 2 weeks - 3 times 50 ml, 30 minutes before meals.
- Treatment of pain in the joints of the fingers with an infusion of blackcurrant leaves.Pour 10 g of raw material into 0.5 liters of boiling water, let it brew under a lid for 20 minutes.Drink a glass 2 to 3 times during the day.The duration of the course is 2-3 months.
- Warming ointment for arthritis.Take 50 g each of camphor and mustard powder, dilute them one by one in 100 ml of alcohol, add beaten egg white.Rub into the brushes overnight.Treatment of finger joints lasts 21 days, after some time the course can be repeated.
- Oil rub.Dilute the essential oil of fir with vegetable oil (1: 1), rub into the joints of your fingers until it is completely absorbed before going to bed.First you need to "warm" them: boil the washed potato skins in water, when the broth cools down (to a nice warm temperature), dip your brushes in it and hold for 15-25 minutes, then rinse them with clean water.Treatment continues for 3 weeks or until the signs of the disease disappear.
Prevention
How to prevent pathologies that cause pain in the joints of the fingers?To do this you need:
- get rid of bad habits (stop smoking and alcohol);
- introduce into the diet foods that are useful for joints and cartilage tissue (with enough calcium, phosphorus, other minerals and vitamins, proteins);
- undergo regular examinations to get rid of foci of chronic infection (for example, tonsillitis);
- do not overwork (alternate work with rest) and do not overcool your hands.
It is very important to strengthen the immune system (swimming, yoga, walking) and finger joints with therapeutic exercises.