Pain in the joints of the fingers during bending is most often caused by age-related changes, as well as irreversible processes in the body that lead to 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
When the factors causing such a problem are identified, the fingers should be treated. As a rule, doctors divide pain in the joints of the hand into 2 groups (mechanical and inflammatory).
Mechanical pain is accompanied by a slightly expressed local inflammatory process, which "erases" the picture of the disease. Often, patients do not pay attention to such symptoms, unlike inflammatory pain. In this case, there is a stiffness of movement that can last more than 1 hour in the morning. The pain is slightly reduced during physical activity.
We list diseases that can provoke such symptoms.
Rheumatoid arthritis
With the development of rheumatoid arthritis, small joints are affected, but it is quite possible that internal organs and large joints can participate 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 are very painful when bent, and a similar symptom is observed on the other hand. A characteristic symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is pain that occurs immediately after waking up, and the pain decreases in the evening.
Psoriatic arthritis
This disease primarily affects the skin and the pain appears mainly in the distal phalanges. With psoriatic arthritis, there is severe swelling of the fingers, they turn blue. In addition, it is quite difficult to fix the thumbs with this disease.
Infectious arthritis
With infectious arthritis, there may be no systemic disorders, but it is characterized by the appearance of a sharp pain attack when bending the finger, which can last from 2-3 hours to 2-3 days. Sometimes there is shivering and hyperthermia.
Gout
This disease is the most common, but in most cases, after clarifying the diagnosis, patients completely unexpectedly find the real reason why the joints of the fingers hurt when bending. Most often, the disease occurs in people over 50 years old.
The main reason for the development of gout is the disruption of the metabolism of uric acid, which is extremely difficult to remove from the body, and its deposition in cartilage and joints, which seriously hinders their normal functioning. Characteristic symptoms of gout are burning, severe pain.
Osteoarthritis
Among the most common reasons for the development of arthrosis are hereditary factors, as well as disruption of metabolic processes in the body, activities related to increased physical activity, etc. In most cases, osteoarthritis occurs among adult women, which is associated with hormonal changes.
A characteristic symptom of the disease is the formation of swelling and subcutaneous nodules, which cause deformation of the fingers and thickening of the middle part, in addition to unbearable pain in the joints of the hand.
Stenotic ligamentitis
This pathological process can be similar to the symptoms of arthrosis and arthritis, so an X-ray examination is required to clarify the diagnosis. Clinical manifestations are quite typical: it is painful to straighten and bend the patient's hands, and in some cases the compressed palm may be compressed. In addition, the extension of the fingers is accompanied by characteristic clicks.
Rizarthrosis
If pain appears in the joint of the thumb, it is likely that 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 localization of the pain is determined, which intensifies under special loads (turning the key, turning the door handle, opening the screw cap, etc. ). At the initial stage of the development of the disease, the finger on the hand hurts only when bent after physical exertion, but the development of rhizarthrosis causes the pain to start bothering the patient even at rest. Gradually, joint deformation occurs with restriction of motor activity.
In addition to all the above diseases, the development of carpal tunnel syndrome, diagnosed mostly in young patients, can cause unpleasant sensations in the area of the thumb or index finger. This is sitting for a long time 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:
- nodular neoplasms in the tendon area;
- creaking of fingers when moving;
- pain during palpation of the hands;
- sharp, piercing pain and impairment of fine motor skills;
- tightness in the bends of the fingers and hyperemia of the inflamed area;
- it is impossible to squeeze little fingers;
- local and local increase in body temperature;
- increased night pain in the arms;
- special attention should be paid in case of sudden swelling and deformation of the finger.
If the patient detects such manifestations, he needs an urgent consultation with a doctor who will carry out diagnostic measures and prescribe complex therapy to eliminate pain symptoms and the inflammatory process.
Diagnostic methods
Patients who feel pain in their hands, especially after sleep, should undergo a course of therapy, but only after clarifying the reasons for the development of the pathological condition.
In this case, diagnostics includes the following methods:
Radiography
X-ray examination is the most informative method for determining tumor-like neoplasms, various injuries and inflammatory processes in the joints of fingers and hands.
Despite the high efficiency of radiography, it has a significant drawback - it is impossible to assess the condition of soft tissues.
Ultrasonography
Using ultrasound, the presence of an inflammatory process in the tissues is determined, the consequences of joint damage are determined. This procedure is most effective for synovitis, arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis and arthrosis. In cases where the middle finger is numb and painful, it is possible to conduct an ultrasound examination of the blood vessels to determine the violation of blood flow in the upper extremities.
CT scan
To obtain a more accurate picture of bone tissue and joint pathology, it is recommended to conduct a CT scan, which takes 5-7 minutes and is well tolerated by patients. The difference between computed tomography and radiography is that the received information is displayed directly on the monitor screen, which allows obtaining more reliable information.
Electrospondylography
A highly effective and universal examination method is electrospondylography, which has been used relatively recently in medicine. This test can detect early damage to the area of the spine responsible for the functionality of the upper limbs, including the fingers.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging is rightfully 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 that form an image of the tissue, the localization of the inflammatory process and the degree of development.
In addition, blood tests (clinical and biochemical), urine tests for the presence of blood and protein, as well as joint puncture for persistent pain in the fingers are prescribed.
It is important! It should be taken into account that fingers can hurt for various reasons, but only a highly qualified specialist should correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe individual treatment for pain.
Treatment
If pain symptoms occur, 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 eliminate the pathological process, the doctor prescribes a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which reduce inflammation, relieve pain symptoms and reduce tissue swelling.
For arthrosis, long-term use of chondroprotectors is recommended to nourish the cartilage and prevent its further destruction. These drugs help prevent recurrence of the disease.
Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed in cases where there is unbearable pain in the fingers and the inflammatory process is at an advanced stage. They quickly eliminate the symptoms of inflammation and regulate metabolic processes in the body, thereby accelerating the recovery of tissues.
If the main cause of painful symptoms in the area of the fingers is a bacterial infection, the doctor prescribes antibiotics and antibacterial substances based on the severity of the symptoms and the sensitivity of the body to this group of drugs.
It is important! You should not self-medicate, as this can cause allergic reactions and side effects. At the beginning of therapy, the damaged joints need to be restored. And it is recommended to resort to auxiliary methods (physiotherapy, hand massage, gymnastics, etc. ) only in the calm stage.
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. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to limit physical activity and reduce physical stress on the joint.
Physiotherapy measures include resonance therapy, electrosleep and electrophoresis with the addition of novocaine. In addition, therapeutic exercises, use of mud, hydrogen sulfide, radon baths, as well as massage, including hand massage, have a positive effect during the remission period.
Diet
Proper nutrition is not less important in preventing pain, because the body must first of all receive sufficient amounts of trace elements such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins with food.
Products that can reduce pain in finger joints when bending:
- Fish oil and linseed oil. These products contain a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which improves the condition of the vascular system and participates in the normalization of fat metabolism.
- Apple cider vinegar, because it enhances the removal of salts and participates in the process of blood alkalinization.
- Radish, lettuce and nuts.
- Egg yolk, juice and pomegranate fruit.
- Blackcurrants and figs.
- Ginger and cauliflower.
- Low-calorie cheeses and olive oil.
High-fat dairy products, sweet and high-calorie foods should be limited (and in some cases completely removed from the diet). Smoked meat, alcoholic beverages, coffee, strong tea, as well as products containing oxalic acid.
Folk treatment
At the initial stage of the disease, pain can be solved using traditional medicine, for example, using kefir and chalk compress diluted to a paste. Oatmeal, pre-boiled and slightly cooled, has a similar effect.
You can prepare a cream for massaging your hands by adding softened butter to this powder of equal amounts of crushed bay leaf and juniper pine. 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. 5 drops of garlic juice and a spoonful of olive oil, then drink the mixture 30 minutes before breakfast. The procedure should be repeated for 3-4 days.
Sudden, severe pain in the finger prevents the performance of daily tasks, causes unbearable pain to the patient. Such manifestations should not be neglected, because they can indicate a number of serious diseases that can provoke pain symptoms.
Only early diagnosis and timely intervention of an experienced doctor allows to determine the etiology of the disease, based on which the doctor decides how and with what to treat in order to achieve the most positive result. With timely intervention, the prognosis for complete recovery is favorable.