Brushes are considered to be the most mobile part of the human body. Thanks to the big change in the range of motion, it becomes possible to do the finest work with the smallest details. That is why it is important to keep your hands healthy at all times. Today, many people, including the younger generation, complain of pain in their finger joints. In some cases, it becomes so strong that one literally loses the ability to make normal movements.
General information
The human hand can be divided into three separate parts: the wrist, the wrist and the fingers. The metacarpus is made up of eight small irregularly shaped bones. They are all arranged in two rows. The metacarpus is represented by five tubular bones, each with a base, body, and head. The bases connect to the wrist and the heads form joints with the phalanges of the fingers. The latter, in turn, consist of three phalanges. The exception in this case is the thumb. There are only two phalanges.
Human hands are considered to be extremely delicate and at the same time precise tools. The fingers are the means that allow coordinated movements. Without them, normal life is not possible. All these movements are due to the mobility of the joints. However, due to the high daily activity, this area is at high risk of developing a variety of diseases, mechanical damage and injuries. Pain in the joints of the fingers, as a rule, accompanies this type of pathological changes. Treatment in this case depends only on the factor that provoked the discomfort.
Main reasons
According to experts, pain in the joints of the fingers can be caused by a wide variety of reasons. The following are the most common violations:
- Arthritis.
- Osteoarthritis.
- bursitis.
- Mechanical damage and injuries.
- Osteomyelitis.
Arthritis
Arthritis refers to acute or chronic inflammation of the joints. Isolated finger lesions are very rare. As a rule, in such patients the pathological process affects other joints. Arthritic pain in the affected area is characterized by intensity. They occur not only when moving the fingers, but also at rest. In addition, in the areas affected by arthritis, there is the appearance of severe swelling, a change in the usual skin tone.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. It is a disease of the connective tissue of infectious and allergic nature, which is mainly systemic in nature. The impetus for the appearance of this disease are severe colds, frequent stress and hypothermia. Rheumatoid arthritis begins with pain in the index finger joint. Affected areas swell, patients complain of fever, weakness, chills.
- Psoriatic arthritis. As a rule, this type of pathology develops in patients who already have psoriatic manifestations on the skin. These are dry scaly spots with a reddish tinge. With the development of the disease, the finger acquires a purple hue and a sausage-like shape.
- Gouty arthritis. Gout is a fairly common disease characterized by metabolic disorders, namely purines. According to experts, such a disease can be caused by an increase in uric acid levels and subsequent deposition of its salts directly in the joint tissues. Gout usually begins with severe discomfort in the joint of the big toe. In the absence of timely treatment, the pathology spreads to other joints. Gout attacks most often occur at night. They are characterized by fever around the affected area and severe pain. The disease progresses very quickly. After some time, the patient may find joint pain in the fingers of both hands. Usually the duration of a typical attack of the disease varies from two to about 14 days.
Osteoarthritis
This disease is formed as a result of successive destruction of cartilage tissue in the joint surface. In the case of this pathology, initially the painful discomfort appears only after prolonged physical activity. Then, as the disease progresses, the intensity of the pain increases, it can appear even at night.
Osteoarthritis of the fingers is a fairly common problem. Even minor damage can become a stimulus for its development. As the disease progresses, the fingers may change their normal shape as they bend to the side.
Rizarthrosis. With the development of this disease, the joint located at the base of the thumb is affected, which also connects the wrist bone with the metacarpal bone. This disease occurs due to congestion in this area. Pain in the thumb joint, visual deformation of the bones are the most common symptoms of this pathology.
bursitis
Inflammation of the so-called joint bags of the fingers, accompanied by accumulation of fluid in their cavity, is called bursitis. This pathology is characterized by painful sensations in the affected area, swelling, redness. The main symptom of bursitis is the formation of round swelling in the joint area, which is characterized by a soft texture. Easily recognizable visually.
With prolonged travel, bursitis often becomes chronic. In this type of situation, the deposition of salts in the affected area joins the inflammatory process. All this, as a rule, provokes pain in the joints of the fingers.
If the cause of the problem is an injury to the hand, then the pathological microflora often joins the inflammatory process. In this case we are talking about the development of purulent bursitis. Accompanied by fever, headache and weakness throughout the body.
Injuries and mechanical damage
Displacement of bones in the joints is called dislocation. Most often, athletes have to deal with this problem. It is accompanied by the following symptoms: severe swelling of the affected area, deformity of the joints and severe pain.
The most common injury is a sprained thumb. Such a separate arrangement exposes him every time for every wrong move. However, the thumb is characterized by a powerful ligament apparatus and is characterized by a certain threshold of load, after which stretching occurs. All this leads to displacement of the joint surfaces.
The most common cause of a sprained thumb is an unfortunate fall on an open palm. It is very easy to determine the presence of this problem, as the externally affected area appears to be deformed. Severe pain in the joints of the thumb can interfere with normal activities, work and sports. The skin in this part, as a rule, acquires a reddish tinge.
Osteomyelitis
A purulent process affecting the joints and nearby soft tissues is called osteomyelitis. This pathology develops due to the penetration of bacteria into the body, constantly producing pus.
Acute osteomyelitis usually begins with a rise in temperature to 40 degrees. The patient's condition deteriorates very quickly, which is caused by severe intoxication of the body. In addition, the patient may experience the following symptoms: pain in the joints of the fingers, chills, loss of consciousness, vomiting.
During the first two days, the pain in the hands gradually increases. Active finger movements are usually impossible. The pathology progresses rapidly, which manifests itself in the appearance of edematous phenomena in the muscles of the arm and even the forearm. The skin in the affected area turns purple.
Diagnosis
Timely seeking advice from a specialist, diagnosis, and competent treatment - all these factors allow to determine the disease and prevent its further progression, the development of serious complications. Pain in the joints of the fingers should not be neglected, as even minor pathology can lead to complete loss of movement and make the patient disabled. The following diagnostic measures may be needed to identify the problem:
- X-ray of the arm.
- Blood tests (clinical / biochemical) and urine tests.
- Determination of purines.
What should be the treatment of pain in the joints of the fingers?
Regardless of the true cause of the pathology, the therapy must be comprehensive and solve three problems at the same time: treatment of the underlying disease, restoration of the basic function of the arm and relief of pain.
Of course, the fight against this or that disease depends on its nature. In any case, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment. However, the relief of discomfort in the hand and its functional development are subject to general rules.
To alleviate the discomfort, modern medicine offers a variety of drugs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are most commonly prescribed.
Glucocorticosteroid hormones are used to relieve pain due to autoimmune diseases (eg rheumatoid arthritis). They have excellent anti-inflammatory effects and provide the desired relief relatively quickly.
Special ointments containing anesthetic components may somewhat enhance the effect of drugs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that you should not ignore the pain in the joints of the fingers. The treatment offered by modern medicine is most often effective in combating this problem. The main thing is to seek medical help in a timely manner and undergo the necessary diagnostic examination. Be healthy!