Hands are very important for a person. You can do a variety of jobs with your fingers. However, when joint problems begin, certain difficulties arise. Sometimes it is difficult for a person to perform normal movement, let alone the finest work with small details. Naturally, this affects the quality of life, so it is important to monitor your health. But what to do if your finger joints already hurt? The causes and treatment of this pathology will depend on many factors. The age of the patient plays an important role. Of course, people after 40 are more susceptible to inflammatory processes. However, young people and children may complain of joint pain. What are the causes? Let's see that.
Painful finger joints: causes
Your joints won't hurt so easily. There must be a reason for this. In medicine, it is believed that such a symptom is directly related to injuries and certain diseases. These include:
- Arthritis.
- Stenosing ligamentitis.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Drop.
- Bursitis.
- Osteomyelitis.
Of course, these are not all the reasons that can cause pain in the finger joint. The most common ones are presented above. So let's get to know them in more detail.
Arthritis
Does your finger joint hurt? what to do in this situation? Of course, the first thing to do is to consult a doctor. The fact is that this symptom can be caused either by a simple injury or by a fairly serious illness requiring specific treatment. The sooner you start it, the easier it is to achieve a positive result.
Most people who reach retirement age begin to experience joint pain. They usually develop arthritis. The inflammatory process can occur in acute or chronic form. It is worth paying attention to the fact that arthritis affects not only the joints of the fingers, but also others. A person suffering from this disease feels quite severe pain. They don't stop even when resting.
Both women and men are at risk. However, in the latter, the disease appears much less frequently. Unfortunately, children are not protected against this pathology. They are most often diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. To date, this species has not been fully studied. But its consequences are quite serious. Some children not only have difficulty moving their fingers, but may also be disabled for life. Scientists believe that this disease is caused by a malfunction of the immune system. Children under 16 are at risk.
Rheumatoid arthritis is of a different nature. Caused by infectious and allergic diseases. The danger of this type is that without treatment, the acute form becomes chronic. Such a person will be constrained in their movements and will constantly suffer from pain.
In no case should treatment be carried out independently, since it is necessary to know the type of arthritis and the reasons that caused the disease. The first thing to do is to consult a doctor. After the examination, he will prescribe treatment.
Here are the measures doctors use if finger joints hurt:
- How to treat a patient if he is diagnosed with an infectious disease? In most cases, antibiotics are used.
- In order to relieve inflammation, the patient is prescribed medications such as NSAIDs.
- Chondroprotectors are urgently needed to stop destructive processes.
- Gymnastic exercises are prescribed, including in the pool.
- Dieting.
Osteoarthritis
If you are wondering why your finger joints hurt, there are several possible reasons for this condition. One of them is a disease such as osteoarthritis. It is formed due to the destruction of cartilage tissue. This happens sequentially. At first, the person does not feel any discomfort. Painful sensations can only appear after physical activity, and for a fairly long period of time. However, after a while their character becomes more intense. The pain occurs even at night. This indicates that the disease is starting to progress.
For people suffering from chronic osteoarthritis and severe pain in the thumb joint, doctors diagnose "rhizarthrosis". The disease has three stages of development. This can be triggered by several reasons. They can be both congenital and acquired. In the first case, dysplasia of the articular joint is diagnosed. Rice osteoarthritis also appears due to obesity, metabolic disorders or severe trauma. If treatment is not started on time, this threatens not only the destruction of cartilage, but also joint ligaments, and all neighboring bone structures are affected.
The main symptom of rhizarthrosis is of course pain. However, this is not the only thing that accompanies the disease. The patient may also feel a characteristic crunch when moving a finger, decreased mobility and numbness. All this complements the swelling and redness of the skin. If your finger joint is swollen and painful, it's time to see a doctor. The fact is that it is much easier to cure rhizarthrosis at the first stage than at the last. Quite rare, but surgery may still be necessary.
A disease such as osteoarthritis is quite common. People of all ages are at risk. Even a minor injury can trigger it. With osteoarthritis, the joints are greatly changed, which affects the shape of the fingers.
Bursitis
If an inflammatory process appears in the periarticular bursa, this means that a disease such as bursitis is developing. It is accompanied by an accumulation of fluid. Inflammation occurs after a severe bruise or abrasion. This disease is also caused by a certain type of microbe – pyogenic. People with this condition experience pain in the joints of their fingers and toes. Additionally, inflammation can spread throughout the body. Fluid accumulates in the shoulder, knee, elbow and hip joints.
In medicine, there are two forms of the disease: acute and chronic. It starts with the first. At the initial stage, a person feels severe pain, which increases significantly with movement of the joint. A rather elastic swelling appears. It exists in different diameters. When the disease begins to progress, the pain does not stop at night, even if the hand remains still. Also during bursitis, redness of the skin, swelling of the limb and hypothermia are observed.
If left untreated, the acute form becomes chronic. The latter presents milder symptoms. A person's finger joints hurt much less. Treatment should not be refused, because chronic bursitis does not exclude an increase in fluid that can lead to the formation of a cystic cavity. In addition, the inflammatory process leads to the formation of calcium deposits in the area of the diseased joint. To alleviate the patient's condition as much as possible, you will need to secure the limb well with elastic bandages. This will protect you from accidental movements, which cause severe pain. After that, you should consult an orthopedic traumatologist. He will select anti-inflammatories, as well as anesthetics that can be taken in case of acute pain.
Drop
If the finger joints of your right or left hand hurt, gout may be the cause of these unpleasant sensations. This disease is considered the most common. It is most often found in older people. The cause of its appearance is a violation of uric acid metabolism (sodium crystals are deposited in the tissues). Most people think that gout can only occur on the feet around the big toe. However, this is not the case. In some people, such formations may also appear on the fingers of the upper extremities.
The inflammatory process is accompanied by swelling, severe redness, pain and peeling of the skin. Even microtraumas, physical activity, stress, infectious diseases, etc. can be a provoking factor. The disease manifests itself quite quickly. Within a few hours, you will notice all the symptoms described above. Patients often have a high temperature, which causes chills or fever. In the acute form of gout, the finger joints are very painful. Even a light touch can significantly increase the unpleasant sensation.
With this disease, it is important to strictly adhere to the diet. It is chosen individually by the doctor for each patient. The consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited. The patient should drink at least two liters of water and fruit juice per day. To remove uric acid from the blood, the patient is prescribed anti-gout medications. However, one should not count on quick results, as their use can last for years. They are prescribed only by doctors. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also be added.
Stenosing ligamentitis
If a child has pain in the finger joints, it may be caused by a condition called stenosing ligamentitis. It develops in the ligamento-tendinous apparatus. When this disease occurs, not only one finger, but also several, can get stuck in a bent state. In children, this manifests itself from the first year of life. But they are not the only ones to be threatened. Adults can also suffer from stenosing ligamentitis. These are most often people who have reached retirement age.
The reasons that cause this disease in children are due to unbalanced development. In other words, annular ligaments grow much more slowly than tendons. As a result, an imbalance occurs. This causes the ligaments to put pressure on the tendons. For this reason, easily palpable compaction occurs. When bending a finger, the child may feel a characteristic click in a certain joint.
The cause of stenosing ligamentitis in adults is an inflammatory process whose focus is located in the tendons. This is what causes pain in the finger joints. Here's what else can trigger the development of this disease:
- Excessive load.
- Heredity.
- Incorrect structure of tendons and annular ligament.
- Certain diseases (diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis and others).
Symptoms of stenosing ligamentitis:
- clicks when bending;
- pain when pressed;
- compaction formation;
- restriction of movement.
The first two symptoms correspond to the first stage of the disease. A seal is already forming on the second. But in the third stage, the patient can no longer straighten his fingers independently. This can only be done surgically. However, such treatment is used in quite complex cases. It is better to start developing ligaments and tendons from the initial stage of the disease, carrying out a special physiotherapy complex.
Injuries
Do your finger joints hurt? The cause may be the diseases described above or dislocation. The latter is caused by a movement of the bones. Most often, athletes are faced with this pathology. However, ordinary people are not immune to upheaval. This type of injury has certain symptoms. These include severe pain, swelling of the affected area and deformity of the joints.
Of course, any finger can be sprained. However, the biggest one is the most sensitive. The fact is that it is he who remains unprotected if he moves badly. Although the ligamentous apparatus of this finger is quite powerful, it is easy to sprain without calculating the load. This pathology can also develop if you accidentally fall on your hand. A person immediately feels severe pain, after which (for about an hour) the limb swells and redness may appear.
Of course, you won't be able to live your usual life if your thumb joint hurts. How to treat a dislocation or sprain? If possible, you should consult a doctor. During the appointment, a photo is taken to exclude a fracture or displacement. In the first minutes it is advisable to apply something cold. Warm compresses are then recommended. Painkillers are taken to reduce pain. Ointments with an analgesic effect are also very useful.
Osteomyelitis
This disease is accompanied by a purulent process that can affect not only the joints, but also the whole body. It even penetrates the bone marrow. The seriousness of this pathology cannot be underestimated. The inflammatory process is infectious in nature. It spreads to all neighboring tissues. Over time, the lesion grows, getting bigger and bigger. Necrosis is caused by poor circulation.
Children most often suffer from hematogenous osteomyelitis. This type of disease occurs due to the fact that microorganisms enter the bone tissue along with the blood. If the infection occurs after a fracture or other injury, doctors then diagnose "post-traumatic osteomyelitis. "
Symptoms:
- the finger joints are very painful;
- there is pain and twisting;
- The temperature increases;
- the injured area swells and turns red;
- finger movements are impossible due to sharp pain;
- pus begins to come out through the skin.
Surgery is considered the most effective treatment. However, it can also be combined with medications. The latter is necessary to prevent bacteria from spreading throughout the body. In the case of osteomyelitis, folk remedies are considered ineffective.
My finger joints hurt. Treatment
Treatment of this pathology is necessary only in a complex manner. It consists of three tasks:
- Eliminate the root cause.
- Ease the pain.
- Restoration of functions.
As mentioned above, treatment must be chosen individually in each case. Naturally, when choosing certain methods, doctors take into account the cause of severe pain, symptoms and the degree of inflammation. There are both medical and surgical treatments.
However, if a person does not have the opportunity to go to the hospital, he can simply try to reduce the pain syndrome. Painkillers are suitable for these purposes. But it is important to remember that they do not eliminate the main cause, and after the effect of the drug wears off, a relapse will inevitably occur. If the pain is very severe, the ointment will help enhance the effect of the tablets.
Traditional methods
What to do if your finger joints hurt? In this case, folk remedies can also be used:
- Propolis with vegetable oil.Used as an ointment. Vegetable oil and corn oil will do the trick. The ingredients are mixed thoroughly. The ointment is applied to the skin of the affected area.
- Caucasian hellebore.This type of plant is used to prepare an ointment that perfectly relieves pain. To prepare it, you need to take the same amount of honey as there was hellebore. To these ingredients add unrefined vegetable oil, literally a few drops, and a pinch of dry mustard. All this is mixed until smooth, then heated in a water bath. Apply to the affected area before going to bed.
- Raw potatoes.The vegetable is grated, slightly heated, placed on a bandage or gauze and applied to the finger.
- Elecampane roots.Used as a dye. The roots are crushed then filled with vodka. It is necessary to insist for 14 days in a place where the sun's rays do not penetrate. It perfectly relieves inflammation if you use it daily, rubbing it into the joint.
Conclusion
Based on the information presented above, we can conclude that if the finger joints hurt, this should in no case be ignored. The fact is that such a symptom can be the first sign of a serious illness. If you start treatment on time, the result will be positive in 99% of cases. Today, medicine offers quite effective methods, you just need to consult a doctor and get examined.