If a person has pain and swollen joints on the fingers, then this significantly disrupts his performance. Pain and swelling can be so pronounced that it becomes difficult for the patient to do even simple homework. What could be the cause of such symptoms? And how to relieve pain and swelling? We will answer these questions in the article.
Possible diseases
Why does a person's joints hurt and swell ? Inflammatory and degenerative processes in the musculoskeletal system, as well as injuries and pinching of peripheral nerves, are most often the cause of unpleasant sensations. Such symptoms are noted in the following diseases:
- arthritis;
- arthrosis (including thumb rhysarthrosis);
- gout
- carpal tunnel syndrome;
- finger injuries.
Pain can be secondary. Joint damage is often only one of the symptoms of the following internal diseases:
- renal and cardiological pathologies;
- infections
- allergic reactions;
- hormonal disorders.
In some cases, the joints on the fingers hurt and swell due to muscle strain. This often happens in people involved in hard physical work. Joint pain and swelling can be triggered by malnutrition. An excess of milk, flour products, citrus fruits, tea and coffee leads to a deterioration of the musculoskeletal system.
Provocative factors
Pain can be paroxysmal. There are times when a person's phalanges of the fingers periodically swell and hurt. Such symptoms may intensify or worsen under the influence of the following factors:
- monotonous finger movements;
- hypothermia;
- sedentary work;
- long typing on the keyboard;
- excessive physical exertion.
Joint pain often intensifies with age. The reason for this is the aging of the body. Over time, the tissues of the joints wear out, and the cartilage and bones become weaker. Therefore, people over 40 need to dose the load on the joints. Particular care must be taken for women over 45-50 years old. At this age, the level of estrogen in the body decreases and the risk of developing a decrease in bone density - osteoporosis - increases.
Arthritis
If the finger joint on the arm is swollen and sore, then this may be due to arthritis. This disease is accompanied by inflammation of the articular membrane. With this pathology, the patient decreases the release of lubricant, which provides finger movements.
Finger arthritis is a fairly serious ailment. In advanced cases, this disease can lead to disability. Most often, joint inflammation develops against the background of the following pathologies:
- autoimmune diseases;
- metabolic disorders;
- infections (tuberculosis, brucellosis, syphilis);
- injuries.
Trauma or hypothermia can also provoke the development of arthritis. The disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain syndrome. The pain in arthritis is quite intense. They are felt not only at rest, but also when moving.
- Swelling and redness of the skin in the affected areas.
- Joint deformation.
- Deteriorating movements.
In many patients with arthritis, the joints on the fingers swell and hurt mainly in the morning, after sleep. In the afternoon, the pain subsides, and the swelling somewhat subsides. Most often, inflammation of several joints is noted. This pathology is called polyarthritis. Less commonly, one joint is affected - monoarthritis.
Sometimes the patient notices that he has a swollen and sore joint of the middle finger. Soon, the pathological process goes to the index finger. Such symptoms are characteristic of the rheumatoid form of arthritis. This autoimmune disease is accompanied by the appearance of nodules on the hands that look like small balls under the skin. Inflammation often has a symmetrical character and passes to the middle and index finger of the other hand.
Arthrosis
There are times when the patient is crunched, swollen and sore fingers. The cause of this may be arthrosis. This is a degenerative joint disease that occurs due to cartilage wear. In this case, the tissues between the digital phalanges dry out and collapse, and the bones become denser, and growths appear on them. This causes severe pain with finger movements.
In addition to swelling and pain, arthritis is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- crunching when moving with your fingers;
- deformation of articular joints;
- discoloration of the skin in the affected area.
This disease can be primary or secondary. The cause of primary arthrosis is a metabolic disorder in the joints. Normal cartilage is gradually replaced by fibrous tissue.
Secondary arthrosis develops against the background of the following pathologies:
- mechanical injuries;
- endocrine disorders;
- inflammatory joint pathologies;
- heart and vascular diseases.
If arthrosis is secondary, then it can disappear only after the cure of the underlying pathology.
At an early stage of the disease, the patient periodically aches and swells the joints of the fingers. Pain usually occurs with active movements. Swelling is moderate. When moving your fingers, a crispy and clicking sound is heard.
In the future, attacks of pain occur more and more often. Unpleasant sensations do not disappear even after rest. More often, patients feel a burning sensation in the fingers. This is due to the appearance of nodules in the affected joints.
In the later stages, the fingers are severely deformed, and movements are significantly difficult. The joints look red and swollen, and the pain syndrome is constantly expressed.
Rhizatrosis
If the patient has a swollen joint and thumb joint pain, then this is most likely due to rhizarthrosis. This disease is considered a type of arthrosis. Degenerative changes in cartilage develop only in the joint of the thumb. In this case, the remaining areas of the brush remain healthy.
This disease most often develops in those people whose work is associated with frequent and monotonous movements of the thumb. Rhizarthrosis can also be a complication of trauma or frequent colds.
This type of arthrosis begins with the appearance of slight pain and swelling in the joint area of the thumb. As the pathological process develops, the unpleasant sensations intensify. Redness of the skin appears on the affected area. In the morning the finger goes numb. Movements are difficult and are accompanied by clicks or a crunch.
If the joint of the thumb is swollen and painful, then such symptoms should not be ignored. Without treatment, rhizarthrosis can lead to bone deformity. In advanced cases, it is not possible to completely restore finger mobility even with the help of a surgical operation.
Gout
This disease is most often found in men over 40 years old. Women suffer from gout much less often. The cause of the pathology is a violation of the metabolism of uric acid. Salts of this substance (urate) accumulate in the joints and destroy cartilage and bones.
At the onset of the disease, the patient periodically swollen and sore joints on the fingers. Attacks occur mainly at night and disturb sleep. Pain can last from a few days to a week. Then comes the period of remission, which is mistaken for recovery. Imaginary improvement can last even several years. But then the pains resume, and the remissions become very short.
Gout is not only accompanied by pain and swelling. The following symptoms are also characteristic of this pathology:
- The patient feels weakness and general malaise.
- The skin over the affected joints becomes hot.
- On the fingers appear pineal nodules (tofus). These are nodules that are made up of uric acid salts. They are clearly visible in the x-ray.
Without treatment, this disease can lead to rather dangerous consequences. Over time, urate is deposited not only in the joints, but also in the kidneys. This can trigger urolithiasis. In addition, in advanced cases, finger movements are significantly impaired, which causes disability.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Often, people who work a lot at the computer swell and sore fingers. Why is this happening? Such symptoms are characteristic of carpal tunnel syndrome. This disease is susceptible to patients who often make uniform small movements with their fingers. This is a professional pathology of not only PC operators, but also painters, seamstresses, musicians.
Due to the monotonous flexion-extensor movements, the carpal canal narrows. This leads to pinching of the median nerve, which provides finger sensitivity. Attacks of pathology usually occur at night. A person notices that his fingers are swollen and sore on his hand. Unpleasant sensations usually begin with severe numbness of the hand. This is due to malnutrition of the median nerve.
As soon as blood circulation is restored, a shooting pain in the fingers appears. Such attacks can be repeated several times a night. Numbness and pain are felt in all fingers except the little finger. This is a characteristic feature of the pathology. Branches of the median nerve do not extend to the little finger region.
Without treatment, nerve compression progresses. Appears severe finger weakness. It becomes difficult for a person to hold small objects. Brush movements become inaccurate.
Injuries
Often, even after a slight bruise, a person notices that his phalanx of the finger is sore and swollen. Injury is a fairly common cause of the appearance of such symptoms. Finger tissue is very sensitive to mechanical stress.
Quite often dislocation of the finger. This injury can be obtained not only with falls and playing sports, but even with sharp bending and extension. With a dislocation, the joint looks deformed and swollen, and the skin on the affected area turns red. Numbness of the finger and the inability to perform movements are sometimes noted.
Fracture of the finger is accompanied by severe swelling and pain. In this case, the swelling extends to the entire brush. Abnormal mobility of the finger is noted, and a hematoma appears at the site of bone damage.
Even mechanical damage to the skin and soft tissues near the joint can lead to pain and swelling. Often, such symptoms do not appear immediately. A few days after receiving a wound or cut, the patient draws attention to the fact that the phalanx of the finger on the arm is swollen and sore. This is a warning sign that may indicate suppuration near the joint. If the infection gets into the bone tissue, then septic arthritis may develop.
Kidney and heart disease
Musculoskeletal system lesions are not the only cause of pain and swelling. There are times when the diagnosis does not reveal any pathologies of the joints, however, the patient is constantly swollen and sore fingers. Why is this happening? The cause of the appearance of such symptoms can be diseases of the internal organs.
Swelling of the joints in the morning may appear after drinking an excessive amount of fluid the night before. This means that the patient has problems with the work of the excretory system. Such symptoms are most often observed in renal pathologies. The pain syndrome is slightly expressed, and swelling spreads to other parts of the body, especially the face.
If the swelling and slight soreness intensifies in the evening, then this may be a sign of heart disease. Cardiological pathologies are often accompanied by edema. Fluid builds up in the tissues due to slow circulation. Swelling is noted not only on the fingers, but also in the area of the legs, thighs and abdomen. This is often accompanied by blue skin.
In diseases of the heart and kidneys, joint deformation and redness of the skin in the affected area are never observed. The leading sign of such pathologies is edema. Finger pain is much less pronounced than with musculoskeletal pathologies.
Allergy
Finger pain and swelling can be triggered by allergies. A negative reaction can cause an insect bite, contact with detergents and cleaners, as well as taking certain medications.
With allergies, the pain syndrome is rather weak. Swelling of the fingers can be severe, sometimes it becomes difficult for the patient to make flexion movements due to swelling. In this case, itching and redness of the skin are always observed, but there is no deformation of the joints.
Hormonal adjustment
Why do the joints of the hands swell and hurt in women? The cause of this can be any of the above diseases. However, sometimes pain and swelling develop against the background of complete health. This is due to hormonal changes.
Swelling and pain in the fingers can occur during pregnancy or with menopause. During these periods, the work of the gonads undergoes a major restructuring. During gestation, this does not always require treatment. The patient is recommended to limit the use of fluid and salt. Usually after giving birth, all the unpleasant sensations disappear.
If edema and pain appear during menopause, then most often this is due to a decrease in the production of estrogen in the body. In such cases, the doctor may prescribe replacement therapy with female hormones. However, you must first pass the diagnosis. Indeed, at the age of over 45-50 years, women have an increased risk of arthritis and arthrosis.
Diagnostics
An exacerbation of the above pathologies most often develops suddenly. Once, after sleeping, a person notices that his joints on his hands are swollen. What to do and which doctor to contact? First you need to visit a therapist. If necessary, the general practitioner will issue a referral to a specialist with a narrower profile.
Many joint diseases are similar in symptoms. Therefore, it is very important to conduct a thorough differential diagnosis. If there is a suspicion of inflammatory and dystrophic joint pathologies, doctors prescribe the following examinations:
- clinical blood and urine tests;
- blood test for biochemical parameters;
- research on a C-reactive protein and a rheumatoid factor;
- radiography, MRI and CT of the hands;
- microbiological and cytological examination of articular fluid.
If a comprehensive diagnosis did not reveal any pathologies from the musculoskeletal system, then it is necessary to additionally undergo the following examinations:
- ECG;
- urine test according to Zimnitsky and Nechiporenko;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys;
- blood test for hormones;
- tests with allergens.
If swelling and pain is triggered by internal diseases, allergies, or hormonal disruptions, then a cardiologist, nephrologist, allergist, or endocrinologist may need to be consulted.
Treatment
Suppose that a person's hands become ill and swollen. What to do and how to eliminate pain and swelling? The choice of method of therapy will depend on the type of pathology. If the cause of pain and swelling is inflammatory or degenerative joint diseases, then a course of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated. These include:
- Ibuprofen
- Nise.
- Ketanov.
- Diclofenac.
- Celecoxib.
These drugs are used both in the form of tablets for oral administration, and in the form of ointments and gels for topical treatment.
If arthritis or arthrosis is accompanied by severe pain, then corticosteroid hormones are used to stop inflammation:
- Prednisone.
- "Dexamethasone".
- Metipred.
These hormones are especially useful for arthritis of autoimmune origin. However, such medications are prescribed only in severe cases. They have many side effects, so they are allowed to be taken only as directed by a doctor.
With carpal tunnel syndrome, it is also necessary to prescribe anti-inflammatory non-hormonal and hormonal agents. During the course of treatment, you need to rest your hands. Otherwise, relapses of the pain syndrome will occur constantly.
If the pain is provoked by the destruction of cartilage with arthrosis, then chondroprotectors are indicated. The most common tools in this group include:
- "Don."
- "Teraflex".
- Arthron
- Gialgan.
Chondroprotectors restore cartilage and stop its further destruction.
What to do if with gout the joints on the hands hurt and swell? The treatment of this pathology is not only about taking painkillers. It is necessary to undergo a course of therapy with drugs that reduce the concentration of uric acid in the body. These include:
- Allopurinol.
- Thiopurinol.
- "Orotic acid."
These drugs inhibit the synthesis of uric acid in the body and prevent the deposition of its salts in the joints. In addition, with gout, it is necessary to follow a diet with a restriction in the diet of protein foods.
Allergic reactions can be stopped with antihistamines (Suprastin, Claritin, Tavegil, etc.). Finger swelling completely disappears after suppressing the body's immune response to an allergen invasion.
If swelling of the fingers is associated with diseases of the kidneys and heart, then treatment is carried out in a hospital. The appearance of edema indicates a severe course of pathology. The use of anti-inflammatory drugs for joints in this case is ineffective.
Conclusion
Pain and swelling in the fingers should never be ignored. Such symptoms may indicate serious diseases of the joints and internal organs. You should also not uncontrollably take painkillers. Analgesics will only help relieve pain, but they do not affect the cause of the pathology. You should see a doctor as soon as possible. Without treatment, diseases of the musculoskeletal system can lead to reduced performance and even disability.