Hands for a person are very important. Using your fingers, you can do different jobs. However, when joint problems begin, certain difficulties arise. Sometimes it is difficult for a person to perform the usual movement, and what can we say about the finest work with small details. Naturally, this affects the quality of life, so it is important to monitor your health. But what if the joints of the fingers already hurt? The causes and treatment of this pathology will depend on many factors. Not the last role is played by the age of the patient. Of course, people after 40 years are more prone to inflammatory processes. However, both young people and children may complain of joint pain. What causes her? Let's get it right.
Joints of the fingers hurt: causes
Joints will not hurt so easily. There is certainly a reason for this. In medicine, it is believed that such a symptom is directly related to injuries and certain diseases. The latter include:
- Arthritis.
- Stenosing ligamentitis.
- Arthrosis
- Gout.
- Bursitis.
- Osteomyelitis.
Of course, these are not all the reasons that can cause pain in a finger joint. Above are the most common. So let's get to know them in more detail.
Arthritis
Joint on the finger hurts? What to do in this situation? Of course, the first thing you need to see a doctor. The fact is that this symptom can be caused by both a simple trauma and a rather serious disease that requires specific treatment. The sooner you start it, the easier it is to achieve a positive result.
Most people of retirement age get sore joints. As a rule, they 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 such a disease feels rather sharp pains. They do not stop even at rest.
At risk are both women and men. However, the latter ailment appears much less frequently. Unfortunately, children are not protected from this pathology. They are most often diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. To date, this species is not fully understood. But its consequences are quite serious. Some children not only experience difficulties while moving their finger, but can also remain disabled for life. Scientists believe that this disease is caused by malfunctioning of the immune system. At risk are children under 16 years old.
Rheumatoid arthritis has a different nature. Called by infectious allergic diseases. The danger of this species is that without treatment, the acute form becomes chronic. Such a person will be constrained in movement and constantly suffer from pain.
It is impossible to carry out treatment on your own in any case, since it is necessary to know the type of arthritis and the reasons that provoked the disease. The first step is to visit a doctor. After the examination, he will prescribe treatment.
Here are the measures that doctors use if the joints on the fingers hurt:
- How to treat a patient if he is diagnosed with an infectious appearance? In most cases, antibiotics are used.
- In order to relieve inflammation, a patient is prescribed drugs such as Diclofenac or Spazmalgon.
- Chondroprotectors that will help stop destructive processes are urgently needed.
- Assigned to perform gymnastic exercises, including in the pool.
- Compliance with the diet.
Arthrosis
If you are wondering why the joints on the fingers hurt, then there may be several reasons for this pathology. One of them is a disease such as arthrosis. It is formed due to the destruction of cartilage. This happens sequentially. Initially, a person does not feel any discomfort. Pain can appear only after exercise, and quite long. However, after a certain period of time, their character becomes more intense. The pain manifests itself even at night. This indicates that the disease is beginning to progress.
People who have a chronic course of arthrosis and have a severe joint pain in their thumb, are diagnosed with rhizarthrosis. The disease has three stages of development. It can be triggered by several reasons. They are both congenital and acquired. In the first case, dysplasia of the joint is diagnosed. Rhizarthrosis also appears due to obesity, metabolic disorders or severe trauma. If treatment is not started in time, then this threatens not only the destruction of cartilage, but also the articular ligaments, while all adjacent bone structures are affected.
The main symptom of rhizarthrosis, of course, is pain. However, this is not the only thing accompanying the disease. Also, the patient may feel a characteristic crunch when moving with a finger, decreased mobility and numbness. All this complements the swelling and redness of the skin. If the finger joint on the arm is swollen and sore, then it's time to consult a doctor. The fact is that curing rhizarthrosis is much easier in the first stage than in the last. Quite rarely, but surgery may still be needed.
A disease such as arthrosis is quite common. At risk are people of different ages. It can even provoke a minor injury. With arthrosis, the joints are greatly modified, which affects the shape of the fingers.
Bursitis
If an inflammatory process appears in the periarticular bag, then this means that a disease such as bursitis develops. It is accompanied by accumulation of fluid. Inflammation occurs after severe bruising or abrasion. Also, this disease causes a certain type of microbes - pyogenic. In people with this pathology, the joints of the fingers and toes hurt. In addition, inflammation can spread throughout the body. The fluid collects in the shoulder, knee, elbow, and hip joints.
In medicine, two forms of the disease are distinguished: acute and chronic. It begins with the first. In the initial stage, a person feels severe pain, which increases significantly with the movement of the joint. A fairly elastic swelling appears. It happens of different diameters. When the disease begins to progress, then the pain does not stop at night, even if the arm remains motionless. Also, during bursitis, redness of the skin, swelling of the limbs and hypothermia are observed.
If untreated, the acute form becomes chronic. The latter is characterized by milder symptoms. The joints of the fingers are much less painful in humans. You should not refuse treatment, since the chronic course of bursitis does not exclude an increase in fluid, which can lead to the formation of a cystic cavity. Also, the inflammatory process leads to the fact that calcium deposits begin to form in the area of the diseased joint. To alleviate the condition of the patient as much as possible, it will be necessary to fix the limb with elastic bandages well. This will protect against accidental movement, which brings severe pain. After this, consult an orthopedic traumatologist. He will pick up anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as anesthetics, which can be taken with acute pain syndrome.
Gout
If the joints of the fingers of the right hand or the left hurt, then the cause of these unpleasant sensations can be gout. This disease is considered the most common. Most often found in older people. The reason for its occurrence is a violation of the uric acid metabolism (sodium crystals are deposited in the tissues). Most people think that gout can only occur on the feet in the thumb area. However, it is not. In some people, this formation can occur on the fingers of the upper limbs.
The inflammatory process is accompanied by swelling, severe redness, pain, peeling of the skin. A microtrauma, physical exertion, stress, infectious diseases and so on can become a provoking factor. The disease manifests itself quite quickly. Within a few hours, you will be able to notice all of the above symptoms. Often, patients have a fever that causes chills or fever. In the acute form of gout, the joints of the fingers are very sore. Even a slight touch can significantly increase the unpleasant sensation.
With such a disease, it is important to strictly follow a diet. It is selected individually by the doctor for each patient. It is strictly forbidden to take alcohol. A patient should drink at least two liters of water and juice per day. To remove uric acid from the blood, anti-gout medications are prescribed to the patient. However, you should not count on a quick result, since their reception can stretch for years. They are prescribed only by doctors. Also, anti-inflammatory non-steroid drugs can be added to them.
Stenosing ligamentitis
If the child has joint joints pain, then this may be caused by a pathology called stenosing ligamentitis. It develops in the ligament-tendon apparatus. When this disease occurs, blocking in the bent state of not only one finger, but also several can occur. In children, it manifests itself, starting from the first year of life. However, not only they are at risk. Adults can also get stenotic ligamentitis. Most often these are people of retirement age.
The reasons that provoke this disease in children are caused by unbalanced development. That is, the ring-shaped ligaments grow much more slowly than tendons. This creates an imbalance. It leads to the fact that the ligaments press on the tendons. For this reason, an easily palpable seal occurs. During finger flexion, the child may feel a characteristic click in a particular joint.
The cause of stenosing ligamentitis in adults is an inflammatory process, the focus of which is in the tendons. It is he who leads to the fact that the joints of the fingers hurt. Here's what else can provoke the development of this disease:
- Excessive load.
- Heredity.
- Irregular structure of tendons and annular ligament.
- Some diseases (diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis and others).
Symptoms of stenosing ligamentitis:
- clicks when bending;
- pressure pain;
- formation of compaction;
- restriction in movement.
The first two symptoms correspond to the first stage of the disease. The seal is already formed on the second. In the third stage, the patient can no longer straighten his fingers. This can only be done surgically. However, such treatment is used in rather complex cases. It is best to start developing ligaments and tendons at the initial stage of the disease, performing a special physical therapy complex.
Injuries
Joints of the fingers hurt? The cause may be the above diseases or dislocation. The latter is provoked by bone displacement. Most often, athletes face such a pathology. However, ordinary people are not protected from dislocation. Such an injury has certain symptoms. These include severe pain, swelling of the lesion and deformation of the joint.
Of course, you can dislocate any finger. However, the most prone to this is big. The fact is that it is he who, with the wrong movement, remains unprotected. Although the ligamentous apparatus of this finger is quite powerful, it is easy to obtain tension without calculating the load. Such a pathology can also develop with an accidental fall on the arm. A person immediately experiences severe pain, after (for about an hour) the limb swells, there may be redness.
Of course, you won’t be able to lead a familiar lifestyle if the thumb joint hurts. How to treat a dislocation or sprain? If possible, consult a doctor. At the reception, a picture is taken in order to exclude a fracture or displacement. In the first minutes it is advisable to attach something cold. After that, warming compresses are recommended. To reduce pain, take analgesics. Most doctors recommend Ketanov, Ortofen. Ointments that have an analgesic effect also help very well.
Osteomyelitis
This disease is accompanied by a purulent process, which can affect not only the joints, but the whole body. It penetrates even into the bone marrow. It is impossible to underestimate the severity of this pathology. The inflammatory process is infectious. It applies to all nearby tissues. Over time, the focus increases, expanding more and more. There is necrosis due to circulatory disorders.
Children most often suffer from hematogenous osteomyelitis. This type of disease occurs due to the fact that microorganisms enter the bone tissue with blood. If infection occurs after a fracture or other injury, then doctors are diagnosed with post-traumatic osteomyelitis.
Symptoms
- joints of the fingers are very sore;
- aches and twisting is felt;
- temperature rises;
- the injured area swells and turns red;
- finger movements are impossible due to acute pain;
- pus begins to come out through the skin.
The most effective treatment is considered surgical. However, it is combined with medication. The latter is necessary in order to prevent bacteria from spreading throughout the body. In the case of osteomyelitis, folk remedies are considered ineffective.
The joints of the fingers hurt. Treatment
It is necessary to conduct treatment of this pathology only in combination. It consists of three tasks:
- Eliminating the root cause.
- Removing pain.
- Function recovery.
As mentioned above, treatment should be selected in each case individually. 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 visit the hospital, then you can just try to reduce the pain syndrome. For this purpose, painkillers are suitable. But it is important to remember that they do not eliminate the main cause, therefore, after the end of the action of the medicine, relapse will inevitably occur. If the pain is very severe, then an ointment, such as Fastum Gel, will help strengthen the effect of the tablets.
Folk methods
What to do if finger joints hurt? Alternative means in this case can also be used:
- Propolis with vegetable oil. Used as an ointment. Both vegetable and corn oil are suitable. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Ointment is applied to the skin of the affected area.
- Caucasian hellebore. This type of plant is used to prepare an ointment, which perfectly relieves pain. To prepare it, you need to take as much honey as there was hellebore. To these ingredients add unrefined vegetable oil, just 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 bedtime.
- Raw potatoes. The vegetable is rubbed on a grater, warmed up a bit, placed on a bandage or gauze and applied to the finger.
- The roots of elecampane. Used as a tincture. The roots are crushed, and then poured with vodka. It is necessary to insist 14 days in a place where the sun's rays do not penetrate. It relieves inflammation, if used daily, rubbing into the joint.
Conclusion
Based on the information presented above, we can conclude that if the joints of the fingers are sore, then this cannot be ignored in any case. The fact is that such a symptom can be the first bell of a serious disease. If you start treatment on time, then in 99% of cases the result will be positive. At the moment, medicine offers quite effective methods, you just need to see a doctor and undergo an examination.