This disease is also known as stenotic ligamentitis and is a condition in which one of the fingers takes a constant bent position. When straightening, it emits a click, similar to a shot. Hence the more common name for the disease - snapping finger syndrome.
Knott's disease is diagnosed when, due to the inflammatory process, the space under the membrane surrounding the tendon narrows. In severe cases, the finger remains bent.
If your work or hobby requires repeated repetition of monotonous grasping hand movements, you are at risk. Most often, this disease affects women and diabetics of both sexes.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Knott's disease are both minor and severe. Among them:
- Stiffness and stiffness in the joint, especially in the morning.
- Clicking sound or clicking sensation when moving with a finger.
- Softness or bump (nodule) on the palm at the base of the sore finger.
- From time to time, it becomes impossible to straighten the finger, but after a while it extends spontaneously, regardless of the number and intensity of attempts to straighten it.
Nott's disease most often affects the thumb, middle or ring finger. Sometimes the disease spreads to several fingers at once or even to both hands. Unpleasant sensations become especially noticeable in the morning, when trying to straighten your finger or squeeze any object tightly.
When to see a doctor
If you notice limited movement or stiffness in the joints of the fingers, notify a specialist so that he analyzes the symptoms and makes a medical examination of your hand. If the joint is inflamed and seems hot to the touch, you may need urgent medical attention, as these symptoms indicate infection.
Causes
Tendons are fibrous structures that connect muscles to bones. Each tendon is surrounded by a protective sheath. Stenosing ligamentitis is diagnosed when this membrane in the tendon of the finger is irritated and inflamed. Adverse processes disrupt the normal movement of the tendon under the sheath.
Long-term irritation in the protective sheath of the tendon can lead to scarring, thickening of the structure and the formation of cones (nodules), which even more hinder the normal functioning of the tendon.
Risk factors
Circumstances that increase the risk of developing Knott's disease include:
- Monotonous grasping movements. Work and hobbies, requiring repeated repetition of the same finger movements, often lead to stenotic ligamentitis.
- Certain health problems. Patients with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis are at risk.
- Floor. Most often, Nott's disease is diagnosed in women.
Before a visit to the doctor
To make an accurate diagnosis on the basis of symptoms and a medical examination, you will need to contact a local or private therapist.
Before going to the clinic or medical center, it is advisable to make a list of regularly consumed food additives and medications. You can pre-record the main questions that you want to ask your doctor, for example:
- Is this ailment temporary?
- What caused the symptoms?
- How can Nott's disease be cured?
- Can complications arise due to the prescribed treatment?
The doctor will also ask you some clarifying questions. Be prepared to answer them to let the specialist know all the most important information. The doctor will likely be interested in the following details:
- What symptoms did you find in yourself?
- How long have you noticed signs of Knott's disease?
- Do the symptoms appear periodically or are they permanent?
- Does the improvement or worsening of your condition depend on any factors?
- Does your condition worsen in the morning or at certain times of the day?
- Do you make uniform movements with your hands at work or during leisure?
- Have you injured your arm recently?
Diagnostics
The diagnosis in this case does not require complex studies. The doctor will determine the ailment based on a medical history and medical examination. Upon examination, the specialist will ask you to squeeze and unclench your fist and analyze the areas with painful sensations, smooth movements and the nature of stiffness in the joints. The doctor also palpates a palm for cones. If the detected bump is due to stenosing ligamentitis, it will move simultaneously with the movement of the finger due to belonging to the affected tendon.
Therapy
There are many methods to get rid of stiffness in the joints and the pain syndrome characteristic of an ailment such as Knott's disease. Treatment with conservative non-invasive methods includes:
- Recreation. For at least 3-4 weeks, you should refrain from classes requiring a monotonous repetition of monotonous grasping movements.
- Stretching. Non-intense stretching exercises help to cope with the disease, however, only a doctor should prescribe such physical activity.
- Heat or cold. Since ancient times, many people have suffered from Nott's disease; folk treatment for this ailment consists in applying pieces of ice to the palm of your hand. Some patients, however, are more likely to benefit from warm water heaters, especially if they are applied to the hand immediately after waking up in the morning.
Other methods
Most patients with stenotic ligamentitis are injected with a steroid directly into the tendon sheath. Steroids help reduce inflammation and restore normal motor function of the fingers. This method of treatment has proven to be highly effective in 90% of cases and is used everywhere. Sometimes, to reinforce the result, a second injection is required.
If a patient has diabetes, steroids can be powerless in treating ailment such as Knott's disease. The operation in this case is considered the best option: through a small incision at the base of the patient’s finger, the surgeon straightens the compressed area in the tendon sheath. The operation does not take much time and is the most effective method of dealing with snapping finger syndrome.