Brushes are considered the most mobile part of the human body. Thanks to a large change in the range of motion, it becomes possible to perform the finest work using the smallest details. That is why it is important to keep the brushes always healthy. Today, many people, including the younger generation, complain of joint pain in the fingers. In some cases, it becomes so strong that a person literally loses the ability to make habitual movements.
general information
A person’s hand can be divided into three independent departments: the wrist, wrist and fingers. The wrist consists of eight tiny bones that are irregular in shape. All of them are arranged in two rows. The metacarpus is represented by five tubular bones, each of which has a base, body and head in its composition. The bases are connected to the wrist, and the heads form joints with phalanges of the fingers. The latter, in turn, consist of three phalanges. The exception in this case is the thumb. He has only two phalanxes.
Human hands are considered extremely thin and at the same time accurate instrument. Fingers - this is exactly the tool that allows for coordinated movements. Without them, normal life is not possible. All these movements are due to joint mobility. However, due to the high daily activity, this area is at great risk of completely different ailments, mechanical injuries and injuries. Pain in the joints in the fingers, as a rule, accompanies this kind of pathological changes. Treatment in this case depends solely on the factor that provoked the occurrence of discomfort.
Main reasons
According to experts, pain in the joints of the fingers can be caused by a variety of reasons. Below we list the most common violations:
- Arthritis
- Osteoarthrosis.
- Bursitis.
- Mechanical damage and injury.
- Osteomyelitis.
Arthritis
Arthritis refers to acute or chronic inflammation of the joint. Isolated lesions of the fingers are very rare. As a rule, in such patients, the pathological process affects other joints. Arthritic pains in the affected area are of pronounced intensity. They arise not only with the movement of the fingers, but also at rest. In addition, in areas affected by arthritis, severe edema, a change in the usual shade of the skin, are noted.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis This is a disease of the connective tissue of an infectious-allergic nature, which is mainly systemic in nature. The trigger to the onset of this ailment is severe colds, frequent stress and hypothermia. Rheumatoid arthritis begins with the appearance of pain in the joint of the index finger. The affected areas swell, patients complain of fever, a feeling of weakness, chills.
- Psoriatic arthritis. As a rule, this kind of pathology develops in those patients who already have psoriatic manifestations on the skin. These are dry flaky spots with a reddish tint. With the development of the disease, the finger acquires a crimson hue and a sausage-like shape.
- Gouty arthritis. Gout is a fairly common disease characterized by metabolic disorders, namely purines. According to experts, such an ailment can be triggered by an increase in the level of uric acid and the subsequent deposition of its salts directly in the joint tissues. As a rule, a gouty attack begins with severe discomfort in the joint of the big toe. In the absence of timely treatment, the pathology spreads to other joints. Attacks of gout most often occur at night. They are characterized by fever around the affected area and severe pain. The disease progresses very quickly. After a while, the patient can detect joint pain in the fingers of both hands. Typically, a typical disease attack lasts from two to about 14 days.
Osteoarthrosis
This disease is formed due to the sequential destruction of cartilage in the articular surface. In the case of this pathology, painful discomfort initially occurs only after prolonged physical exertion. Then, with the progression of the disease, the intensity of the pain increases, it can appear even at night.
Finger arthrosis is a fairly common problem. The impetus for its development can be even minor damage. In the process of developing the ailment, the fingers can change their usual shape, bending to the side.
Rhizarthrosis. With the development of this disease, the joint located at the base of the thumb, which also connects the wrist with the metacarpal, is affected. This ailment occurs due to overload of this area. Pain in the joint of the thumb, visual deformation of the bones are the most common symptoms of this pathology.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the so-called joint bags of the fingers of the fingers, accompanied by the accumulation of fluid in their cavity, is called bursitis. This pathology is characterized by pain in the affected area, the appearance of edema, redness. The main symptom of bursitis is the formation of a rounded swelling in the joint area, which is characterized by a soft consistency. It is easily determined visually.
With a long course, bursitis often passes into the chronic stage. In this kind of situation, the deposition of salts in the affected area joins the inflammatory process. All this, as a rule, provokes pain in the joints in the fingers.
If the cause of the problem was a hand injury, then the pathological microflora often joins the inflammatory process. In this case, we are talking about the development of purulent bursitis. It is accompanied by fever, headache and weakness throughout the body.
Injuries and mechanical damage
The 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, joint deformation and severe pain.
The most common injury is dislocation of the thumb on the hand. Such a separate arrangement every time exposes it to blow in case of any incorrect movement. The thumb is characterized by a powerful ligamentous apparatus, however, and it is distinguished by a certain load threshold, after which stretching occurs. All this entails a displacement of the articular surfaces.
The most common cause of dislocation of the thumb is an unsuccessful fall on the open palm. It is very easy to determine the presence of this problem, since the externally affected area looks deformed. Severe pain in the joint of the thumb can interfere with the usual activities, work and exercise. The skin in this part, as a rule, acquires a reddish tint.
Osteomyelitis
A purulent process affecting the joints and nearby soft tissues is called osteomyelitis. This pathology develops due to the penetration into the body of bacteria that constantly produce pus.
Acute osteomyelitis usually begins with a fever up to a mark of 40 degrees. The patient's condition deteriorates very quickly, which is caused by serious intoxication of the body. In addition, the patient may experience the following symptoms: joint pain in the fingers, chills, loss of consciousness, vomiting.
Over the first two days, pain gradually builds up in the hands. Active finger movements are usually not possible. Pathology is rapidly progressing, which is expressed in the occurrence of edematous phenomena in the muscles of the hand and even the forearm. The skin in the affected area acquire a crimson hue.
Diagnostics
Timely recourse to a specialist, diagnosis, as well as competent treatment - all these factors allow you to identify the disease and prevent its further progression, the development of serious complications. It is not worth ignoring the pain in the joints of the fingers of the hands, since even a minor pathology can lead to a complete loss of motion and make the patient disabled. The following diagnostic measures may be required to identify the problem:
- X-ray of the brush.
- Blood test (clinical / biochemical) and urine.
- Identification of the number of purines.
What should be the treatment of pain in the joints of the fingers?
Regardless of the true cause of the pathology, therapy should be comprehensive and simultaneously solve three problems: treatment of the main disease, restoration of the primary function of the hand and relief of pain.
Of course, the fight against a particular illness depends on its nature. In each case, the doctor prescribes the appropriate treatment. However, the relief of discomfort in the hand and its functional development are subject to general rules.
To relieve discomfort, modern medicine offers a variety of medications. Most often, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed (Ketanov, Nimesulide, Ortofen).
To eliminate the pain syndrome, due to autoimmune ailments (for example, rheumatoid arthritis), glucocorticosteroid hormones are used. They have an excellent anti-inflammatory effect and bring the desired relief relatively quickly.
Special ointments containing anesthetic components (“Fastum-gel”, “Indomethacin”) can somewhat enhance the effect of drugs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that you should not disregard the pain of 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 attention in a timely manner and undergo the necessary diagnostic examination. Be healthy!