Pain in the joints of the fingers when bending is most often caused by age-related changes and irreversible processes in the body, which cause negative manifestations and the development of an unpleasant condition in the patient. Such a pathology requires mandatory medical intervention, which includes all methods based on the causes of painful symptoms of the upper limbs.
Causes of pain
Fingers should be treated if the factors that provoked such a problem are identified. As a general rule, doctors divide pain in the joints of the hand into 2 groups (mechanical and inflammatory).
Mechanical pain is accompanied by a local inflammatory process, which is mildly expressed, which "erases" the picture of the disease. Patients often do not pay attention to such symptoms, in contrast to inflammatory pain. In this case, movement stiffness appears in the morning, which can last for more than 1 hour. The pain is slightly reduced during physical activity.
We list the diseases that can cause such symptoms.
Rheumatoid arthritis
With the development of rheumatoid arthritis, small joints are affected, but it is very likely that internal organs and large joints can participate in the pathological process. Rheumatic pain is accompanied by swelling and redness of the metacarpal phalanx of the middle and index fingers.
In this disease, the fingers are very painful when bent, and a similar symptom is observed secondarily. The characteristic symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is pain that occurs immediately after waking up and decreases in the evening.
Psoriatic arthritis
This disease primarily affects the skin, and the pain occurs primarily in the distal phalanges. In case of psoriatic arthritis, there is severe swelling of the fingers, which become bluish in color. In addition, with this disease, it is quite difficult to straighten the thumbs.
Infectious arthritis
In the case of infectious arthritis, there may be no systemic disorders at all, but it is characterized by an acute pain attack occurring when bending the finger, which can last from 2-3 hours to 2-3 days. Sometimes chills and hyperthermia occur.
Gout
This disease is the most common, but in most cases, after clarifying the diagnosis, patients suddenly find out why the joints of the fingers hurt when bending. Most often, the disease occurs in people over 50 years of age.
The main reason for the progression of gout is a violation of the metabolism of uric acid, which is quite difficult to remove from the body, is deposited in the cartilages and joints, creating a serious obstacle to their normal functioning. Typical symptoms of gout include burning, intense pain.
Osteoarthritis
The most common reasons for the development of osteoarthritis include hereditary factors, as well as disorders of the body's metabolic processes, activities related to increased physical activity, etc. In most cases, osteoarthritis occurs among mature women, which is due to hormonal changes.
The characteristic symptom of the disease is, in addition to painful pain in the joints of the hand, swelling and the appearance of nodules under the skin, which cause deformation of the fingers and thickening of their middle part.
Stenotizing ligamentitis
The symptoms of this pathological process can be similar to arthrosis and arthritis, so an X-ray examination is necessary to clarify the diagnosis. The clinical manifestations are quite typical: it is painful for the patient to straighten and bend the hand, and sometimes the clenched palm may get stuck. In addition, the extension of the fingers is accompanied by characteristic clicks.
Rhizarthrosis
If there is pain in the joint of the thumb, then, most likely, such a condition can indicate rhizarthrosis, which manifests itself in poisoning, previous infections and various injuries.
During the initial examination of the patient, the localization of the pain is determined, which intensifies as a result of specific loads (turning a key, turning a doorknob, opening a screw cap, etc. ). In the initial stage of the development of the disease, the finger of the hand hurts when bending only after physical exertion, but the progression of rhizarthrosis leads to the fact that the pain bothers the patient even at rest. Deformation of the joint occurs gradually, limiting motor activity.
In addition to the above diseases, the development of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is most often diagnosed in young patients, can lead to discomfort in the area of the thumb or index finger. This is due to prolonged sitting in front of computers, during which the ulnar nerve is compressed, which in turn leads to the development of pain in the fingers.
Symptoms of pathology
Serious signs of the presence of diseases that can have many negative consequences:
- nodular neoplasms in the area of tendons;
- creaking of the fingers when moving;
- pain when touching the hands;
- sharp, stabbing pain and impaired fine motor skills;
- compaction in the bends of the fingers and hyperemia of the inflamed area;
- inability to squeeze little fingers;
- local and local increase in body temperature;
- increased pain in the arms at night;
- special attention should be paid if the finger suddenly swells and becomes deformed.
If the patient notices such manifestations, an urgent consultation with a doctor is required, who will carry out diagnostic measures and prescribe complex therapy to alleviate the symptoms of pain and the inflammatory process.
Diagnostic methods
Patients who feel pain in their hands, especially after sleeping, should take part in a therapeutic course, but only after clarifying the causes of the development of the pathological condition.
In this case, diagnostics includes the following methods:
Radiography
X-ray examination is the most informative way to determine tumor-like neoplasms, various injuries and inflammatory processes that develop in the joints of fingers and hands.
Despite the high efficiency of radiography, it has a significant drawback - the inability to assess the condition of soft tissues
Ultrasound
With the help of ultrasound, they determine the presence of the inflammatory process in the tissues and identify the consequences of joint damage. This procedure is most effective for arthritis, arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis and arthrosis. In cases where the middle finger is numb and painful, it is possible to conduct an ultrasound examination of the blood vessels to determine the blood flow disorder in the upper limbs.
CT scan
In order to obtain a more accurate picture of the pathology of bone tissue and joints, it is recommended to perform a CT scan, which takes 5-7 minutes and is well tolerated by patients. The difference between computed tomography and radiography is that the information received is displayed directly on the monitor screen, which allows you to get more reliable information.
Electrospondylography
An extremely effective and universal examination method is electrospondylography, which has been used relatively recently in medicine. This test can detect early damage to the area of the spinal column responsible for the function of the upper limbs, including the fingers.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging is rightfully considered an informative and accurate examination, therefore it is often used to diagnose various diseases, including joints. The pathological process is determined with the help of electromagnetic waves, which form the image of the tissue, the localization and degree of development of the inflammatory process.
In addition, a blood test (clinical and biochemical), a urine test for the presence of blood and protein, and a joint puncture for persistent pain in the fingers are prescribed.
Important! It should be noted that the fingers can hurt for various reasons, however, only a highly qualified specialist should correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe individual treatment of the pain.
Treatment
If painful symptoms appear, the main therapeutic measures should be aimed at eliminating the causes of the development of the pathological process.
Complex therapy includes both drug therapy and treatment with folk remedies.
Drug treatment
To alleviate the pathological process, the doctor prescribes a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to the patient, which, in addition to reducing inflammation, relieves pain symptoms and reduces tissue swelling.
In the case of osteoarthritis, the long-term use of cartilage protectors is recommended to nourish the cartilage and prevent its further destruction. These drugs help prevent the disease from coming back.
In cases where there is unbearable pain in the fingers and the inflammatory process is advanced, glucocorticosteroids are prescribed. They quickly relieve the symptoms of inflammation and regulate the metabolic processes in the body, thus accelerating tissue regeneration.
If the main cause of the painful symptoms in the area of the fingers is a bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics and antibacterial agents, based on the severity of the symptoms and the sensitivity of the body to this group of drugs.
Important! Do not self-medicate, as this may cause allergic reactions and side effects. At the beginning of the therapy, it is necessary to restore the damaged joints. And only in a calm stage is it recommended to use auxiliary methods (physiotherapy, hand massage, gymnastics, etc. ).
Physiotherapy
Pain in the joints of the hand indicates a violation of the functionality of the body as a whole, and especially the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to limit physical activity and reduce the physical load on the joint.
Physiotherapy measures include resonance therapy, electrosleep and electrophoresis with the addition of novocaine. In addition, during the remission period, physical exercise, the use of mud, hydrogen sulfide and radon baths, as well as massage, including manual massage, have a positive effect.
Diet
Adequate nutrition is of no small importance in preventing the development of pain, since the body must receive a sufficient amount of microelements, such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins, primarily through food.
Products that can reduce pain in the joints of the fingers when bending:
- Fish oil and flaxseed oil. These products contain a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which improve the condition of the vascular system and participate in the normalization of fat metabolism.
- Apple cider vinegar, as it enhances the removal of salts and participates in the alkalizing process of the blood.
- Radishes, lettuce and walnuts.
- Egg yolk, fruit juice and pomegranate fruit.
- Blackcurrants and figs.
- Ginger and cauliflower.
- Low-calorie cheeses and olive oil.
High-fat dairy products, sweet and high-calorie foods should be limited (and in some cases completely excluded from the diet). Smoked meats, alcoholic beverages, coffee, strong tea and products containing oxalic acid.
Folk remedies
In the initial stages of the disease, the pain can be treated with the help of traditional medicine, for example, with a poultice made of kefir and chalk, diluted to a pulpy state. Oatmeal pre-boiled and slightly cooled has a similar effect.
You can make a hand massage cream from equal amounts of crushed bay leaves and juniper pine, adding soft butter to this powder. After thoroughly mixing the ingredients, the ointment can be used as intended.
In case of exacerbation of pain symptoms, it is recommended to mix 1 tablespoon. a spoonful of olive oil with 5 drops of garlic juice, then drink the prepared mixture in the morning, 30 minutes before breakfast. The procedure must be repeated for 3-4 days.
Sudden severe pain in the finger interferes with the performance of daily tasks, causing unbearable suffering to the patient. Such manifestations should not be ignored, as they can indicate a number of serious diseases that can cause pain symptoms.
Only early diagnosis and the timely intervention of an experienced doctor make it possible to determine the etiology of the disease, on the basis of which the doctor decides how and with what to treat it in order to achieve the most positive result. With timely intervention, the prognosis for complete recovery is favorable.