Brushes are considered the most mobile part of the human body. Thanks to the large change in range of motion, it becomes possible to perform the finest work in great detail. This is why it is important to keep your hands healthy at all times. 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 perform the usual movements.
general informations
The human hand can be divided into three distinct sections: the wrist, wrist, and fingers. The pastern is made up of eight small, irregularly shaped bones. They are all arranged in two rows. The pastern is represented by five tubular bones, each having a base, a body, and a head. The bases connect to the wrist, and the heads form joints with the phalanges of the fingers. These, in turn, are made up of three phalanges. The exception in this case is the thumb. He only has two phalanges.
Human hands are considered extremely delicate and at the same time precise instruments. The fingers are precisely the means which allow coordinated movements. Without them, normal life is not possible. All of these movements are due to joint mobility. However, due to the high daily activity, this area has a high risk of developing completely different ailments, mechanical damage and injuries. As a rule, joint pain in the fingers accompanies this type of pathological changes. Treatment in this case depends only on the factor that caused the onset of discomfort.
Main reasons
According to experts, pain in the joints of the fingers can be caused by a wide variety of reasons. Below are the most common violations:
- Arthritis.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Bursitis.
- Mechanical damage and injuries.
- Osteomyelitis.
Arthritis
Arthritis refers to acute or chronic inflammation of the joints. Isolated lesions of the fingers are very rare. As a rule, in these patients, the pathological process also affects other joints. Arthritis pain in the affected area is marked by intensity. They occur not only with the movement of the fingers, but also at rest. In addition, in the areas affected by arthritis there is the appearance of severe edema, a change in the usual shade of the skin.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. It is a connective tissue disease of an infectious and allergic nature, predominantly systemic. The impetus for the onset of this disease is a severe cold, frequent stress and hypothermia. Rheumatoid arthritis begins with pain in the index joint. Affected areas swell, patients complain of fever, feeling weak, chills.
- Psoriatic arthritis. As a rule, this type of pathology develops in patients who already have psoriatic manifestations on the skin. These are dry scaly patches with a reddish tinge. With the development of the disease, the finger acquires a purple tint and a sausage shape.
- Gouty arthritis. Gout is understood to be a fairly common disease characterized by metabolic disorders, namely purines. According to experts, such a disease can be triggered by an increase in the level of uric acid and the subsequent deposition of its salts directly in the joint tissues. Usually, a gout attack begins with severe discomfort in the big toe joint. In the absence of prompt treatment, the pathology spreads to other joints. Gout attacks most often occur at night. They are characterized by a rise in temperature around the affected area and severe pain. The disease progresses very quickly. After a while, the patient may experience joint pain in the fingers of both hands. Typically, the duration of a typical disease attack ranges from two to about 14 days.
Osteoarthritis
This disease is formed as a result of the sequential destruction of cartilage tissue at the level of the joint 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.
Osteoarthritis of the fingers is a fairly common problem. Even insignificant damage can become an impetus for its development. During the development of the disease, the fingers can change their usual shape by bending to the side.
Rhizarthrosis. With the development of this disease, the joint at the base of the thumb is affected, which also connects the wrist bone to the metacarpal bone. This disease is due to the overload of this area. Pain in the thumb joint, visual deformation of the bones are the most common symptoms of this pathology.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the joint pockets of the fingers, accompanied by a buildup of fluid in their cavity, is called bursitis. This pathology is characterized by painful sensations in the affected area, the appearance of edemas, redness. The main symptom of bursitis is the formation of a round swelling in the joint area, characterized by a soft consistency. It is easily identifiable visually.
With a prolonged course, bursitis often turns into a chronic stage. In this kind of situation, the deposition of salts in the affected area joins the inflammatory process. All this, as a rule, causes pain in the joints of the fingers.
If the cause of the problem is an injury to the hand, 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 an increase in temperature, headaches and weakness throughout the body.
Mechanical injuries and damage
The displacement of bones in the joints is called dislocation. Most often, athletes have to face this problem. It is accompanied by the following symptoms: severe swelling of the affected area, deformity of the joints and severe pain syndrome.
The most common injury is a dislocated thumb. Such a detached disposition exposes it each time to any false movement. The thumb, however, is characterized by a powerful ligamentous apparatus, and it is distinguished by a certain load threshold, beyond which stretching occurs. All this leads to displacement of the articular surfaces.
The most common cause of a dislocated thumb is an unfortunate fall on an open palm. It is very easy to determine the presence of this problem, since the affected area externally looks distorted. Severe pain in the thumb joint can interfere with normal activities, work, and sports. As a rule, the skin of this part 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 of bacteria into the body, constantly producing pus.
Acute osteomyelitis usually begins with a rise in temperature of up to 40 degrees. The patient's condition deteriorates very quickly, which is caused by severe intoxication of the body. In addition, the patient may experience the following symptoms: joint pain in the fingers, chills, loss of consciousness, vomiting.
During the first two days, the pain in the hands gradually increases. Active finger movements are usually not possible. The pathology progresses rapidly, which results in the occurrence of edematous phenomena in the muscles of the hand and even of the forearm. The skin in the affected area turns purple.
Diagnostic
Timely seek specialist advice, diagnosis, as well as competent treatment - all these factors help to determine the disease and prevent its progression, the development of serious complications. You should not ignore the pain in the joints of the fingers, since even a minor pathology can lead to complete loss of movement and make the patient disabled. The following diagnostic measures may be necessary to identify the problem:
- X-ray of the hand.
- Blood tests (clinical / biochemical) and urine tests.
- Determination of the amount of purines.
What should be the treatment for joint pain in the fingers?
Regardless of the real cause of the pathology, the therapy should be comprehensive and simultaneously solve three problems: the treatment of the main disease, the restoration of the primary function of the hand, and the relief of pain.
Of course, the fight against this or that disease 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 drugs. Most often, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
To eliminate pain due to autoimmune diseases (for example, rheumatoid arthritis), glucocorticosteroid hormones are used. They have excellent anti-inflammatory effects and provide the desired relief relatively quickly.
Special ointments with anesthetic components can somewhat increase the effect of drugs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that the pain in the joints of the fingers should not be ignored. The treatment offered by modern medicine is most often effective in combating this problem. The main thing is to seek timely medical help and undergo the necessary diagnostic examination. To be in a good health!