The joint of the little finger on the left hand of the cause hurts. Diseases of the joints of the hands, pain treatment

We try not to notice the ailments, if the pain from them can be tolerated. We ignore symptoms that at first glance seem harmless and may miss the onset of development. dangerous disease. Pain in the smallest finger - the little finger - may seem like an innocent ailment, but meanwhile she is may indicate a serious disorder in the body. Be more attentive to your health and find out why the little finger on your hand hurts and what to do about it.

The role of fingers in human life is difficult to overestimate: with their help we work, eat, take care of ourselves, perform a million other equally important functions and do not even notice how these little hard workers work every day.

It is not surprising that over time, you can feel pain in your fingers, both in all at once, and in each individually.

At risk for finger disease in the first place are those whose work is related to fine motor skills: seamstresses, jewelers, home craftsmen who make jewelry and other handmade products, those who have to type a lot on a computer, but this does not mean that others cannot feel a sudden and, at first glance, causeless pain in their fingers.

Ask your question to a neurologist for free

Irina Martynova. Graduated from the Voronezh State Medical University. N.N. Burdenko. Clinical intern and neurologist of BUZ VO \"Moscow Polyclinic\".

The greatest load falls on the joints of the fingers, and the little finger suffers the most. Pain that has arisen both in the left and in the right hand may indicate a simple overwork or become a signal of the onset of a serious pathology.

Consider the main reasons why the little finger on the hand can hurt.

tunnel syndrome

This ailment is classified as a disease nervous systems s and refers to compression-ischemic pathology. AT elbow joint inflammation occurs due to a bruise of the shoulder, elbow or hand. The specificity of the prevalence of this disease is due to the fact that the ulnar nerve stretches from the shoulder and ends with the fingers, so it is not particularly difficult to injure it and such an injury occurs everywhere.

Causes

The cause of injury to the ulnar nerve can be normal actions associated with flexion and extension of the arms, playing sports or performing monotonous mechanical actions for a long time.

In addition, an elbow resting on the armrest for several days can lead to inflammation of the nerve, for example, while traveling, working at a computer with the elbow hanging off the table, bruises and fractures.

Expert opinion

Filimoshin Oleg Alexandrovich

Doctor - neurologist, city polyclinic of Orenburg. Education: Orenburg State medical Academy, Orenburg.

The cause of inflammation can be neoplasms: spurs, cysts, osteophytes inside the elbow joint, which compress the nerve endings and muscle fibers.

Symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome

Numbness is considered the first symptom. inside forearm, wrist and two fingers on the hand - ring and little fingers. Fingers partially lose sensitivity, it becomes difficult to control them, movements seem uncertain, the grip of any object is not strong.

If you do not start treatment immediately and do not suppress the pain, a pulling pain throughout the arm will be added to the numbness, it is most severe in the elbow and intensifies when the arm is bent, for example, during a telephone conversation, when a person is forced to bring the receiver to his ear.

The pain becomes stronger if the arm was at rest for a long time, after sleep, if the elbow was bent at this time.

Diagnosis and treatment of ulnar tunnel syndrome

If ulnar tunnel syndrome is suspected, the therapist will refer the patient to a neurologist. He, in turn, will ask the patient about the reasons that, in his opinion, led to painful sensations, find out if there were injuries or actions in the past that could cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

After that, the doctor will visually examine the sore arm, feel it, find the most painful areas and determine the movements that cause the most severe pain. pain, will conduct a series of tests for the mobility of the radial nerve. Already these actions will be enough for him to make a diagnosis.

Expert opinion

Astafiev Igor Valentinovich

Neurologist - City Pokrovskaya Hospital. Education: Volgograd State Medical University, Volgograd. Kabardino-Balkarian State University them. HM. Berbekova, Nalchik.

If the specialist suspects the presence of neoplasms, he will give a referral for ultrasound, MRI, X-ray, EMG or ENMG.

The first thing the patient should do to start treatment is to temporarily abandon the actions that led to the onset of pain. If the symptoms are caused by working at a computer, you should change the position of the body and hands: prevent the elbow from hanging off the table, place a small pillow under the arm, or wear a special bracelet that protects the wrist from sagging.

In addition, the doctor will prescribe the intake of B vitamins, prescribe the use of an ointment with an anti-inflammatory effect. You will need to use it for 2-3 weeks, even if the symptoms go away much earlier.

The patient will be shown the execution exercise, which will help get rid of the disease and in the future will have to be performed as a prevention of relapse.

radial tunnel syndrome

radial tunnel syndrome occurs due to increased mechanical stress on the radial nerve, which runs through the entire arm.

Causes and symptoms

The development of the radial syndrome may be associated with injuries and bruises that led to damage to the shoulder or carpal region, benign and malignant tumors bone and cartilage tissue, inflammation of muscle tissue.

Symptoms differ from cubital tunnel syndrome. They are felt as a strong burning sensation and intense pain in the shoulder and in the hand, which gives into the fingers when you try to move them.

This syndrome is not characterized by numbness of the fingers, the pain is much stronger and is not accompanied by tingling.

Treatment of radial tunnel syndrome

Treatment is in many ways similar to that of cubital tunnel syndrome. The doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs: ointments and injections to relieve not only external symptoms, but also to cure the inflamed areas, the presence of which led to disturbing symptoms. The methods of physiotherapy are applied, physiotherapy.

With the help of the operation, problems associated with neoplasms are solved. Surgery is also resorted to in cases where conservative treatment has shown to be ineffective.

Osteochondrosis

Pain in the little finger and wrist is typical along with a severe headache.

If the pain is concentrated precisely in the area of ​​​​the little finger, it has a tingling and pulling character and an average intensity, then we can talk about the defeat of the lower part of the cervical and upper part of the thoracic vertebrae.

Symptoms

Pain in the little finger with cervical osteochondrosis increase gradually, within a few months. At the initial stage, the signs of the disease are usually ignored - this is a pulling pain in the shoulder, stiffness of the fingers, and periodically swollen wrist.

Osteochondrosis affects the right or left hand usually one. Gradually, the pain spreads further from the shoulder, covering the neck, elbow, hand and fingers.

The pain from insignificant develops into stabbing and very sharp, which is no longer tolerable.

Diagnosis and treatment

The danger of osteochondrosis is that outwardly it disguises itself as a number of diseases, the diagnosis is complicated by the similarity of symptoms with other diseases. The patient may begin to receive treatment for something that does not really bother him, and in the meantime, the lesion cervical spine can go into a chronic stage.

It is worth thinking about osteochondrosis if, along with pain in the hand and fingers, the following symptoms are observed:

• , "flies" before the eyes, ;
• weakness in the limbs, the inability to sometimes perform simple actions because of this;
• pain in the heart, palpitations;
• decrease in the speed of reactions, acuity, hearing.

If you suspect osteochondrosis, you should visit a therapist to start.

An experienced doctor by palpation will determine the approximate localization of the damage and the nature of the pain and give a referral to an osteopath and a neurologist.

It has been noticed that people who have pain in the little finger on their right hand turn to specialists faster, since insufficient mobility and pain in the working limb interferes with their normal life. Those who start to get sick in their left hand often go not to a therapist, but to a cardiologist, as they confuse problems with the spine with heart disease and begin to be examined in the wrong place.

With a confirmed diagnosis, a complex therapy. First of all, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs aimed at alleviating the pain syndrome and treating the focus of inflammation.

Injury

A bruise is a lesion of soft tissues, while the bone remains intact. The stronger the bruise, the faster its symptoms appear and the easier it is not to confuse it with another disease.

Symptoms of a bruised little finger

• the site of injury is swollen;
• redness or blueness at the site of impact;
• pain when trying to move a finger;
• with severe bruises, a hematoma may appear, its color varies from red to black.

First aid and injury treatment

First of all, it is necessary to ensure the immobility of the hand where the injury occurred. You need to apply cold to the affected finger - any item from the freezer will do. On the skin at the site of impact, you need to draw an iodine grid to remove swelling.

To reduce the discomfort associated with a bruise, you can put a bandage on the injured finger, but not too tight so as not to cut off blood circulation.

If the pain is very severe, you can take a general pain reliever such as ibuprofen.

If unbearable pain does not go away with time and does not subside within a few days, you should consult a doctor to rule out the possibility of a fracture.

Other reasons

Pain in the fingers, in particular, in the little fingers, can bother both hands, but most often the disease affects one of them. Other reasons why pain may occur include:

1. Lack of vitamins and wrong way of life. Hypovitaminosis leads to a deterioration in the state of the whole organism as a whole, it can also manifest itself as pain in the little fingers.
2. Deterioration of the nervous system due to the negative impact bad habits: smoking, drinking, drinking a large number junk food.
3. Poor circulation due to wearing tight clothing or accessories, such as a tight watch strap.
4. Being outdoors in winter without gloves or mittens for a long time, contact with cold water or snow.

Symptom cannot be ignored if it occurs more than once and you notice its progression over time.

When do you need immediate medical attention?

Costs seek medical attention immediately if the pain in the little fingers arose suddenly, it is sharp and unbearable, radiates to other parts of the body, and prevents you from moving your hand.

In the case when the pain is of medium intensity and does not bother you often, but only periodically, you should have a supply of anti-inflammatory drugs with an anesthetic effect on hand: these are creams and gels, for example, Dolgit, Nise, Fastum gel, ointment based on bee venom.

It should be remembered that the sore hand should not be heated, a heating pad or a hot compress should be applied, but it should be cooled, for example, with an ice bag.

Be sure to watch the following video:

And yet we strongly do not recommend that you self-medicate. By stopping the symptoms and ignoring the root cause of the disease, you risk getting big health problems, and in the future, no doctor will give you a guarantee of a full recovery. If the pain symptom appears frequently, go to the doctor and start a complete comprehensive examination of the body, in which case you will definitely find out the cause of the pain in the little fingers.

Quick Diagnosis

• Tunnel Syndrome:numbness of the little finger and adjacent area, loss of sensation, pulling pain in the whole arm.
• Radial tunnel syndrome:severe burning and pain in the shoulder and hand.
• Osteochondrosis:growing pain, first in the tip of the little finger, then in the whole little finger, then in the arm.
• Injury:swelling, pain of moderate intensity, hematoma, redness, swelling.

Pain in the joints of the fingers is a fairly common phenomenon that at first glance seems harmless.

In most cases, this pathology occurs in people over 40 years old, although there are many diseases that cause similar pain in young people.

The most mobile and smallest of them are in the fingers.

They have a small articular surface and a thin connective membrane, as a result of which they are often exposed to various diseases.

A joint is a joint of bones covered with a composite cavity, in which there is synovial fluid, hyaline cartilage, synovial membrane and articular bag.

Each finger is made up of:

• three bones - proximal phalanx, middle phalanx, distal phalanx.
• three joints - the proximal phalangeal (in it the bones that form the palm are connected to the proximal phalanx of the finger), the middle phalangeal joint, the third joint of the finger is called the distal interphalangeal joint.

Why do they hurt?

The causes of pain in the joints of the fingers can be divided into 2 types: inflammatory (diseases) and traumatic.

Joint diseases

Inflammatory pain can occur as a result of the following diseases:

Arthritis

This is a group of diseases characterized by chronic or acute inflammation joints and adjacent tissues.

In the presence of these diseases, pain in the fingers can appear not only during their movement, but also at rest. At the same time, they have a pronounced intensity, accompanied by severe swelling and redness of the skin in the area of ​​inflammation.

Also, the appearance of a crunch in the joint during the load, limitation of its mobility, change in shape and

Rheumatoid arthritis- a connective tissue disease of a combined nature, characterized by damage to small joints.

Signs of the development of the disease:

• inflammation and swelling of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the middle and index fingers;
• symmetry of the lesion: if inflammation occurs on one arm, then the pathology will necessarily develop on the other.

With this disease, the risk of involvement in the inflammatory process of larger joints - knee, elbow and ankle - increases.

Pain in rheumatoid arthritis occurs mainly at night (in the second half) and in the morning.

Gouty arthritis (gout) - another type of arthritis.

The disease is caused by the deposition of salts in the tissues of the joints and an increase in uric acid in the blood.

The development of the disease most often occurs in people "meat eaters", since meat is the main source of purines, the violation of the metabolic process of which leads to this pathology.

Signs of the onset of the disease:

• pain in thumb leg, which gradually spreads to the rest of the joints, including the fingers. Here we can already talk about the appearance of a more complex disease - polyarthritis;
• redness of the affected area.

Signs of an exacerbation of the disease:

• severe swelling;
• severe burning pain (mainly at night) throughout the arm;
• an increase in local temperature.

The duration of an attack of gout is from 2-3 days to several weeks.

A feature of this disease is the formation of pathological foci of seals (tophi) over the affected joints.

Psoriatic arthritis is a form of psoriasis.

In addition to skin lesions, inflammation of the joints of the feet and hands occurs.

With this type of disorder, all the joints of the finger become inflamed at once, as a result of which it turns red and takes on an elongated shape, the damage to the joints is asymmetrical.

Infectious and septic arthritis arise as a result of the penetration of infection into the tissues of the joints through the blood or damaged areas of the skin.

Both one and many joints can be affected.

Depending on the severity and form of the disease, it manifests itself in different ways.

With neglect and purulent inflammation, the following symptoms are characteristic:

• severe intoxication of the body;
• fever;
• rise in body temperature to critical levels.

The symptoms are more pronounced in children than in the elderly.

Stenosing ligamentitis

This is a disease characterized by inflammation of the annular ligament of the fingers.

Signs of pathology:

• severe burning;
• numbness;
• pain in all (except the little finger) fingers. At the same time, it does not focus on one joint, but spreads along the entire length of the fingers;
• cyanosis and swelling of the finger;
• inability to straighten the finger without additional effort.

Strengthening of unpleasant sensations occurs mainly at night and in the morning (at 4 - 5 o'clock).

During the day, the pain subsides or disappears altogether.

Osteoarthritis

A disease in which the cartilage tissue of the joints is destroyed.

Elderly women are most susceptible to this pathology.

Causes of osteoarthritis include:

• hormonal disorders;
• hereditary factors;
• the workload associated with the profession;
• metabolic disease.

Characteristic features diseases:

• violation of free movement in the joints of the fingers;
• crunching in the joints during the movement of the hand;
• stiffness of the hands in the morning;
• the appearance of painful sensations under the influence of the load and their subsidence during sleep;
• with venous congestion, dull pains are possible at night.

Figure: Osteoarthritis

At the beginning of the disease, only one joint is affected. Then, very slowly but surely, it “captures” all the others.

In this case, those joints that, during the inflammation of the first, took on all its mechanical load, are subjected to secondary damage.

If the joint of the thumb hurts, then we can assume the presence of one of the types of osteoarthritis - rhizarthrosis.

It is characterized by a lesion of his joint at the base, connecting the metacarpal bone and the radiocarpal joint.

The disease occurs as a result of constant stress on the joint and muscles of the thumb, manifested by pain and deformation of its bones.

Osteomyelitis

Pathology manifested by education in the bones, bone marrow, joints and soft tissues purulent-necrotic process.

This disease is caused by pus-producing bacteria.

The first signs of the disease may be:

• a significant increase in temperature;
• severe intoxication;
• joint pain;
• nausea with vomiting;
• headache;
• chills;
• worsening general condition health.

After a few days from the onset of the disease occurs:

• increased pain in the joints of the fingers and the hands themselves;
• swelling of the muscles of the hand, a venous pattern may appear on the skin.
• restriction of both active and passive finger movement.

Alleviation of the listed symptoms (body temperature, joint pain, intoxication), especially without the necessary treatment, does not at all indicate a cure for the disease.

In many cases, this signals its transition to a chronic form.

Very often, so-called fistulas appear on the affected areas, which have purulent discharge of a meager nature, during the merging of which the formation of subcutaneous channels, the curvature of the bones of the fingers and the immobility of the joints occur.

Bursitis

A disease characterized by inflammation of the joint capsules, in this case the fingers, and the accumulation of fluid in their cavity.

Symptoms of this pathology include:

• the formation of a soft and mobile swelling at the site of the affected joint;
• sharp pain on palpation;
• an increase in local temperature;
• dark red skin tone.

If the occurrence of this disease was an injury to the hand or finger, then there is a risk of developing purulent bursitis, which is accompanied by:

• severe pain throughout the arm;
• headache;
• constant nausea;
• weakness.

Angiospastic peripheral crisis

Sometimes pain in the fingers occurs as a result of an angiospastic peripheral crisis, accompanied by cyanosis, coldness, and then severe reddening of the skin.

The cause of the disease can be simple cooling.

Ulnar nerve neuropathy

As a result of compression or injury of the wrist joint, the joints of the fingers of the left hand begin to hurt.

If the pain in the fingers of a paroxysmal nature is accompanied by whitening of their tips, then the so-called Raynaud's syndrome is diagnosed.

Photo: type of fingers with Raynaud's syndrome

It can act both as an independent disease, and as one of the symptoms of another disease.

The symptoms of the syndrome are:

• severe burning pain that occurs after hypothermia, injury or stress;
• white fingertips.

The disease has serious complication in the form of a violation of the process of delivering oxygen to the tissues, which can cause necrosis of the fingertips.

Polycythemia

Pain in the joints of the fingers, their numbness, itching skin, headache and insomnia may indicate the presence of this disease.

It is characterized by an increase in the number of red blood cells in the human body and is divided into three forms:

• in the primary, there is an increased production of platelets, white and blood cells;
• reactive (secondary) polycythemia is the result of diseases that are not associated with blood;
• pseudopolycythemia is characterized by a decrease in the amount of blood plasma.

All symptoms of pathology are directly related to the violation of the microcirculation of blood vessels and their filling with blood.

Cervical osteochondrosis

If there are cutting and sharp pains, which are accompanied by a sensation of the passage of an electric current through the joints of the forearm, passing into the fingertips, one can also suspect a pinched root.

At the same time, increased pain, as well as the appearance of a feeling of freezing, numbness and crawling can increase even with minor loads on the spine.

The mobility of the department where the injury occurred is impaired.

The pain may be aggravated by tilting the head in the opposite direction from the sick side, coughing or sneezing.

De Quervain's disease

This is an inflammation of the ligament of the thumb.

It is characterized by the appearance of pain in the wrist joint, which increases with the movements of the hand.

It can be given to the entire hand, to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe forearm, neck and shoulder.

During palpation, there is swelling and pain in the affected side.

tendovaginitis

A disease characterized by a chronic or acute inflammatory process of the connective tissue sheaths of the tendons.

hallmarks pathologies are:

• crunching during joint movement;
• pain during flexion and extension;
• swelling in the affected area of ​​the tendon sheath.

Mechanical causes

Injury

The most common causes of joint pain include dislocation of the fingers.

The main signs of this trouble will be:

• sharp and piercing pain of the injured finger;
• his unnatural position;
• protrusion from the joint;
• redness of the skin;
• an increase in local temperature.

The thumb is most commonly dislocated.

vibration sickness

Very often, pain in the joints of the fingers occurs when working with a vibration mechanism.

There are 4 stages of this disease:

• the first is characterized by the periodic appearance of pain in the fingers, their numbness and paresthesia (tingling, tingling sensation);
• in the second stage, there is a decrease in vibration sensitivity. Changes in vascular tone, pain and paresthesia become permanent. Perhaps the first signs of vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• in the last stage (III), paresthesia, numbness and pain in the fingers become paroxysmal. Signs of vasomotor disturbances intensify, and the so-called vasospasm syndrome appears, which is characterized by a disorder of sensitivity and whitening of the fingers.

tunnel syndrome

The so-called tunnel syndrome, which is most often diagnosed in young people, can lead to painful sensations.

It appears when you work at the computer for a long time.

Almost all professionals whose activities are related to such an occupation, sooner or later may experience similar symptoms.

The cause of such pain is a pinched nerve in the metacarpal canal, which occurs as a result of prolonged static load, incorrect positioning of the hands, or lack of interarticular fluid.

What other reasons could there be?

In the morning

There is only one reason for pain in the fingers that occurs in the morning - joint diseases.

To clarify the exact diagnosis, you must consult a doctor.

During pregnancy

Pregnancy is a special condition.

If the joints of the fingers on the hands are swollen and sore during the bearing of a child, then the following pathologies can be suspected:

• an increase in the amount of the hormone responsible for softening the ligaments of the joints (relaxin);
• lack of calcium in the body;
• joint diseases;
• pinching of the median nerve;
• Fibromyalgia is a disease caused by depression.

After childbirth

After the birth of a child, a woman, just as during her bearing, may feel pain in her wrist.

The causes of this pathology are the same:

• lack of calcium;
• the presence of diseases of the joints.

After sleep

Pain in the fingers after sleep indicates joint diseases of a different nature.

Also, such a pathology often occurs as a result of morning swelling of the hands.

After exercise

The appearance of this disease after work and physical activity is also a sign of vascular disease.

In this case, pain is accompanied by cramps, numbness and fatigue of the fingers.

The skin becomes cold and pale, the hairline of the hands thins out, and the nails become thicker.

After a certain time, the pathology can become chronic, as a result, it becomes impossible to feel the pulse on the radial arteries, the blood flow of the limbs is disturbed and the lumen of their upper arteries narrows.

Pain becomes constant or appears with little exertion.

When flexed

Pain during flexion may indicate the presence of the following diseases:

• pinching of the vertebral nerves;
• stenosing ligamentitis;
• arthrosis of the joints;
• tunnel syndrome;
• osteoarthritis;
• tendovaginitis.

Risk factors

The following factors may contribute to the onset of pain:

• infections that cause inflammation in the joints;
• autoimmune diseases;
• joint wear;
• fractures and injuries;
• lack of vitamins;
• metabolic disease;
• floor. In women, the development of joint diseases is observed several times more often than in men;
• age (most susceptible this disease people from 40 to 60 years old);
• smoking;
• genetic predisposition;
• hormonal disorders (malfunction thyroid gland, diabetes);
• hypothermia;
• constant contact with sources of vibration;
• monotonous movements of the hands and fingers (working on a computer, playing musical instruments, playing certain sports, knitting, etc.).

Diagnostic methods

You can diagnose the causes of pain in the fingers using the following procedures:

Radiography

This is one of the most popular methods for diagnosing possible hand injuries, tumors and lesions caused by infections.

This procedure allows you to study the structure of bones and bone tissue. The x-ray is completely painless.

The results will be reflected on a special film or paper in three projections.

Ultrasound procedure

It is used quite rarely, as this procedure does not give a clear image (due to bone density) of the contrast of the structures of the hand.

CT scan

A bit like radiography (performed using X-rays), but the data is processed on a computer, resulting in a series of images with cross sections.

If it is necessary to detect the presence of changes in the bone tissue this method research is the most informative.

Electrospondylography

A computer diagnostic method that allows you to identify the presence of pathologies in that part of the vertebra that is responsible for the work of the hands.

It is possible to recognize diseases using this procedure at the earliest stages of their development.

Magnetic resonance imaging

Modern and absolutely safe method diagnostics of the state of tissues and organs using electromagnetic waves.

Finished images are images of longitudinal and transverse sections of structures.

Contrasting discography

A research technique in which a special substance is introduced into the bone tissue, which helps to see the presence of deviations from the norm.

Analyzes

The following tests are prescribed for the diagnosis of joint diseases:

• urinalysis (helps identify severe forms of arthritis);
• complete blood count (shows the severity of inflammation, the presence of leukocytosis and anemia);
• biochemical blood test (reveals an increase in fibrinogen, sialic acids, haptoglobin, medium molecular weight peptides).

Additional studies are also assigned to determine:

• uric acid level;
• antinuclear factor;
• the presence of lupus cells;
• complement level;
• antigens;
• rheumatoid factor.

Joint puncture

This procedure consists in piercing the diseased joint, after which the fluid in it is taken for examination.

This measure is used to establish the exact causes of inflammation or infection.

Skin biopsy

This analysis is performed very rarely.

It consists in taking a piece of skin tissue, which is sent for microscopic examination.

A biopsy helps to identify rare types of arthritis (lupus erythematosus, scleroderma).

What to do?

Which doctor should I contact?

Treatment is done by:

• traumatologist;
• neuropathologist;
• rheumatologist;
• surgeon;
• hematologist.

In extreme cases, if the patient does not know who exactly he needs to contact, you need to visit a local therapist who will prescribe the necessary tests and, if necessary, refer him to the appropriate specialist.

Medical treatment

The main type of treatment for almost all diseases is medication.

Main focus drug treatment– Removing inflammation and relieving the patient of pain.

AT modern medicine for this apply nonsteroidal drugs anti-inflammatory selective action, scientifically - inhibitors of cycloroxygenase.

When compared with previous generation drugs, their intake has less effect on the kidneys, intestines and liver.

These drugs include:

• Celecoxib;
• Nimesil.

If the pain syndrome is caused by an autoimmune disease, then the main method of its treatment is the intake of glucocorticosteroid hormones, which have good anti-inflammatory properties.

Drugs of this type:

• Prednisolone;
• Dexamethasone;
• Metipred.

If severe pain is observed and the patient cannot withstand such a pain syndrome, it is possible to use narcotic drugs.

To eliminate the pain of minor inflammation, a variety of gels, creams and ointments are used, either with a warming and analgesic effect (Finalgon), or with anti-inflammatory properties ().

In some diseases, it is advisable to use the so-called chondoprotective drugs.

Their main purpose is the correction and regeneration of articular cartilage.

These include:

• Teraflex;
• Don;
• Structum.

Folk remedies

In addition to taking medications, especially during periods of exacerbation chronic diseases, the use of folk remedies for the treatment of joint pain is allowed.

But you can resort to any of them only after consulting with your doctor about a particular prescription.

1. Compress of vodka, honey and aloe. Apply to the sore spot. The procedure time is 2-3 hours.
2. Oil balm. To prepare it, you need to take sesame and olive oil, add vitamin A to the mixture and mix everything well. Rub the resulting balm into the affected areas.
3. Potato sprout tincture. Pour 200 - 300 grams of sprouted potato sprouts with 0.5 liters of vodka. Insist 2-3 weeks. Rub into sore joints once a day.
4. Tincture of common lilac flowers. Pour the flowers with alcohol and also insist in a dark bowl for 2 weeks. Rub this tincture on sore joints before going to bed.
5. Infusion of berries and lingonberry leaves. It is prepared as follows: a spoonful of the dried mixture is infused in a glass of boiled water. It helps to cope with pain during an exacerbation of arthrosis. Drink it like tea, 2 times a day, 200 ml.
6. Multicomponent ointment. Take 20 grams of honey and hellebore grass (dried), 5 grams of dry mustard and 10 grams of vegetable oil. All ingredients are mixed and melted in a water bath. The resulting mixture is cooled, transferred to a dark glass container for storage. The ointment is smeared with the affected area once a day until the pain syndrome disappears completely.
7. Propolis ointment. A small piece of bee propolis is mixed with corn or sunflower oil. Rubbed into the affected joint once a day.
8. Herbal decoction. In equal proportions are taken: nettle leaves, rosemary and lilac flowers. A decoction is prepared from them, which is used to apply compresses to a sore joint. Perform the procedure before going to bed.

If joint pain is a consequence of an injury, then ice is the first life-saving remedy.

The affected area is wrapped with a thick cloth or bandage and an ice pack is applied on top.

Diet

If any pathology associated with joint dysfunction is detected, especially during periods of exacerbation, it is necessary to adhere to a special diet.

Products, the use of which should be limited or eliminated completely:

• pastries from flour of the highest grade;
• sweet;
• high fat dairy products. You can replace them with low-fat sour-milk products and cottage cheese. This will help restore calcium metabolism;
• mayonnaise. It should be replaced with vegetable oil with apple cider vinegar or lemon juice;
• salt. Its excess in many diseases (for example, arthrosis) provokes a violation mineral metabolism, which leads to the replacement of articular cartilage with mineral salts and the loss of its elasticity. In the phase of exacerbation of pathologies, salt should be completely excluded;
• foods containing oxalic acid (spinach, sorrel, rhubarb);
• smoked meats;
• meat products (limit to 100 grams per week);
• strong tea and coffee;
• citrus;
• spicy dishes.

Foods that help with joint pain:

• fish and other seafood. The calcium, iron and phosphorus contained in them contribute to the normalization of mineral metabolism;
• low-fat natural cheeses;
• salad;
• radish;
• egg yolks;
• currant;
• nuts;
• fruits and juice of pomegranate;
• figs;
• cauliflower;
• olive oil;
• ginger;
• linseed oil or fish fat. The omega-3 fatty acids included in these products improve the condition of blood vessels and help restore fat metabolism;
• apple cider vinegar promotes the process of alkalization of the blood and the removal of salts.

In diseases of the joints, it is necessary to observe the water-salt balance, and increase water consumption to 2 liters per day. This amount includes green and herbal teas.

Gymnastics

During an exacerbation of joint diseases, complete rest, which many strive for, can do more harm than excessive activity.

There is only one way out of this situation - to alternate the rest of the joints with the performance of special gymnastics.

Exercises for joint diseases

There is only one starting position: sitting, the arm in a half-bent elbow, is on the thigh or pillow, the palm looks down.

• simultaneous or alternate mixing and spreading of the fingers;
• elbow on a support, fingers in a half-bent state. Raising up the hand;
• the palm is pressed against the support. Abduction of the thumb with alternate or simultaneous adduction of the remaining fingers to it;
• the elbows are on the support, the fingers are connected with the palms and are placed on the table with the thumbs up. Raising the brushes;
• palms are pressed to the support. Raising and bending the fingertips with the immobility of the main phalanges;
• sitting, the location of the palm - little finger down. Extension of the fingers with half-bent interphalangeal joints;
• abduction of the thumb from all the others and its subsequent lowering down;
• the palm looks up, the fingers are bent. Simple flexion and extension of the fingers.

Repeat all exercises 5 times.

It is advisable to start gymnastics with a non-sick hand (or less sore).

If it is impossible to overcome resistance on your own, you can ask for outside help or help with the other hand.

Video: gymnastics for the joints of the hand

Physiotherapy

To ease pain and relieve inflammation in the joints of the fingers, the following physiotherapy procedures are used:

• drug electrophoresis. It is prescribed for severe pain syndromes. Helps improve metabolism in the joints, eliminates inflammation and pain;
• ultrasound therapy. Performed with frequent pain in the joint. Contraindicated in severe types of arthrosis (synovitis) and heart disease;
• microwave therapy. It consists in the penetration of microwaves into the deep layers of tissues. Virtually no contraindications;
• heat therapy. It is based on an increase in temperature in a diseased joint, as a result of which there is an increase in tissue metabolism, cartilage restoration and an improvement in metabolism;
• barotherapy. It is used in situations where medical treatment does not help. Promotes restoration of blood circulation in the joints.

Consultation with a doctor before using any method of physiotherapy is required!

Massage

In diseases of the joints, one of the most effective methods their treatment is massage.

Thanks to this procedure, peripheral blood circulation is improved, as a result of which the tissues of the diseased joint and the limbs themselves are supplied with many nutrients, and most importantly, oxygen.

Finger massage is performed towards the knuckles from the tips, each finger is massaged separately.

The whole procedure is divided into three stages:

• stroking;
• rubbing and kneading;
• shaking.

Stroking is performed with a relaxed hand of a healthy hand, easily, without tension.

Rubbing is carried out various methods in a certain sequence:

• rectilinear forceps movements;
• forceps zigzag;
• rectilinear, thumb;
• spiral, thumb;
• spiral, four fingers;
• spiral, index finger;
• spiral, lateral surface of the palm;
• spiral, base of the palm.

Explanation:

• Rectilinear rubbing - sliding the brush forward with your fingers.
• Zigzag - the brush glides in a zigzag pattern with a diagonal palm.
• Forcep-shaped - the grip of the index and thumb of the tendons and skin.
• Spiral - circular motions palm or finger.

Shaking the brush is performed at the end of the massage session.

Spa treatment

In the treatment of joint diseases, procedures performed in the sanatorium play a significant role.

These include:

• baths (hydrogen sulfide, radon, salt, iodine, bromine). Contribute to the reduction or complete disappearance of pain and inflammatory processes;
• mud treatment (peloid therapy). For this, sea mud, lake silt, volcanic mud, peat are used. Helps to get rid of inflammatory processes;
• physiotherapy;
• increased immunity;
• diet therapy;
• massage;
• physical education in water;
• reflexology;
• if necessary - traction of the spine, manual therapy.

For irreversible joint damage, severe forms bone disorders or loss of self-care ability, many procedures are contraindicated.

Pain prevention

To prevent the occurrence of pain, you must adhere to some rules:

• keep your hands warm and not expose them to hypothermia;
• avoid the same type of movements for a long time;
• when working with a vibrating tool, use gloves and support the hand;
• when working at a computer to organize comfortable spot for hands, knead and shake them every half hour;
• when carrying a load, distribute it evenly on both hands;
• observe the correct diet with a high content of calcium and omega-3 acids;
• to refuse from bad habits.

Joint diseases are quite dangerous pathologies that can lead to irreversible consequences (up to the loss of motor skills in a sick hand).

When the first signs of this type of disease appear, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Content

It is difficult to imagine a person's life without little helpers and workers - fingers. They carefully hold a cup of coffee, tirelessly write, do all the small and difficult work. Due to this high performance, fingers are susceptible to a number of diseases. In order not to bring pathological processes to irreversible consequences, it is necessary to know why the joints of the hands hurt, how they can be cured.

What is pain in the joints of the fingers

The human musculoskeletal system contains over 300 joints. The fingers are the most mobile and small of them. Articular joints at the ends of the hands have a thin synovial membrane and a small articular surface, so they are often exposed to various diseases. Each finger on the hand consists of three joints (proximal phalangeal, middle phalangeal, distal interphalangeal) and three bones (proximal, middle, distal phalanx).

Pain can be caused by inflammation of the joints. Against the background of hypothermia of the hands, soreness may occur, accompanied by cyanosis of the skin, which subsequently turns into redness. As a result of trauma or compression of the wrist joint, paroxysmal pain occurs. Sharp and cutting sensations, accompanied by a feeling of electric current passing through the fingers, may indicate cervical osteochondrosis.

The duration of symptoms depends on the cause of the disease. The longer you ignore pain syndromes in the hands, the more their motor activity is disturbed. If the first signs of developing diseases of the fingers are not treated, irreversible deformity of the joints can be allowed, in which a person is given a disability. The most dangerous complications:

• necrosis of bone tissue;
• osteomyelitis (purulent-necrotic process that develops in the bone);
• osteolysis (complete resorption of bone tissue elements);
• generalized sepsis (purulent infection.

Why do fingers hurt

Usually joint pain upper limbs is a sign of developing diseases of the hands. Often, these symptoms indicate manifestations of diseases of other organs. Pain in the phalanges is a sign cervical osteochondrosis, ischemic heart disease, pathologies peripheral nerves. If the joints of the fingers hurt, it is important to quickly determine the cause in order to identify possible risk factors for human health.

When flexed

The cause of pain in the joints during flexion of the phalanges may be the following conditions:

1. Pinching spinal nerves . Occurs when nerve roots that originate from spinal cord, squeeze hernias, cartilages, tumors, spasmodic muscles, tendons or other vertebrae.
2. Osteoarthritis. There is a degeneration of the articular cartilage and the development of osteophytes on the bones, which leads to impaired mobility.
3. tunnel syndrome. There is a pinching of the median nerve, which passes to the palm through the carpal tunnel, enclosing nerve fibers from squeezing. Subsequently, it can lead to tendovaginitis - an inflammatory disease of the tendons and tendon sheaths;
4. Stenosing ligamentitis. It is characterized by blocking of the phalanges in an unbent or bent position. More often it hurts the joint of the thumb on the hand. Pathology refers to diseases of the tendon-ligamentous apparatus.
5. Rhizarthrosis. There is a deformation of the cartilaginous plates in the articular joint of the thumb after an injury or excessive load.
6. vibration sickness. An occupational disease that occurs when working with a vibrating tool.

The joints of the fingers are swollen and sore

The problem of puffiness is faced by both elderly patients and young people. Sometimes the fingers swell due to fluid retention in the body, but if they also hurt, this may indicate pathological changes in bone joints. The reasons given state may be as follows:

• open wounds, abrasions, cuts;
• fractures, dislocations, injuries;
• insect bites;
• neuropathy of the radial nerve;
• pathology of the heart and / or kidneys;
• fibromyalgia (muscle-joint pain);
• polycythemia (a pathological increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood);
• bursitis (inflammation of the joint bag);
• osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue);
• chronic arthritis of various origins (rheumatoid, gouty, septic, neglected, purulent, and others).

In the morning

Any disease of the joints of the fingers is manifested by pain in the morning. In order to prevent the progression of pathology, it is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis, and for this, undergo an appropriate examination. More often fingers hurt in the morning with arthritis of various origins. The disease may not be infectious in nature, but manifest itself due to disorders of the immune system.

With rheumatoid arthritis, the articular cartilages of the index fingers often hurt, on which small seals are visible. With this pathology, a symmetrical lesion of the joints on both hands can also develop. Infectious arthritis affects several fingers at once and develops under the influence of viruses or bacteria. In addition to pain, there is an increase in body temperature in the morning, intoxication of the whole organism. Phalanges hurt in the morning and with psoriatic arthritis, and with gout, and with osteoarthritis.

The latter disease, in addition to morning pain, is characterized by stiffness and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is more common in middle-aged women, since its development is associated with fluctuations in estrogen levels. Gout can be identified by unbearable paroxysmal pain in the morning or at night, accompanied by redness and swelling of the joint.

Sharp pain

Stenosing ligamentitis of the wrist is accompanied by burning pains in all fingers except the little finger. Burning and numbness is felt not only at the ends of the hand, but also along the entire length of the palm. The symptoms are worse at night and get worse during the day. Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is also accompanied by sharp pains in the joints of the extremities, but numbness appears only in the little finger.

Panaritium (purulent inflammation of the tissues of the hand) can also provoke such a symptom. The disease occurs as a result of infection. The pain has a sharp, jerking character, gradually intensifies, especially at night. The phalanges swell, become red, touching them is very painful, often the body temperature rises. Panaritium requires fast rendering medical care Otherwise, a person cannot avoid serious complications.

With Raynaud's syndrome, at first, coldness and spasm in the vessels are felt, and then, due to impaired blood flow, the person feels sharp pain in fingers that swell and turn blue. In the third stage of the disease, when the blood flow improves, these symptoms disappear. The pain attack lasts from several minutes to half an hour. Raynaud's disease is a consequence of atherosclerosis of the extremities, so you need to treat it first.

During pregnancy

Why the joints of the fingers on the hands hurt during pregnancy and after childbirth, gynecologists know for sure. When limbs swell during childbearing, this indicates the following pathologies:

• the presence of joint diseases;
• an increase in the level of relaxin - a hormone responsible for softening the ligaments;
• pinching of the median nerve;
• lack of calcium in the body;
• fibromyalgia caused by depression.

Painful sensations can quickly pass, and sometimes intensify every day. Often this happens at 35 weeks of gestation, which is associated with rapid weight gain, which causes compression nerve trunks that connect the hand to the hand. The problem also lies in the fact that a woman is haunted not only by joint pain, but also by other symptoms:

• burning, itching of the palms;
• sudden sharp pain in the forearm;
• numbness of the upper limbs.

After exercise

The appearance of painful symptoms in the hands after any physical activity is a clear sign of vascular disease. Pain is accompanied by numbness of the joints, cramps, fatigue of the hands. The skin becomes pale and cold, the hairline thins, the nail plates thicken. Pathology becomes chronic over time, as a result of which it becomes impossible to feel the pulse on the radial artery, the lumen of the vessels narrows, and the blood flow of the extremities is disturbed. Pain becomes constant and reappears even with light exertion.

As a person ages, cartilage becomes thinner, brittle, and when moving, a crunch is heard in them. If, after physical exertion, pain in the hands appears, then this symptomatology may indicate developing polyosteoarthritis. The disease is characterized by destructive changes in the joints that hurt when the fingers work or before the weather changes. It is difficult for a person to straighten and bend the brush. The pain syndrome subsides when work with hands is excluded.

Diagnostics

Early diagnosis will help to remove the symptoms of joint diseases and completely recover. Only an experienced specialist (neuropathologist, surgeon, traumatologist) will be able to accurately determine the cause of this symptomatology. Diagnosis is made on the basis of test results and the patient's history. When collecting information, the nature of complaints, the time of occurrence of the first pains, the presence of articular pathologies in the next of kin are clarified. Family predisposition in the development of arthritis and arthrosis plays a big role.

Investigations that are needed for complaints of pain in the joints of the extremities:

• radiography;
• ultrasound procedure;
• CT scan;
• electrospondylography (computer diagnostics of the spine);
• Magnetic resonance imaging;
• contrast discography;
• blood tests and synovial fluid;
• puncture (injection of the drug into the cavity of the cone);
• skin biopsy.

Treatment

Therapeutic tactics is determined by the type of pathology, the severity of symptoms, the dynamics of the inflammatory process, the characteristics clinical course diseases. When prescribing drug treatment, the patient's hypersensitivity to active components drugs. Complex treatment implies the appointment of chondroprotectors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticosteroids.

In addition to medicines, local massage and specially designed gymnastic exercises are prescribed. An excellent therapeutic effect can be achieved with the help of acupuncture and other types of physiotherapy procedures. A diet-table number 10 is mandatory, the main rules of which are:

• reduced salt intake;
• once a week fasting days on vegetables and dairy products;
• diet without the use of tomatoes, sorrel, spicy dishes, fatty meats.

With joint pain, doctors recommend undergoing spa treatment. Doctors for each patient select an individual rehabilitation program that will be most effective in each case. Skills are taught in the sanatorium healthy lifestyle life, conduct therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy, massage. As a rule, after such treatment, the patient forgets about the recurrence of the disease for a long time.

Medical treatment

When prescribing medications, two goals are pursued: stopping the inflammatory process and eliminating the pain syndrome. Basically, doctors use cyclooxygenase inhibitors (NSAIDs), and if the cause of the disease lies in an autoimmune pathology, then drugs of the steroid group are prescribed. In acute infections, antibiotics may be used.

Medications are prescribed to quickly relieve symptoms local application(creams, ointments, gels). With dystrophic damage to the articular surfaces, it is recommended to use chondroprotectors. Effective drugs to relieve joint pain:

• Celecoxib. NVPS of the coxibs group. The drug has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic effect. For arthritis, 200 mg is prescribed 2 times / day for no more than 5 days. With the wrong dosage, unwanted reactions can occur in the form of drowsiness, respiratory depression, epigastric pain, and even a coma. Do not prescribe the drug for bronchial asthma, colitis, peptic ulcer, pathologies peripheral arteries, pregnancy, lactation.
• Nimesil. The drug belongs to the group of non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs. In case of pain in the musculoskeletal system, it is prescribed at a dosage of 100 mg 2 times / day. The medicine is recommended to be taken after meals for 7-15 days. At long-term treatment may arise adverse reactions from the lymphatic, circulatory and central nervous systems: anemia, thrombocytopenia, headaches, nightmares, dizziness. Nimesil is not prescribed for inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcers, bleeding tendencies.
• Prednisolone. Synthetic glucocorticosteroid drug. It has an immunosuppressive, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory effect. The daily dose for adults is 4 to 60 mg intravenously or intramuscular injection solution. Children under 12 years of age are administered no more than 25 mg / day. The duration of treatment is 5-7 days. Possible adverse reactions: violation menstrual cycle and secretion of sex hormones, fluid retention, hypokalemia, weight gain and others. Contraindications: ulcer, tendency to thromboembolism, viral infections, arterial hypertension, herpes, syphilis and many others.
• Dexamethasone. Powerful synthetic glucocorticoid. It has desensitizing, anti-shock, anti-toxic, anti-inflammatory properties. For arthritis, oral administration of 1-9 mg / day is indicated. The dosage is divided into 2-3 doses. The duration of treatment is from 3 days to several weeks. Dexamethasone can cause many undesirable effects, including: nausea, vomiting, bradycardia, arrhythmia, steroid diabetes mellitus. The drug is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to the components.
• Metipred. Glucocorticoid agent that has an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effect. In diseases of the joints, it is prescribed at a dose of 4-48 g / day. The daily dosage is taken once. The duration of therapy is 3-7 days, depending on the severity of the disease. Adverse reactions may occur in the form of indigestion, candidal lesions of the esophagus, bulimia. Contraindications to the use of Metipred: tuberculosis, lactose intolerance, viral or bacterial infections.
• Don. Chondroprotector containing components of natural cartilage. For the treatment of osteoarthritis of any localization, it is prescribed orally 1 packet of powder dissolved in a glass of water 1 time / day. The duration of therapy is 4-12 weeks. The course is repeated at intervals of 2 months. Side effects rarely occur: impaired cardiac conduction, tremor, numbness of the oral cavity, tongue. The drug is contraindicated in phenylketonuria, patients with severe heart failure, severe pathology of the liver or kidneys.
• Teraflex. Combined chondoprotector containing glucosamine and chondroitin. With changes in the articular tissues, it is prescribed to restore cartilage, 1 capsule 2 times / day for several months (at least 6). Flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain may occur. The drug is contraindicated in kidney failure, pregnancy, lactation.

Massage

With arthritis or arthrosis of the fingers, one drug treatment is not enough. Specialists in the period of remission of the disease offer courses therapeutic massage, the number of sessions of which the doctor will determine individually. The procedure begins with kneading each part of the hand. If the patient does not feel severe pain, then the impact on the affected joints begins already at the first session.

The preparatory stage of the massage is the warming up of the hand from the elbow to the fingers with spiral movements. The patient is in a sitting position, the arm is placed on the table, the bent elbow lies on the support, and a roller is placed under the hand. After warming up, the specialist kneads each finger individually with stroking movements, without affecting the joints. For the best effect, 2-3 approaches are done.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy helps to speed up recovery, relieve symptoms and ensure the prevention of complications. Patients who experience severe pain in the fingers are advised to pay attention to the following techniques:

• electrophoresis. The treatment is based on the deep injection of anti-inflammatory and painkillers under the skin. medicines. The procedure takes place under the influence of a direct electric current. For subcutaneous injection often use magnesium sulphate, eufillin, mummy, novocaine. The course of treatment - 10 procedures for 25 minutes.
• Ultrasound Therapy. During the session, tissue micromassage is performed using ultrasonic vibrations with a frequency of 800-900 kHz. Ultrasound activates metabolic processes, removes excess uric acid, increases local immunity. The exposure time is 1-5 minutes per area. The session lasts 12-15 minutes. The course of treatment is 10-12 procedures.
• Microwave (microwave therapy). The treatment is based on the use of electromagnetic oscillations with a wave up to 1 m. The impact is aimed at restoring biological processes and functional systems of cellular structures. The duration of exposure is 8-12 minutes. The number of sessions is from 2 to 12.
• Thermal treatments. Include the effect of heat on the affected joints. Steam baths are used with the addition essential oils, salt or medicinal herbs. Duration of the course - 12-20 procedures for 15-20 minutes.
• barotherapy. Treatment in a pressure chamber with reduced or high blood pressure helps to saturate the body with oxygen, which provokes muscles, tissues and joints to recover faster. The duration of the procedure is 60 minutes. The full course includes 22-25 sessions.

Folk remedies

To prevent the destruction of articular cartilage in the fingers will help folk treatment. Most popular recipes:

• Take a thick fermented milk product, mix with oatmeal, which must first be crushed. Leave the mixture on sore fingers all night, wrapped in a cloth;
• Pass 500 g of Kalanchoe through a meat grinder, pour 1 liter of vodka, leave for 5 days. After the tincture, rub daily into sore joints;
• Mix 1 tbsp. l. olive oil with a few drops of freshly squeezed garlic. Drink in the morning on an empty stomach

Prevention

In order not to suffer from inflammatory processes in the joints of the fingers and not to treat arthrosis and arthritis for a long time, it is necessary to adhere to simple preventive measures:

• keep hands warm;
• exclude alcohol, cigarettes;
• include more fruits and vegetables in the daily menu;
• do not endure colds on the legs;
• remove the habit of "clicking" fingers;
• replace tea and coffee herbal decoctions;
• control body weight.

When the joints of the fingers hurt, the causes and methods of treatment rarely lie on the surface. The range of pathologies is too wide, trying to guess by one symptom is a futile exercise. Additional blood tests, radiography of the hands are needed.

Consider the most common diseases: their causes, symptoms and methods of diagnosis.

In order to determine why a joint can hurt, you must first understand what exactly in it can be damaged.

The joint consists of:

• joint bag of connective tissue;
• joint cavity filled with synovial fluid;
• articulating bones;
• articular cartilage covering the bones at the junction;

The structure of the joint

Plus, the radial, ulnar and median nerves are not far away, which can also cause trouble. Based on this, there can be many reasons for pain:

• damage to the articular apparatus;
• inflammation: nerves and articular apparatus;
• foreign bodies in the joint bag - more often salt deposits;
• growth and deformation of bones;
• destruction of articular cartilage;

Let's consider each group of reasons in more detail.

Mechanical damage

The mechanical causes of joint pain in the fingers are the most grateful in terms of diagnosis. In order to determine why exactly a finger or a hand hurts, it is enough to recall the recent past and answer a few questions about lifestyle.

If the finger on the hand is very sore after a blow, jerk or pinching, it is a dislocation, bruise or fracture. If there were no injuries, while a person spends all day in the office at the computer, there is a high risk that pain is a manifestation of carpal tunnel syndrome.

inflammation

Inflammation is one of the most common causes of finger diseases. Nerves, connective tissue, ligaments, muscles can become inflamed. And the inflammation itself can be caused by trauma, infection, and autoimmune reactions.

An autoimmune reaction is a process in which the human immune system itself produces substances that destroy body tissues. Until now, there is no consensus in science why immunity rebels against its own body.

If the inflammation is caused by injury or infection, the chance of restoring joint function is higher than with the autoimmune nature of the disease.

By the way, you can determine that the disease is associated with inflammation by name. Almost all names of inflammatory diseases have the suffix -it.

About nerves

Neuritis is an inflammation of the nerve, manifesting itself as pain and changes in sensitivity.

The peculiarity of the nervous tissue is that it also conducts pain. That is, the problem may be in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe spine, and it will hurt on the periphery, along the course of the nerve. This type of displacement of discomfort is called projection pain.

The hand and fingers are innervated by the radial, ulnar and median nerves. They depart from the spinal cord to the brachial plexus and from there go further into the arm. If a person has a problem with the spine, a curvature or injury, and the nerves are pinched, pain will appear in the fingers and hand.

In addition to the fact that the fingers on the right or left hand hurt, neuritis is characterized by impaired movement of the affected limb. They are described in the table.

The described symptoms of impaired movements of the hand and fingers are very bright, they cannot be confused with anything. If they appear, you need to make an appointment with a neurologist.

About the joints

According to Rosstat, 42,000 people a year become disabled due to diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. And the main contributor to this number is arthritis.

Arthritis is inflammation of the tissues of the joint. Depending on the source of the disease, arthritis is divided into rheumatoid (autoimmune), reactive, psoriatic, gouty and viral.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the connective tissue that makes up the lining of the joints. Improper functioning of the patient's immune system causes inflammation and proliferation of connective tissue that surrounds the joint and provides its attachment to the bones and muscles. Inflammation of the soft tissues of the joint is accompanied by their compaction and displacement of the bones, which leads to deformation of the fingers, destruction of the cartilage and part of the bone under it.

Risk factors:

Despite the fact that the basis of the disease is an inflammatory reaction, rheumatoid arthritis cannot be infected, it is not the result of an injury. Provoke the onset of arthritis can only factors that negatively affect immune system generally:

• Infections: tonsillitis, scarlet fever;
• Strong one-time hypothermia of the joints;
• Constant cold and dampness in the workplace (frozen hands);
• Chronic foci of infection: otitis, sinusitis;

There are statistics that rheumatoid arthritis is able to be inherited, therefore, if one of the parents is sick, children need to avoid the listed dangers.

How to identify rheumatoid arthritis

The debut of arthritis begins with intermittent pain in one small joint, for example, it hurts middle finger On the hand. Over time, more and more new joints are involved in inflammation, and clinical picture can be described by the following symptoms:

• Fingers hurt when bent;
• Fingers swell;
• The pain is most acutely felt in the morning and weakens in the evening;
• Stiffness of movements in the affected finger;
• Pain when squeezing the palm in a handshake;

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints symmetrically on both hands. That is, if at first the finger on the left hand got sick, over time it will also hurt on the right.

You should contact a rheumatologist if you have these symptoms without wasting a day.

The fact is that rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the whole body. Over time, the disease not only involves new joints in inflammation, but also has a devastating effect on other organs: lungs, heart, kidneys. Untreated rheumatoid arthritis in 100% of cases leads to disability of the patient.

The development of pathology can be greatly slowed down by starting timely treatment, but it will not be possible to restore the old health to damaged joints.

Therefore, the sooner therapy begins, the slower inflammation will develop and the longer man stay in working order.

Diagnostic methods:

Which study will be chosen to make a diagnosis depends on how pronounced the symptoms of arthritis are.

Most often, they are limited to a blood test, an X-ray examination of the hands and a puncture of the joint fluid.

If the doctor has any doubts, the following are used:

• arthroscopy;
• CT scan;

There is both benign rheumatoid arthritis with a slow course and rare exacerbations, and steadily progressing. Therefore, it is very important to go to the clinic on time and follow all the advice of a rheumatologist.

Reactive arthritis

Reactive arthritis is also inflammation of the joint, but unlike rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis clearly shows the link between pain and infection.

As a rule, the cause of the pathology is the coincidence of two risk factors:

• sexual, urological or intestinal infection;
• excessively strong reaction of the immune system to the causative agent of the disease;

First, a person becomes ill with an infectious disease. The immune system overreacts to the antigen of the pathogen, and after 2 weeks a triad of symptoms of reactive arthritis develops:

• inflammation of the urethra: frequent urge, burning when passing urine;
• inflammation of the conjunctiva: the whites of the eyes turn red, tears flow;
• inflammation of the connective tissue of the joints: pain in the joints of the fingers when flexed;

The nature of the pain in the joints will be the same as with rheumatoid arthritis.

Reactive arthritis is diagnosed similarly to rheumatoid arthritis, but there are some differences:

there is no rheumatoid factor in the blood, but there is an HLA 27 antigen.

Also, an additional PCR test of urine, feces and blood is carried out to identify the infectious agent that provoked arthritis.

Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis is relieved by early stage. If you resort to therapy in time and treat the underlying infectious disease, in 95% of cases the symptoms of arthritis will go away with it.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a joint disorder that has been linked to psoriasis.

The problem with the fact that the joint on the finger hurts can begin as after the appearance of characteristic skin rashes, and before them.

Psoriatic arthritis

Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis:

• joints are not affected symmetrically if, for example, the middle finger hurts right hand, this does not mean that it will hurt on the left;
• fingers are swollen;
• bluish-purple coloration of the skin over the joints;
• feeling of pain in the joints intense all day;

If the patient has already been diagnosed with psoriasis, diagnose psoriatic arthritis won't be difficult. If the joints are the first to be involved in the pathological process, then differential diagnosis carried out with rheumatoid and gouty arthritis.

Gouty arthritis

Gout is an increase in uric acid in the blood. It causes the deposition of crystals sodium salt uric acid in tissues. Tissues that have the fewest blood vessels - cartilage and connective tissue - usually suffer.

Crystals accumulate in the tissues of the joints, causing their destruction and inflammation. In advanced cases, tophi are formed - an accumulation of crystals surrounded by granulomatous tissue. All this design interferes with movement in the joint, deforms and immobilizes it.

Debuts gouty arthritis the following symptoms:

• the joint on the finger hurts;
• the skin on the joint turns red, stretches and shines;
• the temperature rises to 38 degrees;
• pain is not relieved by analgesics;
• the peak of pain occurs at night, by morning the pain weakens;

If the amount of uric acid in the blood is already increased, new attacks of pain can be provoked by:

• alcohol;
• stress;
• SARS;
• overwork;
• taking medications that affect uric acid metabolism;

In order to make a diagnosis of gouty arthritis, rheumatologists use the following types of diagnostic tests:

In addition to the unbearable pain of the joints, the danger of gout lies in its ability to form tophi also in the kidney tissue, disrupting their normal functioning. Therefore, it is very important to comply with all doctor's prescriptions, including a therapeutic diet.

Viral arthritis

Viruses can both themselves cause inflammation in the tissues of the joints, and provoke inadequate immune response as rheumatic diseases.

Classification of viruses that can infect fingers with a description of the manifestation of symptoms in the table below.

In cases with damage viral infection, as a rule, with the cure of the underlying disease, joint pain also disappears.

Lyme disease

Lyme borreliosis is infectious disease, which can only be obtained with a tick bite or blood transfusion.

In order for infection to occur, it is necessary that the tick has been in contact with the body for more than a day.

Symptoms of Lyme disease:

• Redness at the site of the bite, may be in the form of a circle or ring with a light spot inside;
• Weakness, headache;
• Fingers hurt when bending;
• Difficulty tilting head forward

The incubation period for Lyme disease can be up to a month.

Diagnosis is based on a blood test for borreliosis antigen.

Ligamentitis stenosing

Ligamentitis is an inflammation of the ligaments. It happens as a result of injuries, infection from other foci. But most often due to the constant repetition of the same movement. Repeated performance of the same operation, for example, by a musician or a knitter on knitting needles, puts a load on the same muscle groups. The latter increase in size over time, leaving less room for other tissues and compressing the ligaments.

Symptoms of ligamentitis:

• Pain during flexion and extension of the fingers;
• Fingers crackle;
• Pain appeared after monotonous physical activity;

Ligamentitis is diagnosed on the basis of examination and palpation of the hand, as well as ultrasound, MRI and X-ray examination.

Metabolism and tissue nutrition disorders - osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a disease in which, due to metabolic disorders and tissue nutrition, thinning of the cartilage that covers the bone in the joint occurs. The bone under the cartilage is also damaged, and bone tissue grows along the edges of the cartilage, causing severe pain when moving in the joint.

Risk factors for the manifestation of osteoarthritis are:

• Joint overload: household, professional, sports, obesity;
• Some of the relatives suffer from osteoarthritis;
• Injuries;
• Age over 50;

If a person has had cases of osteoarthritis in his family, he should control the load on the joints and try to avoid excess weight.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis:

• Pain in the fingers at the end of the day;
• Crunch when bending;
• Stiffness in the joints;
• Restriction in movement;
• Changing the shape of the joint;

Periodically, there may be swelling in the joint area and redness of the skin over it.

Diagnosis of osteoarthritis is carried out on the basis of radiography, which will show: growth of bone tissue, narrowing of the joint space, thickening of bone tissue.

Systemic diseases

Pain in the fingers can be not only a sign of an independent disease, but also a symptom of a systemic disease. The most common autoimmune diseases that affect joints are:

• lupus erythematosus,
• scleroderma,
• polymyositis,
• Sjögren's disease

All these diseases provoke inflammation of the articular apparatus, which means that they inevitably lead to situations when the joints of the fingers hurt. Therefore, rheumatologists, when treating the underlying disease, must take into account symptomatic therapy for the joints.

Treatment of joint pain

If you experience pain in the joint, even if it is weak and passes quickly, you need to go to the doctor.

Only by the nature of the pain, without blood tests and x-rays, it is impossible to determine how serious the pathology makes itself felt. Accordingly, it is impossible to prescribe the correct therapy.

Painkillers, prescription compresses traditional medicine will not stop cartilage destruction or an autoimmune disease. And precious time, when the process could be stopped and lived for many more years with a functioning brush, will be missed.

Any of these diseases without quality treatment leads to immobility of the affected joints, and subsequent disability. Therefore, with the appearance of any pain in the joints, even a little noticeable, you can wait a maximum of a week. If it doesn't go away on its own, you need to go to a rheumatologist.

Bibliography

• Zabolotnykh, Inga Ivanovna Diseases of the joints: hands. for doctors / I. I. Zabolotnykh. - St. Petersburg. : SpecLit, 2005 (GUP Typ. Nauka). - 220 s. ISBN 5-299-00293-9
• Evdokimenko, Pavel Valerievich Arthritis [Text]: getting rid of joint pain: [causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment methods, medications, therapeutic exercises, herbal medicine, diet: recommendations of an experienced specialist: 16+] / [Evdokimenko P.V.]. - 3rd ed., revised. - M: World and Education, 2015. - 255s. ISBN 978-5-94666-632-9

The most mobile part of the human body is the hands. Their unique anatomical structure provides the widest range of motion, allowing people to perform the most delicate work. Nowadays, not only the elderly, but also quite young people complain that their fingers hurt. What to do in such a situation?

Before taking adequate measures, the cause of pain and possible limitation of mobility should be established. If unpleasant symptoms appear, it is strongly recommended not to postpone the visit to the doctor: consultation of a specialist arthrologist and rheumatologist is necessary.

Causes of finger pain

Leading causes of pain in the joints of the fingers:

• (including rheumatoid and psoriatic);
• gout;
• polyosteoarthritis;
• rhizarthrosis;
• teosynovitis de Quervain;
• Raynaud's syndrome;
• carpal tunnel syndrome ().

Important:Raynaud's syndrome, as well as tunnel syndrome, is detected in about a third of patients who consult a doctor about pain and stiffness in the hands.

Ointments and gels with anestezin, novocaine and other anesthetics are prescribed as painkillers. Cooling gels based on menthol also contribute to temporary relief of the condition.

Note:you can not actively knead your fingers with intense pain. It is important to remember that in cases where the destruction of the cartilage tissue of the joint has already begun, physical activity can only damage.

If rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed, then the patient is usually prescribed glucocorticosteroids. Reception of these hormonal drugs must be combined with the use of local agents - ointments containing an anesthetic. After cupping acute symptoms the patient is also prescribed cytostatics, immunosuppressants and monoclonal bodies to normalize the functional activity of the immune system.

Non-drug therapy in situations where fingers hurt

In addition to medicines, patients are shown local massage and specially designed gymnastic exercises. They are necessary to stimulate local blood circulation (as a result, improve tissue trophism and oxygen saturation), as well as to optimize mobility.

Physiotherapeutic procedures can achieve a good therapeutic effect. Depending on the nature of the disease, the patient may be shown paraffin therapy, ultrasound treatment or balneotherapy (mud therapy). Electrophoresis with anesthetic solutions helps to reduce pain in the fingers.

Of great importance is the normalization of the regime - the correct alternation of rest and strictly dosed physical activity. It is important for patients to follow the prescribed diet, which usually involves reducing the intake of fatty, fried and salty foods. Special attention should be given to diet if gouty arthritis is diagnosed. It is necessary to stop drinking alcohol and smoking.

Pain in the joints of the fingers and traditional medicine

An excellent remedy for pain in the fingers is a tincture of hot pepper. Pods need to be filled with vodka or medical alcohol and let the liquid brew in a dark place for several hours. Cotton or gauze swabs, richly moistened with the resulting alcohol extract, should be applied to the projection of the diseased joint for 15-20 minutes daily, 2-3 times a day. Usually the pain decreases or disappears after a month of course treatment. Then this folk remedy can be used for exacerbations to stop new attacks.

In the morning on an empty stomach, it is advisable to take a mixture of 1 tbsp. olive or refined sunflower oil and a few drops of freshly squeezed garlic juice.

Garlic juice can also be taken with milk or compresses. Before applying, the skin must be lubricated with cream.

In the spring (in May), you can prepare a tincture of lilac inflorescences. They need to insist on vodka for 1-2 weeks in a dark place, shaking the container daily. The liquid should be rubbed into sore spots during an attack.

One of the most effective folk remedies for the treatment of arthralgia is grated potatoes. Fresh peeled tubers are left in the sun until they acquire a greenish tint. Then they are crushed, poured with hot water and a compress is made for the night.

You can independently prepare an ointment that relieves pain in the fingers. To do this, take pre-crushed juniper needles and bay leaves and mix with butter. With this homemade ointment, hands should be massaged every day, preferably in the evening. Similarly, you can use a mixture of St. John's wort leaves and petroleum jelly.

Well help from pain baths with a decoction of birch buds. To enhance the therapeutic effect, it is advisable to add pine needles and sea salt to the decoction.

For rubbing diseased joints, traditional healers advise using alcohol tincture dandelion flowers.

Inside, it is advisable to take a decoction of viburnum branches (100 ml per day) or vodka tincture on the shells and partitions of walnuts (1 tablespoon before meals).

Plisov Vladimir, medical commentator