Currently, people of different age groups have various diseases of the cardiovascular system, nervous system, rheumatological and bone diseases.Anyone at any age can get sick.But the most common diseases are the musculoskeletal system.These diseases can occur in both older and younger people.Small joints are most often affected, including the formations of the hands and feet.For what reasons do joints of bony structures hurt, what causes pain in finger joints and how to treat it?
Reasons
When pain occurs in the hand area, we do not pay due attention to it until a certain time;in the meantime, the disease progresses and develops.What diseases can cause pain in the joints of the fingers?The most common diseases of bone joints that can cause a painful attack:
- Polyosteoarthrosis of bone joints.
- Arthritis (rheumatoid or psoriatic).
- Worsening of gout.
- Tenosynovitis
- Rhizarthrosis.
- Extremity injury.
- Microcirculation disorder.
- Pathology of nerve endings or spinal column.
- Untimely treatment of chronic diseases.
Why do my knuckles hurt?Pain in the finger joints in different pathologies has different causes.Let's consider in detail the characteristics of pain in various pathologies.
Osteoarthritis
When polyosteoarthrosis occurs, pain in the finger joints can occur both in people under 45 years old and in people over 55 years old.In this pathology, a characteristic feature is that when the joints are damaged, Heberden's nodes appear.They are located on the back of the palm, which is also characteristic in that they are formed in the same way (on the right and left hand at the same time in similar locations).
Nodules may appear on the phalanges of the fingers (the index and middle fingers are most often affected).At the time of the formation of such a node, the patient may feel an unpleasant burning sensation, pain, swelling and redness.First of all, it is necessary to treat the root cause.
Rheumatoid arthritis
In rheumatoid arthritis, finger joints hurt in 6-7 percent of cases.The disease can appear in people of different age groups, women are more often affected, and it forms against the background of emotional stress, after a cold, infection or hypothermia.The disease begins with inflammatory changes, then the affected joint swells slightly, the pain worsens when bending the phalanx of the right and left hand.The lesion is usually symmetrical, and other joints, even large ones, may be affected.
The pathology has an inflammatory nature of the pain (intensifies at night and in the morning, and during the day and in the evening the pain attack subsides slightly).In addition to these symptoms, the patient feels weak, has a fever and may have chills.Therapy should be aimed at treating the underlying disease.
Psoriasis
In 5% of cases, pain may occur due to psoriatic arthritis.People between the ages of 20 and 50 who have skin lesions (psoriatic plaques) are affected.The peculiarity of the inflammatory process is that the disease has axial inflammation (all joints of the affected finger hurt).The skin over such a joint has a dark red color.
Inflammation can affect the joints of the bones of the right or left hand, but very rarely both at once, which indicates their asymmetry.
Gout
Gout is the culprit of pain in less than 4% of cases.It occurs most often in men, it most often occurs with damage to the big toe, and then affects other joints as well.It occurs between the ages of 20 and 50.On the hands, the disease develops from damage to the thumb (rarely from the little finger), then it spreads to other joints, the pain worsens at night, which disrupts the rhythm and quality of sleep, the thumb takes on a red hue and becomes hot to the touch.
The duration of an acute attack can reach up to 12 days, and then the pain disappears.The paroxysmal course of the pain syndrome is characteristic of this disease.
Injuries
Injuries and sprains play an important role when the fingers hurt.When the cartilage tissue is damaged, it gradually regenerates, but it will no longer be a complete and identical cartilage;in any case, it will have a defect of one degree or another.At first, no symptoms may occur, but gradually the cartilage tissue wears out and no longer fully performs its functions, which leads to pain (pain occurs first when the little finger is affected).
Other diseases
De Carvin's tenosynovitis causes pain in 2-3% and involves an inflammatory process in the muscle tissue of the thumb.Typically, the pain occurs at the base of the joint;it is spontaneous or caused by overload, increases with flexion and extension (pain does not occur in the area from the index finger to the little finger).
With rhizarthrosis, the thumb on the hand hurts, there is a pathology of its articulation, it is most often manifested in combination with polyosteoarthrosis, less often on its own.This is caused by a strong constant load.De Carvin's tenosynovitis is difficult to diagnose.But with this pathology, a special feature is the deformation of the bones of the fingers, which is clearly visible on the x-ray of the hand.
Treatment
Timely, and most importantly, correctly prescribed treatment will help to avoid pain in the later stages of life.Prevention of rheumatological diseases is an important point in maintaining the same standard of living.But what to do and how to treat the disease if it appears or worsens?
Therapeutic methods should have a comprehensive effect, solve several problems and stimulate the restoration of damaged tissue.
First of all, it is necessary to correctly diagnose the cause of the disease, and then determine which method of treatment (medical or surgical).
Drug treatment
The most common group of drugs that can reduce or completely stop pain are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).In addition to their analgesic effect, they also have anti-inflammatory properties.
The medicinal substance can be administered independently, taking into account the available instructions.
For arthritis, when the joints of the hands hurt, glucocorticosteroid drugs (GCS) are prescribed;this group has an anti-inflammatory effect, which immediately stops the pain attack.To improve the effect of healing and regeneration, various oils and creams are used;they will also help relieve pain for a short time.
Physiotherapy methods of treatment and prevention are widespread.The most popular methods are:
- Phonophoresis.
- Ultrahigh frequency therapy (UHF).
- Ultraviolet and infrared radiation.
- Performing gymnastic exercises.
- Therapeutic and restorative massage.
- Moderate physical activity.
Surgical treatment
This method is radical and is used already in the late and advanced stages of the disease.The operation is performed with prostheses, replacement of joint surfaces or restoration of blood flow.