Why?The causes of pain in the finger joints can be completely different, but the resulting problem is the same. This is an incredible discomfort that can poison life, because we make a lot of movements with our hands during the day.
What to do?There are various ways to relieve pain. It is very difficult to completely eliminate the problem, but it is also possible. The main thing is to make a correct diagnosis and select a treatment regimen with the help of specialists. However, it is even more important not to neglect preventative measures.
The main causes of pain in the finger joints
Hand injuries
The pain from a bruised finger is quite moderate and goes away quite quickly. However, not without consequences: bleeding, bruising, hyperemia or swelling can occur in the area of the bruise. However, the finger works as usual, with minor glitches. A hematoma on the finger of the palm is characterized by pain of moderate intensity and subsequent peeling of the skin (dark blood accumulates in the cavity).
Subungual hematomas are much more difficult to endure: they are accompanied by severe throbbing and twitching pain, which is particularly noticeable when lowering the arm. After a bruise, the nail plate may peel off completely or partially.
A broken finger can cause severe, explosive pain. Such injuries are accompanied by stabbing pain, which then eases somewhat but does not go away. The finger no longer functions normally, swells, turns into a continuous bruise, sometimes becomes pathologically immobile, deforms (not only in the joints) and makes crunching noises. When you try to move the painful finger joint, it springs and resists.
Frostbite on the hands is accompanied by a slight tingling pain in the first few hours, which then intensifies and becomes burning. The finger turns bluish and swells. With severe frostbite, the distal parts lose sensitivity, the fingers become pale and remain cold, and pain occurs between the injured and healthy areas.
Infectious infections
The cause of rapidly increasing pain in the finger joint can be panaritium. An abscess forms, the finger swells, turns blue and hyperemia is observed. The nature of the pain is throbbing and twitching. It bothers the patient at night, especially if a felon has developed under the nail or deep in the limb (tendon, bone, joint felon). Superficial forms of this disease (subcutaneous and cutaneous, peri- and subungual) do not particularly affect general well-being, but deep panaritium can lead to fever and general intoxication.
A more exotic cause of finger joint pain is Chinga. Those affected are people who dissect and process the carcasses of commercially used marine animals. A small wound, tear or abrasion of the skin is enough for the infection to penetrate inside and affect the entire finger. The disease begins with mild dull pain at the site of injury, but after a day or two, discomfort appears and in the joint, usually the proximal one, the pain intensifies, the joint begins to ache and throb, the finger swells and becomes pale orbecomes bluish.
Arthritis of the joints
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common cause of symmetrical pain in the finger joints of the upper extremities. The intensity of the symptoms varies: in the first degree - only mild arthralgia and stiffness of movement (which, however, quickly passes), in the second degree - long periods of stiffness, redness of the affected joints, limitation of their mobility, constant pain (both at rest and in movement), and in the third it becomes impossible to move the diseased joint at all, stiffness and swelling do not go away, hyperemia and pain are constant and very noticeable.
Usually it is women who think about the causes and methods of treating pain in the finger joints: the beautiful half of humanity most often suffers from gouty arthritis. It can affect one or more finger joints at the same time, causing severe sudden pain, swelling, hyperemia, increased body temperature, and immobilization of the affected finger.
The usual symptoms of the disease are increased pain at night and at rest, which eases during the day and with movement, as well as swelling of the fingers, blue or purple skin. The interphalangeal joints of the fingers are most commonly affected. The finger gradually deforms in several places.
Post-traumatic arthritis affects only one joint. In arthritis caused by allergic and infectious causes (e. g. diseases of a viral and bacterial nature), several finger joints can be affected at the same time. Occupational peripheral arthritis only affects the joints that are under the greatest stress.
In any case, pain in the finger joints, the cause of which is arthritis in one form or another, is particularly annoying at night and disappears during the day, leaving only local swelling, difficulty in movement and a certain stiffness in the morning. Long-term advanced arthritis leads to deformation of the fingers.
Joint degeneration due to disease
At the initial stage of arthrosis of the hands, pain in the fingers is characterized by short duration, periodicity and uncertainty. Joint movements are limited in the morning. As osteoarthritis progresses, the pain becomes stronger and longer, accompanying every movement of the fingers, and its character is sometimes burning. Household chores and minor operations are becoming increasingly difficult to perform with the affected hand. Lateral deformations occur and Bouchard and Heberden nodes become noticeable.
Pathologies of tendons and ligaments
Pain in the palm and base of the fingers is usually caused by stenotic ligament inflammation. The pain is initially only felt with some small amplitude movements and pressure, but gradually begins to occur at rest. Movements are restricted, joints click. The more the disease develops, the more noticeable the recoil after such clicks and the flexion contracture become.
If the cause of pain in the finger joints is de Quervain's disease, then at first the discomfort is noticeable only when bending and abducting this finger, but later any movement causes pressing, aching pain (and sometimes you don't even need to move). something, the joint hurts even when resting). The pain syndrome often radiates into the distal phalanx, and in some cases also into the forearm on the side where the index finger grows.
Angiotrophoneuroses
When vasospasm occurs, Raynaud's syndrome occurs. This causes the fingers to become cold and sometimes numb. The second phase of the attack is accompanied by aching pain with a bursting and burning effect. The attack doesn't last long. Afterwards, the distal parts of the hands become red and feel hot. The causes of this disease, which causes pain in the finger joints, are very diverse. It may be:
- Rheumatoid arthritis;
- systemic lupus erythematosus;
- scleroderma;
- Sharp syndrome;
- antisynthetase syndrome;
- Thromboangiitis obliterans of the hands;
- Occupational diseases, pathologies of the metabolic and hormonal systems.
If the patient is not diagnosed with any of these diseases, Raynaud's disease with its characteristic symptoms is the cause of pain in the finger joints. Women are more susceptible to this.
Hematological, neurological and endocrine diseases can lead to erythromelalgia, but it can also occur alone. The disease manifests itself in the form of hyperemia and swelling of the fingers, burning, paroxysmal and paroxysmal pain, sometimes in both hands at the same time or first in one and then in the second. The attack of pain is so severe that it is simply impossible to move your fingers. You can relieve pain by raising or cooling the affected arm (warming up and lowering the limb increases the pain).
Nervous diseases
If you feel a burning or stabbing pain in your finger joint, the cause is likely neurological. Especially when, in addition to pain, the sensitivity of the hand is impaired and vegetative-trophic disorders are observed.
This could be, for example, neuropathy of the median nerve. With this disease, the palm of the first to third fingers hurts and they cannot be bent. It is not possible to move the index finger forward, and there are also serious problems with clenching the palm into a fist.
Attacks of pain in the finger joints at night and the disappearance of pain when shaking or lowering the hands can indicate carpal tunnel syndrome. In this type of median neuropathy, the pain is also localized on the side of the palm.
On the contrary, if neuropathy has developed on the radial nerve, the back of the hand and the index finger (sometimes the second and third) will hurt if the wrist or forearm is affected. The back of the hand may become numb and the pain may radiate to the forearm, even if the forearm itself is healthy.
If the cause of pain in the finger joints is neuropathy of the ulnar nerve, then these pains (in the hand and in the fourth and fifth fingers) are of a radiating nature and the main cause of the discomfort lies in the elbow joint. My elbows and hands hurt, especially in the morning.
Tumors
In addition to malignant neoplasms of the hands (which people rarely suffer from), benign tumors can also cause pain in the finger joints: chondroma or osteoid chondroma. In the first case, the pain is mild and not localized, while osteoid osteomas lead to stabbing pain exclusively in the affected area.
Different reasons
Writer's cramp, which accompanies a number of neurological and psychological diseases (especially occupational neuroses), also causes pain in the finger joints in men and women and requires treatment. Writing, typing on a computer keyboard or typewriter becomes painful. An excruciating, aching pain is accompanied by severe weakness, tremors in the hand and local cramps. Pain in the finger joints can also be caused by other pathologies:
- leukemia (Waldenström macroglobulinemia);
- Neoplasms in the adrenal glands (aldosteroma);
- complications of diabetes (diabetic neuropathy);
- vascular lesions (distal digital embolism due to occlusion of the subclavian artery);
- Hereditary diseases (Fabry disease);
- typical childhood diseases, for example neuroarthritic diathesis.
Diagnosis and treatment of pain in the finger joints
A correct diagnosis allows you to determine the true causes of pain in the finger joints, be it inflammation or another pathological process. If the pain is very severe and it is difficult to straighten and bend your fingers, be sure to see a doctor. Your doctor will likely send you for a test, which usually includes:
- Laboratory tests of blood, urine, rheumatic tests;
- radiography;
- MRI,
- Computed tomography of the fingers.
The treatment tactics are aimed not only at relieving the patient of pain in the finger joints, but also at eliminating their causes. For example, anti-inflammatory drugs (hormonal or non-steroidal) are prescribed for inflammation and antibiotics for infections.
The main goal of therapy for dystrophic joint damage is the restoration of cartilage tissue, for which massage, physiotherapy and chondroprotectors are used. To restore joint mobility, special exercises are prescribed.
Physiotherapy has been proven to be the most effective method for treating small joints, including the fingers. These are electrosleep, MRI and electrophoresis with novocaine, as well as a number of other procedures. During remission, it is advisable to undergo treatment in a sanatorium or resort with sources of radon or hydrogen sulfide.
As for nutrition, for pain in the finger joints, regardless of the cause, it is recommended:
- Eat more seafood and fish to get phosphorus, calcium and iron.
- Take apple cider vinegar to remove toxins from the body.
- consume fish oil and linseed oil (the fatty acids contained in them contribute to the normalization of fat metabolism).
It is also very useful to add nuts, ginger, fruits (currants and pomegranates), radishes and lettuce to your diet. However, it is advisable to limit mayonnaise, sweet and starchy, spicy and smoked foods, and fatty dairy products.
Prevention of pain in the finger joints
Eliminate the causes of finger joint pain in men and women so that treatment is not necessary:
- do not overcool your hands;
- Limit your alcohol consumption and if you smoke, quit the habit.
- Make sure your diet has a balanced ratio of vegetables and fruits and fewer canned, spicy and fried foods;
- Treat all colds and ARVI without hoping that the disease will go away on its own.
- Make sure your body weight is normal;
- Stop snapping your fingers.
Do a simple exercise to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome so that you don't have to think about how to treat pain in your finger joints and what causes it. If you work on the computer a lot, this is a must. Clench all your fingers into a fist, raise your thumb as if in agreement and rotate it first clockwise, then counterclockwise. There are many other exercises for your finger joints.
Exercises for pain in the finger joints
Make a fist
Spread your palm with your fingers extended so that tension is felt in all joints and muscles. This simple action should not be accompanied by pain.
Do a simple stretch: clench your palm into a fist for half a minute to a minute so that your thumb rests on top of the rest. Then unclench the fist, extend all fingers and spread them apart. Do this at least four times per hand.
Straighten your fingers
To make your finger joints more flexible and relieve pain when bending (regardless of the cause of the pain), repeat a simple exercise.
The palm is placed on a flat surface with the back facing up. The fingers should be stretched without straining the joints and held there for 30-60 seconds. Then relax your hand and return to the starting position. Repeat four times with each hand.
Use this exercise to relieve pain and improve joint mobility.
Drawing claws
Another exercise for finger joint mobility.
Turn your palm so that the inside faces you and bend your fingers so that their tips are at the base of the joints and the hand looks like a clawed paw. Hold for half a minute or a minute and repeat four times or more for each hand.
Train your grip
Regardless of the reasons that cause pain in the finger joints, a person needs to somehow hold objects, operate doorknobs, etc. , so it is advisable to exercise the fingers.
Squeeze the soft ball as hard as you can for a few minutes. Let go. Repeat this 10-15 times with each hand, two or three times per week (but leaving at least two days between sessions). The exercise is contraindicated if the thumb joints are injured.
Pinch
This exercise trains the finger muscles to make it easier to open various packages and doors with keys and refuel the car. Squeeze the soft ball with your thumb and another finger and hold for half a minute or a minute. For each hand you need to repeat pinching 10-15 times. As with the previous exercise, pinching is performed two to three times a week with a mandatory interval of 48 hours between sessions and only if the thumb joints are not injured.
Raise your finger
This exercise helps make your joints more mobile and your fingers more flexible.
The palm is placed on a smooth surface with the back facing up. You have to lift and put back each finger individually, but you can also immediately use all fingers at the same time. You need to do this 10-12 times with each hand.
Pull your thumb back
This exercise trains the thumb muscles to make gripping and lifting objects (e. g. cans and bottles) easier.
Wrap your palm and thumb with a rubber band and place them face up on a table or other flat surface. Using the resistance of the rubber band, move your thumb to the side, hold it there for half a minute or a minute, then relax, etc. 10-15 times with each hand. The exercise is performed two to three times a week, but no more than once every 48 hours.
This exercise trains the thumb muscles to make gripping and lifting objects (e. g. cans and bottles) easier.
Wrap your palm and thumb with a rubber band and place them face up on a table or other flat surface. Using the resistance of the rubber band, move your thumb to the side, hold it there for half a minute or a minute, then relax, etc. 10-15 times with each hand. The exercise is performed two to three times a week, but no more than once every 48 hours.
Bend your thumb
The mobility of the thumb also needs to be developed.
Raise your palm in front of you and turn the back side down. Alternatively, move your thumb to the side and bend it toward your palm to touch the base of your pinky. Relax after holding it for half a minute or a minute. Repeat these steps four times for each hand.
Touch with your thumb
Stiffness and pain in the finger joints can have various causes, but in any case it is useful to train the thumbs so that everyday activities such as writing with your hand, holding a spoon, brushing your teeth, etc. do not cause problems.
Place your palm in front of you, straighten your wrist, and touch your thumb to all the others to form the letter O. After squeezing it for half a minute or a minute, relax your palm. At least four repetitions for each arm.
Stretch your thumb
Thumbs need to be stretched.
Raise your hand in front of you, turn your palm toward you, and bend your thumb toward your index finger for half a minute to a minute. Then relax him. Do this four times with each hand. Then, from the same position, extend your thumb across your palm so that the lower joint tenses and hold for half a minute to a minute. There are also four repetitions.
The most common causes of pain in the finger joints when bending are not only injuries and infections, but also overuse. If your finger joint is diseased, you need to take urgent measures: first consult a specialist - a surgeon, neurologist or traumatologist. To relieve pain, make your joints more flexible, and strengthen your muscles, exercise your fingers and palms regularly.