If your hands and fingers hurt, it means that the body is signaling joint diseases or internal pathologies. Often the patient tries to solve the problem on his own, without realizing the risk of becoming disabled in a short period of time. Information about why pain occurs in the finger joints and what to do will be useful for those who have felt the first symptoms of the disease and whose close relatives suffer from joint diseases.
causes
There are a number of diseases that cause pain and inflammation of the hand. These include:
Gouty arthritis
The disease manifests itself from the age of 20. The thumbs are the first to go through the inflammatory process. A paroxysmal course of joint inflammation occurs. The attack usually begins at night. Joint pain is acute. The area of skin over the affected joint turns purple. The finger becomes hot and is difficult to bend. The inflammation lasts a maximum of 10 days. The attack may suddenly disappear without treatment, but will soon recur.
Polyosteoarthrosis
People over 40 years of age are affected: men – less often than women. A characteristic sign of the disease is Heberden nodules. When the nodules begin to form, swelling and redness of the joints, burning and stabbing pain are noted; in some patients the nodules form asymptomatically. With polyosteoarthrosis, the formation of nodules on the joints in the middle of the fingers is also observed. Bouchard nodules are spindle-shaped, almost painless and characterized by slow growth.
Rheumatoid arthritis
The onset of the disease is manifested by inflammation of the joints of the index and middle fingers. Along with the basal joints, there is inflammation, swelling and pain in the wrists. The joint pain on the finger is particularly painful in the morning. Rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied by weakness, joint pain and fever.
Psoriatic arthritis
Pathology develops in patients with psoriasis. In pathology, joint pain and swelling are noted. The pathology has another name – "sausage-shaped" finger. At the same time, all joints and joints of the finger become inflamed. In rare cases, joints on both hands become inflamed, but on different fingers.
De Quervain tenosynovitis
The inflammation only affects the thumb. Pain arises from strain when trying to extend the elbow toward the elbow. Sometimes your finger hurts for no apparent reason.
Rhizarthrosis
Rare pathology. Rhizarthrosis is a chronic form of osteoarthritis. The location is noted at the base of the thumb. The disease leads to deformation of the cartilage tissue. The thumb bone becomes deformed and restricts movement of the inflamed joint.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Pain can be felt on the inside of the thumb.
- My index finger hurts.
- There is a feeling of numbness in the skin of the palm.
- The mobility of the hand decreases.
Without treatment, the nerve loses its ability to function, resulting in disability.
Raynaud's disease
The cause of the disease is a decrease in capillary tone. Manifested by symptoms: numbness, pale skin of the hand, vasodilatation, leading to redness of the fingers. Sometimes there is a bluish color, severe pain and swelling. The pathology is characterized by constant freezing of the hands, which become bluish or black at the final stage of development. Trophic ulcers are often observed.
Injuries
Hand pain most often occurs with bruises and sprains. A bruised hand is manifested by the following symptoms: swelling, blueness or redness of the bruise site, severe pain when trying to move a finger, the formation of a hematoma and pathological mobility of the injured finger.
Tendonitis
The disease affects a person who constantly performs monotonous movements (sewing, typing, playing the piano). "Writer's cramps" occur during daily writing stress. The painful syndrome is observed in people suffering from cervical osteochondrosis. Pain in the wrist is especially noticeable at night. Painful sensations are often accompanied by a crunching sound.
Tingling and numbness in the fingers occurs in a person who makes small movements with their hands. Repetitive hand strain contributes to trigger finger syndrome. A bent finger is difficult to straighten; When force is applied to stretch, a click is heard.
Pain due to internal pathologies
There is often pain in the hand and fingers that cannot be attributed to joint diseases. People suffering from pathologies are at risk:
- Cardiac ischemia. During a heart attack, the attack often begins with a feeling of pain and tingling in the left hand.
- Diabetes mellitus. The pathology leads to a more sensitive condition of the hands due to poor blood circulation.
Pain and numbness are often observed in pregnant women. The following changes lead to swelling and pain in the finger joints during pregnancy: increased amounts of the hormone relaxin, calcium deficiency, pinched median nerve, depression.
Important!Heredity, freezing of hands, frequent immersion in cold water and reduced immunity contribute to pathological changes in the hands.
Pain in the fingers of the right hand
Several fingers hurt at the same time. Half of the painful symptoms occur on the ring and little fingers, and a third on the index and thumb. If pain occurs in all fingers of the right hand, the problem lies in the blood vessels. Pain in the index finger and thumb indicates pathologies of the spine. If the index, ring and thumb hurt at the same time, this indicates a disease of the radial nerve. Simultaneous pain in the little finger and ring finger indicates the presence of a foraminal fracture.
The fingers of my left hand hurt
If pain occurs in all fingers only on the left hand, the problem is looked for in the blood vessels. Thumb, index and ring fingers hurt – the radial or median nerve is affected, index and thumb – spinal pathology. Pain in the little finger and ring finger occurs with a foraminal fracture of C5-C6. The joint of the middle finger hurts due to a foraminal fracture of C4-C5.
Which specialist should I choose?
Whatever the reason for your hands hurting, a visit to the doctor is mandatory. If you have post-traumatic pain, you should make an appointment with a traumatologist. If the joints are inflamed or swelling occurs, a rheumatologist can help. If the cause of the pain is unclear, you should consult a cardiologist and endocrinologist.
diagnosis
It is possible to diagnose pathologies using the following hardware tests:
- Radiography. The painless procedure allows the examination of bone tissue. The results of the study are recorded on film in 3 projections.
- CT. The examination is carried out using X-rays. The result obtained after computer processing is a series of images with cross sections.
- Electrospondylography. Detects the presence of abnormalities in the part of the spine responsible for the function of the arms. Pathology is detected at the initial stage of development.
- MRI. The diagnosis is made using electromagnetic radiation. As a result of the study, images of longitudinal and cross sections are obtained.
Laboratory methods
To diagnose joint pathology, studies are carried out:
- General urinalysis. Allows detection of advanced forms of bone inflammation.
- General blood analysis. The study determines the presence of leukocytosis and anemia.
- Biochemical blood test. Determines the increased presence of fibrinogen and sialic acids.
- puncture. After the affected joint is punctured, the fluid in it is removed for examination. The study is prescribed to accurately determine the cause of the development of pathology; carried out in rare cases.
- biopsy. A piece of skin tissue is removed for microscopic examination. The method detects lupus erythematosus and scleroderma.
Treatment
Pain in the hands is treated depending on the cause. If arthritis worsens, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. The use of vasodilator medications is necessary to ensure that the joints are normally supplied with nutrients from the blood. Anti-inflammatory ointments are used for local therapy. Good results are achieved in the treatment of arthritis using ultrasound, electrophoresis and acupuncture.
In osteoarthritis, centrally acting analgesics are prescribed to relieve the patient of acute pain. In addition to relieving pain, such medications also have an anti-inflammatory effect. Chondroprotectors: Chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid are taken constantly in some cases. Laser treatment is successfully used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Significant relief is achieved through physiotherapeutic procedures: massage, mud therapy.
With gout, taking medications is indicated to normalize purine metabolism in the body. Analgesics are prescribed to relieve pain. A diet with limited consumption of meat products, fish and alcohol is particularly important. Rheumatoid arthritis cannot be cured, but it is possible to slow down the destructive process of the joint through the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy and surgical methods. Acupuncture and massage have also proven effective.
To treat carpal tunnel syndrome, comfortable working conditions should be created, taking into account the correct hand position. For painful sensations, make compresses from chamomile decoction.
Surgical methods
If conservative treatment is ineffective, the joint is replaced surgically. Indications for surgical intervention are:
- Injuries with detachment of the tendon from the attachment point to the nail phalanx.
- Arthritis of the hand.
- Breaks and cracks.
- Deep cuts.
- Malignant neoplasms of the hand.
How to treat according to traditional recipes
Effective folk recipes to combat pain in the hands:
- Recipe number 1. Aloe ointment. Take 20g of crushed fresh aloe leaves and add 5g of dry mustard. Mix and simmer for 8-10 minutes until a homogeneous mixture forms. Transfer to a light-protected container. The joints of the hands are lubricated morning and evening until there is a visible improvement.
- Recipe number 2. Bird cherry tincture. 50 g of bird cherry bark are poured with 200 ml of vodka. Insist without access to light for 10 days. Lubricate brushes three times a day. The duration of treatment is 3 weeks.
- Recipe number 3. Bath with marigold. A tablespoon of dried marigold flowers is poured into 200 ml of boiling water. Prepare the decoction for 15 minutes. with low heat. The treatment process lasts 20 minutes. The course of treatment includes 10 procedures.
- Recipe number 4. Drink from dandelion roots. So, 1 tablespoon of dandelion roots is poured into 200 ml of boiling water. Let simmer for 20 minutes. Drink 1 tablespoon 15 minutes before meals for 14 days.
- Recipe number 5. Three tablespoons of sea salt are heated in the microwave. Put on a gauze bandage, apply to the joint and leave on for 30 minutes.
The procedures are carried out daily for 20 days.
Helpful advice
By following the recommendations of doctors, you can significantly help the body relieve joint diseases. If your hands are swollen, jewelry should be removed. In case of injury, it is necessary to keep the hand still and apply a cold compress. If stress pain occurs, it should be eliminated or significantly reduced. You have to change jobs that require repetitive movements.
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately:
- Post-traumatic pain does not subside, stiffness of movements is noted and it is difficult to bend the finger.
- The hand is red and heat develops in the skin area.
- There is a tingling sensation in the hand.
- The finger joints hurt.
- The hand or finger becomes numb.
prevention
To prevent hand pain, you should:
- Incorporate exercises to strengthen your hand muscles into your morning workout routine.
- If repetitive movements are necessary, take breaks.
- Staying in a position that requires a fixed position of the hands for a long period of time should be avoided.
- Avoid overcooling your hands.
Pain in the hands can have various causes. To relieve pain, drug treatment, physiotherapy, surgical methods and folk recipes are used. To improve your quality of life, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations.