If your hands and fingers hurt, it means that the body is signaling joint diseases or internal pathologies. The patient often tries to solve the problem on his own, not knowing the danger of short-term disability. Information about why pain occurs in the joints of the fingers and what to do is useful for those who have felt the first symptoms of the disease and whose close relatives suffer from joint pathology.
Cause
There are many diseases that are accompanied by pain and inflammation of the hand. These include:
Gouty arthritis
The disease appears over the age of 20. The thumb is the first to undergo the inflammatory process. Inflammation of the joints has a paroxysmal course. The attack most often begins at night. Joint pain is acute. The skin area above the affected joint turns purple. The finger becomes hot and difficult to bend. The inflammation lasts up to 10 days. The attack goes away suddenly without treatment, but soon returns.
Polyosteoarthrosis
People over 40 are affected: men - less often than women. A distinctive sign of the disease is Heberden's nodes, when the nodes are formed, swelling and redness of the joints, burning and sharp pain are observed; in some patients, nodules develop without symptoms. In the case of polyosteoarthrosis, the formation of nodules can also be observed on the joints in the middle of the finger. Bouchard's nodules are spindle-shaped, almost painless, and characterized by slow growth.
Rheumatoid arthritis
The development of the disease manifests itself in the inflammation of the joints of the index and middle fingers. Along with the metacarpophalangeal joints, the wrist joints become inflamed, swollen and painful. The pain in the finger joint is especially painful in the morning. Rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied by weakness, joint pain and fever.
Psoriatic arthritis
The pathology develops in patients with psoriasis. In pathology, joint pain and swelling can be observed. The pathology has another name - "sausage-shaped" finger. At the same time, all the joints and joints of the finger become inflamed. In rare cases, the joints of both hands become inflamed, but on different fingers.
De Quervain's tenosynovitis
The inflammation affects only the thumb. The pain is caused by strain when trying to straighten the elbow toward the elbow. Sometimes your finger hurts for no apparent reason.
Rhizarthrosis
A rare pathology. Rhizarthrosis is a chronic form of arthrosis. The localization is visible on the bottom of the thumb. The disease leads to deformation of the cartilage tissue. The bone of the thumb is deformed, which limits the movement of the inflamed joint.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
The pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- The pain is felt on the inside of the thumb.
- My index finger hurts.
- There is a feeling of numbness on the skin of the palm.
- The mobility of the hand decreases.
Without treatment, the nerve loses its ability to function, leading to disability.
Raynaud's disease
The cause of the disease is a decrease in the tone of the capillaries. It manifests itself with symptoms: numbness, pale skin of the hands, dilation of blood vessels, as a result of which the fingers turn red. Sometimes bluish, acute pain and swelling occur. The pathology is characterized by constant freezing of the hands, which in the final stages of development become bluish or black. Trophic ulcers are often observed.
Injuries
Hand pain is most often associated with bruises and sprains. Bruising of the hand is manifested by the following symptoms: swelling, blueness or redness at the site of the bruise, severe pain when moving the finger, the formation of a hematoma and abnormal mobility of the injured finger.
Tendinitis
The disease affects a person who constantly performs monotonous movements (sewing, typing, playing the piano). "Writing" spasm occurs during daily typing stress. The painful syndrome is observed in patients with cervical osteochondrosis. Wrist pain is felt especially at night. Painful sensations are often accompanied by a sound similar to crunching.
Tingling and numbness of the fingers occurs in a person who makes small movements with the hands. Repeated overuse of the hand contributes to trigger finger syndrome. A bent finger is difficult to straighten; when force is applied to straighten, a click is heard.
Pain due to internal pathologies
Often pain in the hands and fingers for reasons unrelated to joint disease. People with pathologies are at risk:
Cardiac ischemia . In the case of a heart attack, the onset of the attack often coincides with a feeling of pain and tingling in the left hand.Diabetes . The pathology leads to a more sensitive condition of the hands due to poor circulation.
Pain and numbness are often observed in pregnant women. The following changes cause swelling and pain in the joints of the fingers during pregnancy: increased amount of the relaxin hormone, calcium deficiency, pinched median nerve, depression.
Important!Heredity, freezing of the 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 manifestations appear on the ring and little fingers, and a third on the index and thumb. If the pain is felt in all the fingers of the right hand, the problem is related to the blood vessels. Pain in the index finger and thumb indicates pathologies of the spine. If the index finger, ring finger and thumb hurt at the same time, this indicates a disease of the radial nerve. Simultaneous pain in the little finger and the ring finger indicates the presence of a foraminal hernia.
The fingers of my left hand hurt
If the pain occurs only in all fingers of the left hand, the problem should be sought in the veins. The thumb, index and ring finger hurt - the radial or median nerve is affected, the index and thumb - pathology of the spine. Pain in the little finger and ring finger occurs in case of C5-C6 foraminal hernia. The joint of the middle finger hurts due to the C4-C5 foraminal hernia.
Which specialist should we choose?
If your hand hurts for any reason, a visit to the doctor is a must. If you have post-traumatic pain, you should make an appointment with a trauma specialist. If the joints are inflamed or swelling occurs, a rheumatologist will help. If the cause of the pain is unclear, consult a cardiologist and endocrinologist.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of pathologies is possible with the following hardware tests:
Radiography . The painless procedure makes it possible to study the bone tissue. The results of the examination are recorded on film in 3 screenings.CT . The examination is carried out using X-rays. The results obtained after computer processing are series of cross-sectional images.Electrospondylography . It shows the presence of abnormalities in the part of the spine that is responsible for the operation of the arms. Pathology is detected at the initial stage of development.MRI . The diagnosis is made with electromagnetic radiation. As a result of the examination, pictures of longitudinal and cross sections are made.
Laboratory methods
Tests are performed to diagnose joint pathology:
General urinalysis . It enables the identification of advanced forms of osteomyelitis.General blood test . The test determines the presence of leukocytosis and anemia.Biochemical blood test . It determines the increased presence of fibrinogen and sialic acid.Thrust . After the affected joint is punctured, the fluid inside is taken for examination. The examination is prescribed to accurately determine the cause of the development of the pathology; performed in rare cases.Biopsy . We take a piece of skin tissue for microscopic examination. The method is used to detect lupus erythematosus and scleroderma.
Treatment
Hand pain is treated according to the causes that cause it. In case of exacerbation of arthritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. The use of vasodilator drugs is necessary for normal nutrition from the blood to the joints. Anti-inflammatory ointments are used for local therapy. Good results can be achieved if arthritis is treated with ultrasound, electrophoresis and acupuncture.
In case of osteoarthritis, centrally acting painkillers are prescribed to relieve the patient from acute pain. In addition to pain relief, such drugs also have an anti-inflammatory effect. Chondroprotectors: chondroitin sulfate and, in some cases, hyaluronic acid are taken continuously. Laser treatment has been used successfully in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Significant relief can be achieved by using physiotherapy procedures: massage, mud therapy.
In case of gout, it is recommended to take medicines to normalize the metabolism of purines in the body. Painkillers are prescribed to relieve pain. A diet with limited consumption of meat products, fish and alcohol is especially important. Rheumatoid arthritis cannot be cured, but the destructive process of the joint can be slowed down with anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and surgical methods. Acupuncture and massage also work well.
To treat carpal tunnel syndrome, comfortable working conditions must be created, taking into account the correct position of the hand. In case of painful sensations, make a poultice from the decoction of chamomile.
Surgical methods
If conservative treatment is ineffective, the joint is replaced surgically. Indications for surgical intervention are as follows:
- Injuries with separation of the tendon from the place of its attachment to the nail phalanx.
- Arthritis of the hand.
- Fractures and cracks.
- Deep cuts.
- Malignant tumors of the hand.
How to treat it according to traditional recipes
Effective folk recipes to overcome hand pain:
Recipe number 1 . Aloe ointment. Take 20 g of crushed fresh aloe leaves, add 5 g of dry mustard. Mix and simmer for 8-10 minutes until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Place in a container protected from light. Lubricate the joints of the hand in the morning and evening until a visible improvement occurs.Recipe number 2 . Bird cherry tincture. Pour 50 g of bird cherry bark with 200 ml of vodka. Stick to it for 10 days without getting light. Lubricate the brushes 3 times a day. The duration of the treatment is 3 weeks.Recipe number 3 . Bath with marigolds. Pour a tablespoon of dried marigolds into 200 ml of boiling water. The decoction is prepared for 15 minutes. on low heat. Treatment procedures continue for 20 minutes. The treatment process consists of 10 procedures.Recipe number 4 . Drinking from dandelion root. So, pour 1 tablespoon of dandelion root into 200 ml of boiling water. Simmer for 20 minutes. Drink 1 tablespoon 15 minutes before meals for 14 days.Recipe number 5 . Heat three tablespoons of sea salt in the microwave. Wrap it in gauze, apply it to the joint and leave it for 30 minutes.
The procedures are performed daily for 20 days.
Useful tips
By following the recommendations of doctors, you can significantly help the body to alleviate joint diseases. If the hands swell, jewelry should be removed. In case of injury, the hand should be kept still and a cold compress should be applied. If exertion causes pain, it should be eliminated or significantly reduced. Change to a job that requires repetitive movements.
You should consult a doctor immediately if the following symptoms occur:
- Post-traumatic pain does not subside, stiffness of movements is observed, and it is difficult to bend the finger.
- The hand is red and the skin area is warm.
- There is a tingling sensation in the hand.
- The finger tips hurt.
- The hand or finger goes numb.
Prevention
To prevent hand pain, you should:
- Include hand strengthening exercises in your morning routine.
- If repetitive movements are required, you should take breaks.
- Prolonged stay in a position that requires a fixed position of the hands should be avoided.
- Avoid overheating your hands.
Pain in the hand can be caused by different reasons. Medication, physiotherapy, surgical methods and folk recipes are used to relieve pain. To improve your quality of life, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations.