Why the knuckles hurt: causes and treatment

It's hard to imagine the life of someone without helpers and workers - fingers. They carefully hold their coffee, write tirelessly, do all the small and difficult things. Due to this high performance, fingers are susceptible to a number of diseases. In order not to bring the pathological processes to irreversible consequences, it is necessary to know why the knuckles are sore, and how to treat them.

What is finger joint pain

The human skeletal system has more than 300 joints. The fingers of the hand contain the smallest and most movable fingers. The joints in the hands of the hands have thin synovial membranes and the small joint surface is often exposed to many different diseases. Each finger on the hand consists of three joints (proximal phalangeal, middle phalangeal, distal middle cavity) and three bones (proximal, mid, distal phalanx).

Pain may be caused by arthritis. Against the background of hypothermia in the hand, soreness may occur, accompanied by cyanosis of the skin, which then turns red. Due to wrist joint injury or compression, paroxysmal pain occurs. A sense of sharpness and cut, accompanied by an electric current passing through the fingers, can indicate cervical necrosis.

The duration of symptoms depends on the cause of the disease. The longer the hand pain syndromes are ignored, the more disturbed their motor activity will be. If the first signs of the disease develop of the finger are not treated, irreversible deformation of the joint in which a person is disabled can be allowed.

The most dangerous complications:

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

Why does my finger hurt

As a rule, pain in the joints of the upper extremities is a symptom of developing diseases in the hands. Most often, such symptoms indicate the manifestations of diseases of other organs. Pain in the phalangs is a sign of cervical bone necrosis, myocardial ischemia, and peripheral neuropathy. If the knuckles are sore, it is necessary to quickly identify the causes to identify possible risk factors for human health.

Bending

The following conditions can cause joint pain when folding phalangs:

causes pain in the knuckles
  1. Spinal cord compression. It occurs when nerve roots extending from the spinal cord compress a hernia, cartilage, tumor, spasm muscles, tendons, or other vertebrae.
  2. Osteoarthritis. The degeneration of the cartilage and joints and the development of bone-forming cells on the bone occurs leading to a decrease in mobility.
  3. The tunnel syndrome. There is a compression of the median nerve, which travels to the palm of the hand through the carpal tunnel, protecting the nerve fibers from being pinched. Then, it can lead to tendinitis - an inflammatory disease of the tendons and tendons;
  4. Inflammation of the posterior cross ligament. It is characterized by blockage of phalangs in an enlarged or bent position. Usually the thumb joint on the hand is sore. Pathology refers to diseases of the tendon-ligament apparatus.
  5. Rhizarthrosis. Deform of cartilage plaques in a thumb joint occurs after trauma or excessive stress.
  6. Fibrillation disease. Occupational illness occurs when working with a vibrating device.

The knuckles are swollen and painful

Both the elderly and the young face problems with puffiness. Sometimes fingers swell due to water retention in the body, but if they are also in pain, this may indicate pathological changes in the bones and joints.

Possible reasons for this situation are:

  • open wounds, abrasions, cuts;
  • fractures, dislocations, trauma;
  • insect bites;
  • neuropathy of afferent nerves;
  • pathology of the heart and / or kidney;
  • fibromyalgia (muscle and joint pain);
  • polycythemia vera (abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood);
  • bursitis
  • (bursitis);
  • osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue);
  • Chronic arthritis
  • has many different origins (rheumatism, gout, infection, neglect, pus, and others).

Morning

Any finger joint disease manifests itself as pain in the morning. In order to prevent the progression of the pathology, it is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis and for this it is necessary to undergo an appropriate examination. The pain of the fingers in the morning due to arthritis has many different causes. The disease itself is not infectious but manifests itself as a result of an immune system disorder.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the joint cartilage of the index finger is more likely to be painful, on which small presses can be seen. With this pathology, symmetrical damage to the joints on the hands can also develop. Septic arthritis affects many fingers at once and develops under the influence of a virus or bacteria. In addition to the pain, there is also an increase in body temperature in the morning, intoxicating the whole body. Phalanges had pain in the morning and had psoriatic arthritis, gout, and osteoarthritis.

The last illness, apart from the pain in the morning, also manifests itself as stiffness and stiffness. Most often, osteoarthritis is observed in middle-aged women, since its development is related to fluctuations in estrogen levels. Gout can be identified by excruciating pain that cannot be tolerated in the morning or night, accompanied by redness and swelling of the joints.

Severe pain

Wrist ligamentitis appears with burning pain in all fingers except the little finger. A burning and numb sensation is felt not only in the tip of the hand, but also along the entire length of the palm. Symptoms get worse at night and subside during the day. Cervical spinal tumors also accompanied by sharp pain in the joints of the extremities, but only appeared a feeling of numbness in the little finger.

Panaritium (purulent inflammation of the tissues of the hand) can also cause such symptoms. Disease arises due to infectious infection. The pain is sharp, convulsive and increasing, especially at night. The phalangs are swollen, turn red, are very painful to the touch, and the body temperature is constantly rising. Panaritium requires prompt medical attention, otherwise a person cannot avoid serious complications.

In Raynaud's syndrome, at first there is a feeling of coldness and vasospasm, then, due to an impaired blood flow, a person feels a sharp pain in the fingers, swelling and turns blue. In the third stage of the disease, when blood flow improves, this symptom disappears. The pain lasted from a few minutes to a half hour. Raynaud's disease is the result of atherosclerosis of the extremities, so it must be treated first.

During pregnancy

Why do knuckles hurt during pregnancy and after childbirth? The gynecologists know for sure.

When limbs are swollen while holding the baby, this indicates the following conditions:

Why do finger joints hurt during pregnancy
  • presence of joint diseases;
  • increases levels of relaxin, a hormone responsible for ligament softening;
  • wraps the median nerve;
  • lacks calcium in the body;
  • fibromyalgia caused by depression.

Painful sensations can pass quickly and sometimes get worse each day. Usually this happens when the fetus is 35 weeks old, accompanied by rapid weight gain, causing pressure on the nerves connecting the hand to the arm.

The problem is a woman is obsessed with not only joint pain but also other symptoms:

  • burning, itchy palms;
  • sudden throbbing pain in the forearm;
  • numbs the upper extremities.

After exercising

The appearance of pain symptoms in the hands after any physical activity is a clear sign of vascular disease. Painful sensation accompanied by joint numbness, cramps, and rapid hand fatigue. The skin becomes pale and cold, the roots thicken, the nail plates thicken. Pathology over time changes to a chronic form, so it is impossible to feel the pulse on the radial artery, the lumen narrows, the blood flow to the extremities is disturbed. Pain becomes constant and reappears, even with mild exertion.

As a person ages, the cartilage becomes thinner, becomes fragile, and scratching is heard when moving. If hand pain appears after exertion, then this symptom may indicate that polyarthritis is developing. The disease is characterized by destructive changes in the joints, pain with the use of fingers or before the weather changes. It is difficult for a person to straighten and curl. The pain syndrome is relieved when hand work is excluded.

Diagnosis

Early diagnosis eliminates the symptoms of joint disease and heals completely. Only an experienced specialist (neurologist, surgeon, trauma doctor) can accurately determine the cause of this symptom. Diagnosis is made based on examination results and patient history. When collecting information, the nature of complaints, the start time of the first pain, the presence of joint pathologies in the next relative is discovered. A family tendency to develop arthritis and joint disease plays an important role.

Necessary Research for Pain Complaints in Quads:

    X-ray
  • ;
  • Ultrasound examination
  • ;
  • computed tomography;
  • electrospondylography (computer diagnostic spine);
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • ;
  • contrast disc;
  • tests for blood and joint fluid;
  • puncture
  • (injection into the u cavity);
  • skin biopsy.

Treatment

Treatment strategies are determined by the type of pathology, the severity of symptoms, the dynamics of the inflammatory process and the specific nature of the clinical course of the disease. When prescribing drug therapy, it is necessary to take into account that the patient is hypersensitive to the active components of the drug. Complex treatment involves the appointment of chondroprotectors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticosteroids.

In addition to medications, local massages and specially designed exercises are also prescribed. Excellent therapeutic effects can be achieved with the help of acupuncture and other types of physical therapy procedures.

Diet number 10 should be assigned the main rules of which:

  • reduces salt intake;
  • once a week fasting vegetables and dairy products;
  • The
  • diet contains no tomatoes, sorrel, spicy foods, and fatty meats.

In case of joint pain, your doctor recommends going to a therapeutic spa. For each patient, doctors will select a particular rehabilitation program that will be most effective in each particular case. The nursing home teaches healthy life skills, performs therapeutic exercises, physical therapy, and massage. As a rule, after such treatment, the patient for a long time will forget the relapses of the disease.

Medicines

When prescribing the drug, two goals are pursued: reducing the inflammatory process and eliminating the pain. Basically, doctors use cyclooxygenase inhibitors (NSAIDs), and if the cause of the disease lies in an autoimmune pathology, then steroid drugs will be prescribed. Antibiotics can be used for acute infections.

Topical medications (creams, ointments, gels) are prescribed for quick relief of symptoms. With dystrophic lesions of the joint surface, chondroprotectors should be used.

Massage

Just taking medicine is not enough for arthritis or dryness of the fingers. Specialists in remission stage recommend to attend massage therapeutic courses, the number of treatment sessions the doctor will determine individually. The process begins with kneading each part of the hand. If the patient does not feel severe pain, then the impact on the affected joints begins with the very first session.

The preparatory stage of massage is to heat the arm from the elbow to the fingers in a spiral motion. The patient is in a sitting position, hands resting on the table, elbows bent against the support, a roller is placed under the hand. After the warm-up, the therapist will knead each finger separately with caresses, without affecting the joints. For best effect, 2-3 approaches are taken.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy helps speed up recovery, reduce symptoms and prevent complications.

Patients with severe pain in their fingers should pay attention to the following techniques:

  • Mobile Phone. Treatment is based on the deep injection of anti-inflammatory and pain relief drugs under the skin. The procedure takes place under the action of a constant current. The course of treatment is 10 sessions, each 25 minutes course.
  • Ultrasound Therapy. During the treatment session, the micro is performed using ultrasonic vibrations with a frequency of 800-900 kHz. Ultrasound activates metabolism, removes excess uric acid, increases local immunity. Exposure time is 1-5 minutes per zone. Lessons last 12-15 minutes. The course of treatment is 10-12 procedures.
  • Microwave (microwave therapy). The treatment is based on the use of electromagnetic oscillation with waves up to 1 m high, which are intended to restore the biological processes and functional systems of the cellular structure. Contact time is 8-12 minutes. Number of sessions - from 2 to 12.
  • Thermal process. Includes exposure of affected joints to heat. Steam baths are used with the addition of essential oils, salts or herbs. Duration of the course is 12-20 courses, each course is 15-20 minutes.
  • Barotherapy. Treatment in pressure chamber with low or high pressure helps to saturate oxygen in the body, stimulating muscles, tissues and joints to recover faster. The duration of the procedure is 60 minutes. The whole course consists of 22-25 sessions.

Folk remedies

Replacement treatment will help prevent cartilage damage in your finger.

Most popular recipes:

  • Take a solid fermented dairy product, mix it with pre-chopped oatmeal. Leave the mixture on your sore fingers overnight, wrap it in a cloth;
  • Put 500 g of Kalanchoe through the meat grinder, pour 1 liter of vodka wine, leave on for 5 days. After decoction, rub daily into the sore joints;
  • Mix 1 tbsp. l. Olive oil with a few drops of freshly pressed garlic. Drink it in the morning on an empty stomach

Precautions

In order not to suffer from inflammatory processes in the finger joints and for the long-term treatment of joint diseases, osteoarthritis, simple precautions should be observed:

  • keep your hands warm;
  • excludes alcohol, tobacco;
  • includes more fruits and vegetables in the daily menu;
  • could not tolerate colds in the legs;
  • quit the habit of "clicking" your fingers;
  • replace tea and coffee with herbal decoction;
  • controls body weight.