Pain in the joints of the fingers and toes

The human hand is the most mobile part of the body. It has a large range of motion. With the help of our hands, we do the most delicate work, write, create works of art. This is why it is so important to keep the joints of the fingers healthy.

The vertical position of the body, which was the result of anthropogenesis, led to the upper limbs ceasing to perform the locomotor function and becoming the "organ of labor". This improvement of the function led to changes in the anatomical structure of the hand, forearm and the shoulder girdle as a whole.

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Diseases that cause pain in the joints of the fingers

Pain in the finger joints occurs with joint diseases. The most common of them are: injuries or sprains of the ligaments and muscles that surround the finger joint, arthritis of a certain joint, osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis. Other ailments may also occur, but much less frequently.

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Rheumatoid arthritis

In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the diagnosis can only be made by a doctor, based on X-ray images, changes in tests and fairly typical symptoms of these diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, for example, is characterized by symmetrical joint damage (the same joints on both limbs). Often these are the joints of the feet and ankles. In this case, there are obvious signs of inflammation (limited mobility in the joints, swelling, redness).

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect both children and adults. Often, the joints of the hands are involved in the process. Osteoarthritis most often manifests itself as pain in the knee or hip joints, while signs of inflammation are usually absent. By the way, in almost all cases, this disease affects older and elderly people, although sometimes you can also find forms of osteoarthritis due to genetic predisposition, in which the disease can begin in adolescence and even at an even younger age. Osteoarthritis is characterized by pain in the joints of the fingers, appearing after physical activity, at the end of the day, while with rheumatoid arthritis, the pain syndrome, as a rule, decreases slightly after physical activity.

Rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects the finger joints and wrist joints. The pain syndrome is usually of moderate intensity. The joints are characterized by redness and swelling, symmetrically on both sides and at least 2 groups. In the morning, some stiffness may bother for several hours. Pain in the finger joints can be both periodic and constant.

Treatment. It is necessary to consult a rheumatologist as soon as possible. Although rheumatoid arthritis cannot be cured completely, changes in the joints can be stopped in a timely manner using anti-inflammatory drugs or surgical intervention using synovectomy.

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Gout

Gout, which is called "meat-eaters' disease", appears due to deposits in the joints of microscopic crystals of a substance that is formed during the exchange of purines (substances, the capacity of which is especially large in meat and meat products. If this exchange is disrupted, gout begins to develop. Most often, mature men get sick. The pain is acute, sometimes it is simply unbearable. The attack begins spontaneously. Swelling of the diseased joint is observed, it acquires a purple-red hue.

Gout mainly affects such joints of the hands as the wrist joints, elbow joints, and finger joints. The pain can be extremely strong and have a burning, pressing, pulsating, or tearing character. Its maximum intensity is observed at night, and usually weakens closer to the onset of the morning. An attack can be provoked by drinking alcoholic beverages, excessive consumption of meat and excessively fatty foods, visiting a sauna or bathhouse. Attacks can recur approximately 2-6 times a year and last on average 3-4 days.

Treatment. In order to relieve an attack of gout, it is necessary to take analgesics (they can only be prescribed by a doctor). Then it is necessary to strictly follow a diet, which includes restrictions on the consumption of meat, fish, fatty foods and alcohol. On the recommendation of a doctor, it is necessary to periodically undergo courses of treatment with medications that lower the level of uric acid in the blood. There are also special drugs that normalize the metabolism of purines.

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Osteoarthritis of the finger joints

This disease causes pain in the joints of the fingers, as well as in the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb.

The pain in the finger joints is dull in nature, usually bothers during the daytime, becomes more intense with movement, physical activity, after a long stay in an upright position. It weakens significantly in the morning and after a good rest. Sometimes there may be crunching and clicking in the finger joints. Painful sensations can bother both for a long time (for several weeks and even months), and for a short period - up to 1 day.

Treatment. Medicines are rarely required. In most cases, massage, physiotherapy, swimming and mud therapy can be enough.

Arthritis of the finger joints

This disease is characterized by constant pain when moving, as well as limited mobility and pain in the joints of the fingers, some stiffness after a night's sleep, swelling and redness of the skin over the sore joint, and probably an increase in body temperature against this background. Arthritis can occur in an acute form, then unbearable pain and swelling of the joint occur, or in a chronic form - then the disease progresses slowly, periodically reminding of itself with painful sensations. The second form is more dangerous due to the mild symptoms, since prolonged inflammation can cause deformation of the joint and its complete destruction. Often, arthritis occurs as a result of an infection that gets directly into the joint of the fingers or from other organs along with the bloodstream.

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