The structure of human hands distinguishes him from representatives of other biological species. Thanks to them, we can not only serve ourselves, but also perform a wide variety of work. The fingers of the human hand are parts of the upper limbs, which in the process of development received a very important functional load. That's why, when your fingers hurt, it becomes difficult to hold a fork or spoon, type text on a PC, cook food, or even just lace up your shoes.
The reasons why your fingers hurt can be different. In addition to being susceptible to injury, there are a number of medical conditions that can affect their mobility. In addition, pain in the joints of the fingers can be caused by inflammatory processes (arthritis).
At CELT you can get advice from a specialist algologist.
- Initial consultation – 4,000
- Initial consultation with the head of the Pain Clinic - 4,500
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Causes of pain in fingers
If you want to find out why your fingers hurt, contact the CELT Pain Clinic. We employ experienced specialists of various profiles who will conduct a diagnostic study and prescribe the optimal course of treatment, thanks to which you can again live a full life.
Finger injuries
An injury such as a bruised finger can occur if you fall from a small height or hit your hand with a blunt object. Depending on the force of the impact, the skin and blood vessels may be damaged, which will lead to the formation of a hematoma; A bone fracture is also possible.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
The development of carpal tunnel syndrome is provoked by compression of the median nerve located in it. Clinical manifestations of this disease include:
- pain that is localized on the inner surface of the thumb;
- index finger pain;
- feeling of numbness in the skin of the palm;
- decrease in muscle volume in the area of the eminence of the first finger;
- decreased precision of fine motor skills of the hand.
Without timely treatment, the nerve will no longer be able to perform its functions, which will lead to the inability to perform small movements of the fingers and even disability.
Raynaud's syndrome
Raynaud's syndrome is a frequent companion to pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and other connective tissue diseases. It occurs due to a violation of the tone of the capillaries and small arteries of the fingers and is characterized by the following symptoms:
- a sharp narrowing of blood vessels, leading to pallor of the skin of the fingers and numbness, which is often felt as pain;
- a sharp dilation of blood vessels, leading to redness of the skin of the fingers (even cyanosis) and a feeling of burning pain, swelling.
Polyosteoarthrosis
The joints of the fingers hurt with a pathology such as polyosteoarthrosis. Most often it occurs in women after 45 years of age. In addition to pain in small joints, it is characterized by the following:
- the presence of nodular formations that appear symmetrically on both hands;
- deformation of the hands;
- periodic inflammation, redness and swelling of the affected joints, which begins after overexertion.
Rhizarthrosis
Another disease that causes pain in the joints of the thumbs is rhizarthrosis. It affects the joint of the thumb and is accompanied by pain that becomes more intense during movements, crunching of the joint, deformation of the thumb bone, and limited movement in the affected joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis
A pathology such as rheumatoid arthritis is expressed in inflammatory processes of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the index and middle fingers. It can occur due to stress, hypothermia or acute respiratory disease and is characterized by the following clinical manifestations:
- intense painful sensations, often symmetrical on both arms and which are especially evident in the morning and in the second half of the night;
- swelling and redness of the joints and a local increase in skin temperature over them;
- inability to clench your hand into a fist;
- limited movements in the hands.
More about rheumatoid arthritis
If the patient has not completed the course of treatment, the hand may become deformed and its functionality will be completely lost.
Gouty arthritis
One answer to the question “Why do my toes hurt?” the answer may be: “Because of gouty arthritis.” In most cases, the joint of the 1st toe suffers from salt deposits, but often this disease also affects the joints of the hands. Symptoms include:
- sharp pain in the toes and hands;
- inflammations that occur in attacks, lasting from 3 to 10 days;
- redness and swelling of the joint;
- bluish discoloration of the skin over the affected joint.
If left to chance, the disease can cause joint destruction and hand deformation.
Read more about gouty arthritis
Degrees and signs of rhizarthrosis
In total, this disease has 3 degrees:
- First degree. At this degree, no special changes occur in the bone articulation of the hand, only the consistency of the interarticular fluid changes. Therefore, signs of this degree are extremely rare. Sometimes a person may feel slight pain during physical activity or movement. Also, when you move your thumb, you will hear a crunching sound. Since signs of the disease practically do not appear, treatment usually does not begin on time. And because of this, the disease continues to develop.
- Second degree. At stage 2, arthrosis of the thumb begins to show symptoms, and treatment therefore usually begins at stage 2 of rhizarthrosis. At stage 2, hand disease leads to large-scale damage to cartilage tissue. Because of this, a person often begins to feel aching and nagging pain when moving and sometimes even at rest, the finger begins to swell and become inflamed (usually in the morning), and the mobility of the thumb is limited. Due to the fact that the symptoms of the disease become obvious, most people go to medical institutions, but many continue to ignore these signs or self-medicate, which leads to arthrosis of the thumb developing to degree 3.
- Third degree. At this stage, the disease leads to significant damage and deformation of bone tissue. Due to the fact that the cartilage is practically worn away, friction occurs, which leads to the appearance of osteophytes. And these processes cause constant pain in the thumb joint, swelling, swelling, deformation and the formation of growths. Any movement can lead to acute pain; in the absence of movement, the pain will be aching. Due to the appearance of osteophytes, it is almost impossible to achieve remission. Therefore, at stage 3, in most cases, surgical intervention is required.
Determining the stage of joint disease is important. Because, based on the medical examination data obtained, the doctor will prescribe specific types of medications that will help cure the disease.
Diagnosis of finger pain
CELT specialists recommend seeking medical help if you experience even a slight feeling of numbness in your fingers. Along with pain, this is a reason to visit a rheumatologist or neurologist in our Pain Clinic, conduct diagnostic tests and treatment.
In order to correctly make a diagnosis, in addition to a clinical examination and history taking, other diagnostic tests are carried out:
- radiography;
- manual muscle testing;
- ultrasonography;
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
How to understand that you have arthrosis of the thumb
In terms of symptoms, this type of arthrosis also resembles arthrosis of the shoulder or ankle. But it covers small joints in the area of the big toe.
- The person experiences pain and discomfort.
- The amplitude of finger movement is reduced.
- The joint crackles more often.
- Its deformation is visually visible (in later stages).
The problem is that at an early stage, a person often does not pay attention to the symptoms and writes off the pain as fatigue. Sometimes the pain really goes away, but sometimes the stiffness remains, and the discomfort becomes more and more common. Most patients seek help when the pain has become unbearable and the simplest household tasks require Herculean efforts.
The earlier rhizarthrosis is detected, the higher the chances of maintaining full functionality of the hand.
Treatment for finger pain
Treatment for pain in the fingers directly depends on the cause that caused them. Our specialists direct all their efforts to eliminating it, since this is the only way to achieve a long-term positive result and save the patient from suffering forever.
Systemic therapy with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics can relieve inflammation and painful symptoms. In addition, for diseases such as osteoarthritis, drugs are used that improve the protective characteristics of cartilage. Massage, physiotherapy and manual therapy have a good effect.
Treatment at the CELT Pain Clinic allows you not only to eliminate pain, swelling and stop inflammatory processes, but also to strengthen your finger joints, normalize metabolism and blood circulation!
We will give you back the opportunity to live a normal life!
Make an appointment through the application or by calling +7 +7 We work every day:
- Monday—Friday: 8.00—20.00
- Saturday: 8.00–18.00
- Sunday is a day off
The nearest metro and MCC stations to the clinic:
- Highway of Enthusiasts or Perovo
- Partisan
- Enthusiast Highway
Driving directions
Possible complications of the disease
Dupuytren's contracture causes a partial limitation of the range of motion of the fingers, since they cannot be fully straightened. If the disease becomes severe, nodes form on the back of the proximal interphalangeal joints. Over time, bumps form at the junction of the hand and wrist; a possible complication in the form of glenohumeral periarthritis. It is also believed that there is a connection between contracture and Peyronie's disease (curvature of the male penis, noticeable only when erect).
Folk and traditional medicine to protect your joints
Time-tested methods can be used to support joints and assist drug treatment. Badger fat is good for treatment. It has traditionally been used in the treatment of many diseases. For arthrosis, a compress with badger fat is good. It warms and nourishes the joint area. Every day before going to bed, apply a small amount of melted fat to the area of the joint with arthrosis, massage, wrap your hand well and leave overnight. Such compresses must be done until complete recovery.
Cabbage is also suitable for a compress. Apply the cabbage leaf to the sore spot, wrap it in cotton cloth, and put a warm mitten on top. The joint will warm up well, cabbage juice will bring temporary relief. Use this method whenever the pain becomes too severe.
Herbal ointment will also help relieve pain and slightly slow down the inflammatory process. Mix chamomile flowers, burdock root and calendula in equal parts with Vaseline, let it brew overnight. Apply to a joint with arthrosis with light, massaging movements every day, 2-3 times a day.
Before using any remedy for arthrosis, you must do an allergy test. Apply a small amount of your chosen product to the skin on the inside of your forearm and wait 2-4 hours. If during this time no redness or rash appears, feel free to use this remedy!
Causes of arthrosis
Factors contributing to the development of arthrosis are:
- genetic predisposition (including congenital diseases of bones and joints);
- old age (joint wear and tear with age);
- postmenopause (estrogens deficiency in postmenopausal women);
- overweight;
- increased load on joints;
- joint operations;
- joint injuries.
Types of arthrosis
There are primary and secondary arthrosis. With primary arthrosis, the disease develops in an initially healthy joint, for example, due to excessive physical activity. With secondary arthrosis, destruction occurs in a joint that has already undergone deformation - for example, as a result of an injury.
Most often, arthrosis affects the joints of the lower extremities (knee, hip, first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot), as well as the joints of the fingers. Arthrosis of the spine is also widespread.
Treatment methods for hand contractures
Before contracture is treated, it is diagnosed using a simple test. The patient is asked to place his hand on the table. If there is no free space between the palm and the plane of the tabletop, there is no pathology. If at least a pen can be inserted between them, an appropriate diagnosis is made.
At the initial stage of the disease, when the deformation of the hand is minor, the patient is prescribed radiation therapy. It helps stop the progression of contracture and maintain hand functionality. X-ray waves are used for irradiation. Electron beam radiation is also effective.
If Dupuytren's contracture has pronounced symptoms, the patient is prescribed surgery - fasciectomy. Options for carrying it out:
- Under anesthesia. The patient is put into a narcotic sleep, during which incisions are made on the hand. Through them, pathologically overgrown tissue is removed, which reduces finger mobility. If the disease relapses, part of the skin is additionally removed.
- Under local anesthesia. This type of operation is less traumatic and has a quick recovery. The patient is given local anesthesia, after which the overgrown tissue is removed through small incisions.
- A minimally invasive technique performed under local anesthesia. All manipulations are performed using a thin needle. After they are completed, the surgeon asks the patient to stretch his fingers. At this time, the cord that previously prevented full extension breaks. As a result, mobility returns.
Residents of Moscow and the Moscow region can receive high-quality treatment for Dupuytren's contracture at a medical clinic. Our surgeons will determine the cause of the symptom and select appropriate treatment that will prevent limitation of the functionality of the upper extremities.
