Pain in the fingers is a very common ailment that may indicate the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, damage to the cervical spine or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Only a doctor can find out why the middle finger on the right or left hand hurts. There are several characteristic symptoms that help to understand that the pain is pathological. It is important to find out the causes of pain in the middle finger of the right hand.
Finger pain has a variety of origins. The most common cause of discomfort in people over 45 years of age is carpal tunnel syndrome. It is necessary to analyze the accompanying symptoms of the pathology.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
This disease is characterized by burning pain and tingling, all of which becomes stronger with physical activity. As a rule, four fingers of the left or right hand are affected at once, and only the little finger hurts much less frequently. Among other things, a person experiences swelling and numbness, which is localized on the palmar surface.
In this case, pain appears in most cases at night. There are practically no external signs of the disease. There is only slight swelling in the area of the hand and some cyanosis.
Such sensations can only be eliminated by comprehensive anti-inflammatory treatment. Sometimes the doctor decides to undergo surgery. For conservative treatment, the following is used:
- ketoprofen,
- diclofenac,
- Nurofen.
Causes of tingling in fingers
29.09.2021
Tingling in the fingers is a fairly common and unpleasant disease. Although it seems innocent, it can also be a sign of a serious health problem, especially when it appears suddenly or is accompanied by additional symptoms. Check out what the tingling sensation in your fingers may indicate and what you should pay special attention to. Tingling is a colloquial term for paresthesia, which means inappropriate sensation of stimuli. It occurs spontaneously with sensations that you feel like a burning, tingling or stinging sensation in the skin. Paresthesia can occur in different areas of the body.
Where does tingling in fingers come from?
Parasthesias most often result from damage to the nervous system , but they can also be an expression of systemic diseases. Tingling in the fingers (left, right or both) can signal a deficiency of electrolytes, primarily magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium, as well as vitamin B12. When it appears frequently, transforms, and supplements do not improve, you should consider other causes of the tingling sensation.
The most common neurological diseases that cause tingling in the fingers:
1. Neuropathy
Neuropathy occurs when peripheral nerves are damaged by compression, ischemia, or neuritis. This disease causes disruption of nerve conduction, resulting in tingling, numbness, pain, or other sensory disturbances. Neuropathies occur as a result of degenerative diseases of the spine , injuries to the extremities, and constant stress on the joints . They may also result from diabetes , medication side effects, or toxic effects from alcohol or heavy metals. Diseases that can cause tingling:
Carpal tunnel syndrome . Carpal tunnel syndrome is the result of compression of the median nerve, which runs in the carpal tunnel. Symptoms occur mainly at night and include: tingling in the wrist, thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger. In the later stages of the disease, atrophy of the thumb muscles and weakening of the grip may occur.
Ulnar nerve groove syndrome. This disease is associated with damage to the ulnar nerve, resulting in tingling of the hand and numbness, most often of the small and ring fingers and the inside of the forearm.
Guillain-Barry syndrome. During this disease, the immune system attacks the myelin sheaths of the nerves , causing them to become damaged. Sensory disturbances in the fingers and toes are one of the first symptoms of this syndrome. This initially leads to muscle weakness and, in extreme cases, paralysis of the limbs.
2. Multiple sclerosis
This disease causes changes in the brain and spinal cord . One of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis is sensory disturbances and, above all, numbness in the hands and feet .
3. Stroke
Seek immediate help if tingling in your fingers occurs suddenly along with other complaints, most notably weakness or paralysis of the limbs, disturbances in speech , vision or consciousness, seizures or a sudden, very severe headache. A stroke is a condition in which blood flow to the brain (ischemic stroke) or bleeding occurs from a ruptured cerebral vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Symptoms most often appear suddenly.
Symptoms of a stroke: paresis or paralysis of limbs, impaired consciousness, speech , or sensory disturbances
4. Epilepsy
Epileptic seizures can take different forms. There are not always convulsions or loss of consciousness. Epilepsy can often manifest itself as sensory disturbances, causing pain, numbness and tingling. Tingling in the fingers (right, left or both) may appear even before the attack (the so-called aura).
5. Migraine
Although migraines are associated with headaches, they may be accompanied by sensory sensations such as numbness in the hands, face , or tongue.
Published in Neurology Premium Clinic
Dislocated fingers
Another common cause of pain in this area is dislocation. The main accompanying symptom is that the finger begins to protrude from the joint.
With this injury, the pain is usually sharp. The person has difficulty moving the affected finger. More often than others, it is not the middle or ring finger that hurts, but the thumb.
To relieve unpleasant phenomena, a dislocated finger involves the following actions:
- realignment of the joint
- weekly immobilization,
- physiotherapy,
- painkillers: ibuprofen, paracetamol or others.
What treatment is prescribed
The first stage of pathology treatment is a diagnostic examination. It includes a biochemical blood test, a general urinalysis, radiography and computed tomography.
Based on the results of medical measures, a rheumatologist will determine the cause of pain in the arms and select treatment:
- Drug treatment of the disease includes taking antibiotics or hormonal drugs if an inflammatory process was detected as a result of a diagnostic study. When pain syndromes worsen, doctors advise taking painkillers.
- Physiotherapy is carried out strictly only in a state of remission. Depending on the state of health and the type of pathology, treatment with electric current, therapeutic mud, massage or therapeutic exercises may be prescribed.
Additionally, doctors advise following a diet that helps with joint pain. The diet should include fish and seafood.
You need to season your dishes with flaxseed oil or add apple cider vinegar to them. It is worth completely eliminating dairy products, baked goods, smoked foods, strong tea, sweets and fatty foods.
Rheumatoid arthritis
A disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, in addition to painful sensations, is characterized by redness, swelling and inflammation in the joints. This type of arthritis occurs simultaneously in both the right and left hands. The skin in the affected area is usually dry and lifeless.
In many cases, rheumatoid arthritis begins its pathological process with symmetrical damage to the joints. For example, the middle fingers of both hands are simultaneously affected. Discomfort appears, expressed in pain and stiffness, especially in the morning.
Rheumatoid arthritis develops in a short time, so it is important to begin treatment without delay when minor symptoms appear. Such arthritis has visual consequences - curvature of fingers and even hands.
Properly selected therapy in the early stages can lead to a full recovery. Antimetabolic and hormonal drugs are used: methotrexate, prednisolone and others.
Gouty arthritis
This type of arthritis affects not only the legs, but also the bones of the fingers. Gouty arthritis can be diagnosed in women, but the disease is mostly characteristic of men. Women tolerate gouty arthritis much easier.
The disease develops acute pain syndrome, which is very difficult to relieve. In addition to pain, gouty arthritis causes an increase in local temperature, inflammation, and sometimes numbness of the skin can be observed. Patients often complain of a burning sensation.
Gouty arthritis is exacerbated by consumption of animal foods and medications for hypertension. To identify the disease, you should undergo diagnostic testing to determine the amount of uric acid.
What will the therapy be like?
How to treat a patient whose fingertips hurt depends on the cause that caused the disease. If the problem is osteochondrosis, anti-inflammatory treatment is aimed at relieving inflammation in the spinal area. The surgeon opens the panaritium. Polycythemia - a pathological increase in the number of red blood cells - is a serious reason to consult a hematologist. Diabetic neuropathy is treated jointly by an endocrinologist and a neurologist. Ligamenitis is a reason to consult a surgeon.
Due to the abundance of causes of discomfort in the fingertips, their treatment is also varied. In case of a bruise, the traumatologist, having ruled out serious injuries, will prescribe rest and anti-inflammatory ointment for several days, and in other cases the matter may end with surgery or long-term regular treatment.
Psoriatic arthritis
Quite a rare disease. Approximately 5% of the total number of people who consult a doctor with finger pain are diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. The disease is characterized by damage to all joints on one finger at the same time.
The middle and thumb are affected, and the pain is aching and accompanied by inflammation.
In therapy, powerful antipsoriatic and hormonal agents are most often used, for example, evetrex or methotrexate.
Causes of pain
The causes of pain in the area of the ring finger of the right hand include:
- Hypothermia, which causes temporary numbness of the limb;
- Development of osteochondrosis in the cervical or thoracic spine;
- Raynaud's syndrome, which involves a sharp spasm of blood vessels caused by oxygen starvation of tissues;
- Development of endocrine diseases, such as diabetes or hypothyroidism;
- Long-term consumption of alcoholic beverages, which causes joint destruction;
- Vitamin D deficiency in the body;
- Staying on an uncomfortable mattress or pillow for a long time usually causes pain to become more pronounced during sleep.
There is no need to attach importance to such a symptom, which is short-term in nature. Fingers may hurt due to impaired blood supply to the extremities - this is normal.
The pain goes away when changing position or rubbing the fingers. You should consult a rheumatologist if the pain is constant and the lesion begins to grow throughout the hand.
Osteoarthritis
When the articular cartilage wears out, numbness and pain appear in the fingers. First of all, the middle and thumb of the left or right hand are affected. When bending the fingers, a spasm begins. It is known that women suffer from osteoarthritis much more often than men.
Many people do not feel pseudoburns or pain when osteoarthritis nodules form. But a certain number of patients report exactly these symptoms.
Removing pain from osteoarthritis does not mean completely eliminating the disease - it is important to cope with all the symptoms. As a rule, pain is relieved by paracetamol-based drugs and therapeutic exercises.
