Treatment of polyarthritis of the hands with folk remedies

Signs of polyarthritis and diagnostic methods

To suspect an autoimmune disease, it is necessary to identify a number of the most characteristic signs of pathology indicating damage to cartilage tissue:

1. The appearance of swelling in the joints and their deformation. The situation worsens even from the slightest physical exertion. This condition can be cured with medication and lifestyle changes.
2. Every year, the development of polyarthritis progresses without proper therapy, and the joints are destroyed and change shape. If a person was treated at home, then the condition of the disease develops critical. The patient may become disabled.
3. Impaired mobility in polyarthritis. This condition is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the synovium, which indicates a chronic inflammatory process.
4. Increased body temperature, weakness, chills, which interferes with daily work and household chores. At the initial stage of polyarthritis, the manifestations are not very pronounced, but more blurred. As the disease progresses, the condition worsens.
5. Pain in the hand, similar in nature to a feeling of squeezing and stiffness. With severe exacerbation, the discomfort becomes cutting and unbearable.

It is important that patients experiencing these symptoms seek diagnosis. It is necessary to determine the cause of polyarthritis. For this, a comprehensive examination is carried out. If rapid weight loss is observed against the background of polyarthritis, and previously healthy joints quickly swell and swell, then these first symptoms may indicate the course of infectious polyarthritis. An infection in a joint can completely destroy cartilage in a matter of days or weeks, so you cannot rely on self-medication and delay visiting a doctor.

Therapeutic diagnostics consists of conducting instrumental studies and laboratory tests. When making a diagnosis, it is important to take into account a number of important factors and criteria for determining the disease - whether there is a family history of polyarthritis, whether the patient has previously had an STD, or suffers from other chronic diseases. The most accurate instrumental diagnostic methods for polyarthritis are MRI (in the early stages) and radiography. After diagnosis, therapy is prescribed.

Causes of polyarthritis

Multiple joint inflammation can occur for various reasons.
It can manifest itself as an independent disease, or as a complication after infections, diseases associated with metabolic disorders and malfunctions of the immune system. Hereditary predisposition also plays an important role in the incidence of polyarthritis. Depending on the causes of polyarthritis, it is divided into the following types:

1. Rheumatoid, appearing as a result of systemic damage to connective tissue by the body's own antibodies.
2. Reactive, developing as a complication after acute respiratory, intestinal, genitourinary infectious diseases.
3. Traumatic - develops as a result of traumatic factors, which are most often associated with professional activity (for example, with prolonged exposure to vibration, hypothermia).
4. Infectious - caused by pathogenic microorganisms that penetrate the joint cavities through the blood. These can be pathogens of brucellosis, gonorrhea, syphilis, tuberculosis.
5. Crystalline, which is caused by metabolic disorders leading to the deposition of salt crystals on the articular surfaces. It accompanies diseases such as gout, hemochromatosis, and amyloidosis.
6. Psoriatic, accompanying psoriasis.

Depending on the duration of the disease and how pronounced the signs of polyarthritis are, its acute and chronic forms are distinguished. In the acute phase, inflammation responds better to treatment, but when it becomes chronic, the articular cartilage undergoes irreversible destruction, so you should not delay a visit to the doctor.

Important instructions

Traditional therapy is a branch of healing with unproven effectiveness. Official medicine does not recognize the effectiveness of this treatment method and classifies it as pseudoscience. Some of the treatment methods are proven and do not contradict the principles of humanism and safety (use of medicinal herbs in reasonable doses, moderate herbal medicine). If the patient wishes to use traditional medicine methods to eliminate the symptoms of polyarthritis, it is recommended to coordinate them with the attending physician.

Traditional medicine for polyarthritis of the joints

Since polyarthritis is a severe pathology, replacing medications with herbs is strictly prohibited. It is important to talk to your doctor about the advisability of adding herbs to your current therapy. Polyarthritis is a general term that characterizes the course of a powerful inflammatory process in more than 3-4 joints at the same time. This phenomenon occurs with the following diagnoses:

1. Rheumatoid arthritis.
2. Ankylosing spondylitis.
3. Rheumatism.
4. Psoriatic arthritis.
5. Children's forms of arthritis.
6. Reactive arthritis.

This list is far from exhaustive. There are other types of autoimmune lesions that also manifest as severe articular syndrome.

During the period of exacerbation in the presence of such diagnoses, time counts against the patient. The longer the patient refuses medications, replacing them with herbs or unproven methods of therapy, the more advanced the situation becomes, leading to the destruction of cartilage.

As a result, severe inflammation leads to irreversible damage to joints and internal organs. Ultimately, when it becomes too late, the patient begins to use medications, but they may no longer help. Therefore, in such a situation, it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate.

When is it appropriate to use traditional therapy:

1. Inflammation is mild and disease activity is easily controlled with medication.
2. The patient is in remission.
3. The patient is actively working on changing his lifestyle, normalizing his diet, and using beneficial supplements for the body, which may include herbs.
4. In the form of external agents, without canceling medications prescribed by a doctor.

Many herbs and plants have a number of beneficial properties proven by science. Example – chamomile and valerian have a positive effect on the nervous system; these plants have an anti-inflammatory effect. If a patient wants to use herbal medicine as a supplement, he must use only safe and time-tested remedies in the treatment arsenal, simultaneously coordinating prescriptions with a doctor.

Main symptoms

The characteristic symptoms of polyarthritis are determined not by the reasons for its appearance, but by the form of the disease. The inflammatory process develops inside the joint capsule and spreads to nearby tissues. The localization of inflammation may vary depending on the type of polyarthritis. For example, a symptom characteristic of rheumatic arthritis is symmetrical inflammation of the joints of the phalanges of the fingers; with reactive polyarthritis, the joints of the legs are more often affected, and with gouty – the feet.

The main symptoms of acute polyarthritis include:

• severe pain in several joints;
• limitation of joint mobility;
• the appearance of swelling;
• hyperemia (redness) of the skin and hyperthermia (increase in temperature) in the joint area;
• increase in body temperature.

In the chronic course of the disease, articular cartilage is gradually destroyed, bone tissue grows, and joints become immobilized, which leads to disability.

The subacute and chronic forms of polyarthritis are characterized by dulling of pain, a progressive decrease in the range of motion and thickening of the joints. With advanced chronic polyarthritis of the joints, in the photographs of patients you can see severe thickening of the knuckles and curvature of the fingers.

If you have any symptoms, folk treatment will help

It is also important to understand at what stage therapy with non-drug interventions may be effective. It is allowed to drink infusions and teas of medicinal herbs in the following cases:

1. As a source of useful components to the main diet.
2. To calm the nervous system.
3. For a mild anti-inflammatory effect.
4. As part of a certain diet.

You cannot replace food and water with medicinal plants, since these components are not a means of replacing regular food. Also, alternative treatment is prohibited in the presence of food allergies or intolerance to such components.

Home recipes for polyarthritis

Compresses and lotions for external use may be helpful for symptoms of slight swelling and mild inflammation in the thumb area. If active inflammation has gone away, but there are signs of degenerative changes in the joints (this is a common occurrence and refers to the consequences of the disease), then external remedies will be useful. To do this, it is recommended to use compresses made from ointments and tinctures with proven warming, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Folk remedies are effective for stiffness in the joints, as they can improve blood flow.

Diet for joint inflammation

An important point is optimizing the diet with the exclusion of foods that can increase the symptoms of inflammation. What food is best to avoid during an exacerbation:

1. Tomatoes, pumpkin, hot peppers and eggplants.
2. Margarine, offal and fatty red meat.
3. Alcohol and nicotine.
4. Chocolate, cocoa, cookies, condensed milk.
5. Sorrel, currants, rhubarb and green onions (plants rich in oxalic acid).

Recommended foods include:

1. Fatty sea fish in moderation.
2. Limited – eggs and dairy products.
3. Apples, nuts, seeds.
4. Any types of cereals.
5. Turmeric, ginger.

Meals should be 3-4 meals a day, complete. You cannot starve or go on strict diets. Coffee and black tea are temporarily excluded. The best drink is pure water and herbal teas.

Treatment of polyarthritis of the hands with folk remedies

To alleviate the condition of polyarthritis, it is necessary to use the following home treatment methods:

1. To quickly relieve sudden joint pain, you can apply an ice compress. This is a universal remedy that always helps with an attack of acute pain. Cold surfaces have a distracting and irritating effect, so pain is dulled. To make an ice compress, you need to pour ice from the freezer into a heating pad. If there is no heating pad, then crushed ice is placed in the bag. Then a cold compress is applied to the sore joint. Duration of use is no more than 5 minutes, otherwise you can get hypothermia, which will negatively affect the patient’s health in the future. Next, you need to perform an independent light massage of the affected joint and wrap it in a warm blanket for 20 minutes. Sudden changes in temperature are beneficial as microcirculation improves. Such sessions are carried out once a day for 3-4 weeks without interruption. If ineffective, the procedure is canceled.
2. Infusions for oral administration are also effective. An example is nettle infusion. To prepare, you need to squeeze out the juice of fresh nettles and mix it in alcohol. The proportions should be the same for both components. Next, the mixture is kept in a dark and cold room for 1-2 months, and then filtered. You need to consume a teaspoon every day for a month, once a day after meals. This recipe is not recommended for use by persons suffering from chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Prescribe with caution to patients with increased blood clotting.
3. You need to chop 200 g of fresh cinquefoil roots and 100 g of cinquefoil roots. All these components are placed in an open three-liter jar and filled with 70% alcohol. The container must be pre-sterilized. Next, the jar is tightly sealed with a lid, and the mixture is infused for 2-3 weeks, periodically shaking the contents. The jar is placed in a cool and dark place. When the infusion is ready, it is filtered. You need to take the product 3 times a day, 5 ml, half an hour before meals. Important! Do not use by persons suffering from liver disease and chronic alcoholism.
4. You need to mix 10 grams of elderberry with 50 grams of orange peel. Also add 40 grams of birch leaves to the mixture. The components are poured with boiling water, after mixing all the ingredients in one container. You need to drink 200 ml of the product 3 times a day. The duration of therapy is about three weeks. If you are allergic to citrus fruits, it is better to exclude this component. Elderberry and birch leaves exhibit a diuretic and antiseptic effect, which will relieve swelling in case of inflammation of the joints of the hands.

These are the most popular mixtures for the treatment of pain due to polyarthritis. If for some reason these recipes are not suitable, you can choose other methods of therapy.

Compresses for the treatment of polyarthritis

External remedies for eliminating pain and swelling are the most effective and safe method of treatment. The components do not enter orally, which minimizes the risk of poisoning and an allergic reaction. A properly selected compress recipe complements symptomatic therapy. It is especially useful to use external agents during the recovery period after an exacerbation.

The most effective compress recipes include:

1. A mixture of birch leaves, rose hips and knotweed is kept in a water bath for half an hour after boiling. Then add 4 tablespoons of salt to these components. It all gets mixed up. Next, take out a piece of woolen fabric that needs to be soaked in this solution. The fabric is applied to the sore joint for half an hour. The procedure must be repeated several times a day.
2. The second method is to heat sea salt in a frying pan and stuff it into an old but clean sock. In addition to the sock, you can use any small fabric bag. Use a bag or sock with hot contents to warm up the joint for 10 to 15 minutes. Important! Hot salt should not be used during active inflammation, only during the recovery period if there are consequences of arthritis in the form of arthrosis.
3. The third option is to use an alcohol or oil solution based on propolis (it is advisable to prepare a tincture in advance). This remedy is applied to the affected area, and the skin is wrapped in a towel or blanket for 20 minutes. The procedure must be performed 2-3 times a day. How to make an alcohol solution of propolis - you need to soak 30 g of finely chopped substance in 200 ml of vodka or alcohol. The component is infused in a cold and dark place for two weeks.
4. Another popular remedy is potato compress. You need to grate one peeled potato on a coarse grater. Add a few drops of water to the resulting raw puree. Next, the mixture is placed in a cotton bag, which must be applied to the sore joint overnight. Duration of treatment – ​​1 week. If the method does not help, you need to choose another treatment option.

Homemade ointments for external use

You can use homemade ointments to treat polyarthritis. This is a comfortable method of therapy, since you do not need to apply anything to the joints, which is often uncomfortable. It is enough to apply the ointment to the affected area with light massage movements until completely absorbed 2-3 times a day to have an effect. Such actions usually do not cause inconvenience.

The most effective recipes, list:

1. Mustard ointment. To prepare this preparation, you need to mix salt and mustard in equal proportions and add a few drops of kerosene to the composition. You need to choose the proportions so that you get a consistency in the form of fatty and thick sour cream. When the mixture is ready, the resulting ointment must be rubbed into the affected joint.
2. Aspirin ointment. It is necessary to crush two 500 mg aspirin tablets into powder and add a few drops of iodine pharmaceutical solution and a teaspoon of lemon juice. The consistency of the prepared mixture should not be too liquid, but denser and thicker. The mixture is rubbed into the affected joint no more than 2-3 times a month.
3. Mixture with added pepper. The main component of the ointment is regular hand cream or cosmetic Vaseline. It is necessary to prepare a 50 g tube in advance. The contents of the tube are squeezed into an enamel bowl, add 15 drops of an oil solution of vitamin E, a tablespoon of honey, and a tablespoon of hot pepper powder. All this is thoroughly mixed in a bowl and applied in a thick layer to the affected joints of the fingers. Frequency of use – once a day. Duration of therapy is up to three weeks.
4. Rubbing is a good option for use instead of ointment or gel for the symptomatic treatment of polyarthritis of the joints. An alcohol tincture of birch buds (pre-infused mixture in alcohol for several weeks) is suitable for this. The rub is applied to the affected area before going to bed.

Important! If you are intolerant to any of the components on the list, it is better not to use the recipe.

Therapeutic baths for polyarthritis

Periodic use of medicinal baths is beneficial for the body if staying in warm water is not contraindicated (you should not lie in hot water during pregnancy, hypertension and severe heart defects). Hot water in combination with medicinal plants helps normalize metabolic processes in the body, improves blood circulation, and has an anti-inflammatory effect in chronic degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

The benefits of traditional medicine for arthritis

It is impossible to carry out thermal treatment procedures in conditions of active inflammation. When the patient goes into remission, this therapy enhances the effect and improves overall well-being. Warm healing baths have a positive effect on the state of the nervous system - they normalize sleep, help eliminate insomnia, and can help remove excess fluid, which is useful in the presence of edema and excess body weight.

The most effective herbal bath mixtures are based on clover, chicory and dry straw. An example of a recipe - you need to pour 250 g of herbal mixture into 5 liters of boiled water and cook over low heat for half an hour. Then the solution must be filtered and poured into warm water, previously collected in the bath. It is useful to carry out water procedures 2-3 times a week for 20 minutes. If shortness of breath, tachycardia or dizziness is observed during treatment, the procedures are canceled.

Polyarthritis of the fingers

Treatment of polyarthritis of the joints of the hands is necessarily comprehensive. It is aimed at pain relief, restoration of joint tissues, returning them to full function, and preventing further development of the disease.

Use of pharmaceuticals

The following groups of drugs are prescribed to the patient:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Eliminate pain, swelling, temperature (if any), reduce inflammation, improve overall well-being.
2. Corticosteroids. They relieve pain more effectively and stop the inflammatory process. Prescribed if non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do not help.
3. Antibacterial. They kill pathogenic microflora (if polyarthritis is of infectious origin), blocking the inflammatory process. Basically, drugs from the group of macrolides and tetracyclines are prescribed.
4. Chondroprotectors. Slow down the destruction of cartilage tissue.
5. Vitamins. Maintains immunity and balance of valuable substances.

Physiotherapy

For joint diseases, physiotherapy is prescribed in the remission stage, since during exacerbation they can increase inflammation. The goal of physiotherapy is to improve metabolic processes in affected tissues and relieve discomfort. The following methods are in demand:

• electrophoresis;
• paraffin therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• ultrasound;
• diathermy;
• acupuncture.

Physiotherapy is contraindicated for fever, oncology, pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, and during pregnancy.

Physiotherapy

Special gymnastics for the hands helps develop them, improves motor activity, and prevents deformation and fusion of the phalanges. You can again exercise during the period of remission, in the absence of acute pain. Doctors at our clinic recommend a simple set of exercises to the patient, which he performs at home. For example, this is the rhythmic clenching and unclenching of fists with fingers spread to the sides, or rolling a small massage ball or a pencil with ribbed edges on the table.

Diet

Eating certain foods can both accelerate the course of degenerative processes and significantly delay them. Thus, patients with polyarthritis of the hands are recommended vegetables, fruits, berries, cereals, seeds and nuts, sea fish, and lean chicken. The ban is imposed on marinades, animal fats, fast food, baked goods, fatty meats, soda and alcohol. Meals should be regular.

To prevent polyarthritis of the wrist, it is important to promptly treat infections and chronic pathologies, avoid excessive stress on the hands, try to avoid injuries and hypothermia.