Pain in the joints of the fingers is a symptom of a number of diseases that have a different origin and degree of threat to the patient's health and normal functioning in the public environment. The intensity of the pain depends both on the disease and the stage of its development, and on the patient's actions.
Causes of pain in the joints of the fingers
One of the factors provoking joint pain can be its mechanical damage: impact, dislocation, etc. The injury is usually accompanied by additional signs such as swelling and redness. Pain in the joint of the injured arm becomes most severe with movement and subsides in a state of complete rest.
The second most common cause is arthritis - an inflammatory disease of the wrists and other parts of the body. Arthritis pain is accompanied by swelling of the hands in the affected area, reddening of the skin, fever, or involvement of parts of the body other than the joints of the little fingers. In later stages, arthritis manifests itself as deformity of the joints, and therefore of the hands.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of finger pain. In this disease, joint deformity is inevitable, and the development of symptoms occurs gradually on symmetrically located joints. In addition to pain, osteoarthritis is characterized by numbness and stiffness of the affected areas. Most often, this disease develops in patients over 50 years of age.
Pain in the fingers can also provoke gout. Its typical symptoms are not only pain, but also burning, reddening of the epidermis, and simultaneous involvement of the wrists and ankles.
It is believed that half of the world's population older than 60 years has lesions and changes of varying severity in small joints, which also applies to the hands.
Which doctor should I go to?
Since pain in the joints of the fingers can be provoked by various events, their treatment is carried out by different specialists: a rheumatologist and a traumatologist. Usually, at the time of contacting the clinic, the patient has suspicions about the factors that caused joint pain and is referred to the right doctor. The best solution in such a situation is to visit an osteopathic specialist for diagnosis and appropriate therapy.
Timely treatment contributes to the maximum speed of recovery. In addition, it is worth considering that diseases and injuries that cause pain in the joints lead to serious dangerous complications that cannot be prevented without medical intervention.
Osteopathic diagnosis of pain in the finger joints
As with diagnosis in a conventional clinic, the first step in determining the etiology of pain in the finger joints is a patient interview. He should tell the osteopathic doctor in detail when and under what circumstances the joints began to hurt, with which movements the fingers of the diseased hand were particularly uncomfortable, whether parents or close relatives suffered from similar diseases, etc.
At further stages of disease detection, the patient is examined visually and manually. As a rule, such an examination is sufficient, but in special cases an X-ray may be necessary to get a more precise picture of the disease.
Osteopathic treatment for finger pain
Since pain in the joints of the fingers is not an independent disease, but only a symptom, the main focus of treatment should be on eliminating the causes of its occurrence.
In order to reduce the intensity and stop pain in the area of one or more joints, drug therapy is usually avoided in osteopathy, since the pain subsides on its own after one or two interventions without drugs. This is especially true in situations where for some reason the patient cannot take a large number of medications.
In the course of osteopathic procedures, recovery occurs:
- Normal structure of the joint;
- Full mobility of the hands without pain;
- Interactions of all tissues of the limbs, conditions for the functioning of the joint;
- Proper blood flow and innervation;
- Increased level of regenerative abilities.
After the end of the course, the pain not only dulls and stops, but also does not appear for a long time.
Additional treatments for joint pain
In addition to osteopathy, specialists can recommend other methods of exposure for rehabilitation purposes. It is mandatory for patients to adjust the daily work and rest regimen. People with painful joints need rest and minimal physical work. So that joint pain never becomes noticeable again, you should change your type of job if necessary if the joints are under constant strain.
In rare cases, joints with pain in the fingers are subjected to physiotherapy sessions, but usually osteopathic sessions are enough for healing.
What to do after an osteopathy course with aching fingers?
It should be remembered that the healed joint and the hand as a whole require serious attention for a long time. Despite the fact that diseases that cause pain in the fingers and other parts of the body are completely neutralized after a number of osteopathic sessions, the patient's condition must be constantly monitored. Do not forget about the doctor's prescriptions, which must be strictly observed.
You can try folk recipes, but before using them, be sure to consult a doctor. Among the remedies for pain in the fingers and joints, recognized by experts:
- tincture of chestnut flowers;
- herbal preparations;
- compresses and lotions containing apple cider vinegar;
- Infusion of cranberries and leaves.
Particular attention should be paid to diet. With aching joints, fatty foods, salt and hot spices should be excluded from it. In addition, with pain in the fingers and other lesions of the joints and cartilage, it is necessary to give up alcohol and smoking.
Prevention of diseases of the fingers
In order to prevent one of the joints from interfering with discomfort until old age, it is necessary to take preventive measures in a timely manner. Joints in the hands can hurt from frequent hypothermia, so you can not work in ice water for a particularly long time. In the cold season, warm gloves should be worn.
A healthy diet, which must be regulated even after the treatment, plays an important role in the condition of the joints, as does an active lifestyle. However, the load should be moderate, otherwise it is fraught with injuries and new diseases of the fingers.
The joints of the hands need special massages aimed at relaxing and healing the tissues. You should not ignore the advice of doctors about systematic walks in the fresh air, which is useful not only for the joints, but also for the general physical condition of each person. The guarantee for the excellent condition of the hands and their performance is a regular visit to the osteopath for preventive examinations.