Pain in the finger joints is a symptom of various diseases that have different origin and degree of danger to the patient's health, his normal functioning in the public environment. The intensity of pain depends as much on the disease and the stage of its development, as on the patient's actions.
Causes of finger joint pain
One of the factors that cause joint pain can be its mechanical damage: impact, dislocation, and so on. The injury is usually accompanied by additional signs such as swelling and redness. Pain in the injured arm joint becomes more intense with movement and disappears in a state of complete rest.
The second most common cause is arthritis - an inflammatory disease of the joints in the hands and other parts of the body. Arthritis pain is accompanied by swelling of the hands in the affected area, redness of the skin, fever, or involvement of other parts of the body besides the small joints of the fingers. In the later stages, arthritis is manifested by deformity of the joints and, as a result, of the hands.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of finger pain. With this disease, joint deformity is inevitable and the development of symptoms occurs gradually in 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 cause gout. Its typical symptoms are not only pain, but also burning, redness of the epidermis, simultaneous involvement of the joints of the hands and feet.
It is believed that half of the world's population, over 60 years of age, presents injuries and changes in various forms 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, its treatment is carried out by different specialists: a rheumatologist and a traumatologist. As a rule, at the time of contacting the clinic, the patient has suspicions about the factors that caused the joint pain and is referred to the correct doctor. The best solution in such a situation is to visit an osteopathic specialist for proper diagnosis and therapy.
Timely treatment contributes to the maximum speed of recovery. Also, it is worth considering that diseases and injuries that cause joint pain lead to serious and dangerous complications that cannot be avoided without medical intervention.
Osteopathic diagnosis for finger joint pain
As in the case of diagnosis in a conventional clinic, the first step in determining the etiology of finger joint pain is a patient survey. He should inform the osteopathic doctor in detail about when and under what circumstances the joints began to ache, in which movements the fingers of the sick hand feel particular discomfort, whether parents or close relatives suffer from similar diseases, etc.
In the later stages of disease detection, the patient is examined both visually and manually. As a rule, this examination is sufficient, but in special cases, an x-ray may be necessary to obtain a more detailed image of the disease.
Osteopathic treatment for finger pain
Since pain in the joints of the fingers is not an independent disease, but only its symptom, treatment should be aimed primarily at eliminating the causes of its occurrence.
To reduce the intensity and stop pain in the area of one or more joints, drug therapy in osteopathy is usually not used, as after one or two procedures the pain subsides on its own without drugs. This is especially true in situations where the patient, for some reason, cannot take a large number of medications.
During the course of osteopathic procedures, restoration takes place:
- Normal joint structure;
- Total mobility of the hands without pain;
- Interactions of all limb tissues, conditions for joint functioning;
- Good blood circulation and innervation;
- Increased level of regenerative skills.
After the end of the course, the pain not only subsides and stops, but also does not appear for a long time.
Additional treatments for joint pain
In addition to osteopathy, specialists may recommend other exposure methods for rehabilitation purposes. It is mandatory for patients to adjust the daily regimen of work and rest. People with painful joints need rest and minimal manual labor. If necessary, so that joint pain never manifests itself again, you should change the type of professional activity if it involves a constant load on the joints.
In rare cases, joints with pain in the fingers undergo physiotherapy sessions, but as a rule, osteopathic sessions are enough to heal.
What to do after an osteopathy course for sore fingers?
It must be remembered that for a long time the healed joint and the hand as a whole require serious attention. Although diseases that cause pain in the fingers and other parts of the body are completely neutralized after a course of osteopathic sessions, the patient's condition needs constant monitoring. Do not forget about the doctor's prescriptions, which must be strictly observed.
You can try folk recipes, but before using them, you should definitely consult a doctor. Among the remedies for pain in fingers and joints, approved by experts:
- Chestnut flower tincture;
- Herbal supplements;
- compresses and lotions with apple cider vinegar;
- Infusion of blackberry berries and leaves.
Much attention should be paid to the diet. With painful joints, fatty foods, salt and hot spices should be excluded. In addition, with finger pain and other joint and cartilage injuries, it is necessary to give up alcohol and smoking.
Prevention of finger diseases
In order to prevent any of the joints from disturbing with discomfort until old age, it is necessary to take preventive measures in time. Hand joints can hurt from frequent hypothermia, so you can't work in ice water, especially for a long time. During the cold season, warm gloves should be worn.
An important role in the state of the joints is played by a healthy diet, which must be regulated even after treatment, an active lifestyle is also important. However, the load should be moderate, otherwise it is fraught with injuries and new diseases of the fingers.
Hand joints 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 of the excellent condition of the hands and their high performance is a regular visit to the osteopath for a preventive examination.