Pain in the joints of the fingers is a symptom of a number of diseases that have different origins and degrees of danger to the patient's health, his normal functioning in a public environment. The intensity of the pain depends both on the disease and the stage of its development, as well as on the actions of the patient.
Causes of pain in finger joints
One of the factors that cause pain in the joint can be its mechanical damage: impact, dislocation and so on. The injury is usually accompanied by additional signs such as swelling and redness. The pain in the joint of the injured hand becomes the strongest when moving, and subsides in a state of complete rest.
The second most common cause is arthritis – an inflammatory disease of the joints of the hands 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 other parts of the body except 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.
Arthrosis is one of the most common causes of finger pain. In this disease, deformation of the joints is inevitable, and the development of symptoms gradually occurs in symmetrically located joints. In addition to pain, arthrosis is characterized by numbness and stiffness of the affected areas. Most often, this disease develops in patients older than 50 years.
Finger pain 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 considered that half of the world's population, whose age is more than 60 years, has lesions and changes in the form of varying severity on the small joints, which also applies to the hands.
Which doctor should I go to?
Since pain in the finger joints can be caused by various events, its treatment is carried out by different specialists: rheumatologist and traumatologist. As a rule, by the time they go to the clinic, the patient suspects the factors that caused the pain in the joints, and is referred to the right doctor. The best solution in such a situation is to visit a specialist osteopath 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 severe dangerous complications that cannot be prevented without medical intervention.
Osteopathic diagnosis of pain in finger joints
As in the case of diagnosis in a conventional clinic, the first step in determining the etiology of pain in the finger joints is to examine the patient. The osteopath should be told in detail when and under what circumstances the joints started to hurt, during which movements the fingers of the affected hand feel special discomfort, whether parents or close relatives suffer from similar diseases, etc.
In the 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 needed to obtain a more detailed picture of the disease.
Osteopathic treatment for finger pain
Since pain in the finger joints is not an independent disease, but only its symptom, treatment should be aimed mainly at eliminating the cause of its occurrence.
In order to reduce the intensity and stop the pain in the area of one or more joints, drug therapy in osteopathy is usually not used, because after one or two procedures the pain goes away by itself without any drugs. This especially applies to situations when the patient cannot take a large number of medications for some reason.
During osteopathic procedures, restoration occurs:
- Normal joint structure;
- Full mobility of the hands without pain;
- Interactions of all limb tissues, conditions for joint functioning;
- Proper blood circulation and innervation;
- Increased level of regenerative abilities.
After completing 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, experts can recommend other methods of exposure for the purpose of rehabilitation. It is mandatory for patients to adjust their daily regimen of work and rest. People with painful joints need rest and minimal manual work. If necessary, so that pain in the joints 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 sufficient for healing.
What to do after a course of osteopathy for painful fingers?
It should be remembered that a long-term healed joint and the hand as a whole require serious attention. Despite the fact that diseases that cause pain in the fingers and other parts of the body are completely neutralized after a course of osteopathic sessions, constant monitoring of the patient's condition is necessary. Do not forget the doctor's prescriptions, which must be strictly followed.
You can try folk recipes, but be sure to consult a doctor before using them. Among the remedies for finger and joint pain, approved by experts:
- Chestnut flower tincture;
- Herbal preparations;
- Apple cider vinegar wraps and lotions;
- Infusion of cranberry berries and leaves.
Special attention should be paid to nutrition. With painful joints, fatty foods, salt and hot spices should be excluded. In addition, with pain in the fingers and other joint and cartilage lesions, it is necessary to give up alcohol and smoking.
Prevention of finger diseases
In order for some of the joints not to be bothered by discomfort until old age, it is necessary to take preventive measures in time. The joints on the hands can hurt due to frequent hypothermia, so you can't work in ice water, especially for a long time. In the cold season, warm gloves should be worn.
A healthy diet plays an important role in the condition of the joints, which must be regulated even after the treatment, and an active lifestyle is also important. However, the load should be moderate, otherwise it is full of injuries and new diseases of the fingers.
The joints of the hands need special massages aimed at relaxing and healing the tissues. Do not ignore the doctor's advice about systematic walks in the fresh air, which is beneficial not only for the joints, but also for the general physical condition of each person. A guarantee of the excellent condition of the hands and their high performance is a regular visit to the osteopath for a preventive examination.