Pain in the joints of the fingers is a symptom of many diseases that have different origins and are dangerous for the patient's health and normal functioning in the public environment. The intensity of pain depends both on the disease and its stage of development, as well as on the actions of the patient.
Causes of pain in the joints of the fingers
Mechanical damage to the joint can be one of the factors causing pain: impact, displacement, etc. The injury is usually accompanied by other signs such as swelling and redness. The pain in the joint of the injured arm becomes stronger with movement and goes away with 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, redness, fever or involvement of body parts other than the small joints of the fingers. In the later stages, arthritis manifests itself in the deformation of the joints and, as a result, of the hands.
Arthrosis is one of the most common causes of finger pain. In this disease, joint deformation is inevitable, and symptoms appear gradually in symmetrically located joints. In addition to pain, arthrosis is also characterized by numbness and stiffness of the affected areas. Most often, this disease develops in patients over 50 years of age.
Finger pain can also provoke gout. Its characteristic symptoms are not only pain, but also a burning sensation, redness of the epithelium, and simultaneous involvement of the joints of the hands and feet.
It is believed that half of the world's population over the age of 60 has changes and changes of varying severity in the small joints, which also applies to the hands.
Which doctor should I go to?
Since pain in the joints of the fingers can be caused by various events, it is treated by different specialists: rheumatologist and traumatologist. As a general rule, at the time of contacting the clinic, the patient has suspicions about the factors causing joint pain and is referred to the appropriate doctor. In such a situation, the best solution 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 joint pain lead to serious, dangerous complications that cannot be prevented without medical intervention.
Osteopathic diagnosis for pain in the joints of the fingers
Similar to the diagnosis carried out in a traditional clinic, the first step in determining the etiology of pain in the joints of the fingers is to assess the patient. You must tell the osteopathic doctor in detail when and under what circumstances the joints started to hurt, during which movements the fingers of the patient's hand feel particularly uncomfortable, whether the parents or close relatives suffer from similar diseases, etc.
In the further stages of diagnosing the disease, the patient is examined both visually and manually. Usually, such an examination is sufficient, but in special cases an X-ray may also be necessary to get a more detailed picture of the disease.
Osteopathic treatment for finger pain
Since the pain in the joints of the fingers is not an independent disease, but only a symptom, the treatment should be aimed primarily at eliminating the causes of its occurrence.
To reduce the intensity and eliminate pain in the area of one or more joints, the drug therapy of osteopathy is usually not used, because after one or two procedures the pain goes away on its own without medication. This is especially true in situations where the patient cannot take a large number of medications for some reason.
Osteopathic procedures restore:
- Normal structure of the joint;
- full mobility of the hands without pain;
- Interactions of all the tissues of the limbs, the conditions of joint functioning;
- Adequate blood circulation and innervation;
- Increased level of regeneration abilities.
After the end of the course, the pain not only dulls and disappears, but also does not appear for a long time.
Complementary treatments for joint pain
In addition to osteopathy, professionals may recommend other exposure methods for rehabilitation purposes. Modification of the daily work and rest schedule is mandatory for patients. People with painful joints need rest and minimal manual work. If it is necessary that joint pain never occurs again, you need to change the type of professional activity, if it involves a constant load on the joints.
In rare cases, painful joints of the fingers are subjected to physiotherapy treatments, but usually osteopathic sessions are sufficient for healing.
What to do in case of sore fingers after an osteopathy treatment?
It should not be forgotten 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 can be completely neutralized during osteopathic treatments, the patient's condition must be constantly monitored. Do not forget the doctor's prescriptions, which must be strictly followed.
You can try folk recipes, but be sure to consult your doctor before using them. Among the expert-approved finger and joint pain medications:
- Chestnut flower tincture;
- Herbal preparations;
- Apple cider vinegar compresses and lotions;
- infusion of cranberry berries and leaves.
Special attention should be paid to the diet. In case of painful joints, fatty foods, salt and hot spices should be excluded. In addition, in the case of pain in the fingers and other changes in the joints and cartilage, alcohol and smoking should be stopped.
Prevention of finger diseases
In order for one of the joints not to bother with discomfort until old age, preventive measures should be taken in time. The joints of the hand can hurt due to frequent hypothermia, so it is impossible to work in ice water, especially for a long time. Warm gloves should be worn in the cold season.
A healthy diet plays an important role in the condition of the joints, which must be regulated even after treatment, and an active lifestyle is also important. However, the load should be moderate, otherwise it is fraught with injuries and new diseases of the fingers.
The joints of the hand require a special massage, the purpose of which is to relax and heal 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 and high performance of the hands is a regular osteopath visit for preventive examination.