Hand arthritis symptoms and treatment. How to treat arthritis in the fingers Acute arthritis in the finger

As a rule, arthritis of the joints of the fingers is not an independent disease. It acts as a secondary manifestation of rheumatoid or septic arthritis, arthrosis or polyarthritis.

Sometimes inflammation in the bone and cartilage tissues of the fingers of the upper extremities and degenerative age-related changes lead to a localized manifestation of arthritis.

Due to pathological changes, the hyaline cartilage becomes less elastic and dehydrated, which affects the mobility of the fingers, contributes to the deformation of the wrist and provokes intense pain.

In addition, the situation is aggravated with frequent flexion and extension of the fingers and a high load on the hand.

The most common is arthritis of the thumb. It can appear not only in the elderly, but also at a young age.

An exacerbation of the disease can be provoked by hypothermia, stress, weather conditions, strong physical labor, and intense sports.

Types of arthritis in fingers

Depending on the cause of arthritis in the fingers of the upper extremities, it can be:

1. . Developing as a result of infection entering the body through the skin of the fingers or by the hematogenous route after the transfer of certain diseases.
2. Rheumatoid. In this case, damage to the joints of the fingers is the initial stage in the development of the disease.
3. Exchange. The reasons for the appearance lie in the accumulation of many salt crystals, which occurs in the event of a violation of metabolic processes. As a rule, this type of disease occurs systemically.
4. Post-traumatic. It develops as a result of damage to cartilage or bone tissue, followed by the appearance of inflammation.
5. Secondary arthritis. Provoked by systemic diseases of the body (somatic, immune, allergic).

According to the type of joint damage, arthritis in the fingers of the upper extremities can be distal, proximal and middle. A frequent manifestation of the disease is polyosteoarthritis of the fingers.

No less common is the local pathology of the thumb - rhizarthrosis (rhysarthritis).

Signs and symptoms

Arthritis of the fingers, the symptoms show the following:

• crepitus (creaking) of the joints;
• aches, tingling and pain that occurs if the patient moves his fingers;
• symmetrical joint damage;
• pain that appears when the weather changes and at night;
• weakness in the arms;
• stiffness in the arm in the morning;
• limited mobility of the fingers, and if the disease is in advanced form, the joints are completely immobilized;
• skin redness in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe knuckles, as shown in the photo;
• an increase in local skin temperature in small joints;
• swelling, swelling and swelling of the fingers, as in the photo.

With the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, weakness, fever, and decreased performance may occur. As the disease progresses, the joint surface may increase, causing the fingers to swell and become wide.

If you feel your fingers, then in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe affected joints you can feel a seal, this is due to the flow of inflammation in the ligaments. Hyaline cartilage decreases in size, cracks, as a result of which the motor capabilities of the upper limb are reduced.

How to treat rheumatoid arthritis

How to treat arthritis of the fingers, especially in the rheumatoid form? With multiple lesions of other groups of joints, or if psoriatic, rheumatoid and other types of arthritis appear that occur systemically, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive treatment consisting of physiotherapeutic and medicinal methods.

So, drug therapy of a local type of disease is carried out according to a certain scheme.

In time for the acute form of the disease, the doctor prescribes a course of treatment with NSAIDs

• diclofenac,
• Ketonal,
• Ibuklin,
• ibuprofen,
• Voltaren.

Taking non-steroidal drugs is indicated for patients with severe pain, swelling and skin redness.

Means based on chondroprotectors - chondrotin, glucosamine sulfate. The specificity of the use of such drugs is a long-term use - 3-4 months. During this time, the damaged structure of the hyaline cartilage is restored.

In addition, arthritis in the hands and fingers can be cured with the help of vasodilators such as Teonicol, Actovegin, Trental. These funds are used in the form of intravenous infusions and intramuscular injections. The course of treatment is 10 sessions.

Moreover, the treatment of arthritis of the fingers involves taking systemic antibiotics (Macrolides and Penicillins), which are prescribed if the disease is of a bacterial nature.

Calcium preparations and vitamin complexes are also prescribed. Antimalarial drugs (Methylprednisolone, Plaquenil) and corticosteroids are used very rarely if the pathology is very severe.

External treatment involves the use of NSAIDs (Dolgit, Fastum-gel, Diklak-gel). Such therapy is preferable to the internal use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, because in this case the gastrointestinal tract suffers less.

A good result is the reception of Bshofit. This medicine can be used in the form of baths and hand applications. Moreover, you can rub warming ointments and creams based on snake or bee venom into your fingers and make lotions with a solution of Novocain and Dimexide.

At the same time, rheumatoid arthritis and other types of diseases of the fingers are successfully treated with the help of physiotherapy procedures (hydrotherapy, heating, magnetotherapy, paraffin therapy) and manual therapy, including exercise therapy, massage and acupuncture.

Physiotherapy

When the disease is not exacerbated, simple exercises for the hands should be performed every day, as they nourish the tissues of the interarticular cartilage and activate blood circulation in the upper limbs.

So, the first exercise consists in squeezing and unclenching the hands into a fist. Then with your thumb you need to touch the pads of the other four fingers.

Next, the palm should be placed on a flat surface, and then it is necessary to alternately raise the fingers, rotating them in a circle. Then the hand is placed on the edge, and you need to press on the table with your elbow, squeezing and unclenching your fingers.

In addition, to eliminate the causes of arthritis, it is useful to squeeze a tennis ball, a hand trainer, or a rubber ring with your hand. You can also spread your fingers as far as possible, and with the second hand you should bend each finger in turn.

Treatment with folk remedies

Traditional medicine recipes are often used in the treatment of arthritis. But the most effective non-traditional treatment is when the disease is at the initial stage of development.

To reduce pain in arthritis of the fingers, wax wraps are effective. For this purpose, you need to dissolve 200 g of wax, and then put a hot pepper pod in a container. After 10 minutes, the pepper must be removed, and then add 50 drops of St. John's wort oil there.

It is advisable to store the medicine in the freezer in ice molds. Before use, 1 cube of the product must be dissolved, applied to cellophane and wrapped around the affected joint for 30 minutes.

Paraffin therapy is an effective treatment method that helps to eliminate inflammation and pain. So, ready-made paraffin (100 g) must be mixed with vegetable oil (30 ml) and 15 drops of tea tree, citrus or St. John's wort essential extract.

The mixture must be melted, cooled, and then dip your fingers into it and wrap them with cellophane and a bandage. Everything should be left for 30 minutes and then washed off.

In addition, to eliminate the causes of arthritis, you need to mix vegetable oil, vodka, kerosene and camphor alcohol in equal parts. The resulting remedy should be wiped with fingers every day to remove puffiness and activate blood circulation.

Moreover, while washing your hands, you can add apple cider vinegar to the water, which has anti-inflammatory and decongestant effects.

In addition, you can make a compress from mashed potatoes, cottage cheese and flour. The resulting mass must be applied to the affected joint, and then the fingers should be wrapped with cellophane and a bandage. To eliminate painful sensations, the remedy must be kept for 1 hour.

Moreover, you can make baths from a variety of herbs (aloe juice, St. John's wort, willow and poplar leaves, meadowsweet and yarrow). Such plants have an anti-inflammatory and regenerating effect in the treatment of arthrosis and arthritis.

Twisted and disfigured fingers are not always a sign of old age. There is a certain type of neurological disease, defined in medicine as rheumatic or, which can manifest itself at any age, regardless of gender.

What is a clinical pathology, how to treat arthritis of the hands in the conditions of official and alternative medicine, will be discussed in this article.

Development mechanism

The process of degenerative-dystrophic destruction of the articular segments of the hands that has begun is considered an incurable pathology. However, by consulting a doctor in time, you can somewhat stop the development of degenerative destruction of the joints and prolong remission.

Symptomatic signs

Depending on the gender, age and individual physiological characteristics of the patient, the conditions that provoked the disease of the joints, the clinical symptoms may vary slightly.

The development of rheumatoid arthritis has clinical signs:

• prolonged pain syndromes after waking up;
• slight stiffness of the joints in the morning;
• crunch and redness;
• , tingling;
• and swelling in the joints.

Most often, pain is sensitive to atmospheric changes. With a change in pressure or temperature, a change in humidity, the joints of the hands begin to ache unpleasantly. These symptoms are the tip of the neurological iceberg.

With an untimely response to the problem, the further course of the disease is accompanied by even greater painful "surprises" - thickening of the joints of the fingers and wrist, growth of bone growths (osteophytes), partial or complete immobility of the joints (ankylosis) and multiple lesions -.

Each stage of a degenerative disorder is selected appropriate.

Medical therapy

Despite the fact that the initial stage of the disease is accompanied by minor pain symptoms, which manifest themselves in a short-term failure of the functional work of the joints, the degeneration process takes effect. During this period, a person experiences difficulties in performing elementary household activities, there are difficulties associated with fixing the position of objects.

These warning signs should not be ignored. Without adequate treatment, the course of the disease will progress at an incredible rate. Having applied for medical help, a consulting specialist will conduct and prescribe treatment.

Initial therapy involves the introduction of a local analgesic and antipyretic action.

The most popular drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis of the 1st degree:

• ® - a drug that can reduce pain swelling, redness and stiffness in the joints. The drug can be administered in the form of an ointment or;
• Ibuprofen® is a pharmaceutical antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agent;
• ® is a dosage form produced in the form of ointments to eliminate the inflammatory reaction.

The dosage and course of treatment is determined by the attending physician.

In the case of the progression of the disease, accompanied by the appearance of bone erosion, swelling of the joints and an endless pain syndrome, when the mobility of the hands is severely limited, those that have an active effect on the metabolic functions of the body are included in the work.

Among the most effective drugs:

Along with glucocorticoids, the therapeutic regimen includes drug combinations that block further destruction of the joints from degenerative-dystrophic processes, restore the tissue surface of the articular cartilage.

The diagnosis of "rheumatoid arthritis of the hands of the 3rd degree" indicates a complete fiasco of any previously performed therapeutic manipulations. Further treatment requires more radical measures, that is, surgical intervention. In order to prevent such a state, it is necessary from the very first days of the manifestation of the disease to intensively engage in treatment by any available means.

In addition to the medication prescribed by the doctor, one should actively carry out physiotherapeutic procedures, therapeutic and prophylactic massage of the joints of the fingers, perform warm-up gymnastic exercises and not disdain traditional medicine.

Report on the topic of drug treatment:

Comprehensive and alternative treatment

In the event of any circumstances that prevent visiting inpatient medical facilities for physiotherapy and gymnastic exercises, one should not give up, but carry out.

Here are examples of therapeutic exercises that help activate blood circulation and increase the mobility of the joints of the fingers:

1. Every day for 5-10 minutes, sitting on a chair and putting your hands on a flat and smooth surface, you need to beat out the drum roll with your fingers. This exercise should be repeated 2-3 times a day.
2. Clench and unclench your fist 5-10 times per session every 1.5-2 hours.
3. After mastering exercise No. 2 within 3-4 days, add a power load to the joints by squeezing the rubber expander 5-10 times per set.
4. With your fingers together in the lock, raise your hands up above your head, turning the back of your palms towards the ceiling.
5. At the end of the gymnastic course of treatment, draw fan-shaped movements with your fingers in one direction and the other.

Such simple exercises at first will be given with great difficulty. However, after 3-5 gymnastic sessions, patients feel relief and the disappearance of the main pain symptoms.

Home physiotherapy

It is possible to conduct an effective course of physiotherapy procedures at home. Melted paraffin in a water bath to a temperature of 60-65 ºС after cooling is applied to the sore spot for 30-40 minutes until it cools down. After the procedure, the diseased joints are covered with a warm woolen cloth and kept for 10-12 hours. This treatment is best done before bed.

Mud, salt and coniferous baths are very effective. For mud therapy, it is necessary to apply a warm clay mass to the diseased joint and withstand it for at least 30-40 minutes.

For a salt bath, you will need 200 g and one liter of warm boiled water. After preparing the saline solution, the fingers are placed in a healing liquid for 20-30 minutes, the salt residues are washed off the hands with warm water. Similar actions are carried out with pine buds.

Nutrition for rheumatoid arthritis

Conducting sessions of therapeutic therapy, it is necessary to follow a salt-free diet. In the diet, you need to add foods with a maximum content of vitamin D and calcium.

Daily need for calcium:

From the diet it is necessary to exclude any fatty, smoked, fried and pickled food. All food must be heat treated. You can get help in choosing an individual balanced diet that will suit your age, gender and physiological characteristics from your doctor or nutritionist.

Help of traditional medicine

Any complex treatment of joints with traditional medicine will be inferior if you do not conduct sessions with folk remedies. With articular diseases of the hands, various recipes of traditional medicine, tested by several generations, have proven themselves well. All these methods of non-traditional impact on joint diseases are based on natural components.

Before conducting self-treatment, you should consult a doctor, as some ingredients can cause not only an allergic reaction, but also complicate the motility of the gastrointestinal tract.

Prevention of joint diseases

A measure of the preventive effect on the joints of various segments of the musculoskeletal system will be the observance of the rules of a healthy lifestyle:

1. Monitor personal and sanitary hygiene daily.
2. Give your hands 10-15 minutes, doing simple warm-up exercises.
3. Avoid infection of the joints and the body.
4. Monitor the temperature regime of your body: avoid hypothermia and overheating.
5. Follow the rules of proper healthy eating.

A long but very interesting lecture by Ph.D. Belkina Z.P.:

In case of the slightest discomfort or, legs, other organs of the osteoarticular organization of the skeleton, immediately contact a local therapist or rheumatologist. Take care of yourself and be healthy!

Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that primarily affects the small joints. Therefore, the defeat of this disease of the hands is not uncommon. Many people think that crooked thickened fingers are a sign of old age. But arthritis of the hands can appear at any age. After all, this disease is caused in most cases by an infection. If several joints are affected, they speak of the development of polyarthritis.

A feature of inflammation of the joints of the fingers is that the disease progresses rapidly and leads to complete immobility of the hand. The patient loses not only working capacity, but also the opportunity to serve himself in everyday life. Therefore, the main thing is to detect the disease in time and begin its treatment. If you follow all the doctor's recommendations, you can stop the destruction of the joints.

Why Arthritis of the Hands Develops

The most susceptible to inflammatory diseases of the joints are people after 50 years, because at this time metabolic processes slow down, blood circulation is disturbed, cartilage wears out. Most often, women suffer from arthritis, which is associated with hormonal disruptions and a large load on the fingers.

At risk are people with bad habits, leading an unhealthy lifestyle or being overweight. Not the least role in the development of the disease is hereditary predisposition. In addition, arthritis of the fingers is considered an occupational disease of seamstresses, jewelers, tennis players, and people working on a computer.

All this leads to malnutrition of the cartilaginous tissue, microtrauma of the joints and the development of inflammation. And the following factors can provoke it:

• injuries - bruises, fractures, sprains;
• decreased immunity;
• great physical stress on the joints;
• hypothermia;
• allergic reactions;
• surgical interventions;
• tuberculosis, streptococcal tonsillitis, tonsillitis, influenza or SARS;
• gout, rheumatism, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis, venereal diseases.

You can suspect the development of arthritis of the hand by the occurrence of pain in the hand after overexertion.

How the disease manifests itself

To start treatment on time, you need to know the symptoms of arthritis well. They differ slightly in different forms of the disease, but there are common signs. If you consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear, the inflammation can be quickly removed and the destruction of bone tissue can be prevented.

1. The main symptom of hand arthritis is pain. At first it appears only in the morning and disappears after a while. Patients describe it as an ache in the fingers. Sometimes there may be a tingling or burning sensation. Over time, the pain becomes stronger, disturbs during any physical activity, and at the last stage of the disease - even at rest.
2. Other characteristic symptoms of arthritis are stiffness in movement, especially in the morning. Unlike arthrosis, it disappears after the development of fingers or massage. Sometimes when moving the fingers, a creak is heard.
3. The last sign of inflammatory joint damage is a change in appearance. The fingers swell, the skin tightens and becomes hot. Affected areas turn red. Sometimes seals are visible under the skin - nodules. At the last stage, the joints are completely deformed, and the fingers are twisted.
4. In addition, other symptoms are possible: fever, chills, weakness, insomnia.

Arthritis classification

Finger arthritis can be acute or chronic. Acute often occurs when an infection enters the joint cavity. The chronic course of the disease occurs after injuries, with metabolic disorders, or in people whose hands are subjected to increased stress.

If one joint is inflamed, they talk about ordinary arthritis, but on the hands, almost all the small joints of the fingers are usually affected. This is the so-called polyarthritis.

In addition, there are several types of the disease, depending on the cause of its occurrence.

Arthritis happens:

• infectious - when bacteria enter the joint cavity;
• exchange - with the deposition of salts;
• rheumatoid - in the presence of autoimmune pathologies;
• post-traumatic - arising against the background of a long-standing injury;
• rhysarthritis is the name of a disease that affects only the thumb.

If the disease affects only the thumb, they talk about the development of rhysarthritis

Features of treatment

Such a disease requires a mandatory visit to the doctor. Only after diagnostic procedures and determining the cause of the inflammatory process can the correct treatment be prescribed. The prognosis for recovery depends on the efforts of the patient. It is necessary not only to apply the methods of treatment prescribed by the doctor, but also to make changes in your lifestyle:

• reduce the load on the fingers, you may even have to change professional activities;
• you can not make sharp movements with a brush, lift weights;
• you need to sleep well;
• the diet recommended by the doctor must be strictly observed;
• you must drink at least 1.5-2 liters of water every day;
• in addition to the therapy prescribed by the doctor, the disease can be treated with folk remedies.

After examining and determining the cause of the disease, the doctor prescribes a special diet, exercise regimen, drug therapy and additional treatments.

What medicines are used

In most cases, it is necessary to treat arthritis with the use of special medications. You can not choose them yourself, guided by advertising or the advice of friends. All medicines are prescribed by a doctor depending on the nature of the inflammatory process, the type of arthritis, and the stage of the disease. Usually, several groups of drugs are used.

1. In the acute course of the disease and in order to relieve pain during exacerbation of chronic arthritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Ketonal, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin and other drugs reduce swelling and pain. Additionally, ointments with the same effect are used: "Dolgit", "Fastum Gel" and others. They have fewer side effects, and unlike pills, they can be taken for a long time. But all these drugs do not cure, but only relieve symptoms.
2. In the last stages of the disease, drugs that restore cartilage tissue are needed. These are the drugs that contain chondroitin and glucosamine. You need to take them for a long time, because the joints of the hands recover slowly.
3. Pathological processes in the joint cavity often occur due to insufficient nutrition and blood supply to tissues. Therefore, drugs that dilate blood vessels are prescribed. Most often, these are injections of Trental, Actovegil or Theonicol.
4. Purulent or infectious arthritis is treated only with antibiotics. Penicillins or macrolides are prescribed. Often used funds from other groups. The new drug "Minocycline" very effectively relieves inflammation and kills bacteria. The instruction notes that it affects the tissues of the joint, helping them recover.
5. To support the patient's immune system and enrich the body with nutrients, vitamin complexes, preparations with calcium and thiamine, brewer's yeast and plant-based biologically active supplements are used.
6. In the most severe cases, intra-articular injections of corticosteroids, such as Cortisone, are used. If other treatments fail, antimalarial or anticancer drugs, such as methotrexate, may be prescribed.

Anti-inflammatory ointments can relieve arthritis symptoms

Physiotherapy and exercise therapy

Treatment of arthritis of the hands should be comprehensive. In addition to tablets and ointments, physiotherapeutic methods are required:

• acupuncture;
• massage;
• magnetotherapy;
• electrophoresis;
• ultrasound;
• paraffin treatment;
• mud applications.

A very important place in the treatment of arthritis is therapeutic exercises. It needs to be done regularly. For example, such exercises: rolling the ball with the palm of your hand, clenching your fingers into a fist, alternately raising your fingers, sorting out the rosary, and others. The main thing is that gymnastics does not cause pain and helps to cope with stiffness in movements.

Folk methods

In the complex therapy of the disease, alternative treatment is often used. There are many methods: rubbing, compresses, ointments for the joints, but they can be used after consulting a doctor.

• Compresses can be made from grated onions, cabbage leaves, wormwood decoction, mashed potatoes or clay.
• Sick joints are rubbed with mint leaves, tincture of green chestnut peel, fir oil or mummy solution.
• Arthritis of the fingers is easy to treat with folk remedies, because it is easy to make therapeutic baths for these joints. They add turpentine, essential oil of St. John's wort, a decoction of poplar leaves or apple cider vinegar.

Gymnastics for the fingers effectively helps relieve pain and restore joint mobility

Prevention measures

It is believed that arthritis should be treated throughout life. During the period of remission, when pills are not taken and ointments are not used, certain rules must be followed.

1. Diet is very important for the prevention of exacerbations of the inflammatory process. It is necessary to exclude salt, fatty and spicy foods, sorrel, onions, eggplants from the diet.
2. You need to lead a healthy lifestyle: give up bad habits, sleep well and play sports.
3. You can prevent exacerbations with folk remedies: drink decoctions of currant leaves, birch buds, horseradish root, thistle juice.
4. Reduce the load on the hands and avoid hypothermia.

In severe cases, arthritis leads to severe deformity of the hand and complete loss of performance.

The consequences of arthritis of the fingers

In the case when the disease develops in the elderly or after an injury, its main unpleasant consequence is the curvature of the fingers and the deformity of the hand. This leads to loss of working capacity and disability of the patient. It is also dangerous when arthritis becomes chronic. In this case, pain occurs periodically, and the process of bone tissue destruction proceeds imperceptibly.

Only timely treatment can stop the progression of the disease. Serious complications are possible during the transition of arthritis to the last stage. This affects not only the joints, but also the nervous system, blood vessels, kidneys.

It is believed that arthritis cannot be completely cured. But with a timely visit to the doctor and the implementation of all his recommendations, you can maintain efficiency and reduce the frequency of attacks. In the fight against this disease, it is very important that the patient constantly take care of the health of their joints.

The joints of the hands are the most vulnerable to arthritis. A person constantly performs many different operations with his hands in all spheres of life.

They are the most exposed to stress and injury. But not only these factors provoke the development of the disease.

Arthritis of the joints is an inflammatory disease that can appear due to infections, poor working conditions, or be an autoimmune reaction of the body to its joints.

Arthritis is a collective term that refers to a number of different joint diseases. All of them affect the joints of the hands and feet, and over time lead to complete or partial immobilization (ankylosis).

Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the inner synovium of the joint. In healthy people, this membrane secretes synovial fluid, which "lubricates" the joints, preventing them from rubbing.

It also provides nutrients to the joint.

What happens with arthritis? With arthritis, the amount of fluid increases, its composition changes, exudate is formed (a fluid released into the tissue). According to the composition of the fluid, the exudate can be serous, purulent or hemorrhagic (bloody).

As a result, due to the accumulation of exudate, the articular cartilage suffers, which causes its degenerative-dystrophic changes.

Doctors identify many reasons that can trigger arthritis of the fingers. Either a pathological process in the body can lead to the development of this disease, but the main triggers can be named.

Causes of Arthritis

Unfortunately, arthritis of the joints is far from an senile disease, as is commonly believed. High stress on the wrists during certain activities that involve frequent flexion of the arms can provoke symptoms of the disease at a fairly early age.

It is noted that the joints of the thumb are most often subjected to wear, since it is he who bears the greatest load in any activity.

However, the physical wear of the joints of the hands due to age or occupation is only one of the causes of the development of the disease.

The reasons for the development of this disease include:

• heredity - with a high probability, many family members can have arthritis of the hands;
• hypermobility of the joints of the hands;
• complications after infectious diseases (flu, acute respiratory infections);
• staphylococcal and streptococcal infections;
• congenital and acquired autoimmune pathologies;
• allergic reactions of various origins;
• tuberculosis;
• sexual infections.

Only a doctor can determine the true cause of arthritis. But the patient should remember that exacerbation of an already diagnosed diagnosis can be caused by many diseases, as well as physical exertion on the hands, sports activities, hypothermia, weather factors.

In order to see a doctor in time, you need to know what symptoms should first of all alert and give reason to suspect the presence of arthritis.

Symptoms of hand arthritis include:

1. Pain when moving the fingers or hand.
2. Unreasonable aches and tingling sensations are the most important signs of arthritis.
3. Reaction to the weather, time of day (pain that increases at night).
4. Redness and swelling of the joints.
5. Weakness and limited movement.
6. Creaking when moving the joints and symmetry in the lesion of the hands.

All these are symptoms that signal a serious destruction of hyaline cartilage. Over time, symptoms may increase. The patient's temperature rises, weakness appears.

Independently, neither the diagnosis of arthritis of the joints, nor the type of arthritis can be established in any case!

The main factors provoking arthritis of the fingers:

Arthritis of the fingers is a polyetiological condition. In other words, the causes of this type of arthritis are diverse, and among them:

• Injuries
• Systematic exposure to adverse external factors - cold, humidity, vibration
• Heredity
• Age changes
• Purulent septic infection
• Specific infection - tuberculosis, syphilis, dysentery, chlamydia
• Various metabolic disorders - diabetes mellitus, gout

The pathogenesis of arthritis of the fingers is as diverse as the causes that gave rise to it. For example, in traumatic arthritis, a mechanical factor comes to the fore, in age-related arthritis, degenerative-arthritis changes in the joints of the fingers, and in infectious arthritis, microbial intoxication.

And there are cases when the mechanism of development of cystic arthritis is unclear. In such cases, one speaks of idiopathic arthritis.

However, in the vast majority of cases, the cause of this condition is clear. And that reason is rheumatoid arthritis.

Inflammation of the wrist joints is so typical of rheumatoid arthritis that, speaking of this pathology, we will first of all mean rheumatoid arthritis of the fingers.

It should be noted that rheumatoid arthritis is a separate disease, an independent nosological entity.

The causes and pathogenesis of this disease are not fully understood. It is only known that rheumatoid arthritis is based on a genetic predisposition, bacterial or more often viral infection, and autoimmune reactions.

The essence of these reactions is as follows. In response to the appearance of infectious antigens in the body, the immune system releases antibodies.

An antigen combines with an antibody to form an immune complex. These immune complexes damage the connective tissue structures, including the synovial membrane of the joints of the hands.

The primary inflammatory process usually develops against the background of infection, rheumatic or metabolic pathology, less often on the basis of trauma or surgery. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, hereditary predisposition plays an important role.

Secondary arthritis of small joints, as a rule, is a complication of allergic, atopic and autoimmune conditions, common infectious diseases, or an underlying somatic disease such as gout, diabetes mellitus or psoriasis.

In the pathogenesis of reactive arthritis, the leading role is played by the presence of a history of tuberculosis, dysentery, hepatitis, granulomatosis, influenza, measles, mumps, scarlet fever, tonsillitis and chronic tonsillitis, borreliosis, Reiter's syndrome and sexually transmitted diseases.

In children, vaccination can play the role of a provoking factor.

Classification of types of arthritis

Types of arthritis are classified according to the causes of the disease:

• infectious;
• rheumatoid;
• exchange (impaired salt balance and accumulation of salts in the joint area);
• post-traumatic;
• secondary or systemic (allergies, immune pathologies).

Depending on the type of disease, symptoms include:

• general decrease in well-being;
• irreversible changes in the size and shape of the fingers;
• seals caused by inflammation;
• places of accumulation of salts in the bag of a shrunken joint, characterized by sharp pain when touched (photo 2);
• hard nodes of Heberden - pathological growth of the bone.

There are many varieties of this disease. The most common types of arthritis in the hands are:

Stages of development of hand arthritis

Arthritis can be chronic or acute. Chronic arthritis can take years to develop and present with mild pain and stiffness. Sometimes arthritis becomes severe. Then the joint becomes inflamed, the body temperature rises, the joints hurt and increase.

There are several stages of the disease.

A feature of arthritis is its symmetry. If changes began to occur on one hand, then most likely the same thing will happen with the other hand.

There are several stages of arthritis of the arms and hands, which have their own symptoms:

First stage

This stage is characterized by the absence of obvious signs of the disease. However, you should not relax, but you must make every effort so that the disease does not progress.

Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Indeed, over time, when the disease affects the fingers, a person will not be able to perform the simplest actions on his own in order to serve himself.

But since at this stage the patient does not yet experience pain, he does not go to the doctor.

Second stage

At this stage of the disease, bone erosions form, and the signs of arthritis become more pronounced. The joints of the fingers begin to crackle, hurt, swell and redden. The patient is haunted by pain not only in the morning, but also in the daytime. At this stage, people already feel bad and go to the doctor.

Third stage

Arthritis of the fingers is one of the rapidly progressive diseases. Depending on the degree of damage to the joints, four stages of the pathological process are distinguished.

Stages of development and signs of arthritis

The onset of the disease can be determined by signs such as inflammation and swelling of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the index and middle fingers (these joints are located at the base of the fingers), creaking of the joints during movements (crepitus), numbness and tingling in the first three fingers.

As the disease worsens, the joints of the fingers begin to deform, become spindle-shaped, and rheumatoid nodules form on them.

The deformity continues to progress and the fingers are fixed in the wrong curved position. The motor activity of the hands decreases quite quickly. This process is irreversible.

Signs of arthritis of the hands directly depend on how long a person has been sick, in what form (acute or chronic) the disease proceeds. Feeling pain in the joints and swelling over them are the primary symptoms of arthritis of the hands.

Symptoms of the disease

aching pains and the inability to clench your fist are the first signs that should alert

This disease proceeds slowly, but clinical manifestations are constantly growing.

• As the first symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis of the fingers, there is an increase in body temperature, chills, decreased appetite, weight loss, poor sleep, and weakness.
• This is followed by the onset of the disease, which may be acute or subacute. The second option is the most common.

Should alert aching pain in the joints of both hands at once. There is swelling and redness of the joints, stiffness.

It becomes almost impossible to clench your hand into a fist. Pain is not constant, often associated with strong physical exertion.

Usually the pain becomes stronger at night and lasts until the morning, then gradually subsides and may completely disappear in the evening.

• In the morning, the joints are inactive, but gradually, with movement, the stiffness disappears (in the initial stage of the disease), can last several hours (with the second degree) or remain constant with the full development of the disease (third degree).

Due to circulatory disorders, the skin of the hands and wrists becomes pale, becomes thin and dry, muscle atrophy and necrosis around the nail bed may begin.

Recognizing the disease at an early stage is quite difficult. However, with the progression of the disease, the symptoms become more pronounced, which makes it possible to diagnose the disease. You should visit a doctor if you have the following symptoms:

• severe joint pain, which has a dull, aching character, aggravated after a significant load on the joints of the hands;
• swelling of the fingers, the appearance of dense areas in them;
• fingers do not obey well, do not bend, objects often slip out of hands;
• the skin over the joint turns red, looks inflamed;
• both all and one hand joints can become inflamed;
• inflammation of several joints may indicate the infectious origin of the disease, and if the entire arm is affected, then most likely the disease is of an autoimmune nature;
• there is a deformation of the joints, in this case we have to talk about severe damage to the joints of the hands, as a result, the fingers bend in different directions, taking bizarre positions;

This disease proceeds according to the type of polyarthritis, that is, with simultaneous damage to several joints. As a rule, small interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints, radiocarpal joints are symmetrically affected.

In this case, the main symptoms of arthritis of the fingers:

• Aching pain
• Feelings of numbness and tingling
• Swelling in the area of ​​the affected joint
• Here is the reddening of the skin
• Local temperature increase
• Morning stiffness
• Fusiform configuration of affected joints
• Contractures - persistent violations of flexion-extension
• S-shaped articular deformity
• Musculoskeletal atrophy in the area of ​​the affected joints
• Heberden's nodules - bony growths on the border between the middle and nail phalanges of the fingers

The development of articular syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis is preceded by general manifestations in the form of weakness, malaise, weight loss, periodic temperature rises to subfebrile figures.

Rheumatoid arthritis is not limited to joint disorders alone. In severe advanced forms of this disease, pathological changes affect the skin, cardiovascular, respiratory systems, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.

Osteoarthritis, or deforming osteoarthritis of DOA, is a chronic degenerative disease. Rheumatoid arthritis - symptoms and treatment, folk remedies Untimely treatment can lead to aggravation of the condition of inflamed joints as well as to the progression of pain.

The most commonly affected are the knee and hip joints, as well as the joints at the base of the big toes. Salt and canned food are limited, while the proportion of dairy products, fish and seafood is increasing.

At the first stage, a slight narrowing of the interarticular gap is noticeable on radiography. And if at the initial stage the pain syndrome is observed only after an excessive load, then at later stages the pain does not give peace to the patient even during the rest period.

Alternative treatment of arthritis, arthrosis is a fairly common method of treating joint diseases. Choose a wide cabbage leaf, make many small cuts on it.

The main reasons that can cause symptoms of arthritis of the fingers are the mechanical wear of the articular cartilage due to age (due to a slowdown in metabolism, impaired blood supply to the cartilage), as well as injuries (fractures, cracks, bruises) and working conditions, suggesting high motor activity of the hands.

At the second stage, the picture can show a picture of the formation of bone growths around the joint. Lack of nutrition leads to further irreversible consequences.

If arthrosis of the fingers. as well as therapy with folk remedies.

symptoms, treatment and First of all, this is jelly, cooked from the legs, ears, bones of animals - the collagen and gelatin contained in them increase the strength of cartilage tissue and improve blood circulation.

A decoction of birch leaves cleanses the blood and improves metabolic processes in the body. This disease is more typical for people of certain professions - typesetters, seamstresses.

The main clinical manifestations of the disease are swelling and pain. The sooner these diseases are diagnosed, the less irreparable harm they will cause.

Applications or baths with paraffin contribute to the heating of tissues, improve microcirculation, and improve joint mobility. Arthrosis is a gradual age-related deformity of the joints, it develops after 45 years.

They resort to the use of special compresses infused with honey and salt. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic connective tissue disease in which the joints are destroyed.

Ease of movement provides massage oil purchased at the pharmacy.

Whatever the cause of the disease, the symptoms will be the same:

• Painful sensations.
• The appearance of edema, reddening over the diseased joints of the skin.
• The joint increases in size, deforms.
• Joint mobility is impaired.

In this case, the disease can manifest itself in different ways depending on the age of the patient and the stage of the disease. If a person suffers from gout, arthritis develops quickly, with severe pain.

The joint will turn red, temperature. If it is rheumatoid arthritis that develops, the patient will experience difficulty in moving in the morning and after the joint has been inactive for a long time.

The septic variant of the disease is accompanied by a general severe condition, when almost all body systems are affected. If children or people of flowering age fall ill, all the symptoms are much more pronounced than in patients in years.

It should be borne in mind that the disease can affect more than one joint, but several at once (the so-called polyarthritis).

Diagnosis and treatment methods

Hand arthritis is treated by several specialists. The first condition for its effective therapy is competent diagnosis. It is based on laboratory studies of the internal contents of the articular bag. The analysis makes it possible to establish the nature of the disease: infectious or non-infectious.

After the final diagnosis is made, an individual treatment program is drawn up. Arthritis of the hand is treated using drug therapy and therapeutic and preventive measures.

Medical treatment includes:

• painkillers (the doctor selects each individually);
• chondroprotectors (provide protection for the joint and inhibit the synthesis of a destructive enzyme);
• combined preparations (combine several active substances that provide multi-vector therapy).

Topical treatments are used to reduce inflammation and pain:

1. Lubricate places in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bdiseased joints with gels and ointments based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
2. Intra-articular and perifocal administration of glucocorticosteroids.

Non-drug treatments include:

1. Reducing to a minimum the load on the joints.
2. Prevention of factors that provoke the disease.
3. Performing therapeutic gymnastic exercises with a simultaneous visit to the pool.
4. The use of physiotherapy procedures: thermal, ultrasonic, laser-magnetic and acupuncture, massage and hydrotherapy.
5. Rejection of bad habits. Do not abuse coffee drinks.
6. Compliance with a therapeutic diet. Foods with a high content of antioxidants and vitamins D and E, dairy products, fruits and vegetables are introduced into the diet. Foods rich in starch and fats, salty and fried foods are excluded.

In the most advanced forms of arthritis of the hand, surgical methods of treatment are used.

They mean:

1. Joint replacement surgery.
2. Arthrodesis (fixation of the joint in a given position).

A vivid clinical picture of the inflammatory process in the joints of the fingers makes it possible to diagnose arthritis with a high degree of certainty, however, to clarify the etiological form and stage of the disease, a number of additional diagnostic procedures will be required.

Hand Arthritis Treatment

photo scheme of rheumatoid nodes on the fingers

A complete cure is impossible today, but the earlier treatment was started, the more success can be achieved in alleviating the patient's condition, the more likely it is to prevent or slow down rheumatic damage to internal organs and muscles.

Properly selected drugs make it possible to obtain a long-term improvement in the patient's well-being. But the next stress, hypothermia or another reason again leads to an increase in the symptoms of arthritis.

Drug therapy of the disease is aimed at eliminating pain and stiffness in the joints of the hand, at slowing down the current pathological process.

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce inflammation and pain. They can be used already in the early stages of the disease.

The main (basic) drugs with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects are used after an accurate diagnosis.

• Hormone preparations (glucocorticosteroids) are used to support and enhance ongoing therapy or in case of ineffectiveness of other drugs used.
• To remove existing provocateurs of inflammation from the body, procedures such as hemosorption and plasmaphoresis are used.
• Some drugs are applied topically - injected into the cavity of the affected joint.
• Physiotherapy is prescribed - electrophoresis, ultraviolet irradiation, magnetotherapy.

With a particularly pronounced deformity of the joints, surgical treatment is used. During the operation, part of the joint or the entire joint is removed and replaced with a prosthesis.

In each case, the specialist rheumatologist must decide how to treat rheumatoid arthritis of the hands most successfully.

Gymnastics and diet

In addition to these procedures, it is recommended to do therapeutic exercises for the joints and adjust the diet by excluding from it products that provoke the development of the disease - strong broths from meat, fish, mushrooms, marinades, smoked meats, canned food, milk, corn, citrus fruits, oatmeal, coffee and strong tea , too hot or cold food.

It is necessary to ensure a constant supply of protein with food, its amount can even be slightly increased. The amount of animal fats, sugar must be reduced. The presence in the diet of vegetable oils rich in vitamins A, E, C is mandatory.

Regular hand ball exercises for rheumatoid arthritis of the hands will help maintain joint mobility. Knitting, playing musical instruments also contribute to this.

To date, treatment with folk remedies has not lost its significance:

Many patients wonder if treatment is possible, and how to treat arthritis of the hands. To date, arthritis has been successfully treated, but the most important condition for success is a timely visit to the doctor.

Inflammation and cartilage deficiencies can be managed. But when the cartilage has already collapsed, it cannot be restored.

Treatment for finger and wrist joints begins with lifestyle adjustments. Salty, spicy, sweet foods, as well as coffee and carbonated drinks are excluded from the menu.

From spices, you can use turmeric and dry ginger. Fish (herring, sardine, salmon) is recommended for consumption, as it contains collagen, a substance that forms cartilage tissue.

It is also necessary to eat poultry meat. Every day you need to eat fresh vegetables and fruits.

Especially good for joint health are oranges, kiwi and apples. Mandatory is the use of cereals (buckwheat, rice, corn), as well as baked potatoes in their skins.

Dairy products should be included in the daily diet: sour cream, cheese, butter, cottage cheese. As snacks, eat unsalted seeds (pumpkin, sunflower), dried apricots, nuts (walnuts, almonds).

If the arthritis is not in an acute form, then physical exercises are mandatory. The simplest and most effective is the piano exercise.

Sit at the table in a comfortable chair with a back. Place your hand on the surface of the table, relaxing it as much as possible (the elbow should also be on the table).

Perform finger tapping, imagining that you are playing the piano. Movements should be light and not abrupt.

"Play" like this every day for 10 minutes.

Drug treatment of the joints of the hand and wrist includes drugs of various effects. If the arthritis is infectious, then antibiotics (penicillin group) are used.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Ketonal) are used to relieve inflammation. These drugs can also be produced in the form of ointments or gels for topical use (Fastum-gel, Diclofenac).

Restoration of cartilage tissue is possible with the help of chondroprotectors. These drugs promote tissue regeneration and the formation of a new one.

These include "Chondroitin sulfate", "Artra", "Artrodarin". As a rule, treatment with chondroprotectors is long-term.

The results of treatment appear only after 6-12 months.

Massage therapy is one of the best ways to treat arthritis in the fingers and wrist. With the help of massage, blood circulation and metabolic processes in tissues are normalized.

Physiotherapy has the same effect as massage. Wrist joints are treated with ultrasound, heating and acupuncture.

Ultrasound can restore mobility to the fingers, reduce pain and relieve spasms. Electrophoresis is the effect of current on certain parts of the body.

The therapy improves tissue blood supply, has an analgesic and regenerating effect.

For successful treatment of arthritis, you will have to follow some rules:

1. Do not self-medicate. Do not rely in this matter only on traditional medicine and medicinal herbs. Medicinal plants and methods of traditional medicine, no doubt, make a significant contribution to the treatment of arthritis, but only as an aid and only during remission. In addition, any type of treatment must be agreed with a competent specialist, since there are always side effects and contraindications.
2. The load on sore joints should be minimal. If it is impossible to completely exclude it due to professional activities, then at least for the time of exacerbation it is necessary to go on sick leave and give the joints peace. Responsibilities for the household to delegate to close people.
3. Do exercises that improve fine motor skills. They need to be done carefully, slowly and without effort. And only during remissions.
4. All recommendations and prescriptions of the attending physician must be unquestioningly followed.
5. Do not lift heavy objects or weights.
6. Night rest should be complete, at least 8 hours.
7. Stick to the diet prescribed by the doctor.

Medical treatment

Treatment of arthritis of the joints of the fingers involves the use of medications of three main groups:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Glucocorticoids
• Immunosuppressors.

NSAIDs interrupt the complex chain of biochemical reactions leading to the release of biologically active substances, and thereby stop inflammation. This is an extensive group of drugs, including Acetylsalicylic acid, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin.

All these funds can (and should) be used in combination - inside, in injections, and externally in the form of ointments and gels. In addition to anti-inflammatory NSAIDs, they also have an analgesic effect.

True, these drugs are not without side effects, among which are the threat of bleeding, bronchospasm, and a negative effect on the digestive organs.

Another powerful anti-inflammatory group is the glucocorticoids. Unlike NSAIDs, these drugs (Kenalog, Diprospan, Hydrocortisone) can be injected directly into the cavity of the inflamed joint.

As for immunosuppressants, they are classified as basic, i.e. primary treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The bottom line is that immunosuppressants suppress the activity of the immune system, and thereby slow down the course of autoimmune reactions.

This group includes D-penicillamine, Krizanol, Imuran, Methotrexate. By suppressing the immune system, these drugs increase the risk of developing various purulent complications.

Therefore, the feasibility of immunosuppressants in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has recently been debated. However, basic therapy is still a mandatory component of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

The medical strategy for arthritis of the fingers is based on a combination of pathogenetic and symptomatic approaches. During the acute phase of the disease, the main goal is to eliminate inflammation and pain.

In the early stages, a course of analgesics, muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is usually sufficient, and in some cases it is possible to manage with external use of ointments containing cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) blockers, painkillers and vasodilators.

In infectious and reactive arthritis, antibiotics are included in the treatment regimen; in the presence of an allergic component - antihistamines, and in rheumatoid arthritis - immunosuppressors and immunomodulators.

In more severe forms of arthritis, it may be necessary to evacuate the exudate from the joint cavity, followed by the introduction of corticosteroids with a 1% solution of lidocaine or novocaine.

Quick relief brings hemocorrection, carried out in an extracorporeal way - cryoapheresis, leukocytapheresis or cascade filtration of blood plasma.

After achieving remission, the therapeutic strategy focuses on the normalization of trophism and local metabolism in the affected joints, stimulation of regenerative processes in the articular structures and restoration of hand functions.

Individually selected combinations of physiotherapy and exercise therapy accelerate the patient's rehabilitation, helping to return to an active lifestyle as soon as possible.

In the treatment of arthritis of the fingers, the following physiotherapy procedures give a good effect:

• electrophoresis and ultraphonophoresis;
• magnetotherapy;
• treatment with sinusoidal modulated currents;
• diadynamic therapy;
• applications of dimexide and bischofite;
• balneotherapy;
• therapeutic massage of the hands;
• paraffin and mud baths for hands.

With persistent deformities of the joints, conservative treatment is ineffective. In order to prevent the patient from becoming disabled, arthroplasty or arthroplasty is recommended.

Compliance with a diet for arthritis of the fingers helps to prolong remission. During exacerbations, it is necessary to refrain from protein foods - meat products and legumes, as well as salty, fried, fatty and spicy foods, chocolate, muffins, strong tea, coffee, cocoa and alcoholic beverages.

After stopping the inflammatory process, food restrictions become less - it is enough to avoid alcohol and limit the consumption of meat, smoked meats and heavy meals rich in saturated fats and instant carbohydrates.

With gouty arthritis, red meat, offal and smoked meats are also strongly contraindicated. A dairy-vegetarian diet is preferred, with the exception of vegetables and fruits containing solanine.

Eggplant, tomatoes, pumpkin, green onions, sorrel, rhubarb and hot peppers should be consumed as little as possible.

The patient's diet must contain foods high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, easily digestible protein and vitamin C:

• fatty sea fish (tuna, sardines, salmon);
• buckwheat, oatmeal, rice and millet porridge;
• lean poultry meat;
• dairy products;
• fresh apples, apricots and peaches;
• citrus fruits, kiwi and papaya;
• nuts and seeds;
• garlic;
• turmeric;
• ginger root.

Arthritis treatments are designed to address several key challenges.

1. It is necessary to remove or at least reduce inflammation.
2. It is necessary to improve blood circulation and normalize the metabolism in the articular tissues.
3. Eliminate pain.
4. Remove exudate from the joint.
5. Restore the motor activity of the joints.

Complications of rheumatoid arthritis of the hands

This disease affects not only the joints of the fingers, but also the entire body as a whole.

In acute infectious arthritis of the fingers, in the absence of adequate treatment, the risk of developing purulent-septic complications that threaten the patient's life increases.

The protracted course of the disease threatens to turn into an irreversible deformation of the joints of the fingers, which lead to the patient's disability. The most dangerous complications of arthritis of the fingers include osteomyelitis, osteolysis, and bone necrosis, which is often followed by generalized sepsis.

Severe side effects of long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have also been reported. In some patients who received COX-1 inhibitors in injectable and oral form for a long time, cases of gastroduodenitis, enterocolitis and peptic ulcer were observed due to regular irritation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract; nephropathy was somewhat less common.

One of the most common inflammatory diseases affecting the human joints is arthritis of the fingers. It predominates in people who are engaged in small manual labor, or is due to a larger ailment, such as rheumatism. This disease can be very dangerous and lead to irreversible changes, the result of which will be disability.

Causes and symptoms of the disease

Depending on the pathogen that caused arthritis of the fingers, the symptoms that appear may vary. But there are also common signs characteristic of each etiology of the disease:

• increased sensitivity to a sharp change in weather conditions and changes in atmospheric pressure;
• any action performed is accompanied by aching pain, sometimes with tingling or burning;
• a characteristic symptom is a symmetrical lesion of the joints;
• inflammation is indicated by a characteristic creaking that manifests itself when performing any action. This factor is called crepitus;
• profuse swelling of the hands;
• if the inflammatory process is at an early stage, a local increase in temperature in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe focus is noticed. When the disease is advanced, there is an increase in the temperature of the whole body, sometimes accompanied by fever;
• the appearance of seals under the skin;
• reddening of the skin on the knuckles is noticed, sometimes with fever and loss of elasticity;
• changes in the structure and size of the joints.

Arthritis in the hands is often caused by age. The older a person becomes, the worse his metabolism. Therefore, cartilage receives less and less nutrients necessary for normal functioning. The result is mechanical wear of the joints, which leads to inflammation and the development of the disease.

Any of the resulting injuries can become a hotbed of arthritis. Even after a slight bruise, microcracks can form, which are quite capable of becoming a cause for inflammation. This reason is also quite common.

The professional need to keep your hands in constant tension can also cause an illness. Especially often the disease manifests itself in jewelers, seamstresses and tennis players and becomes an occupational disease.

A disruption in the functioning of any organ leads to a failure in the entire system. Thus, an equally common cause of arthritis may be a complication caused by another disease. Often the source is diseases of the bones, respiratory organs, sexually transmitted infections, and even diabetes.

Stages of disease development

There are several stages in the development of the disease, each of which has differences. Depending on the origin, the symptoms may differ from commonly known standards. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common, so the diagnosis is usually guided precisely by its manifestations.

At first, the disease does not progress yet, therefore it is asymptomatic, sometimes being determined only by subtle properties. Minor signs appear, such as stiffness of movement in the morning, after a person has spent a long time without movement. But they are ignored, as they are usually short-lived and pass by themselves. Thus, at the very moment when the disease is at the earliest stage of development and has not yet had time to deform cartilage, people do not pay attention to it.

In the middle stage, the symptoms become more pronounced. Swelling and swelling appear, painful sensations with any movement of the fingers. Possible bone erosion. The stiffness of the hands becomes more noticeable and causes discomfort both in the morning and throughout the day.

The severe stage is a severely advanced disease. Critical damage to the bone structure becomes apparent as the fingers change their normal position and begin to twist. The ache in the hands becomes unbearable, especially in the morning. It becomes difficult to perform elementary actions due to severe stiffness and pain.

The critical stage is characterized by the complete helplessness of the patient. The maximum deformation of the bones and interphalangeal joints occurs, sometimes arthrosis occurs, which affects the cartilage. A person experiences excruciating pain and is unable to perform any action. At this stage of the development of the disease, a person is awarded a disability.

Risk factors

Since the causes of this disease are still being studied, only a few main factors are distinguished. The following are reasoned causes of arthritis:

• hereditary tendency to disease at the genetic level;
• consequences of injuries and operations;
• risk factors related to most diseases - alcohol use, smoking, overweight.
• psychosomatic factor (constant stress).

In order for the doctor to be able to draw up an effective course of treatment, laboratory tests are necessary. Thanks to them, the rheumatologist will be able to determine the causes of arthritis. There is also the International Classification of Diseases, which describes in detail the etymology of diseases. In ICD-10, diseases are assigned a unique code depending on the pathogen and the properties manifested during the course.

The best tool for recognizing the disease at an early stage is magnetic resonance imaging. It shows characteristic rheumatoid nodes. Unlike conventional radiography, it allows you to more accurately determine the disease.

Blood tests are effective. When an arthrosis is affected, a specific protein is released in the patient's blood. Also, sometimes non-specific properties are manifested, by which physicians determine the inflammatory reaction.

Traditional ways of fighting

The main decision will be to immediately contact a rheumatologist when the slightest symptoms of the disease are detected. He will prescribe the necessary laboratory tests to determine the causes, stage of development and features of the disease.

Throughout the course of treatment, it is necessary to limit the active movements of the hands. They must be in a state of complete rest. Depending on the pathogen, drug therapy is prescribed.

According to the decision of the rheumatologist, tablets, gels and ointments are prescribed. If the disease develops as a result of the inflammatory process, drugs are prescribed to relieve inflammation and block pain. To do this, they drink Ibuprofen, Diclofenac and other anti-inflammatory drugs. They are taken orally and by injection.

When arthritis is caused by an infection, doctors may prescribe antibiotics. The choice of a certain medicine should be determined only by a doctor. When gout becomes the causative agent, Allopurinol is widely used.

ethnoscience

1. The first method consists in immersing diseased hands in beeswax or paraffin heated to 60 ° C;
2. Green potato tubers are washed and crushed without peeling. The resulting mass is immersed in hot water and heated to 38 ° C and used as a compress;
3. Before eating, it is advised to use apple cider vinegar in a ratio of 1 tsp. in a glass of boiled water;
4. An equally effective method would be to use fresh birch sap;
5. Helps decoction of elderberry. To do this, use 20 g of inflorescences per 1 liter. water.
6. The method recommended by the doctor of medical sciences Ivan Pavlovich Neumyvakin. For pain in the joints, it is necessary to put compresses with ordinary hydrogen peroxide. The solution is prepared by adding 2 tsp. peroxide in 50 ml. water. The place with a compress should be covered with a towel, scarf or film. After an hour, you need to remove it and treat the place with any hand cream.

Therapeutic exercises for arthritis

To maintain the health of the body, sports and an active lifestyle are necessary. But training usually falls on the development of muscles, and hands are usually forgotten about. Doctors have developed a set of special exercises designed to prevent and combat arthritis.

Clench your hands tightly into a fist, and hold them for several seconds in this state. After unclenching and spreading your fingers as far apart as possible. Repeat the exercise 10-15 times.

Touch the others with your thumb. The exercise should begin with the index finger and end with the little finger. Do at least 10 times.

Without leaning on your palms, put your hands on a flat surface and spread your fingers as far apart as possible. In this case, it is important to strain the brushes. Do at least 5 times.

Wrist trainers are perfect: an expander, Chinese balls or a palm stick. They can be used anywhere: at home, in public transport, on a walk. It is important not to exercise when acute pain occurs, so as not to cause irreparable harm to health.

When it comes to diet, it's best to consult your doctor. But there are products that will not do harm:

• fresh fruits, especially those rich in vitamin C and apples. They have anti-inflammatory properties;
• fatty sea fish;
• unsalted nuts and seeds.
• fights inflammation garlic. But you need to use it in moderation so as not to harm the stomach.

When the disease is contraindicated fried, salty and fatty foods. It is recommended to refrain from alcohol during treatment. Avoid chocolate and cocoa.

No one can completely eliminate the possibility of arthritis. It is easier to prevent the onset of the disease than to treat arthritis of the affected joints and fingers for a long time.

1. It is worth minimizing or completely giving up alcohol and smoking.
2. To live an active lifestyle.
3. Take time to train with hand trainers or do hand gymnastics.
4. Complete the treatment of infectious diseases.
5. Stick to a healthy diet.

These tips are far from new. But they can prevent the occurrence of many diseases, not just arthritis. The main thing is to always follow them.

Joint disease arthritis is very painful and, if allowed to develop, can make a person disabled, completely depriving him of independence. Therefore, it is worth contacting the hospital even at the slightest hint of this disease. At an early level, it will still be possible to fight it, but after the deformation of the bones, doctors will only be able to stop the development. And crippled hands will remain for life.