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Arthritis of the hands – This is an inflammatory process localized in the corresponding joints. Arthritis of the hands and fingers is a common disease. According to the latest data, this disease affects every seventh inhabitant of the planet. In most cases, women are affected, almost five times more often than men. Doctors explain this by the fact that women, due to the peculiarities of their professional and household activities, are more often engaged in small manual labor. Arthritis usually affects the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints.
This disease proceeds with inflammatory changes and, as a rule, is secondary, that is, a consequence of an already existing disease. For example, hand arthritis is seen in rheumatic, infectious, and metabolic disorders. The disease is socially significant, as it often leads to the fact that a person loses the ability to work and self-service, becomes disabled.
Symptoms of arthritis in fingers and hands
Symptoms of the disease may vary depending on what caused it.
But at the same time, there are common signs that are characteristic of arthritis of the hands of any etiology:
The pain that a person experiences when performing any action with his hands. At the initial stage of the disease, it may be mild, but as the pathogenesis develops, the discomfort becomes stronger. At first, the pain manifests itself only in the morning hours, after the person has remained motionless for a long time, and disappears after 30 minutes. Often, patients call the pain that occurs in the joints of the fingers, an ache, which clearly indicates its nature. Sometimes it can be accompanied by a burning sensation and tingling;
The response of the joints to the change of weather, as well as to changes in atmospheric pressure;
Stiffness of the hands, inability to move the fingers, this symptom is especially pronounced in the morning, immediately after waking up. The sensation is as if a narrow glove were put on the hand. Often, in order to perform elementary self-service actions, a person needs to first develop brushes and fingers;
The skin on the knuckles and around the affected joints becomes red, hot to the touch, stretched;
Edema and swelling are formed around the joints. This makes the hands look like pillows, the fingers thicken;
Body temperature rises locally – in the place where the diseased joint is located. But sometimes, for example, with infectious or rheumatoid arthritis, the overall body temperature may increase, fever is often observed;
Joints with arthritis of the hands are affected symmetrically;
During the movement of the fingers, a characteristic articular creak can be heard – crepitus. It should not be confused with regular clicks, which are the norm;
Subcutaneous nodules may appear;
Sometimes there is a loss of body weight associated with the inflammatory process occurring in the body, as well as fatigue and weakness. More often, these symptoms are observed in rheumatoid arthritis. Hands become spindle-shaped.
Causes of Hand Arthritis
As the main factors leading to arthritis of the joints of the hands, the following reasons can be distinguished:
Age. The older a person is, the more his joints wear out, the nature of the damage is mechanical. In addition, with age, the metabolism slows down somewhat, nutrients do not enter the cartilage in the proper amount (due to impaired blood circulation). In women, hand arthritis occurs due to the fact that hormonal changes occur in their body during menopause, which negatively affects the state of joint and bone tissues;
One of the most common causes of hand arthritis is a previous injury. It can be bruises, fractures, cracks. They, of course, heal over time, but damage remains on the joints, which, over the years, resemble arthritis;
Working conditions affect the incidence of hand arthritis. So, this pathology is considered an occupational disease of seamstresses, jewelers, tennis players and all other people whose activities are related to the fact that the fingers and hands are in tension all the time;
hereditary predisposition. Scientists have found that if blood relatives suffered from arthritis, then their descendants are also likely to be susceptible to this disease;
Decreased immunity can provoke inflammation of small joints;
Previous infectious disease. Often, damage to the joints of the hand occurs after a person has had a sore throat, the causative agent of which was streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus. Especially often, such complications occur against the background of improper therapy of the disease. But the cause of the development of inflammation can be the usual SARS, as well as hypothermia;
Allergic reactions.
Diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatism, sexually transmitted infections, lupus erythematosus, diabetes, gout, tuberculosis – all this can cause arthritis of the hands and fingers;
Stress should not be ignored as a factor influencing the onset of the disease.
Stages of development of hand arthritis
There are several stages in the development of arthritis of the fingers and hands, each of which has its own symptoms:
The first stage characterized by the fact that there are no obvious signs of the disease. However, knowing what you should pay attention to, you can already at this stage suspect arthritis on your own and consult a doctor. When the disease begins to affect the hands, a person is not able to perform simple actions in the morning – turn on water or gas. At the same time, stiffness passes very quickly, so patients often do not seek medical help;
The second stage characterized by the formation of bone erosion, the signs of the disease become brighter. The joints of the fingers begin to hurt, crunch and swell, a person experiences difficulties not only in the morning, but also in the daytime. Due to the fact that it becomes more difficult to perform professional activities, people at this stage are more likely to see a doctor;
The third stage determined by joint deformity. The hands are always affected symmetrically, the pain in the fingers becomes very severe. Most of all, it torments a person in the morning, the skin turns red, the local temperature rises, movements are constrained. These signs may not go away until the patient takes an anesthetic;
Fourth stage. The articular cartilage grows together, it becomes impossible to move the fingers, even the simplest self-care skills are lost. A person becomes helpless, and he is assigned one of the degrees of disability.
Types of arthritis in fingers and hands
If we turn to the classification, we can count up to 10 varieties of this disease.
The most common types of arthritis in the hands are:
Infectious arthritis is the result of an infection in the joint that can be transmitted through the blood or directly;
Exchange arthritis, which can also be called “gouty”. The reason is the accumulation of uric acid salts near the joints. Occurs most often systemically;
Rheumatoid arthritis. In most cases, it begins precisely with small joints, which include the joints of the fingers. Subsequently, the disease affects the larger joints;
Post-traumatic arthritis is the result of damage to bone tissue and articular cartilage. The inflammatory process is often delayed in time;
Depending on the location of the inflammation, arthritis of the hands can be proximal, middle or distal;
You can meet the name “rizartrit” – this is the definition of arthritis, which struck only the thumb;
Secondary arthritis, which occurs as a reaction of the body to immune disorders, allergic reactions, or to somatic diseases.
Prognosis of the disease
The earlier the disease is detected, and the more strictly the patient adheres to all medical recommendations, the more favorable the prognosis for recovery. Even in the case when it is not possible to recover completely, a person has a stable remission, during which he can fully live and work. Joint mobility will be maintained for a long time. A person may not receive a disability until the end of his life and will serve himself independently, as well as work at any job until retirement. Thus, the prognosis directly depends on the patient himself, or rather on how he will follow medical recommendations.
Hand Arthritis Treatment
Before starting treatment, it is necessary to remember the following rules that will make any therapeutic regimen more effective and make it possible to forget about the disease for a long time:
Forget about self-medication. All, even, it would seem, the most proven methods of treating diseased hand joints must be previously agreed with the doctor;
The load on the sore joints of the fingers should be minimal. If this is not possible due to professional activities, then it is necessary to go on sick leave, at least for the duration of the exacerbation of the disease. Responsibilities for housekeeping should be entrusted to close people as much as possible;
Perform daily exercises that the doctor will definitely recommend. They need to be done competently, effortlessly and only during the period of remission;
All appointments of the attending physician must be unquestioningly fulfilled;
It is forbidden to lift heavy objects, as well as to make sudden movements with your hands;
Rest at night should be complete and be at least 8 hours;
If necessary, you need to purchase special devices that make life easier for people with arthritis;
It is necessary to strictly adhere to the chosen diet, do not take breaks during the holidays;
Every day you need to drink the amount of water that the doctor advises.
Medical treatment for arthritis of the hands
Since hand arthritis most often occurs systemically, and many joints are involved in the pathological process, starting with small ones and ending with large ones, it will not be possible to do without medication. If the therapy is carried out according to the doctor’s prescriptions, then side effects can be minimized. Moreover, modern remedies for the treatment of arthritis are being developed taking into account the latest advances in medicine.
Drug treatment of hand arthritis is carried out using the following drugs:
When the disease is in the acute phase, it is necessary to take NSAIDs. The drugs in this group include diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketonal, ibuklin. They will help to somewhat relieve inflammation and swelling, as well as reduce pain, which will immediately have a beneficial effect on the patient’s well-being;
Means that promote vasodilation. Their intake is necessary in order for the joints to receive nutrition from the blood in the proper volume. It is impossible to ensure this process with constricted vessels. As such drugs, trental, teonikol, actovegin are prescribed. They are available in the form of injections, which are administered intramuscularly or intravenously, at the discretion of the doctor. A single course consists of 10 injections;
If arthritis is bacterial in nature, then its therapy is impossible without the use of systemic antibiotics. It can be penicillins, as well as macrolides;
To optimize the nutrition of the joint, vitamin complexes are prescribed, sometimes they are supplemented with calcium preparations;
If the disease does not respond to the above therapy, then corticosteroids or antimalarials may be prescribed. But doctors try to avoid these drugs, as their action is short-lived, and many side effects can occur;
For external use, a variety of ointments containing NSAIDs are prescribed. It can be fastum-gel, voltaren and others. The advantage of topical treatment is that it does not (unlike tablets) irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
Physiotherapeutic procedures
The need to undergo physiotherapy procedures is dictated by the fact that the treatment of arthritis of the hands should be carried out in a complex. Physiotherapy opens up a lot of opportunities, helps to improve the metabolic process and stop the destructive effect of the disease on the joints.
Ultrasound treatment, electrophoresis, massage, quartz treatment and acupuncture are successfully applied. Since the joints of the hands are in close proximity to the surface of the skin, exposure to them using any of these procedures will be most effective.
Electrophoresis is carried out using a special apparatus. The joint is affected by a current having a different frequency. It improves blood circulation, relieves pain and promotes cartilage regeneration. With the help of electrophoresis, various drugs are delivered to the joint, for example, dimexide, analgin, novocaine, etc.
Electrophoresis cannot be performed if:
A person has an elevated body temperature;
There is a built-in implant that falls under the area of influence;
There are skin diseases.
No less popular in the treatment of hand joints is ultrasound. It helps relieve spasms, restore mobility to the fingers, and reduce pain. However, this method of treatment can be used only when the acute stage of the disease has passed, since exposure to ultrasound affects the degree of vascular permeability. Although this method is highly effective, it also has a number of contraindications, such as menopause, coronary heart disease, dystonia, hypertension and other diseases.
Thus, ultrasound therapy and electrophoresis are considered the most effective for arthritis of the fingers and hands. These are the two most commonly used methods of adjuvant therapy for arthritis of the hands in modern domestic medicine. Although in other countries other methods are followed. So, in China, acupuncture is used to treat arthritis of the hands. However, only complex therapy is able to save a person from pain and inflammation in the joints.
Treatment depending on the stage of the disease
During the acute period, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, as well as painkillers. The form can be any: injections, ointments, tablets. It is selected individually for each patient.
When the period of remission comes, the edema subsides, the pain subsides, and the joint itself is not inflamed, then it is necessary to actively restore the joint and at the same time eliminate the cause of the arthritis. If inflammation began against the background of gout, then purine metabolism in the body should be normalized, which will reduce the level of uric acid. To do this, you must follow a diet. With rheumatoid arthritis, it is necessary to normalize the functioning of the immune system as a whole. It is at the stage of remission that a course of physiotherapy is prescribed.
If the patient asked for help too late, when the fusion of the phalanges of the fingers occurred, then endoprosthesis will need to be performed.
Endoprosthetics of the joints of the fingers
This procedure is effective in the treatment of most joint diseases. But it is prescribed when other methods of therapy do not give the desired effect. Before replacing even a small finger joint with a prosthesis, the patient is fully examined. Each artificial joint is developed individually, taking into account the physiological characteristics of a person.
The task of arthroplasty is to restore the functionality of the hands. After the operation, the person will be able to perform self-care activities. However, this procedure has significant drawbacks – high cost and a long rehabilitation period.
How is finger arthroplasty performed?
An incision is made on the dorsal-lateral surface of the hand, then the joint capsule is opened;
The heads of the bones are removed, in the same way as the phalanges of the fingers, but usually not completely, but partially. The decision is made by the doctor;
The prostheses are installed in the dilated canals.
After a successful operation and a course of rehabilitation, a person will be able to restore the motor activity of the hands and significantly improve the quality of life. Also, he will no longer be tormented by long-term pain that causes arthritis of the hands at the last stage.
However, there are a number of contraindications to the operation of arthroplasty:
Acute or chronic osteomyelitis;
Any skin infections until they are completely cured;
Tuberculosis.
Pathologies of the cardiovascular system (meaning severe forms in which a person cannot endure anesthesia);
Broncho-pulmonary diseases;
Psychoneurological deviations;
Foci of infection until the moment of cure – sinusitis, caries, tonsillitis, otitis media.
If earlier the problem of replacing the native joint with an artificial one could not be resolved due to the fact that the prosthesis was often rejected by the body, now orthopedic surgeons in most cases perform the operation successfully. The joints themselves are made of special materials that have increased strength and at the same time perfectly take root in the human body.
diet for arthritis
There are certain foods that can relieve the symptoms of arthritis. These include:
Marine fish with a high fat content. It can be representatives of the salmon family, tuna, sardines;
Fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C. These are papaya, kiwi, peaches and oranges.;
We should not forget about apples, which contain elements that help relieve inflammation in the joints and restore cartilage tissue;
Nuts and seeds. Preference should be given to almonds. But it is important that the nuts are not salty, since salt in large quantities is prohibited for people with arthritis;
Foods such as ginger and turmeric will not only reduce inflammation but also help reduce pain;
Garlic is great for fighting inflammation. But do not get too carried away with it, as it irritates the stomach. It is better to consume a few cloves of garlic along with the main meal;
Cereals such as millet, buckwheat, oatmeal and rice.
Sometimes doctors insist on the transition of a patient with arthritis of the hands to a completely vegetarian diet. At the same time, the heat treatment of vegetables and fruits should be minimized. It is not necessary to permanently exclude animal products from your diet, you only need to do this for a week until the acute phase of the disease passes. During this time, substances that have a devastating effect on cartilage and bone tissue will have time to get out of the body to some extent.
However, there are products, from the consumption of which it is important to refrain at all times: both during an exacerbation and during remission.
These include:
Hot peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and pumpkin. These vegetables can provoke an attack of pain. Especially if the arthritis of the hands was caused by gout;
All foods containing saturated fats. These include fatty meats and delicacies, offal, margarine baked goods;
Alcoholic drinks;
Chocolate, cocoa, gingerbread, cookies, condensed milk;
Sorrel, rhubarb, spinach and green onions.
For those people who suffer from arthritis of the fingers, certain dietary rules have been developed.
If you stick to them, then the diet will be effective and will definitely have a positive effect:
The daily diet should be divided into 3 main meals and 3 snacks. Thus, it will be possible to regulate the level of sugar in the blood, and, importantly, the level of purine acids, due to which deposits form on the joints of the hands;
You can not consume a large number of foods at a time, as well as starve;
Body weight should be under control. If there are excess kilograms, then they must be reset. But this process must take place under medical supervision;
You need to drink enough water, which the doctor can calculate based on how much a person weighs;
You can drink not only ordinary, but also alkaline mineral water, if there are no contraindications to this.
Gymnastics for arthritis of the hands
There are special exercises aimed at developing sore fingers and hands. But they must be performed during the period of remission and in such a way as not to harm health.
Several effective exercises to restore the functions of the joints of the hands:
Exercise 1. “Fist”. Warm-up, which consists in clenching your hands tightly into a fist. In this case, the thumb should be on top of the other four. You should press them on your fingers and stay in this position for at least half a minute. After that, the fist is unclenched, and the fingers are spread as wide as possible to the sides. It is necessary to do the exercise with both hands synchronously. You need to repeat up to 4 times. An important limitation to the exercise is the occurrence of pain. If discomfort appears, the session must either be completely stopped or the compression intensity reduced;
Exercise 2. “Beads”. Alternately, you need to touch the pads of each of the remaining fingers with your thumb. You should start with the index finger, stopping at the little finger and returning back. Run at least 5 times;
Exercise 3. “Fan”. The palms must be pressed firmly against any flat surface, but without relying on them. Try to strain your hands and spread your fingers as wide as possible. Repeat 5 times, try to perform as if a tight elastic band is put on the fingers, the resistance of which must be overcome;
Exercise 4. “Piano”. The arms remain in the same position as in the previous exercise. In this case, it is necessary to alternately try to raise the finger up, while leaving the adjacent fingers on the table. Do not bend them at the joints. Repeat 3 times for each brush;
Exercise 5.“Pendulum”. To do this, the hands must also be left on the table, the fingers rise alternately upwards, but at the same time they will need to be moved in different directions – twice, and then the same number of times in a circle;
Exercise 6. “Claws”. To do this, you need to leave your hands in the same position, bend and unbend your fingers, pulling them to the palm of your hand. But you need to do it not alternately, but immediately with all five fingers;
Exercise 7. “Pencil”. You need to take a pencil, put it on a flat surface and roll it from your fingertips to the base of your palm. The same exercise must be performed while holding the pencil in a vertical position. It is better if it has ribbed edges rather than a smooth surface;
Exercise 8. “Ball”. The ball must be placed on a flat surface and rolled back and forth with your fingers. You can diversify the exercise by rolling the ball in a circle. It is better if it is a special massage ball with small ribbed spikes. Thus, it will be possible to achieve the effect of massage and improve the blood supply to the hands.
Hand arthritis prevention
No one can completely protect himself from a disease such as arthritis, however, there are preventive measures aimed at reducing the risk of an illness.
To do this, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
Each infectious disease must be cured to the end, without self-medication and in time seeking help from a doctor;
Take vitamin and mineral complexes designed to provide the joints with nutrients in full;
Do sport;
Strengthen the body with the help of hardening procedures, adhere to a healthy lifestyle;
Try to avoid sudden fluctuations in weight, control body weight and get rid of extra pounds in a timely manner;
Eliminate or drastically limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages, get rid of such a bad habit as smoking;
Adjust your diet.