Arthritis of the fingers: treatment, causes, symptoms

Arthritis of the fingers, the treatment of which is an urgent problem for middle-aged and elderly people, is a chronic inflammatory process in the joints. Let's look at the causes of this disease and symptoms, as well as preventive measures that will help prevent loss of limb mobility.

Arthritis of the fingers: photos, causes and symptoms

This pathology can affect any joints of the body. However, most often it affects the hands and fingers. Arthritis of the fingers, the treatment of which is complex and costly, causes the cartilage to degrade in the joints. Then the ligaments and the joint capsules themselves are deformed. At a certain point, this process becomes irreversible, the fingers are twisted (how much - you can see in the photo).

The greatest impact on the occurrence of this disease has an infectious factor. Staphylococci and streptococci affect the body of people with low immunity, as well as those who suffer from sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, tuberculosis. They play a key role in the arthritis of the fingers. The causes of this pathology, in addition to the above, are quite numerous. Among them, injuries, bruises of the joints, heredity, autoimmune processes, excess weight, as well as bad habits and constant supercooling of the limbs.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by a symmetrical curvature of the fingers. Inflammation on the fingers of one hand will necessarily manifest itself on the other. Most often, arthritis deforms the metacarpal and interphalangeal joints. The pain is most pronounced in the mornings, it is accompanied by a strong stiffness in the movements, swelling, redness, a slight local increase in temperature. At first, it lasts no more than half an hour in the initial stages of the disease. Then its duration increases, and patients suffer sometimes up to four hours in a row. Arthritis of the fingers, the treatment of which should be prescribed by a doctor-rheumatologist after an appropriate examination, can progress much more slowly if all recommendations and quality therapy are followed. Deformation of the joints is manifested already in the last stages of the disease, and if the matter has not gone so far, it can be prevented.

Arthritis of the fingers: treatment

The patient should take large doses of anti-inflammatory drugs. The exact dosage should appoint a doctor. He must choose an individual form of therapy for each stage of the disease. In an acute period, it is very important to remove severe painful pains. To do this, use non-steroidal and hormonal drugs in the form of ointments, tablets, injections. When identifying the infectious nature of the disease you need to choose a course of antibiotics. During the period of remission, the functions of the affected joints are restored, the immune system is normalized with the help of cystostatics, monoclonal antibodies, physiotherapy (ultrasound, massage, electrophoresis, paraffin therapy). Chondroprotectors are used to strengthen the cartilaginous tissue. Also it is necessary to drink vitamins (especially vitamin E) and not to give increased load to the fingers. If the joint is destroyed, only endoprosthetics will help. As the prevention of arthritis you need to get rid of smoking and the habit of drinking alcohol, and also limit the amount of table salt in food. It is advisable to follow the weight, play sports.