Many people arthritis finger fingers familiar firsthand. More often it occurs in women. Medical statistics are severe: about a billion suffer from this ailment. However, despair is not necessary - there are treatment options that can save from severe consequences, such as paralysis of the limbs. About the disease and effective methods of struggle - in this article.
What is arthritis
When arthritis inflammation affects the joints. Some of its varieties are becoming more common in the modern world. Such, for example, arthritis of the hands. The number of people with this illness increases because many people work on computers all the time, printing and using the mouse a lot. Because of this, interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints suffer. As a result of arthritis, the cartilage of the joints becomes thinner, the shape of the ligaments changes.
There is such a disease as polyarthritis of the hands, when the inflammation repeatedly affects large and small joints. There are also nodules of Bushard and Geberden. The latter often affect women, especially when it comes to menopause. Geberden's nodule is an early sign of polyarthrosis of the hands. The cause is overload of distal interphalangeal joints due to small work. Bushard's nodules are less common. They arise in those who have Geberden nodules with arthrosis. When the disease does not thicken the soft tissues, and there is a bone build-up.
Arthritis of joints, being an inflammation, arises as a consequence of other diseases. As such a root cause may be infections, problems with metabolism, rheumatism. Arthritis is recognized as a socially important disease, as a result, a person can become disabled, deprived of the opportunity to work, take care of themselves. That's why you can not postpone treatment.
Rheumatoid arthritis of the fingers
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common cause of inflammation of the joints. In this case, the body's immune system begins to act on the connective tissue, causing damage to the cartilage. The joints of the fingers are particularly susceptible to such inflammation. This type of arthritis is characterized by symmetrical damage to the joints of the hands. Starting on one, he will certainly arise on another, and the disease will quickly progress. In this case, the fingers very quickly lose shape and mobility.
It is the most difficult to cure juvenile and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis of finger phalanges. The first type of disease affects children. Often, the deformation of the fingers occurs when the disease recurs, or if it becomes chronic. Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis is difficult for diagnosis, hiding sometimes even in clinical tests. Because of this, patients often turn to specialists when the disease is already started.
First symptoms of
Pelvic-phalangeal joints of the index and middle fingers are swollen under the influence of inflammation. In this case, if the disease manifests itself on one hand, then there will be a second one. Edema can persist for a long time, and even more prolonged may be painful sensations. In the morning hours, the pain worsens. Some compare it to the tooth. In the early stages of the development of arthritis, a slight physical load can reduce pain, but later exercises only strengthen it. In this, the disease differs from arthrosis.
There is reddening of the skin near the joints. Occasionally, fever, sleep problems, loss of energy and loss of appetite are noted. Near the elbows and on the wrists appear, but not always, cones( nodes of Geberden).With the development of the disease, there is deformation of the hands, muscle atrophy, thinning and pallor of the skin on the hands. The fingers become twisted. Waking up in the morning, patients often experience stiffness of the joints, and the hands seem to squeeze tight gloves.
Causes of arthritis
Science can not accurately identify the causes of rheumatoid arthritis. It is only known how the body reacts to it, how inflammation occurs. The most important are genetic factors and ecology. Some DNA markers that are relevant to the immune system significantly increase the likelihood of the disease. However, their presence does not mean that a person will certainly fall ill with arthritis. Viruses and bacteria can cause disease. In women, the trigger can be hormones, and even stress and trauma( then there is post-traumatic arthritis).
Stages of rheumatoid arthritis
The development of the disease increases the deformation of the fingers, worsening the general condition of the person. As a result - the joints will be destroyed, and the mobility of the hands will be lost. Qualified assistance should be provided already in the first stage, which is also an acute period. At this stage, the patient suffers from severe pain and severe inflammation. If the treatment of the disease was started, then in the second stage there will come a remission, the pain will decrease and almost disappear. On the third cartilage break up, there is an erasure of bone tissue, and the joint is destroyed.
How to treat arthritis on the fingers
Currently, there is no drug that can cure rheumatoid arthritis. For this reason, the main efforts of therapists are aimed at providing a long-term remission. There are many effective ways of how to remove acute manifestations of the disease. Already at the very beginning of the disease, there is a risk of irreversible damage. Therefore, it is necessary to take up the treatment of arthritis of the fingers in time to stop the possible destruction of the joints.
Drug treatment
Often the doctor prescribes basic modifying agents whose purpose is to slow the inflammatory process. If it does not help, then modifiers of biological reactions are assigned. These drugs have the basis of a molecule or cells of a living organism and are an effective way to stop inflammation. In some cases, they can be combined, pain-relieving analgesics such as acetaminophen, inflammatory corticosteroids and nonsteroidal drugs of similar action are added to them.
Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with folk remedies and nutrition
Tablets are not the only way out. There are also folk remedies for pain in the joints, plus a properly selected diet. Often used leeches, compresses, herbs and ointment for treatment. There are many homemade recipes. It helps relieve the pain of a compress made from raw potatoes. You can use a pumpkin, which should be mixed with fir oil and honey. Pouches with heated sea salt warm up the sick joint well. Against the inflammation help squeeze the bandage against the affected area leaves of cabbage, burdock or plantain.
Coniferous infusion will help reduce pain. Sprigs pine mixed with two tablespoons of onion husk, dog rose, one clove of garlic. Then they pour a liter of water, bring to a boil and leave for half an hour on the fire. Day infusion should be infused, after which it is used throughout the day. In the period of remission and with severe pain, baths with coniferous branches can be taken. Among the herbs useful for rheumatoid arthritis are mother-and-stepmother, burdock, nettle, St. John's wort, horse sorrel, hops.
An important and proper diet is also important. Previously, it was assumed that there is a relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and the concentration in the body of vitamin D associated with autoimmune problems. For this reason, it is recommended to monitor its presence in food. Those who are already sick, often recommend a diet with the exception of fatty, sweet and flour. The menu should give preference to fish, dairy products, vegetables, olive oil, in which there is especially a lot of oleic acid. Remove the inflammation will help seafood, flax seeds, fish oil.