Finger pain

The term Finger pain is the collective term for all pain in the fingers or in the finger joints, which can have very different causes. In addition to temporary painful injuries that heal again, the main focus is on degenerative changes in the joints and inflammatory processes. A wide range of conservative and alternative treatment options are available for this.

What is finger pain?

The main degenerative disease that leads to finger pain is arthrosis on the finger joints. Arthrosis are initially not visible from the outside; cysts can only appear in the area of ​​the joints at a very advanced stage.

Osteoarthritis of the thumb saddle joint can be particularly painful. The first signs of osteoarthritis are usually restricted mobility, and the typical osteoarthritis pain develops at the same time, which initially appears temporarily after increased movement. A common form of inflammatory processes in the finger joints is the so-called arthritis, which can be caused by poor eating habits, metabolic disorders, infections or other diseases such as Crohn's disease and ankylosing spondylitis.

Genetic predispositions and rheumatic inflammation also play a role in many cases in the onset of the disease. Gout is a special form of arthritis which, in addition to pain, is also noticeable symptomatically in the form of swelling, reddening and heat development in the affected joints.

causes

Typical osteoarthritis pain is caused by worn or physiologically degraded joint surfaces in the joints. In the advanced stages of osteoarthritis, “bone on bone” can rub, which is extremely painful.

Osteoarthritis itself can be caused by congenital or acquired misalignments of the bones in addition to constant overuse. Gout and other forms of arthritis cause pain due to the inflammatory processes in and around the finger joints. Similar pain-causing processes also take place in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, in which autoimmune reactions play a role.

If a ganglion occurs on one of the finger joints, a benign knot formation in the area of ​​a joint capsule or on a tendon sheath, uncomfortable pressure pain is caused when the ganglion presses directly on nerves. Another cause of sore fingers can be pinched nerves at the exit point of certain cervical or thoracic vertebrae.

Diseases with this symptom

• Finger osteoarthritis
• Broken finger
• rheumatism

• Dislocated finger
• gout
• Metabolic disorder

• Tendinitis
• arthrosis
• arthritis

Diagnosis & course

Arthrosis on the finger joints usually develop symptom-free over a period of many years, so that they often go undetected in the initial phase. In addition to typical symptoms such as stress and start-up pain, osteoarthritis can be well diagnosed using x-ray procedures, although the objective radiological findings often do not match the patient's subjective pain perception.

Untreated osteoarthritis gradually leads to persistent pain and hard swellings in the finger joints. In the further course, increasing restrictions of movement set in up to a complete stiffening of the joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually announces itself in the early stages with circulatory disorders of individual fingers, and symptomatic are morning stiffness of the affected joints for more than 60 minutes. If left untreated, the disease leads to deformations of the joints. Symptomatic of rheumatoid arthritis is the simultaneous involvement of all finger joints, so that it is de facto polyarthritis.

Complications

Due to the multitude of possible causes of finger pain, the corresponding complications vary. In the case of osteoarthritis, the function of the fingers worsens up to the point of stiffening accompanied by constant pain without treatment. Surgery carries the risk of infection, bleeding, thrombosis or embolism. It can happen that the prosthesis loosens after a few years and has to be replaced.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the inflamed joints are destroyed and unable to move in a short time without treatment. The inflammation can spread to the spine, muscles, and internal organs. The side effects of treatment with biologicals are infection by suppressing the body's own defense system.

With carpal tunnel syndrome, firm gripping is no longer possible without treatment. Complications after an operation are superficial disturbances in wound healing and infections. Deep infections with the resulting reoperation are rarer. Movement disorders affecting the whole hand are also rare (Sudeck's dystrohia).The risk of injury to the hand nerve from the operation is very low.

In Raynaud's syndrome, the autoimmune disease can also attack the internal organs without treatment. Possible side effects of drug treatment include swelling of the fingers and headache. In Dupuytren's disease, without treatment, finger extension can be impaired by more than 135 degrees. When treated with the enzyme collagenase, side effects such as itching, redness, swelling, pain and torn tendons have been observed. Possible complications during a surgical procedure are: nerve and vascular injuries, problems with wound healing and unfavorable scarring.

When should you go to the doctor?

Many people initially pay little attention to their finger pain. They mostly attribute it to overexertion. That can be fatal later. In the case of finger pain, those affected should not hesitate long to see a doctor. The point is to clarify the cause of the finger pain at an early stage: Is it really "just" due to overexertion? Or is there more to it?

Finger pain can be an expression of a finger disorder. However, they can also indicate another disease that a medical layperson would not think of. The doctor examines whether the finger pain is caused by an illness or whether it is actually due to overuse of the fingers. Both options need to be clarified, and early on. In the first case, the underlying disease is to be treated. In the second case, the patient can be pleased that his finger pain does not have a serious background and that he just has to take it easy in the future.

If finger pain is not an overuse syndrome, a dislocation of the fingers or finger arthrosis is usually responsible for the pain. When making a diagnosis, a doctor also thinks about possible other diseases: gout, rheumatism, osteoporosis, immune diseases and hormonal disorders cause pain in the fingers. In some of the diseases, such as osteoarthritis, pain only occurs at a more advanced stage. The need for treatment is correspondingly urgent.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

The first goal of treatment for finger osteoarthritis is to stop the course of the disease and, if possible, restore the functionality of the joint. Therefore, the joints should be relieved as much as possible and must be fixed with a splint in individual cases, such as with a thumb saddle joint arthrosis.

Further therapy options are heat applications, electrotherapy, ultrasound and physiotherapy as well as laser treatments. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers in the form of creams or gels can be applied directly to the joint. Some doctors also prefer to supply the joints with cortisone and hyaluronic acid.

In exceptional cases, a surgical procedure may be necessary to e.g. B. to use an artificial joint (endoprosthetics). Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is primarily aimed at containing the causative inflammatory processes and relieving pain. Medication with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen and other drugs is therefore recommended.

In parallel, physical therapy can be carried out to maintain the mobility of the joints as much as possible. As a last resort, various surgical intervention options are available, such as B. a minimally invasive arthroscopy or the nuclear medicine procedure radiosynoviorthesis (RSO), in which radionuclides (beta emitters) are injected into the joint.

Outlook & forecast

The outlook for finger pain depends very much on the type and severity of the pain. In most cases, the finger pain is mainly due to excessive strain on the fingers. Here the fingers need rest and have to relax. In these cases, the pain disappears on its own within a few days. Finger pain is also common in old age and is a common phenomenon.

However, if the finger pain persists for a long time and leads to very severe pain that is no longer bearable, a doctor must be consulted. In this case, it may be a chronic disease that requires medical treatment.

In many cases, the pain can be contained with medication, and surgery is often also possible to remove the finger pain. With many chronic diseases, massage and movement of the fingers can also help to avoid finger pain. If the pain is to occur in childhood, treatment by a doctor is essential to prevent consequential damage.

prevention

The most important thing to prevent finger pain caused by osteoarthritis or arthritis is sufficient exercise without being overwhelmed. Another measure to prevent arthritic symptoms is a balanced diet, in which foods that are left as natural as possible, i.e. not industrially processed, are integrated into the menu so that metabolic diseases do not stand a chance. In the case of genetic predisposition, regular laboratory controls are recommended in addition to the above measures.

You can do that yourself

In the case of finger pain, a doctor only needs to be consulted in a few cases. Most of the time, this pain can also be controlled by home remedies. If the finger pain occurs especially after long and strenuous work, the fingers need rest and relaxation. It can take several days for the finger pain to go away completely. During this time, the fingers should not be strained as much as possible to avoid inflammation of the joints and further pain. The finger pain is often a common sore muscles.

If the finger pain persists and does not go away on its own, light massages on the fingers and hand can help. Wearing splints for the hand can also support the fingers in their work and thus relieve them. This does not completely remove the pain, but it can be greatly reduced.

If finger pain only occurs for a short time, pain medication can also be taken. However, these should only be taken temporarily and in no case over a longer period of time as they damage the stomach. If finger pain occurs after an accident or a blow on the finger, a doctor must be consulted. These may be fractures or bruises that require professional treatment.