Polyarthritis of the fingers - symptoms and treatment

A common multiple inflammatory disease of the joints of the hands, in which interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints are affected, is called polyarthritis of the fingers.

As a result, the hand can not fully function and perform the function specified by nature.

Predisposing factors to the onset of the disease are due to the peculiarities of the anatomical location and structure of the hand brushes. The small size of the brush is devoid of large muscle massifs and is distal (distant) from the trunk.

When the pathological effect occurs, there is a violation of the blood supply and innervation of the hand, which leads to inflammatory changes in the joints.Polyarthritis of the fingers occurs in people of different age categories and does not depend on gender and social status, but more often in women.

What is the cause of the disease?

The causes of polyarthritis of the fingers depend on the nature and characteristics of the symptoms.

The disease can be caused by:

• injuries,
• continuous loads,
• metabolic disease,
• age changes,
• a violation of the balance of hormones in the body,
• a different kind of allergy.

The provoking factor in the onset of the disease is autoimmune, infectious lesions (scarlet fever, venereal diseases, influenza), impaired renal and hepatic function.

As a consequence, the body accumulates toxic products, their deposition in the joints of the hands.

Types and stages of the disease

Usually the disease begins with the defeat of several joints, gradually progressing to others.

There are three stages of polyarthritis of the fingers:

1. Whenfirst stageDiseases of the fingers are not noticeable, pain, aching sensations appear with prolonged holding of the objects with the fingers, discomfort, slight stiffness of the hands.
2. The second stageaccompanied by the appearance of nodules on the joints, increased pain not associated with the load, signs of deformation, protrusion into the sides and thickening of the fingers are visible.
3. In the absence of treatment, inthe third stagediseases of the fingers flex, joints are deformed, large knots are visible, sharp saline osteophytes are noted, which can break through the skin.

Depending on the causes that lead to the disease, these types of polyarthritis are distinguished:

1. Rheumatoid- as a result, the body itself produces antibodies against its connective tissue. It affects several joints on the fingers and can provoke the inflammatory process in others. In this case, the process of the disease involves vessels, heart, kidneys.
2. Infectious. The cause of infectious polyarthritis is the introduction into the body of a bacterial, viral or fungal infection in sepsis, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, syphilis.
3. Exchange(pseudotografichesky, microcrystalline) develops due to imbalance of human metabolic processes in the body. Contribute to the onset of the disease crystals of salts, which are deposited in joint capsules and contribute to injury of the synovial membrane. The cause is phenylketonuria, gout, impaired salt metabolism, systemic diseases (sepsis, lupus erythematosus, autoimmune conditions).
4. Post-traumaticpolyarthritis occurs after joint injuries, bruises, regular effects of vibration, stereotyped movements. Damage is formed at the level of ligaments, tendons, articular capsules.
5. SecondaryPolyarthritis occurs as a complication of Bekhterev's disease, Reiter's disease, psoriasis and other diseases.

How is the disease manifested?

The disease is chronic with periodic stages of exacerbation and remission.

Clinically, the polyarthritis of the fingers of any kind is manifested by the following symptoms:

1. Arthralgia (pain) of the aching, twitching nature, expressed even in calmness, giving in the wrist and a brush that strengthens in the stage of exacerbation. Can be as in separate joints, and at once in all.
2. Increase in volume and change in the configuration of the joints due to the accumulation of exudate (fluid) in their cavity.
3. Restriction of flexion of fingers, more often after rest.
4. Numbness, stiffness, tingling, lowering, and then complete absence of movement in the joints (ankylosis).
5. A variety of skin manifestations: edema, redness, in the area of ​​lesions the appearance of Geberden's nodules, dry skin.
6. Deformation and deflection of the fingers in the outer side, which is a sign of subluxation and muscle atrophy.
7. Decrease or lack of ability to hold objects, weakness in fingers.

At the end of time, the disease progresses and leads to atrophy of the periarticular muscles, damage to the nerve fibers, are involved in the inflammation of the tendon, which leads to deformation of the hands.

Common types of treatment

The tactics of fighting the disease completely depends on the problem that caused the disease and from its stage. It is carried out in a complex, rather long course.

At the very beginning of the disease, physiotherapeutic methods and medications are effective. In advanced cases of the disease, therapeutic measures are aimed at reducing the manifestation of symptoms.

Physiotherapeutic proceduresallow improving blood circulation, as well as promote active metabolism and in the joint, remove swelling, eliminate arthralgia, reduce the inflammatory process, restore cells of cartilaginous tissue.

One or more methods are prescribed: mud therapy, magnetotherapy, paraffin, ultrasound, ozocerite.

Antibioticsare prescribed to treat polyarthritis of the fingers, which has an infectious etiology. They use: cefpyr, ceftazim, levorin, sizomycin, sumamed.

Corticosteroidsthey are used in the form of intra-articular injections, this approach for a long time produces an anesthetic effect. Widely used nimesulid, diprospan, flosteron.

Chondroprotectorsare used to regenerate damaged cartilage tissue. Applied: chondroitin sulfate, aflutop, hyaluronic acid, rumalon.

Cytotoxic agents- drugs that affect the intracellular metabolism. Used in the treatment: azathioprine, dipin, methotrexane.

Immunosuppressive drugsare used to suppress or eliminate allergic symptoms, increase the anti-inflammatory effect. Provide such an action clobetasol, methylprednisolone, fluocinonide, prednisolone.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsaceclofenac, tenoxicam, celecoxib, fenoprofen, rofecoxib is used in injections, ointments, gels and tablets, which allows to reduce pain and swelling, to remove inflammation.

Also appointantirheumatic drugs.

Dietotherapy- increased supply of the body with vitamins, nutrients, reduced consumption of fat in the diet.

To ease the pain syndrome, improve blood circulation, strengthen the bone tissue, enhance the drug effect, various methods folk medicine - ointment from the juice of celandine and Vaseline, tincture of sophora inside, for lotions use herb spores, leaves of sage, plantain, fern.

Preventive actions

It is not possible to completely exclude the causes of the onset of the disease.

But it is necessary to observe precautions that will help keep your fingers healthy:

• Avoid injuries and do not put hands on the load;
• timely and correctly treat infectious diseases;
• Healthy food;
• avoid excessive hypothermia;
• take a course of sanatorium treatment.

Modern methods of treatment suspend the development of the disease and contribute to the prevention of deformation.