Finger osteoarthritis, or finger joint arthritis, particularly affects women. Various treatments can help relieve symptoms.
What is finger arthritis?
Schematic diagram difference between healthy joint, arthritis and osteoarthritis. Click to enlarge. Finger osteoarthritis is wear and tear of joint cartilage that is more severe than wear and tear typical of aging. On average, finger osteoarthritis affects ten times more women than men; women are most affected during or after menopause. Finger arthrosis manifests itself, for example, in pain of the finger joints and/or by a palpable nodule formation. Although finger arthrosis can take on different degrees of severity, the degree of severity is not always related to the degree of complaint:
While in some people, for example, even a comparatively mild degree of finger arthrosis leads to severe discomfort, in others there is hardly any discomfort even with a more severe degree of finger arthrosis. A distinction can be made between primary and secondary finger arthrosis; while the causes of primary arthrosis are often unclear, secondary arthrosis is a consequence of certain diseases or malpositions.
Causes
Finger osteoarthritis is usually rooted in cartilage damage to the finger middle and/or finger end joints. Because finger osteoarthritis occurs primarily in women before or during menopause, medical science suspects a connection between primary osteoarthritis and changes in the hormonal balance (such as a decrease in female sex hormones) of affected individuals. In addition, a genetic influence is assumed in primary finger osteoarthritis; joint wear and tear in close relatives presumably increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis oneself. Secondary finger arthrosis can be caused, for example, by gout (crystals are deposited on the finger joints) or various metabolic disorders. Diseases that lead to bone changes (such as osteoporosis or bone loss) can also result in finger arthrosis. Furthermore, joint malpositions (e.g. due to accidents or already congenital) can cause finger arthrosis. Arthrosis is also favored by factors such as constant joint overload or lack of exercise.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Osteoarthritis in the finger joints is very painful and usually develops over many years. Usually, the disease begins between the ages of 40 and 50, but is hardly noticed in the first few years. A first sign of possible arthrosis can be the slow thickening of the finger joints. Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease that can only be slowed down by constant therapy and applications. However, most people do not treat their osteoarthritis. Most often, the pain caused by osteoarthritis begins during the cold winter months. Sufferers notice that their fingers are suddenly less mobile and that the joints often ache. Swelling of the joints is visible. Rings should be taken off now while it is still possible to prevent circulation problems later. As osteoarthritis becomes more pronounced, not only does the mobility of the finger joints decrease, but also the strength of the fingers themselves. Large loads are often no longer possible, and the fingers already hurt during normal housework or kitchen activities. Especially cutting with a knife becomes more difficult. Characteristic for finger joint arthrosis is a stiffening of the joints after the night’s rest. Although sparing is advisable, light exercise and finger gymnastics can help the joints remain elastic and mobile for longer.
Diagnosis
To diagnose finger osteoarthritis, a patient interview usually takes place first; here, for example, the attending physician asks about existing symptoms (such as occasional swelling or overheating of the finger joints) and any family history of osteoarthritis. During a subsequent physical examination, finger mobility is often tested. Finally, X-ray examinations can reveal typical joint changes associated with finger osteoarthritis.
Complications
The course of finger osteoarthritis is usually gradual.In many cases, incipient finger arthrosis does not yet lead to symptoms (in medicine, this is also referred to as silent arthrosis) and therefore often remains undetected at first. As the disease progresses, the first symptoms may then appear; when and whether this occurs varies greatly from individual to individual. Untreated finger arthrosis leads to deformities and can result in permanent paralysis of the fingers. Initially, there are small lumps on the front joints, which do not necessarily have to be painful. Later, they are permanently reddened and painful inflammations form in all joints. At first, fine motor skills diminish and in time will no longer be present. Every movement is associated with great pain. A protective posture develops the consequence of which is a permanent curvature. Affected persons are no longer able to place their hands flat on a surface. The treatment of finger arthrosis will not cure the disease completely. However, it is important in slowing down the progression. With the intake of anti-inflammatory drugs, the pain becomes bearable. However, long-term use can lead to problems in the gastrointestinal tract. Pain or even ulcers often accompany treated finger arthritis. Those who have the nodes at the joints surgically removed will have slender fingers again. There is a likelihood that the nodes will grow again. Since the hands are very sensitive parts of the body with many tendons, the operation is not without controversy. Not every operation is successful and paralysis of individual finger sections may occur.
When should you go to the doctor?
Finger osteoarthritis always needs to be treated by a doctor. Without treatment, it can lead to permanent pain or paralysis that can no longer be easily limited. As a rule, the doctor should be consulted if there is severe pain after an accident or after a blow to the fingers. The fingers themselves are often swollen and the pain can spread to the wrist. Wear and tear of the joints on the fingers can also indicate finger arthritis and should always be examined. The fingers can only be moved to a limited extent, resulting in considerable restrictions in the patient’s everyday life. If the complaints occur after an accident, an emergency doctor can be called directly or the hospital can be visited. In the case of minor complaints, the general practitioner or an orthopedist should be consulted. In most cases, finger arthrosis can be treated well if treatment is started at an early stage. There is usually a positive course of the disease. A doctor should also be consulted at an early stage if other arthrosis diseases are already known in the family.
Treatment and therapy
In the treatment of secondary finger osteoarthritis, an important aspect is the therapy of the corresponding underlying disease or finger deformity. Such therapy can also have a positive effect on finger osteoarthritis. In most cases, however, finger arthrosis is primary, so that treatment of the cause is not possible here. An important therapeutic goal is therefore to combat acute pain or impairment associated with finger arthrosis: When symptoms first appear, physicians often advise avoiding overexertion of the joints and taking to heart techniques (such as the use of grip reinforcements) that protect the joints in everyday life. For acute pain in finger osteoarthritis, pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory ointments/creams can be helpful; if the active ingredients are administered with the aid of ultrasound, for example, they can penetrate deeper into the skin. For more severe symptoms of finger osteoarthritis, stimulation current treatments that promote blood circulation can be an alternative. In cases of severe disease progression, surgical interventions are possible after detailed medical consultations. For example, pain-conducting nerve fibers can be cut to reduce pain. If such a procedure does not make sense in the individual case, complaints of finger arthrosis can also be countered with joint prostheses.
Outlook and prognosis
Osteoarthritis in the finger joints develops in most cases after the age of 40. This is an age-related wear and tear that can only be treated to a very limited extent. Thus, the prognosis and prospect for a complete cure does not look very good.The course of the disease is very much dependent on whether the affected person has recourse to medical and drug treatment. If such treatment is resorted to, then the symptoms that occur can be significantly alleviated. However, a complete cure is usually no longer possible. People who suffer from finger osteoarthritis usually have to live with pain in the joints. However, those who opt for treatment by a doctor can significantly alleviate possible discomfort and make the entire course of the disease more pleasant. Those who forgo such treatment altogether must reckon with considerable complications. The prospect of an improvement in the general condition deteriorates significantly. In particularly severe cases, there is a considerable restriction of movement of the entire hand. Only by early treatment by an appropriate physician, the prognosis can be positively influenced.
Prevention
Primary finger osteoarthritis can be prevented to a limited extent by factors such as avoiding frequent joint overuse. Secondary finger osteoarthritis can be prevented in some cases by treating possible underlying diseases of osteoarthritis early and consistently. If finger arthrosis is already present, symptom exacerbation can be counteracted, for example, by using hand movements that are gentle on the joints.
Aftercare
In the case of finger osteoarthritis, there are hardly any aftercare measures available to the patient. In this case, the disease must first be treated completely to prevent further complications or other complaints. For this reason, the focus is on early diagnosis and treatment of this disease to avoid further complications. The earlier the finger arthrosis is detected, the better the further course of the disease usually is. In most cases, the affected person should rest and take it easy on his finger joints when suffering from finger arthrosis. Therefore, no strenuous activities should be performed with the fingers, and the fingers should not be unnecessarily stressed. In some cases, it may also be necessary to take painkillers, although the affected person must take care not to take them for a long period of time. In cases of doubt, it is advisable to consult a doctor. If the symptoms of finger arthrosis occur permanently and do not disappear again on their own, a new examination by a doctor must be carried out in any case. The use of ointments and creams can also alleviate the symptoms. In most cases, finger osteoarthritis does not reduce the life expectancy of the affected person.
What you can do yourself
Finger osteoarthritis is a chronic disease. Nevertheless, its symptoms can be mitigated. Especially in the early stages, the progression of the disease can be delayed with the help of targeted hand therapy. The focus here should be on proper finger strain. Accordingly, it is not important to relieve the fingers, but instead to promote them through targeted stress. Accordingly, special exercises for hands and fingers are recommended. Affected persons should therefore train explicit mobilization exercises. Accordingly, the thumb is bent down to the little finger in several intervals and then bent up again. In this way, the saddle joint is strengthened. In addition, an O should first be formed from the thumb and the index finger. Subsequently, a 0 is formed from each finger and the thumb. In addition, the fingers must be stretched similar to a fan and then spread. In addition to these mobilization – affected persons can also perform gentle strengthening exercises. Accordingly, the hand can be rolled out on a cup, for example. The fingers must be kept straight in the course of this. In addition, patients should, for example, perform kneading movements with a household sponge or a small ball. Five minutes of appropriate exercise should be performed daily. If acute pain occurs as a result of an arthritis flare-up, it can be relieved with the help of cold applications. In this case, cold cottage cheese compresses or cold packs can help to improve the pain. In addition, attention should be paid to a diet rich in vitamins and fiber. It is advisable to limit the consumption of sausages and meat products, as these promote inflammatory processes in the body. In addition, omega-3-containing vegetable oils such as virgin hemp or linseed oil should be consumed.These have high levels of this powerful anti-inflammatory fatty acid.
