Introduction
Pain in the finger joint can have many different causes. The pain can be the result of a traumatic injury or it can be of chronic origin. To have pain in the finger joint, the bone does not necessarily have to be affected. Depending on the age group, different injuries are predominant.
Causes
The causes of pain in the finger joint can have different causes. Pain in the finger joints can be caused by injuries during sports. For example, by overstretching the capsule apparatus surrounding the finger joint.
The finger joint is then often swollen and overheated. For similar reasons, the finger may even break near the joint, which is also expressed as pain. The first, stabbing pain is followed by a dark, long pain, which is often perceived as dull.
The stabbing pain can revive again and again as soon as the injured finger joint is touched. Apart from the traumatic events, chronic diseases that affect the whole body can also trigger pain in the finger joint. One of these diseases is rheumatoid arthritis, where an autoimmune reaction causes inflammation in the joints.
A further cause of pain in the finger joints can be arthrosis, which, due to degenerative changes, especially in old age, leads to conversion and degradation processes in the finger joints, thus triggering pain. The so-called Raynaud’s syndrome can cause pain in the fingers, but the joints are not directly affected. In most cases, the painful fading of the fingers occurs first after exposure to strong cold.
In the further course of the disease, the fingers become bluish because of a lack of oxygen in the fingers. Possibly, but not always, the fingers then turn red. This is due to the fact that the fingers are now increasingly supplied with blood to ensure a sufficient supply of oxygen.
Raynaud’s syndrome can occur without a known cause, but it can also occur as a side effect of other diseases such as vascular inflammation (vasculitis) or as a side effect of drugs such as beta blockers. Another cause of painful finger joints can be the so-called Dupuytren’s disease. Due to an unknown cause, a tendon plexus in the palm (palmar aponeurosis) grows, resulting in an increased contracture of the flexor muscles of the fingers.
This often occurs on both hands. The contracture causes pain, and the movement of the fingers is also restricted. Sudeck’s disease can rarely occur after trauma to the hand.
For example, pain continues to occur after a fracture, even though the healing process has been completed. There is no evidence of nerve damage, but there is still severe pain, hypersensitivity in the affected area and restricted mobility. If the pain continues after trauma to the fingers or hand after healing, a doctor should be consulted who can relieve the pain with painkiller therapy.
Falling with blunt force on the fingers can injure structures in the hand. Primarily the joint capsules, tendons and bones of the finger joints are often affected. If the finger is visibly malaligned, there is a high probability of a fracture.
If the finger is severely overextended, the tendons and the joint capsule may be pulled or torn. Immediate immobilization, elevation, compression and cooling are the first therapeutic steps after a fall. If the joints are put under too much strain, pain can occur.
Whether the joint is directly affected or the surrounding tissue such as ligaments and tendons cannot usually be differentiated. Overloading is manifested in the affected joints by pain, swelling, restricted movement, stiffness or sensitivity to touch. Arthrosis can also cause pain in the joints when overloaded.
Therefore, a doctor should be consulted if pain in the joints occurs during movement, so that arthrosis can be ruled out. Pain that is particularly severe in the morning and after long periods of inactivity is a sign of chronic joint disease. The most common causes of morning pain are arthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Typically, those affected describe a feeling of stiffness in the finger joint. This is accompanied by slight pain when trying to move. In addition, there is a lack of strength and long-term unsightly, externally visible changes in the finger joints.The finger end joints are very often affected by arthrosis, more rarely the basic joints.
It is a chronic disease that can begin in adolescence. It cannot be cured and is difficult to treat. At best, a progression of the disease can be stopped.
In the course of the disease, the entire cartilage of the joint and the joint surfaces is broken down. Since the cartilage is insensitive, the arthrosis is often only noticed when the bones rub against each other. Sometimes the disease can become so severe that it is no longer possible to close the fist in the morning after getting up.
It takes up to an hour in the morning until the fingers can be moved to a certain extent. Very typical is the painful handshake in the morning. This is often a torture for those affected.
Pain in the finger joints during the night often occurs with a late form of arthrosis. This is a non-inflammatory disease of the joint cartilage. Arthrosis often occurs in older patients as a sign of wear and tear or when the joints are severely overstressed.
Joint malpositions favour the development of arthrosis. In addition to the finger joints, all other joints in the body – for example the hip or knee joint – can also be affected. In the case of late arthrosis, movement is often also restricted so that the fingers can no longer be fully extended or bent.
Patients in this stage are often already undergoing treatment. If this is not the case, a specialist (rheumatologist) should be consulted. Heavy water retention can occur during pregnancy.
Therefore joints can also hurt here. Especially at night the complaints occur when the body is at rest, the joints are not moved and the metabolism is down. The water is transported away more slowly and can cause increased pain.
The thyroid gland can also be responsible for joint pain in case of a functional disorder. If the thyroid gland cannot produce enough hormones, this is called hypothyroidism. The lack of hormones can lead to early joint degeneration.
In addition, cartilage calcifications can develop. The symptoms of the joints are then similar to those of arthrosis. Other symptoms that can indicate an underactive thyroid are weight gain, a feeling of cold, fatigue, water retention and aching limbs.
Gout is a very painful disease of the fingers and toes. The gout occurs mostly in acute attacks. It is a deposit of small crystals that form in the blood from uric acid.
Everyone has certain amounts of uric acid in the blood, since uric acid is a decomposition product of various molecules, including human DNA. The acid is normally dissolved in the blood and is not dangerous as long as a certain amount is not exceeded. The amount of uric acid in human blood can increase due to the body’s misregulation or due to incorrect nutrition.
The symptoms of an acute attack of gout are typical symptoms of inflammation. Severe pain in the finger joint occurs together with redness, limited mobility, overheating and swelling in the joint. The uric acid level can rise due to foods such as legumes, certain types of meat and alcohol.
Initially, the level can be lowered by a change in diet, but under certain circumstances the drug “Allopurinol” may have to be prescribed. Rheumatism is often chronic and painful changes in the bones and joints. Rheumatic diseases of the joints in particular often affect the finger joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is often found in the joints. It is an acute, non-infectious inflammation of the joints, which often affects several joints simultaneously. One speaks of polyarthritis when more than 5 joints are affected.
Arthritic changes in the finger joints are also common, especially in older people. This is also a rheumatic disease. It is accompanied by many years of wear and tear of the joint cartilage, which in the long term leads to a painful degeneration of the joint.
Various forms of arthrosis can be found in the finger joints. They differ mainly in their causes and accompanying symptoms. The duration of the development also plays a role.
Heberden’s arthrosis occurs apparently without a precise cause, which is called “idiopathic”. It is suspected that genetic factors may have an influence. It develops slowly and steadily and in its pronounced form is found almost only in old age, for example in women after menopause.For inexplicable reasons, the cartilage of the joints near the fingertips perishes without being inflamed.
Bouchard arthrosis is less common than Heberden arthrosis. Its development is very similar and also unexplained. It often develops at the finger joints, which are located closer to the carpus.
Often several joints are affected simultaneously, which is why it is also called “finger polyarthrosis”. Psoriasis is the skin disease “psoriasis”. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes typical redness and psoriasis on the skin.
However, psoriasis, as a so-called “systemic disease”, can also cause numerous other accompanying diseases. Among other things, it can affect the joints as psoriatic arthritis and cause joint inflammation. Typically, the end and middle joints of the fingers and toes are affected, more rarely the spine or knees.
In addition, tendons, muscles, ligaments and cartilage of the wrists, hands and fingers can be affected and cause considerable pain. Furthermore, there are restrictions in movement and, in the long term, stiffness and cartilage wear and tear of the fingers. Pain in the finger joints, which is aggravated by cold, is very typical of rheumatic diseases.
In cold seasons, affected persons not only have to struggle with pain, but also with increased movement restrictions and stiffening of the joints. Another, but very rare disease is Raynaud’s syndrome. It must be taken into consideration when pain is acutely felt in the fingers when it is cold.
This is a vascular disease in which involuntary contractions and spasms of the blood vessels occur. This clinical picture can be triggered acutely in cold weather, whereby the blood supply to the fingers is interrupted for short intervals. Swelling is an increased accumulation of fluid in the tissue or joint cavity.
The fluid can be a simple increase in the synovial fluid but also blood or pus. An effusion with an externally visible swelling indicates an acute event in the finger, such as active bleeding, inflammation or irritation. The swelling is only an accompanying symptom, can cause additional pain and even delay healing.
However, injuries or inflammation of the finger need not necessarily result in swelling. Injuries and damage can also occur when there is no visible swelling. In order to prevent swelling, the finger should be cooled, protected and stored high.
This can prevent minor bleeding and inflammation, which can also reduce the swelling. The time of menopause brings many hormone changes in the body. Before the menopause, the increased oestrogen largely protects against symptoms such as gout.
After menopause, gout may be more common. Gout is a metabolic disease that is associated with inflammation of the joints. On the other hand, rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or arthrosis also often occur after the menopause.
The exact reason for the development of these diseases is not known, but the estrogen also has an influence on the formation of the synovial fluid. If this decreases, the joints suffer more from every single movement. Pressure-related pain is felt mainly in acute injuries and in the healing processes.
An injury or inflammation leads to an accumulation of inflammatory cells around the affected area. Blood circulation is increased at this site and the inflammatory cells cause a significant sensitization of the pain receptors of the finger. Even slight pressure from outside can irritate the receptors to such an extent that a stabbing pain develops.
The bruising of the bone can also be accompanied by swelling and severe pressure-related pain. In many cases, the therapy consists merely of pain reduction and waiting. It is different with fractures.
These are also accompanied by pressure-dependent pain, but often require further therapy, for example immobilization. MS is an inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the insulation of the nerves is destroyed. The disease often begins intermittently with visual disturbances and sensitivity disorders.
Regions of the body that are far away from the trunk are particularly early affected. For this reason, tingling, paralysis and pain can occur early on, especially in the feet and hands. Cramps of the musculature can also cause additional pain in the finger joints.
In the body there is a balance of acids and bases.In different areas there must be different equilibria for the physiological processes of the body to take place. These are measured as pH value. The blood has an average pH value of 7.4, whereas the stomach has a very low and therefore very acidic pH value of 1.
If this pH value shifts below 7.4, symptoms can develop in the joints. Maintaining this pH value is vital, as many body processes depend on it, which is why there are numerous natural buffer systems in the body that maintain this value. It is not possible to change this value significantly through behavior and nutrition and over-acidify the body.
However, the body’s own uric acid, which circulates in the blood, can be influenced by diet and behavior. An increase in uric acid does not lead to an overacidification of the tissue, but small crystals of uric acid can be deposited in the joints and lead to the clinical picture of “gout”. This can also occur in the finger joints and lead to very painful attacks.
Rheumatism, for example, can be aggravated by a sinking pH value. The joint capsule plays an important role in joint function. It completely surrounds the joint with an inner and outer layer.
Additional ligaments in the capsule stabilize and protect the joint. Inside the capsule, a lubricating fluid is produced which lubricates the joint space. If the capsule tears, the function of the joint is usually also partially restricted.
Often, important tendons and ligament structures that can move the joint are also torn. In addition, a capsule tear is very painful in most cases. Pain in the fingers after drinking alcohol does not necessarily have to be a connection between the two facts.
However, if it is noticeable that a stabbing pain in the finger joint always begins after only a few glasses of alcohol, this can be a first indication of gout. Alcohol increases uric acid levels and can acutely cause the uric acid level in the blood to rise. Small crystals of uric acid can precipitate in the joint and cause a very painful attack.
This causes the joint to become inflamed and swell. With certain medications, the level can be lowered quickly, so that the symptoms soon subside. A recurring pain after drinking alcohol indicates small latent gout attacks and requires medical clarification.
In the long term, the focus is on a controlled diet to lower uric acid levels. The accompanying symptoms can vary with the cause of the pain in the finger joint. Together they can provide important information for diagnosis in certain combinations.
For example, dull pain after an injury can be accompanied by swelling, redness, overheating and restricted mobility. In the case of bone fractures, malpositions, so-called “luxations” of the fingers may also be noticeable. Chronic complaints can also lead to permanent symptoms such as stiffening.
In case of arthrosis, painful and noisy bending of the fingers is not uncommon. Additionally, nodules may be visible on the finger. In addition, there is an increasing lack of strength and a loss of mobility over time.
Swelling occurs especially after acute injuries. The swelling is caused by an effusion of fluid into the surrounding soft tissue. In most cases this is an effusion of blood and lymph.
After trauma, for example, tears in vision, overstretching of the fingers, ruptures of the joint capsule, bruises and fractures of the bones, small tears can occur in the surrounding blood and lymph vessels. The fluid then escapes and pours into the joint cavities, causing swelling and redness. In order to counteract such injury-related swelling, the bleeding must be stopped as quickly as possible by compression and cold.
In other cases, swelling of the fingers can occur due to water retention, so-called “peripheral edema”. This type of swelling is often found in heart patients or old patients. Water leaks from the blood through the vessels into the surrounding tissue.
These effusions can also be stopped and even treated by external compression. With this type of swelling of the joints, an internal cause must first be urgently determined. Pain when bending is a typical symptom of diseases of the finger joints.
Acute, stabbing pain that occurs during movement indicates an acute event, for example an inflammation. After injuries caused by trauma, bending pain is not unusual. For example, the joint swells up after a fracture or bruise of the bone or after an injury to the joint capsule or tendons.The soft tissues around the finger joint fill up tightly with blood and lymph.
This also severely restricts mobility. Any attempt to bend the swollen joint ends in pain. Bending pain is also common in chronic diseases of the finger joints.
In the case of an arthritic change of the finger, the cartilage degradation causes the bones to rub. This is particularly painful when bending the finger. Similar stabbing pain is found in acute inflammation of the joints.
These can occur in the context of rheumatoid arthritis. Typical signs of inflammation are the redness, swelling and pain, but also the limited bending function of the joint. Lumps on the fingers can indicate various diseases of the finger joints.
In many cases, harmless ganglia are found on the fingers. These are fluid-filled blisters that rarely cause symptoms. However, painful causes can also be responsible for the blisters.
Lumps on the finger joints can be a sign of inflammation of the joint. This can occur during a gout attack, arthritis, after injuries or tendonitis. In many cases, the fingers are affected by rheumatic diseases in old age, which can lead to stiffening, restricted movement and knobble formation. Only rarely can tumors develop on the finger joint, which in most cases are benign tissue growths.
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