Arthrosis (osteoarthrosis) of small joints of the feet, fingers (hands): symptoms, treatment in St. Petersburg

Bumps on the little fingers and other fingers are a defect that cannot be ignored. And if the process of their formation itself is very easy to miss, then the patient himself can ascertain the fact of their presence. And this is by no means a normal phenomenon.

Sometimes growths on the fingers have extremely serious pathological causes; in other situations, although diseases are to blame, they can be successfully treated. Factors predisposing to the formation of such compactions are injuries.

The causes and treatment of bumps on the fingers are concepts that are closely interrelated. If you do not understand why suspicious lumps appeared, you should not even think about starting therapy. Otherwise, you won’t have to expect anything good from her.

Mechanism of disease development

Arthrosis begins with impaired blood circulation in the subcartilaginous layer of the periosteum.
Because of this, the nutrition of the cartilage deteriorates, it loses its elasticity, becomes thinner, and cracks appear on it. The amount of synovial fluid decreases, due to strong friction, the joints become inflamed. Progressive arthrosis is very dangerous. If treatment for arthrosis of the hand or foot is not started in time, the joints begin to take on unnatural, ugly shapes and may lose mobility.

The disease often occurs in women during menopause. Hormonal levels change in the female body and less estrogen is produced. Because of this, the body loses a lot of moisture, which makes cartilage and joints more brittle.

How to remove a bone tubercle?

In some cases, it is undesirable to remove a small bone tubercle that does not cause any discomfort. If the growth begins to bother, hurt or is aesthetically unpleasant, it can be removed surgically.

Under no circumstances should you try to cope with the disease yourself by squeezing, pressing, hitting, and especially with the help of sharp objects.

Hygroma removal

Surgical removal of hygroma is performed when the tumor is large, rapidly growing, or compresses nerve endings and blood vessels.

The operation is carried out both in a hospital and on an outpatient basis, in a clinic in the operating room of a surgeon.

The surgery itself goes like this:

Local anesthesia is performed.
The limb is bled using a tourniquet.
The tumor is excised with a scalpel, with special attention paid to its base.
The doctor carefully examines the surrounding tissues; if small hygromas are detected, they are isolated and removed.
The cavity is washed and sutured.
The postoperative wound is drained using a strip from a rubber glove.
After surgery, a pressure bandage is applied to the limb and immobilized using a plaster splint.

Kinds

Depending on the location, arthrosis is of two types:

joints of the hands and fingers.
small joints of the foot, big toe.

Arthrosis of the joints of the hands and fingers

Arthrosis of the hands is often found among typists, pianists, programmers, and secretaries. The disease affects the interphalangeal joints. With arthrosis of the fingers, the joint tissues dry out and crack. Subcutaneous small nodules often appear in the joints of the hands. Usually they don't disappear anymore.

As the disease progresses, the bone tissue becomes denser and growths appear on it. They cause severe pain when moving your fingers. In advanced cases, a person loses the ability to move the hand and fingers.

Symptoms of the disease: crunching in the joints when moving the fingers, pain in the fingers after exercise, seals on the joints of the fingers, swelling of the periarticular tissues.

Doctors at the Health Workshop treat arthrosis of the hand using non-surgical methods.

Arthrosis of the foot joints

Ballerinas, dancers, gymnasts, wrestlers, and jumpers are susceptible to arthrosis of the feet. The disease affects the joints of the toes. Bone growths appear on the small joints of the foot. Because of them, it is painful for a person to move his foot. As the disease progresses, the deformation of the joints is very noticeable, the person practically cannot move the foot.

Arthrosis of the big toe is the most common type of arthrosis of the feet. When the disease occurs, a “bone” forms in the area of the thumb joint. Osteoarthritis of the big toe occurs due to wearing tight shoes.

Symptoms of arthrosis of the foot: pain in the foot after physical activity, crunching in the joints when moving, an increase in the size of the joints. When walking, a person limps and rests on the outer edge of the foot.

When treating arthrosis of the foot, doctors at the Health Workshop use laser therapy, magnetic therapy and other methods.

Polyosteoarthrosis of the fingers

Other names for this disease are multiple arthrosis of the joints of the fingers, “knotty fingers.”

Polyosteoarthrosis of the fingers (multiple arthrosis of the joints of the fingers, “knotty fingers”) is a predominantly female disease. And although men also sometimes get it, this fate befalls them about 10 times less often than women.

As a rule, in women, the onset of the disease is directly related to hormonal changes in the body - polyosteoarthrosis usually begins during menopause, at the age of over 40-45 years (people under 40 years old suffer from this disease in extremely rare cases). The heyday of the disease most often occurs at the age of 50-60 years.

Causes of polyosteoarthrosis of the fingers

To date, scientists have not been able to identify any single cause for the development of polyosteoarthrosis. It is assumed that there is a hereditary predisposition - there are families in which several generations of women suffer from polyosteoarthritis of the fingers. Apparently, in these families some unfavorable features of metabolism and the structure of the cartilage tissue of the joints are inherited. And due to the congenital weakness of cartilage tissue in people with a burdened heredity during menopause, the cartilage of the joints begins to degrade, that is, they become inferior.

The degradation of cartilage is that it gradually loses its natural “lubrication” and becomes dry and cracked. From the friction of “dried up” articular cartilage, inflammation develops in the joints and abnormal “inflammatory joint fluid” is produced. It expands the joints from the inside, sometimes causing quite strong pain, while the joints themselves become deformed.

Although the risk of getting arthrosis of the fingers is somewhat higher in those people whose parents or close relatives were (suffer) from polyosteoarthrosis, there are other circumstances (in addition to hereditary predisposition) that contribute to the appearance of this disease. It is quite obvious that polyosteoarthrosis is more common in those people who suffer from metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus or diseases of the endocrine glands (thyroid, parathyroid glands, etc.).

Symptoms of polyosteoarthrosis of the fingers

With polyosteoarthrosis, special nodules appear on the fingers - the so-called Heberden's nodes and Bouchard's nodes .

Heberden's nodes form on the dorsal or lateral surface of those finger joints that are located closer to the nails (on the distal interphalangeal joints). Most often they develop symmetrically, that is, on the right and left hands at the same time and in the same places. Moreover, they can form on any fingers: from thumbs to little fingers. The size of Heberden's nodes can vary from the size of a grain of rice to the size of a small pea.

During the formation of Heberden's nodes, the joints underneath them often become swollen and red. Burning and pain may occur in the joints (but in a third of patients, the formation of Heberden's nodes occurs asymptomatically, without pain or burning).

Approximately half of the patients experience exacerbations at the onset of the disease, and then greasy, throbbing pains appear in the places where nodules form, which decrease after the skin over the vesicle bursts and its contents leak out. If the vesicle does not break through, then the exacerbation continues from several weeks to several months, after which the swelling, redness and pain disappear, and the nodules become dense and almost painless.

Subsequently, as polyosteoarthrosis progresses , the deformation of the finger joints and their stiffness increase. At times, without any apparent reason, exacerbations may occur again with the development of phenomena characteristic of the initial period of the disease - pain or burning appears in the nodules again. Then these exacerbations just as unexpectedly, sometimes even without treatment, subside.

Bouchard's nodules are distinguished by another feature - they most often develop gradually, slowly, without exacerbations. They are formed on the joints of the fingers located a little further from the nails (that is, in the area of the joints located approximately in the middle of the distance between the nails and the base of the fingers).

These nodules cover mainly the lateral surfaces of the joints, causing the fingers to acquire a spindle-shaped shape. Although Bouchard's nodes form more slowly than Heberden's nodes and are less painful, they also aggravate joint stiffness.

Over time, Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes increasingly deform the hand, changing its appearance and leading to what is called "knobby-fingered hands." But for all that, the disease, fortunately, does not change the general condition of the body; The activity of internal organs in polyosteoarthrosis, unlike arthritis, is not affected.

Arthrosis of the joints of the thumb (rhizarthrosis) is often combined with Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes. Rhizarthrosis affects the joint located at the base of the thumb and connecting the metacarpal bone of the thumb to the wrist joint.

Most often, rhizarthrosis develops in people whose profession involves increased stress on the thumb. But it can also develop in those who once injured their thumb or simply overloaded it greatly. For example, I have repeatedly seen rhizarthrosis that arose after summer exercise and even after banal rolling up jars of sauerkraut, mushrooms or jam, especially when the jars were rolled up for several days in a row.

The disease manifests itself as pain at the base of the thumb when moving, as well as stiffness of the joint and a crunching sound in it when moving. In addition, when examining the hand, we can almost always see a deformation of the bones of the diseased joint (in the place where the thumb articulates with the wrist joint), which is clearly visible on an x-ray.

Attention! When faced with pain in the thumb, we must remember that the thumb is the “favorite place” for inflammation in gout and psoriatic arthritis. Therefore, if redness, swelling and severe pain develop in the thumbs, you should immediately consult a doctor who will conduct a differential diagnosis, determining what caused the inflammation - arthrosis or another disease.

Diagnosis of polyosteoarthrosis of the fingers

Diagnosis of polyosteoarthrosis usually does not require any extra effort. As a rule, the diagnosis becomes clear immediately, you just have to look at the patient’s hands. But still, in a number of cases, doctors, in order to prevent a diagnostic error, refer the patient for x-rays of the hands and blood tests - clinical (from a finger) and analysis for rheumatic tests (from a vein ).

With polyosteoarthrosis, the characteristic signs of the disease are clearly visible on x-rays - narrowing of the joint spaces of the affected joints and characteristic deformations of the bones of the affected fingers. In blood tests for polyosteoarthrosis, we usually do not detect any abnormalities; all indicators remain normal.

Attention! If in a patient with arthrosis we find in blood tests taken from a finger or from a vein, some “inflammatory” abnormalities, for example, an increase in ROE, C-reactive protein, seromucoid, etc., we should be wary - after all, arthrosis does not cause any changes in the tests. And if inflammation indicators are elevated, there is a high probability that we are dealing not with arthrosis, but with arthritis. And this is a completely different disease, more serious and complex. Then we need to continue examining the patient until the diagnosis of arthrosis or arthritis is finally confirmed or refuted.

Consequences of polyosteoarthrosis of the fingers

Polyosteoarthrosis of the fingers is not a dangerous disease. Even without proper treatment, polyosteoarthrosis does not produce any consequences other than “knottyness” of the fingers, and timely treatment can minimize this nuisance.

READ MORE:

Treatment of polyosteoarthrosis of the fingers
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Where to buy books by Dr. Evdokimenko

Causes

Arthrosis can be primary and secondary.

Primary arthrosis appears due to problems with the cartilage tissue of the joint, namely:

genetic disorders in the composition of joint cartilage tissue;
joint hypermobility;
dysplasia, flat feet, wide feet.

Secondary arthrosis is the result of joint damage and other diseases. Among its reasons:

injuries, microtraumatization of joints;
acute and chronic arthritis, synovitis;
metabolic disorders, lack of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals;
gout, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis;
diabetes mellitus and other diseases of the endocrine system.

A lump has appeared under the skin

Lumps under the skin on the fingers can appear at different ages - in infants, teenagers, young adults and the elderly. Pathology has various origins. Some of the growths are not dangerous and can go away on their own without any outside intervention. In most cases, they cause only aesthetic discomfort and must be removed if the patient wants to restore the beauty of their hands.

Other formations can cause discomfort: cause pain, disrupt the normal function of the hand, and if the tubercle is a malignant tumor, cause serious health problems and can even lead to death.

That is why you should not delay a visit to the doctor if a cartilaginous, soft tubercle or bone-like density appears under the skin on your fingers.

The reasons for the appearance of cartilaginous growths on the fingers are varied. Most often their role is played by:

Injuries, mechanical damage.
Infections, chronic inflammatory processes in the soft tissues of the hand.
Professional activity (long-term small-motor work).
Hereditary predisposition.
Diabetes mellitus, other endocrinological pathologies.
Arterial hypertension.
Kidney pathologies.
Poor nutrition, abuse of strong tea, coffee, alcohol.

Nervous strain and stress are noted as factors that provoke the appearance and acceleration of growth of subcutaneous tubercles on the fingers.

Bone growths occur when:

Injuries to bones or joints.
Osteomyelitis, arthritis.
Osteoporosis.
Various disorders in the functioning of the endocrine glands.
Chondromatosis.
Syphilis.
Congenital developmental anomalies.

In rare cases, atheromas (caused by blockage of the sebaceous gland duct due to dermatological pathologies, hormone imbalance), boils (inflammation of the hair follicle due to improper care, increased oily skin), and warts may appear on the fingers.

Risk factors

Risk factors for the disease include:

hereditary predisposition;
heavy physical labor, heavy load on the finger joints;
overweight, excessive alcohol consumption;
long-term wearing of uncomfortable tight high-heeled shoes;
sedentary lifestyle;
hypothermia of the feet.

If your work often puts stress on the joints of your fingers and toes, or you have relatives who suffer from arthrosis of small joints, you should think about prevention. We will talk about it at the end of the article.

How to treat eczema on fingers

Comprehensive treatment of eczema between the fingers includes local and systemic therapy. This approach gives the most pronounced and fastest results. The basis of local treatment at the PsorMak clinic is the use of a non-hormonal ointment on a natural basis. It does not cause side effects and has no contraindications, and also has a very simple treatment regimen - a single application per day is enough.

Systemic treatment of eczema between the fingers is aimed at:

to eliminate an allergic reaction;
general strengthening of the immune system;
elimination of diseases that contribute to the development of eczema.

Treatment continues when the exacerbation subsides. During periods of remission, it is aimed at preventing relapses. The patient is assigned to work with a psychotherapist to relieve stress and stabilize the activity of the nervous system. Additionally, general restorative treatment methods are practiced, in particular acupuncture.

Hundreds of patients have already undergone a similar original therapy program at the PsorMak clinic. You can find out about the results of their treatment on the website. Many years of experience allows us to cope with the most difficult clinical cases. To schedule a consultation, use the online form or contact numbers +7 (495) 150-15-14 and.

Stages of arthrosis of small joints

There are three stages of the disease.

The first stage of the disease is accompanied by periodic pain in the joints of the fingers or toes during active movement or work. The pain subsides after rest. The joints may begin to crack, and swelling may form near them.
Second stage of arthrosis. The disease progresses, the pain intensifies and becomes constant. Moving your fingers causes pain. Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes form in the joints. Their appearance is accompanied by burning and pain. After a few months, the redness and swelling disappear, and the nodules become hard.
The third stage of arthrosis of small joints is the most serious. The fingers and toes become deformed and are almost impossible to move. The area around the affected joint becomes red and swollen. Sharp pain in the joints is felt not only when moving, but also at rest. A person walks with difficulty, going up and down stairs becomes a challenge for him.

Symptoms

A synovial cyst is a dense, elastic formation with a smooth surface in the shape of a ball. The tumor shell is attached to the surrounding tissue, so it does not move. But sometimes during palpation you can notice that the growth moves.

When you feel the cyst, you may feel clots, cholesterol crystals, and “rice bodies” inside. They are quite mobile, often changing their position. Usually, when you press on the tumor, there is no pain or minor discomfort.

Reference. If painful sensations occur during palpation, this indicates that the pathology has become chronic. The formation increases gradually; at the early stage, there are no pronounced unpleasant sensations.

Hygroma on the finger has the following external signs:

spherical shape, size - about 5 cm, sometimes more;
the surface of the cyst is elastic, smooth;
when pressing, a slight nagging pain appears in the area of the damaged joint;
the skin over the tumor is thick and rough;
During the inflammatory process, the skin turns red.

Symptoms depend on the stage of the pathological process: at first there are no pronounced signs, and in advanced cases they are clearly expressed. Clinical manifestations of hygroma (early stage):

tumor size – from 5 mm;
the cyst is inactive;
the growth is soft, elastic;
there are no painful sensations;
the skin over the capsule is smooth and even.

The hygroma on the finger is practically invisible. At first, the tumor does not affect surrounding structures and is not accompanied by other pathologies.

Symptoms of an advanced stage of pathology:

growth size – from 10 cm;
when palpated, the tumor practically does not move;
the cyst is dense and hard;
nagging or sharp pain, which sometimes radiates to the arm;
the skin over the cyst turns red, becomes rough, rough.

The hygroma on the finger is clearly visible, as its size has increased. It compresses the surrounding nearby joints, nerves, tendons, and blood vessels. The pathology is accompanied by limited mobility in the affected joint, numbness, tingling, redness of the skin, inflammatory, purulent process.

General clinical recommendations

For all patients suffering from arthrosis of the hands, experts recommend:

get rid of influences that contribute to the progression of the disease, you may even need to change jobs;
perform any work related to the load on the hands, alternating it with rest;
avoid heavy physical activity and heavy lifting;
eat right, watch your weight - obesity is a hormonal disorder that leads to metabolic changes;
get rid of bad habits - alcohol abuse and smoking - they impair blood circulation, which also leads to changes in metabolism;
follow all doctor’s orders, including regular physical therapy exercises.

Prevention

The development of deforming arthrosis of the hands can only be prevented by reducing the load on the palms and fingers. Long-term monotonous loads, as well as injuries, are especially harmful. If you perform such work and feel regular pain in your hands, then perhaps you should change your job. But, of course, you need to start with consulting a doctor.