Arthritis of the small joints is a disease that destroys the layer of cartilage between the joints.This disease affects the joints of the hands, fingers, and feet.Osteoarthritis of small joints is less common than large joints.This disease often develops in old age.
Mechanisms of disease progression
Arthrosis begins with circulatory disorders in the subchondral layer of the periosteum.Because of this, cartilage nutrition deteriorates, it loses elasticity, becomes thinner, and cracks appear on it.The amount of synovial fluid decreases, due to strong friction, the joint becomes inflamed.
Progressive arthrosis is very dangerous.If treatment for arthrosis of the hands or feet is not started on time, the joint begins to take on an unnatural, ugly shape and may lose mobility.
This disease often occurs in women during menopause.Hormone levels change in a woman's body and less estrogen is produced.Because of this, the body loses a lot of moisture, which makes cartilage and joints more fragile.
Species
Depending on the location, arthrosis consists of two types:
- hand and finger joints.
- small joint of the foot, big toe.
Arthrosis of hand and finger joints
Hand arthrosis is often found among typists, piano players, programmers, and secretaries.This disease affects the interphalangeal joint.With finger arthrosis, the joint tissue dries and cracks.Small subcutaneous nodules often appear in the joints of the hands.Usually they no longer disappear.
As the disease progresses, 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 hands and fingers.
Symptoms of the disease: throbbing in the joints when moving the fingers, pain in the fingers after exercise, numbness in the finger joints, swelling in the periarticular tissue.
Arthrosis of the foot joint
Ballerinas, dancers, gymnasts, wrestlers, and jumpers are prone to foot arthrosis.This disease affects the joints of the toes.Bone spurs appear on the small joints of the legs.Because of them, it is painful for a person to move his legs.As the disease progresses, the deformation of the joints is very noticeable, and the person is practically unable to move the legs.
Osteoarthritis of the big toe is the most common type of arthrosis in the foot.When the disease occurs, "bones" are formed 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, crackling in the joint when moving, increase in the size of the joint.When walking, a person limps and rests on the outer edge of the foot.
The cause of the incident
Arthritis can be primary or secondary.
Primary arthrosis appears due to problems with joint cartilage tissue, 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 the 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.
Risk factors
Risk factors for this disease include:
- hereditary predisposition;
- heavy physical labor, heavy load on finger joints;
- overweight, excessive alcohol consumption;
- long-term wearing of uncomfortable tight high-heeled shoes;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- hypothermia in the legs.
If your work often puts pressure on the joints of your fingers and toes, or you have relatives with arthrosis of small joints, you should think about prevention.We will discuss it at the end of the article.
symptoms
Among the signs of arthrosis of the small joints of the feet, fingers and hands:
- pains in the hands and feet, they either subside or reappear;
- moving your fingers or toes causes pain;
- joints swell, bend and straighten with a "crunch";
- the tissue around the joint becomes inflamed;
- the shape of the joints changes - they thicken, Heberden and Bouchard nodes appear;
- Decreased fingertip sensitivity.
Stage 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 feet during active movement or work.The pain subsides after resting.Joints may begin to crack, and swelling may form near them.
- The second stage of arthrosis.As the disease progresses, the pain increases and becomes constant.Moving your fingers causes pain.Heberden and Bouchard nodes form in the joint.Their appearance is accompanied by burning and pain.After a few months, the redness and swelling disappear and the nodule hardens.
- The third stage of small joint arthrosis is the most serious.Fingers and toes become deformed and almost impossible to move.The area around the affected joint becomes red and swollen.Sharp pain in the joint is felt not only during movement, but also during rest.Someone walks with difficulty, going up and down stairs is a challenge for him.
Diagnostics
If you notice symptoms of arthrosis of small joints, do not delay a visit to an orthopedic specialist.This disease can be cured in the early stages.In the second and third stages, you can only slow down its development.
To diagnose arthrosis of small joints, a comprehensive study will be required.With its help, the doctor will determine the cause of the disease and prescribe an effective treatment.Initial appointments are carried out by neurologists and orthopedic specialists.They accurately diagnose hand and foot joint arthrosis using the following methods:
- MRI.Magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination
- Densitometry
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Daily ECG monitoring
- Comprehensive medical examination of the body (examination)
- Body bioimpedance analysis as part of the "Smart Weight Loss" program.
- Laboratory research
How do we treat arthrosis of small joints
An integrated approach is the best way to overcome this disease.Our doctors treat arthrosis of small joints using non-surgical methods.They stop the progression of disease and heal the body as a whole.
The main doctor prescribes an individual course of treatment for the patient, taking into account the cause of arthrosis, condition, age, gender and characteristics of the patient's body.Treatment of arthrosis of the small joints of the feet, hands and fingers will take a maximum of one and a half months.Patients undergo the procedure 2-3 times a week.The pain in your joints will disappear after the first week of treatment.The course of treatment consists of the following procedures:
- Percussion-vibration therapy on the device
- High intensity magnetic therapy
- Isometric kinesiotherapy using the Pilates method
- Resonance wave UHF therapy
- Fermatron injection
Treatment of arthrosis of small joints in the clinic relieves pain and inflammation in the joints.The patient's blood circulation and cartilage nutrition are improved, and the destruction of cartilage tissue and joints is stopped.Our doctor will advise you on what you can do yourself to prevent this disease.
Prevention
Doctors at the Health Workshop advise to avoid problems with the joints:
- walking more, running, swimming, water aerobics, skiing;
- don't be too cold;
- monitor your weight;
- avoid joint injuries;
- walk in comfortable shoes.
When it comes to nutrition, we recommend that you adhere to the following principles:
- eat more avocado, grapefruit, kiwi;
- limit the consumption of tomatoes and legumes;
- include cartilage, gelatin, garlic in your diet;
- eat less fat and fried meat, sugar, chocolate, coffee, cookies;
- stop smoking and alcohol;
- drink at least two liters of water a day.
Therapeutic massage
To prevent arthrosis of hands and fingers, do the following exercises:
- Rub your palms together.
- Rub the fingers of one hand with the fingers of the other, first in the direction from the base to the nail and in the opposite direction.
- Bend and straighten your fingers 10 times without making a fist.
- Press your palms together firmly and press the fingers of one hand to the fingers of the other.
- Separate your palms and keep pressing your fingers against each other.