Pain in the joint of the big toe: how to treat it

Pain in the thumb joint

The thumb on the hand has two phalanges, which distinguishes it from the rest. It performs the most important functions necessary for a person in everyday life. For example, with the help of the thumb it is possible to hold and carry various objects and carry out work activities. The proper functioning of joints in the human body is controlled by the central nervous system. The thumb joint on the hand is no exception. Due to significant physical activity or damage, it may happen that the joint may lose its former strength and weaken.

If you have pain in your thumb joint, then this article will be useful for you to read. We will talk about what factors provoke the occurrence of pain, what accompanying symptoms need to be paid attention to, and, most importantly, how to overcome intra-articular pain and restore mobility to the hand without restrictions.

Features of the structure of the thumb

From an anatomical point of view, there are two phalanges in the thumb: distal and proximal.

The carpometacarpal joint, characterized by a specific shape resembling a saddle, is responsible for the lateral movement of the finger and its connection with the metacarpal bone.

The muscular system of the thumb also deserves special attention. It is made up of a group of short muscles:

flexion;

diverting;

adductor;

opposing the thumb to the rest.

As a rule, the joint on the thumb hurts due to its high mobility and the load that is placed on it every day.

Causes of diseases of the joints of the thumbs

Pain and discomfort when moving may indicate that you have a serious illness.

If you have pain in the joints of your thumbs, this means that you need to be alarmed, and in no case let the disease take its course and not self-medicate.

It is important to note that joint diseases occur in two forms: chronic and acute.

If you have been feeling pain in your thumb joint for a long time, there may be the following reasons:

infectious polyarthritis is an articular disease, the peculiarity of which is the damage to small joints, while the process of degeneration of articular tissue does not start;

inflammation of the thumb joint means you may have an autoimmune disease called rheumatoid arthritis;

in case of metabolic disorders in the body, gout develops;

rhiziarthrosis, most often found in older people, is characterized by the gradual destruction of cartilage;

after a bruise or a strong blow, the joint of the thumb hurts, along with this, swelling and swelling appear;

hereditary predisposition;

bad habits and unhealthy lifestyle;

age-related changes in the structure of the joint;

inflammation of the intra-articular fluid - bursitis.

Each disease requires competent and qualified treatment under the supervision of specialists, so we advise you to immediately consult a doctor if you have inflammation of the thumb joint and other accompanying signs of the disease.

Clinical manifestations of thumb joint diseases

In order to begin treatment of articular disease in a timely manner, it is necessary to study its manifestations in detail, so that when they appear, measures to eliminate it can be taken in a timely manner.

Let's consider several main diseases that cause pain in the joints of the thumbs:

1. Raynaud's syndrome is perhaps the most common cause of pain in the thumbs. This disease is characterized by loss of sensation in one or more fingers on both hands. Moreover, when you try to move a numb limb, severe pain may appear. The causes of the syndrome are pregnancy, the use of hormonal contraceptives, stressful situations and rheumatoid arthritis.
2. Carpal tunnel syndrome. Another insidious disease, the symptoms are similar to the previous one. The appearance of this disease can be provoked by excessive overstrain of the musculoskeletal system of the lower extremities. In this case, blood circulation is disrupted and the nerve endings are compressed.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause severe pain and limit joint mobility. The causes of this disease can be various viral infections, influenza, injury, or a broken arm. The main signs of rheumatoid arthritis include pain in the thumb, swelling, changes in the shape of the joint and the appearance of redness. The most dangerous thing is that this disease is not characterized by certain age limits and affects people of both sexes.
4. Psoriatic arthritis usually develops against the background of an underlying skin disease, psoriasis. Symptoms of this disease are the appearance of white scales on the skin and painful sensations in the phalanges. Often, with psoriatic arthritis, the doctor prescribes painkillers, as the pain becomes unbearable.
5. As a result of regular overload of the hand at work, the risk of developing a disease called de Carvin's tenosynovitis increases.

If you find yourself or your loved ones with symptoms reminiscent of the above diseases, then this is a reason to seek help from a medical clinic.

Treatment of the thumb joint

In the previous sections, we looked at the causes and clinical description of diseases in which the bone on the thumb hurts. It remains to understand the basic methods of eliminating these diseases.

The diseases discussed above have a similar clinical picture in many respects, so you will not be able to determine the problem on your own. First, you need to be examined by a doctor who will give you an accurate diagnosis and select appropriate therapy.

To determine the disease, the patient must undergo a series of medical examinations and tests:

• blood analysis;
• Analysis of urine;
• radiography;
• ultrasound examination (ultrasound);
• MRI (in rare cases).

Regardless of the disease, the initial stage of treatment is universal. As a rule, the attending physician prescribes the patient anti-inflammatory and painkillers (for severe pain, non-steroidal drugs are used), as well as medications whose action is aimed at restoring mobility to the thumb. Therapeutic treatment of joint pain also involves providing the patient with complete rest and reducing the number of stressful situations.

In some situations, when cartilage tissue is destroyed, chondroprotectors and vitamins are used for treatment.

Your lifestyle will also have to be reconsidered and adjustments made to it. In particular, limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages, quit smoking and eliminate overeating from your life.

In order to reduce the risk of developing gout, nonsteroidal medications are used to lower the level of uric acid in the bloodstream.

Physical activity and proper nutrition are necessary to improve metabolism and improve immunity.

Thus, if your thumbs hurt, only an experienced specialist can advise you on how to treat them. We do not recommend ignoring the symptoms of joint diseases, as this can lead to more serious consequences for the body.

Categories : Legs