Osteoarthritis of small joints is a disease that destroys the layer of cartilage between the joints.The disease affects the joints in the hands, fingers and feet.Osteoarthritis in small joints is rarer than large joints.The disease often develops in old age.
Mechanism of disease development
Osteoarthritis begins with a disruption of blood circulation in the subchondral layer of the periosteum.Because of this, the nutrition of the cartilage deteriorates, it loses elasticity, becomes thinner, and cracks appear on it.The amount of synovial fluid decreases, due to strong friction, the joints become inflamed.
Progressive osteoarthritis is very dangerous.If treatment for osteoarthritis 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 menopausal women.Hormonal levels change in the female body and less estrogen is produced.Because of this, the body loses a lot of moisture, which makes the cartilage and joints more brittle.
Species
Depending on the location, osteoarthritis is of two types:
- joints in hands and fingers.
- small joints in the foot, big toe.
Osteoarthritis of the joints in the hands and fingers
Osteoarthritis of the hands is often found among typists, pianists, programmers and secretaries.The disease affects the interphalangeal joints.With osteoarthritis of the fingers, the joint tissues dry out and crack.Subcutaneous small nodules often appear in the joints of the hands.Usually they no longer disappear.
As the disease progresses, the bone tissue becomes denser and growths appear on it.They cause severe pain when you move your fingers.In advanced cases, a person loses the ability to move the hand and fingers.
Symptoms of the disease: crunch in the joints when moving the fingers, pain in the fingers after exercise, seals on the joints of the fingers, swelling of the periarticular tissue.
Osteoarthritis in the joints of the foot
Ballerinas, dancers, gymnasts, wrestlers and jumpers are susceptible to osteoarthritis of the feet.The disease affects the joints of the toes.Bone spurs 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 and the person is practically unable to move the foot.
Osteoarthritis of the big toe is the most common type of osteoarthritis in 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 osteoarthritis in 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.
Causes of occurrence
Osteoarthritis can be primary or secondary.
Primary osteoarthritis occurs due to problems with the cartilage tissue of the joint, namely:
- genetic disorders in the composition of articular cartilage tissue;
- joint hypermobility;
- dysplasia, flat feet, wide feet.
Secondary osteoarthritis is the result of joint damage and other diseases.Among its causes:
- 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 the disease include:
- hereditary disposition;
- heavy physical work, heavy strain on the finger joints;
- overweight, excessive alcohol consumption;
- prolonged use of uncomfortable tight high-heeled shoes;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- hypothermia in the feet.
If your work often puts strain on the joints in your fingers and toes, or you have relatives who suffer from osteoarthritis in small joints, you should think about prevention.We will talk about it at the end of the article.
Symptoms
Among the signs of osteoarthritis in small joints of the foot, fingers and hands:
- pains in the hands and feet, they either subside or reappear;
- moving your fingers or toes causes pain;
- the joints swell, bend and straighten with a "crunch";
- the tissues around the joint become inflamed;
- the shape of the joints changes - they thicken, Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes appear;
- The sensitivity of the fingertips decreases.
Stages of osteoarthritis 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 osteoarthritis.The disease progresses, the pain intensifies and becomes constant.Moving the 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 osteoarthritis in small joints is the most serious.Fingers and toes become deformed and are almost impossible to move.The area around the affected joint becomes red and swollen.Sharp pains in the joints are felt not only during movement, but also at rest.A person walks with difficulty, going up and down stairs becomes a challenge for him.
Diagnostics
If you notice symptoms of osteoarthritis in small joints, do not delay a visit to an orthopedist.The disease can be cured at an early stage.In the second and third stages, you can only slow down its development.
To diagnose osteoarthritis of small joints, a comprehensive examination will be required.With his help, the doctor will determine the cause of the disease and prescribe effective treatment.The initial appointment is carried out by neurologists and orthopedists.They accurately diagnose osteoarthritis in the joints of the hands and feet using the following methods:
- MR.Magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
- Densitometry
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Daily ECG monitoring
- Comprehensive medical examination of the body (control)
- Bioimpedance analysis of the body as part of the "Smart weight loss" program.
- Laboratory research
How we treat osteoarthritis in small joints
An integrated approach is the best way to deal with the disease.Our doctors treat osteoarthritis of small joints using non-surgical methods.They stop the development of the disease and heal the body as a whole.
The primary doctor prescribes an individual course of treatment for the patient, taking into account the cause of osteoarthritis, condition, age, gender and characteristics of the patient's body.Treatment of arthrosis of small joints in the feet, hands and fingers will take a maximum of one and a half months.The patient undergoes procedures 2-3 times a week.The pain in your joints will disappear after the first week of treatment.The treatment course consists of the following procedures:
- Percussion-vibration therapy on the device
- Magnetic therapy with high intensity
- Isometric kinesiotherapy using the Pilates method
- Resonance wave UHF therapy
- Fermatron injections
Treatment of osteoarthritis in small joints in clinics 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 the disease.
Prevention
Doctors at the Health Workshop advise to avoid joint problems:
- walk more, run, swim, water aerobics, ski;
- do not catch a 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 avocados, grapefruits, 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;
- quit smoking and alcohol;
- drink at least two liters of water a day.
Therapeutic massage
To prevent osteoarthritis in the hands and fingers, perform the following exercises:
- Rub the 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 tightly and press the fingers of one hand to the fingers of the other.
- Separate your palms and continue to press your fingers together.