In old age, problems with loss of mobility of the joints on the fingers are quite common. However, young people are often faced with a similar pathology. If the finger on the hand does not unbend, this greatly affects the quality of life of a person. When the syndrome is accompanied by pain, it becomes impossible to pick up even a light object. To fully treat the problem, it is necessary to identify the factor that provoked the pathological process and conduct appropriate therapy.
Causes of this pathology
There are a number of reasons that can lead to the fact that the finger on the hand does not unbend. Most often, such a pathology appears due to injury to the limbs. The finger may extend with effort or not extend at all.
Dislocation can occur during a fall, against the background of a sharp blow, spasm or muscle contraction. The most noticeable symptom becomes when they are poorly unbentfingers.
Distinctive signs of illness
Distinctive features of the pathology are the following signs:
- Intense pain syndrome.
- Deformation of the joint.
- Swelling and discoloration of the skin in the affected area.
- Deterioration or complete loss of finger mobility.
Another common pathology that leads to loss of mobility of the finger joint is vibration disease syndrome. Vibration-related occupations such as drivers, drillers, stone cutters, etc. suffer from it.
Modern young people often find themselves with carpal tunnel syndrome. The little finger on the right hand is most susceptible to this disease. The appearance of pathology is explained by the incorrect position of the hand when working at the computer.
Often the reason that the finger on the hand does not unbend is a broken finger. With incorrect treatment, the fingers lose their mobility. Most often, the index finger on the right hand breaks.
It is for this reason that sometimes a child's finger cannot be extended.
There are also a number of pathological conditions in which the ability to unbend the phalanges of the fingers is lost. The most common cases in medical practice are described below.
Arthritis as the reason that the finger does not straighten
This disease, in addition to inflammation of the joints, is also accompanied by a decrease in their mobility. This leads to the fact that the fingers do not unbend in the morning. Pathology does not occur on its own, butis a complication of another disease. Symptoms of arthritis include increased pain with changes in the weather, cracking joints, weakness of the wrist muscles, and inflammation.
Stenosing ligamentitis
This pathological process is accompanied by blocking of the limb in one fixed position. The main symptom of the disease is the complete loss of mobility of the affected joint. Quite often, ligamentitis is a complication of epicondylitis or arthrosis.
Osteoarthritis
The disease can proceed in a latent form for a long time. Symptoms appear as the disease progresses. At the initial stage, there is a transient discomfort in the joints. As the disease progresses, symptoms such as crunching during movement, joint deformity, and pain during flexion and extension occur. Osteoarthritis is localized in several limbs, not affecting the rest.
Dupuytren's contour
The disease affects the flexor tendons. At the same time, the palm acquires an uncharacteristic density and rigidity, the hands are deformed. The disease spreads to several fingers, but in especially severe cases it can affect the entire hand. The pathological process develops slowly, maintaining a certain mobility of the joints in a limited amplitude.
Pinched nerve endings
There is no pain in this case, and the finger is bent, but only with the help of the other hand.
In addition, the lossfinger mobility can accompany diseases such as Raynaud's syndrome, gout and tenosynovitis.
Diagnosis of this pathology
If the finger on the hand - middle, index or thumb does not unbend, and pain occurs, you need to seek help from a doctor. Since it is not easy to identify the cause of the pathology, it is necessary to start the examination with a therapist. The specialist collects an anamnesis, prescribes an examination and refers the patient to more highly qualified doctors. These may include the following specialists:
- A rheumatologist helps diagnose diseases associated with impaired connective tissues.
- Neurologist detects pinched nerve endings.
- The surgeon will help if you suspect the need for surgery.
Based on the collected history, the doctor characterizes the pathological process and prescribes an additional examination:
- Ultrasound. Allows you to determine the presence of deformity of the joints.
- X-ray examination. Gives you the opportunity to get an image of the affected joint in three projections.
- Computed tomography. Shows any changes in the tissues of the diseased joint.
- Magnetic resonance imaging. This is the most reliable and informative method for diagnosing joint problems.
- Electrospondylography. Makes it possible to identify functional problems of the affected finger.
- Intra-articular puncture. This manipulation is assigned if necessary.elimination of accumulated fluid, as well as for the introduction of drugs into the affected area.
- Skin biopsy. Used to make a differential diagnosis.
If the thumb on the hand does not unbend, a blood and urine test is also prescribed. After the diagnosis is clarified, based on the results of the examination, appropriate treatment is prescribed.
So, if the finger on the hand does not unbend, what should I do?
Drug treatment of this disease
It is important to establish the cause of this phenomenon, as the treatment will be directed to its elimination. As a rule, complex therapy is used, which is also aimed at alleviating the patient's condition.
For the relief of pain, various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, such as Indomethacin, Ibuprofen, Diclogen, Otrofen and others.
If the inflammation is severe and not relieved by conventional means, the doctor may decide to use corticosteroid medications. It can be "Prednisolone" or "Diprospan". In some cases, novocaine may be administered.
All of the listed medicines are aimed at relieving symptoms. They eliminate pain and stop the inflammatory process, increase mobility. However, these drugs are not the basis of the therapeutic regimen and are used as additional funds.
Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment of pathology
The main taskphysiotherapy in case of loss of finger mobility - improving the blood supply to the affected limb, as well as warming up to reduce the intensity of the pain syndrome. The prescribed procedures help relieve swelling and inflammation, accelerate the recovery process in cartilage tissues. The most common physiotherapy methods for treating joints are:
- Laser therapy.
- Electrophoresis.
- Magnetotherapy.
- Wax or paraffin baths.
- Therapeutic gymnastics.
- Massage.
During the rehabilitation period, you should constantly change the method of treatment or use several procedures. This will avoid the addiction of the body and increase the effectiveness of treatment.
Therapeutic massage is one of the first places in the rehabilitation program. It is better to leave the procedure to a specialist, however, the patient himself can massage up to three times a day.
Electrophoresis is performed using various preparations. This physiotherapy contributes to the normalization of connective tissues, which is especially important for arthrosis. The impact is electrical and thermal.
If the finger can be bent, but cannot be straightened, special therapeutic exercises are used, the purpose of which is to increase joint mobility. Before gymnastics, you can hold your fingers in warm water.
When problems in the joints should pay special attention to nutrition. It should be fortified with vitamin B6 found in fish, nuts and garlic.
Rules to followstick to
Experts recommend to prevent joint diseases and try to avoid injuries and sprains. To this end, doctors advise to adhere to the following rules:
- Timely treat any infectious lesions of the body.
- If you have symptoms of a cold, stay in bed.
- Temper the body to increase endurance to negative environmental effects.
- Fortify your diet with calcium-rich foods.
- Do not overcool limbs.
Reviews
As for treatment reviews, for the most part on the Internet there are responses from those whose finger immobility was due to injuries. In this case, the treatment consisted of applying a cast or elastic bandage. During the rehabilitation period, such patients underwent physiotherapy and performed special exercises. In most cases, the mobility of the fingers after injury was safely restored.
Patients who do not extend their finger on the hand due to irreversible joint changes undergo more serious treatment. They are prescribed several drugs, as well as gymnastics, massage and physiotherapy. However, not in all cases, therapy gives a 100% recovery. Many are on lifelong treatment, regularly taking courses of various drugs and undergoing preventive examinations.
We looked at why the fingers do not straighten.
