In the article, we will consider how to remove swelling from the fingers.
This is a very common occurrence, and it can occur in people of any age category. In some cases, puffiness develops due to minor disruptions in the human body, for example, as a result of an unhe althy lifestyle. Such failures pass fairly quickly, usually without any treatment.
However, swollen fingers can also indicate the development of a serious pathology, especially if the hands swell asymmetrically. It should be understood that this condition is not normal. Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment, if required, is very important. How to remove swelling from the fingers, consider below.
Anatomy
Four of the five fingers on a human hand consist of three phalanges:
- Proximal (longest).
- Average.
- Distal (nail, shortest).
The proximal and middle phalanges of the fingers have a somewhat similar structure, buttheir size is different. For example, in the proximal phalanx there is a spherical articular surface. It is necessary for the articulation of this bone and the adjacent metacarpal bones, as well as for providing an unlimited motor range. Interphalangeal joints cannot provide flexion and extension of the finger, as they are uniaxial.
The shape of the distal phalanges is flattened, the dimensions are smaller, it ends with a nail plate.
Another structure has only the first finger, consisting of only two phalanges - proximal and distal. They are shorter, but more massive than others. Thanks to the anatomical structure, opposition to other fingers is ensured, stability, and greater mobility.
Many wonder why fingers swell.
Physiological causes
Fingers can swell for a variety of reasons. Most often, this phenomenon is due to physiological factors that pass rather quickly:
- Blood vessels expand very quickly in hot weather. This mechanism allows the human body to cool itself by simply releasing excess heat through the skin.
- In some cases, excess fluid may accumulate in the vessels, which, when the vessels expand, can flow into the soft tissues in small quantities. As a result, the fingers begin to swell. Prolonged or excessive load contributes to this phenomenon: long hikes, repair work, hand washing, digging the earth, cleaning. The causes of swelling of the fingers must be identified.
- Fingers can swell even in young he althy people. As a rule, good rest helps to eliminate the problem. Some people have such a disorder as a cold allergy. Frost and low temperatures provoke the occurrence of vascular spasm and, as a result, circulatory disorders, which leads to swelling.
- Fingers may also swell due to lack of body fat if the person is very thin. This disorder is usually genetic and inherited, but sometimes it can be acquired. Obesity and excess weight can also cause swelling of the fingers - irreversible consequences occur in the lymphatic system, causing the accumulation of fluid in the hands. What other causes of finger swelling?
- In some cases, women's fingers may swell due to PMS. During such a period, the concentration of estrogens in the body increases, which have the property of retaining water in tissues.
Fingers can also swell from drinking too much liquid before bed, s alty foods, alcohol.
Pathological causes
Why the fingers swell should be determined by the doctor.
In general, this may indicate the presence of pathological disorders in the body. The reasons may be as follows:
- High blood pressure.
- Excess cholesterol.
- Pathologies of the veins, lymphatic system, impaired circulation.
- Pathologies of disorders of the nervous system.
- Reduced concentration of protein in the blood.
- Various hormonal disorders.
- Impaired permeability of vessels and capillaries responsible for the outflow of lymph.
Diagnosis of pathologies
As you know, it is necessary to fight not with the symptoms, but with the cause of the disease. Therefore, it is necessary to diagnose and determine what provoked swelling of the fingers. To do this, you should contact a therapist who will recommend visiting more specialized specialists: a cardiologist, a nephrologist, an infectious disease specialist, an allergist.
Diagnosis always begins with a study of the anamnesis, the symptoms present, the patient's complaints. Next, the specialist performs a visual examination of the hands, swollen fingers, palpates.
If necessary, the patient is prescribed laboratory and instrumental studies:
- Analysis of blood, urine.
- X-ray examination.
- Dopplerography.
- MRI of hands.
- Ultrasound.
If a doctor suspects a patient has a heart condition, he recommends an electrocardiogram. If kidney disease is suspected, tests, MRI, ultrasound should be taken.
Other symptoms
Swelling of the hands is always preceded by swelling of the fingers. If it is visible to the naked eye, a simple test should be done. You should press on the swollen finger. If a depression forms in this place, which does not immediately restore its shape, you should seek the advice of a specialist.
Usual swelling disappears a few hours after sleep. If your fingers are swollen in the evening, this may indicate thatthat some system of the body is not coping with its functions.
Allergic reaction
Why do my fingers itch?
The reason for this may lie in allergies. The fingers may swell when contact dermatitis develops. It occurs as a result of interaction with any allergen:
- Insect bite.
- Using the wrong medicines.
- Using poor quality creams.
- Hand wash with allergenic detergents.
Allergy is manifested by typical signs - fingers swell, begin to itch, there is a burning sensation, pronounced redness appears. In advanced cases, the fingers may feel pulsating, they may abscess.
Injury
Swollen fingers can be the result of various injuries. You can determine the nature of the injury by concomitant symptoms. In cases where, after injury, the finger swells, turns red, a hematoma appears, pain is felt when the phalanges are extended, it can be concluded that a bruise has occurred.
Everyone can hit their fingers. When such an injury causes severe pain, swelling of the fingers to such an extent that their mobility disappears, a dislocation or fracture can be assumed.
Arthrosis
Arthrosis is accompanied by almost complete destruction of first cartilaginous and then bone tissues, in addition, in the joints with such a disease, fluid begins to accumulate, which cannot normally leave the joint bag. She startslinger in the joint bag and adjacent tissues. This pathology is often found in older people.
Swelling in arthrosis can be observed local and general. Fingers and hands swell with arthrosis, as a rule, in the evening, at night. There may also be pain and bruising. The main reasons why edema occurs in arthrosis are toxic lesions, inflammation, infection, capillary permeability.
Arthritis
This pathology is an inflammatory process localized in the joints and affecting them. This disease usually develops against the background of other diseases. That is, arthritis is secondary.
The main symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- The skin on the fingers has an unnatural red color.
- Joints increase in size, nodules are visible on the hands.
- The slightest movement causes pain in the fingers.
- There is stiffness of movement, especially in the morning.
- The lesions of both hands are symmetrical.
- Fingers on the hands are very swollen.
Raynaud's Syndrome
Signs such as swollen fingers, pallor and blue palms may indicate the development of Raynaud's syndrome. This pathology is characterized by narrowing of the arteries, which is usually promoted by severe stress and cold. Due to the constriction, free blood circulation is limited, and hand damage occurs.
Raynaud's syndrome is manifested by hyperthermia, cyanosis, develops in stages:
- Stage of ischemia. A person's fingers swell, the color of the hands becomes unnaturally white.
- Cyanotic stage. At this stage, the skin of the hands acquires a bluish tint.
- Hyperthermia. Blood microcirculation is restored, so the skin begins to acquire a dark burgundy color.
Pathologies of veins
As a rule, such a disorder is formed throughout life, its development is facilitated by: blood density, viscosity, congestion in blood vessels, poor blood clotting, age-related changes, vascular disease.
In addition to visible changes, a person may suffer from other manifestations:
- Numbness, finger cramps.
- Lack of mobility.
- Blue skin.
- Swollen fingers.
Also, fingers can swell due to stroke, oncological pathologies, pregnancy, vascular atherosclerosis, gout, bursitis, epicondylitis. Only a doctor can determine the exact cause.
How to remove swelling from the fingers?
First aid for swollen fingers at home
With this phenomenon, the first aid is to improve blood flow in the damaged area:
- It is necessary to remove everything superfluous from hands - watches, bracelets, rings. If there are wounds, treat them with an antiseptic and apply a bandage.
- Apply ice wrapped in a clean cloth to swollen fingers. After a while, you can make an iodine grid.
- Massage contributes to the elimination of edema, as it enhances blood circulation, the outflow of excess fluid.
- If the cause is inflammation, you can take Ibuprofen, Nimesil, Diclofenac.
- When puffiness is the result of an allergy, contact with the allergen should be avoided and any antihistamine medication should be used: Fenistil, Suprastin, Loratodin.
How to remove swelling from the fingers, it is better to check with the doctor.
Treatment
If using the methods described above does not give the desired effect and the swelling persists, it is worth contacting a therapist. Self-medication should not be done, as this will not help the body, but only harm. If it is impossible to contact a doctor, you can use the remedy from the list below.
Medicated treatment
Select safe diuretics for edema should be based on the symptoms and the disease that provoked it.
Before contacting a specialist, use is allowed:
- Inflammation in the joints can be tried to be eliminated with medicinal ointments: Fastum, Nimulid, Nurofen, Voltaren, Hypothiazid, Colchicine.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ketorolac, Indomethacin, Venter, Piroxicam, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac can reduce pain and inflammation.
- For allergic reactions, antihistamines should be used: Ketotifen, Loratodin, Claritin, Suprastin.
- Injectables should only be used in extreme cases: Ethacrynic acid, Lasix, Furosemide, Mannitol.
- To remove excess fluid from the body, you should take safe tablet diuretics: Veroshpiron, Trofurit, Lasix, Indapamide, Triampur, Trifas.
In cases where the problem lies in diseases of the veins, you should definitely visit a doctor. The specialist will prescribe the necessary treatment, taking phlebotonics, wearing compression gloves for the fingers.
Gymnastics
Let's figure out how to stretch our fingers.
Performing simple exercises in the morning and evening will allow you to forget about the problem after a week, returning swollen fingers to their previous state:
- You should close your fingers in the lock, put them on your head. Lower it down, pressing a little on your hands. Hold in this position for about a minute, unhook your hands, shake them in the air, move them. Repeat this exercise several times.
- Put your fingers on the edge of the table, imitate playing the piano. The exercise should be performed 3 times for 5 minutes. Between sets, you should take a half-hour break. You need to do gymnastics for the fingers regularly.
- Raise your arms above your head for 15 minutes. Do 3-4 reps throughout the day.
- Raise hands above heart level for 20 minutes. During the day, perform this exercise 2-4 times.
Prevention
To avoid this problem, limit your s alt intake in the first place. But prevention is not just about that. Measures aimed at preventing swelling of the fingers are quite simple:
- should stick to the right lifestyle;
- give up bad habits;
- drink enough fluids (while limiting drinking before bed);
- do gymnastics;
- eat right;
- check with a doctor periodically.
Whatever the cause of swelling of the fingers on the hands, it should not be left unattended, as this often leads to disastrous consequences.
We looked at how to remove swelling from the fingers.
