Small joint osteoarthritis is a disease that destroys the cartilage layer between the joints.The disease affects the joints of the hands, fingers and feet.Osteoarthritis of small joints is less common than that of large joints.The disease often develops in old age.
Mechanism of disease development
Osteoarthritis begins with a violation of blood circulation in the subchondral layer of the periosteum.As a result, 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 on time, the joints begin to take abnormal and ugly shapes and may lose mobility.
The disease often occurs in women during menopause.Hormone levels change in the female body and less estrogen is produced.As a result, the body loses a lot of moisture, which makes cartilage and joints more brittle.
Species
Depending on the location, osteoarthritis is of two types:
- joints of the hands and fingers.
- small joints of the foot, big toe.
Osteoarthritis of the joints of the hands and fingers
Osteoarthritis of the hands is common among typists, pianists, programmers and secretaries.The disease affects the interphalangeal joints.With osteoarthritis of the fingers, the joint tissues dry out and crack.Small subcutaneous nodules often appear in the joints of the hands.Usually they don't disappear anymore.
As the disease progresses, bone tissue becomes denser and growths appear.They cause severe pain when you move your fingers.In advanced cases, a person loses the ability to move their hand and fingers.
Symptoms of the disease: cracking in the joints when moving the fingers, pain in the fingers after exercise, seals on the joints of the fingers, swelling of the periarticular tissues.
Osteoarthritis of the foot joints
Ballerinas, dancers, gymnasts, wrestlers and jumpers are susceptible to osteoarthritis of the feet.The disease affects the toe joints.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 deformity of the joints is very visible and the person is virtually unable to move the foot.
Osteoarthritis of the big toe is the most common type of foot osteoarthritis.When the disease occurs, a “bone” forms at the thumb joint.Osteoarthritis of the big toe is caused by wearing tight shoes.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the foot: foot pain after physical activity, cracking of the joints during movement, increase in joint size.When walking, a person limps and rests on the outer edge of the foot.
Causes of appearance
Osteoarthritis can be primary or secondary.
Primary osteoarthritis appears due to problems with the cartilaginous tissue of the joint, namely:
- genetic disorders in the composition of joint cartilage tissue;
- joint hypermobility;
- dysplasia, flat feet, wide feet.
Secondary osteoarthritis is the result of joint damage and other diseases.Among its reasons:
- injuries, microtraumatization of the 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 predisposition;
- heavy physical labor, heavy load on the finger joints;
- overweight, excessive alcohol consumption;
- prolonged wearing of tight, uncomfortable high-heeled shoes;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- hypothermia of the feet.
If your job often puts pressure on the joints of your fingers and toes, or if you have loved ones who suffer from osteoarthritis of the small joints, you should think about prevention.We will talk about this at the end of the article.
Symptoms
Among the signs of osteoarthritis of the small joints of the foot, fingers and hands:
- pain in the hands and feet, which either subsides or reappears;
- moving your fingers or toes causes pain;
- joints swell, bend and straighten with a “crunch”;
- the tissues surrounding 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.Joints may begin to crack and swelling may form nearby.
- Second stage of osteoarthritis.The disease progresses, the pain intensifies and becomes constant.Moving your 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 of the 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.Acute pain in the joints is felt not only during movement, but also at rest.A person walks with difficulty, going up and down the stairs becomes a challenge for him.
Diagnosis
If you notice symptoms of osteoarthritis of small joints, do not delay a visit to an orthopedist.The disease is curable at an early stage.At the second and third stages, one can only slow down its development.
To diagnose osteoarthritis of small joints, a thorough study will be necessary.With its help, the doctor will determine the cause of the disease and prescribe effective treatment.The first appointment is carried out by neurologists and orthopedists.They accurately diagnose osteoarthritis of the joints of the hands and feet using the following methods:
- MRI.Magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
- Densitometry
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Daily ECG monitoring
- Full body medical examination (check-up)
- Bioimpedance analysis of the body as part of the “Smart Weight Loss” program
- Laboratory research
How we treat small joint osteoarthritis
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 attending physician prescribes individual treatment to the patient, taking into account the cause of osteoarthritis, his condition, age, gender and body characteristics.Treatment of osteoarthritis of the small joints of the foot, hands and fingers will take a maximum of one and a half months.The patient undergoes procedures 2-3 times a week.Joint pain will disappear after the first week of treatment.The course of treatment includes the following procedures:
- Percussion-vibration therapy on the device
- High intensity magnetic therapy
- Isometric physiotherapy using the Pilates method
- UHF resonance wave therapy
- Fermatron injections
Treatment of osteoarthritis 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 the disease.
Prevention
The doctors at Atelier Santé advise avoiding joint problems:
- walk more, run, swim, do water aerobics, ski;
- don’t let yourself get too cold;
- watch your weight;
- avoid joint injuries;
- walk in comfortable shoes.
When it comes to nutrition, we recommend respecting the following principles:
- eat more avocados, grapefruit, kiwis;
- limit the consumption of tomatoes and legumes;
- include cartilage, gelatin and garlic in your diet;
- eat less fatty and fried meat, sugar, chocolate, coffee, cookies;
- stop smoking and drinking alcohol;
- drink at least two liters of water per day.
Therapeutic massage
To prevent osteoarthritis of the 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 towards 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 onto those of the other.
- Separate your palms and continue to press your fingers together.