The little finger on the left hand bends poorly. Why can't my finger straighten? How to treat polyarthritis of the fingers with folk remedies

In older age groups, pain in the fingers is very common in both men and women. They are often accompanied by swelling, stiffness,... Such symptoms are not only a sign of natural aging of the body, but also clinical manifestations. Therefore, the cause of pain in the joints of the fingers must be established and treatment carried out immediately.

Causes of pain in the joints of the fingers

If pain occurs every week, then it can no longer be attributed to increased muscle tension after working with your hands for a long time. At the initial stage of development, inflammatory or degenerative pathologies manifest themselves in this way. Pain in the fingers is associated with the gradual destruction of bone and cartilage tissue, which can cause joint deformation and complete or partial immobilization ().

Arthritis

The joints of the fingers can be affected by inflammatory, rapidly progressing pathologies. In addition to severe pain, there is redness and swelling of the skin, and limited range of motion. And the course is often accompanied by signs of general intoxication of the body - increased body temperature, chills, and a feverish state.

Still's disease

This is a severe autoimmune pathology, presumably developing due to an inadequate response of the immune system to the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms. Still's disease affects not only small and large joints. The skin, organs of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and lymph nodes are damaged.

Osteoarthritis

This pathology is characterized by destruction of bone tissue with further deformation of the joints. In the morning, your fingers swell, and when you try to bend or straighten them, some resistance occurs. Acute pain appears only during relapses, and during remission - only mild discomfort.

Stenosing ligamentitis

Pathology develops due to frequently repeated monotonous movements. Stenosing ligamentitis affects the ligamentous-tendon apparatus of the hand, in which there is a locking of the finger in an extended or bent position. But such a pronounced symptom occurs at the final stage of the pathology, and at the initial stage it manifests itself as pain, crunching or when bending the joints.

Gout

Symptoms

Jerking, throbbing, acute pain in the finger joint is the leading symptom of infectious and rheumatoid arthritis, including. Associated symptoms are increased local temperature, redness and swelling of the skin.

Massage

After relief of acute pain and inflammation, patients are prescribed sessions of classical, acupressure, vacuum, including hardware massage. Healing procedures help improve blood circulation, eliminate muscle spasms, and accelerate the recovery of damaged tissues.

Physiotherapy

Physical exercise

Regular physical therapy exercises can quickly strengthen the muscles of the hand and prevent the progression of arthrosis or arthritis. A set of exercises is compiled by a physical therapy doctor, taking into account the type of disease. It usually includes rotation of the hand, flexion-extension of fingers, grasping and holding small objects.

Diet

For osteoarthritis, there should be a lot of fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruits. It is necessary to completely exclude semi-finished products, smoked meats, fast food, fatty meats, and any alcohol from the daily menu. Instead, it is useful to eat rabbit meat, beef, fatty sea fish, clear soups, cereal porridges, and fermented milk products.

Folk remedies

After basic treatment, pain and inflammation have been eliminated, doctors may allow the use. During the rehabilitation period, the use of certain decoctions, hand baths, and homemade ointments is allowed.

The use of infusions and decoctions of herbs

The course of pathologies that provoke pain in the fingers is often aggravated by the deterioration of a person’s psycho-emotional state. Drinking teas from medicinal plants will help improve it. St. John's wort, valerian, motherwort, thyme, lemon balm, and oregano have a general tonic, calming, and sleep-normalizing effect. To prepare the drink, a teaspoon of dry plant material (without a slide) is brewed with a glass of boiling water. Leave to infuse for a couple of hours, then filter and take 100 ml before bed.

Baked onion and wax ointment

Two peeled medium-sized onions are baked until soft, ground in a mortar until smooth, adding 20 g of wax melted in a water bath in portions. Apply the resulting mass to the joints and secure with a gauze bandage. The duration of the treatment procedure is 1-2 hours.

Ointment of honey and mustard with herbs

Pour a tablespoon of dried calendula and chamomile flowers into a container, pour in 0.5 cups of boiling water, and leave for 5 hours. In a mortar, mix a teaspoon of dry mustard and full-fat sour cream, add 2 tablespoons of honey. The resulting infusion is introduced drop by drop until a homogeneous mass is formed. Before using the ointment, the skin is lubricated with vegetable oil.

Herbal baths

Place 5 rose hips, juniper berries, barberries in a thermos, add a tablespoon of elecampane, St. John's wort, and birch buds. Pour in a liter of boiling water and leave for 2 hours. Cool slightly, strain, pour into a cup, and add more warm water if necessary. Dip the brushes into the resulting infusion for 30 minutes.

Oil baths

Fill a small container with warm water (1.5-2 liters), add 1-2 drops of rosemary, eucalyptus, and pine essential oils. Pour in a tablespoon of cosmetic almond oil and shake. Place your hands in the water for 30-40 minutes. After the procedure, rub any nourishing or moisturizing cream into the skin.

Straw baths

Pour 0.5 liters of chopped oat straw into a small saucepan and pour in 2 liters of hot water. Bring to a boil, simmer over low heat for 30-40 minutes. Cool to room temperature and strain. Pour the warm broth into a cup and keep the brushes in it for about half an hour.

Preventive actions

To avoid pain in the joints of your fingers, you should undergo a full medical examination every 6-12 months. Pathology detected at the initial stage of development usually responds well to conservative treatment. You also need to avoid traumatic situations, do not smoke, limit alcohol consumption, and exclude foods high in fat and simple carbohydrates from your diet.

Discomfort and stiffness in the fingers is a fairly common phenomenon that occurs mainly in people of the older age group. However, there are exceptions when young patients complain of difficulties with bending.

Joint pathologies have a strong impact on the quality of life, and when the phalanges of the fingers are affected, it is difficult to perform even the most basic actions. It is important to know that in case of any problems with mobility, as well as in the case of inflammation of the joints, a doctor’s consultation is necessary.

Causes

If a finger on your hand does not bend, then the cause may be an injury, either fresh or received some time ago. Pain and stiffness in the fingers cause inflammatory and non-inflammatory pathologies.

The thumbs are most often injured, both on the hands and feet. Traumatic dislocation can occur as a result of a fall, especially on an open palm or directly on the thumb area, as well as in the event of a direct sharp blow.

Displacement of the finger is also possible with strong muscle contraction during an attack of epilepsy. Pathological muscle spasm sometimes occurs during pregnancy occurring against the background of gestosis. Any injury received no earlier than two days ago is considered fresh. If the dislocation occurred more than 30 days ago, then it is considered old and is reduced using the Volkov-Oganesyan apparatus without applying a plaster cast.

If you sprain, you should definitely consult a doctor, as hand function is at risk

The clinical picture of a dislocated big toe or hand is expressed quite clearly; it can be identified by the following symptoms:

• pain syndrome;
• visible change in the shape of the joint;
• swelling and redness of the skin;
• impaired mobility due to compression of nerve endings.

The feeling when your fingers do not bend may be a consequence of vibration disease. It has several names - white finger syndrome, vasospastic disease from trauma, pseudo-Raynaud's disease. The cause is an occupational factor; the risk group includes representatives of the following professions:

• driller, stone cutter, grinder;
• tram driver;
• asphalt paver, polisher, casting trimmer.

Vibration disease develops gradually and goes through several stages. With timely identification and elimination of the provoking factor, the pathology is completely cured.

Fractures

Fractures of the phalanges of the fingers occur quite often, in approximately 5% of cases of the total number of fractures. In the absence of timely treatment, fingers may bend and unbend poorly, and hurt even with minor physical exertion. The grasping function of the hand is also noticeably reduced. The index finger is most susceptible to fractures; the area near the nail plate is especially vulnerable.

Any finger can be broken, but the most dangerous from the point of view of restoring functionality is considered to be a fracture of the bones of the thumb

If there is no displacement after the fracture and the integrity of the joint is preserved, conservative treatment is carried out. A plaster or polymer bandage is applied to the damaged area. An adjacent finger can act as a splint.

After the cast, or rather, when it is removed, rehabilitation is required. Full restoration of hand function is only possible with proper development of the hand. During this period, therapeutic exercises, physical therapy and massage are recommended.

Arthritis

The inflammatory process in the joints is manifested by many symptoms, one of which is stiffness of the fingers. Arthritis is considered a secondary pathology, that is, arising against the background of existing disorders - infectious, rheumatic or metabolic in nature. Both the interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints can be affected.

Arthritis of any origin requires mandatory medical supervision and treatment so that the disease does not progress to a severe stage.

Arthritis can be recognized by the following symptoms:

• pain and aches when bending and straightening the fingers, especially in the morning;
• signs of joint inflammation - swelling, redness, local increase in temperature;
• crunching when moving;
• feeling of weakness in the hands;
• reaction to changes in weather in the form of increased symptoms;
• limitation of mobility.

A characteristic sign of arthritis is the symmetry of the lesion - for example, if the joint of the ring finger of the right hand is inflamed, then almost immediately discomfort occurs in the same joint of the left limb. Symptoms worsen after sleep, and in the morning the person cannot clench his fingers into a fist. As the disease progresses, the duration of such stiffness increases, and the hand takes a long time to develop.

With arthritis, subcutaneous lumps form on the hands - nodules, which consist of fibrous tissue and are absolutely painless

Stenosing ligamentitis

Stenosing ligamentitis is a pathology in which the finger locks in a bent or straightened position. Fingers are affected with different frequencies, in percentage terms each of them accounts for:

• large – 25%;
• index – 3%;
• average – 19%;
• unnamed – 43%;
• little finger – 7%.

Stenosing ligamentitis manifests itself as a serious impairment of flexion-extension function, which is associated with overstrain of the ligamentous apparatus or with the presence of systemic diseases - diabetes mellitus, rheumatism, etc.

Pathology of the tendon-ligamentous apparatus of the hand develops as a result of injury, which is caused by increased and regular loads, or against the background of an infectious-inflammatory process in the joints. Stenosing ligamentitis is often combined with diseases such as arthrosis, epicondylitis, and glenohumeral periarthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis manifests itself as stiffness of the fingers only in the later stages and has a chronically progressive course. In the early stages, only slight discomfort is felt in the joint area, which quickly goes away after rest. The following symptoms are characteristic of developed osteoarthritis:

• it hurts to bend your finger;
• a crunching sound is heard when moving;
• joint deformation becomes noticeable;
• range of motion is limited.

In the vast majority of cases, all small joints of the hand are affected, although there are exceptions. Sometimes several joints are involved in the pathological process, while the rest remain healthy.

All of the above symptoms also occur with arthrosis of the lower extremities: the toes move poorly and crunch. At first it is difficult just to walk, but subsequently the pain does not leave the person even at rest.

Or palmar fibromatosis is a connective tissue disease affecting the flexor tendons of the fingers. The fascia of the palm begins to thicken and thicken, becoming increasingly rigid. Over time, the damaged tissue wrinkles and the fingers curl toward the palm.

Most often, French disease, as this type of contracture is also called, affects the last two fingers, although it is possible that the thumb, index or middle fingers are affected. This pathology is characterized by a slow course, and some limitation of movements can persist for several years without causing any particular inconvenience to the person.

However, there are exceptions when Dupuytren's contracture develops quickly, and one of the fingers quickly bends towards the palm. In the initial stages, treatment is possible with conservative methods, which include physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises for stretching the palmar aponeurosis and wearing special removable clamps. Splints are usually worn at night and removed in the morning.

If the finger bends very quickly and is very painful, then surgical intervention is performed. To ensure the finger moves in the opposite direction, scar tissue is excised. In especially severe cases, the patient may be recommended arthrodesis - immobilizing the joint while fixing the finger in the optimal position, or amputation of the finger.

Diagnostics

If your toe or hand hurts and it is impossible or difficult to bend, you should consult a doctor. Since there can be many reasons for contracture, it would be better to consult a therapist.

If necessary, he will refer you to doctors of a narrow specialization, namely:

• to a rheumatologist who deals with connective tissue diseases;
• see a surgeon if the finger does not fully straighten after injury or there are indications for surgical treatment;
• see a neurologist in case of pinched nerve endings, as a result of which the fingers become numb and refuse to move. In other words, a so-called active contracture occurs due to loss or irritation of certain parts of the nervous system. The patient cannot bend his fingers, but when someone else bends them or he himself bends them with the help of his second hand, then no obstacles arise;
• see a hematologist, who is a specialist in blood diseases.

Depending on the clinical picture and stage of the disease, the doctor will tell you what to do next and write out directions for the necessary studies:

• X-ray. To make an accurate diagnosis, you may need a picture taken in three projections - lateral, direct and oblique;
• Ultrasound. Helps identify most joint pathologies - arthritis, arthrosis, bursitis, tendovaginitis and synovitis;
• CT scan. Using this method, you can see all the changes in the periarticular tissues. The principle of tomography is similar to an x-ray, but the image is processed on a computer;
• electrospondylography. A universal and highly effective method for identifying spinal injuries. What does this procedure mean for contracture? With its help, those parts of the spinal column that are responsible for the normal functioning of the upper extremities, including the hands and fingers, are studied;
• Magnetic resonance imaging is a very accurate and informative study that produces images using electromagnetic waves;
• Contrast discography helps to determine why fingers curl or have difficulty bending using contrast dye. It is administered to the patient immediately before the procedure, and as a result, contrast appears exclusively in undamaged areas. Areas in which there are pathological changes remain unpainted;
• intra-articular puncture. It is carried out strictly according to indications in order to inject the medicine directly into the painful area or, if necessary, to study the composition of the synovial fluid;
• a skin biopsy is performed in case of preliminary diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis, lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, etc.

In addition to instrumental studies, laboratory tests of blood and urine are also prescribed. Based on the examination results, treatment is carried out, including taking medications, performing therapeutic exercises, attending physiotherapeutic procedures and sessions.

A characteristic symptom of this disease is pain at the base of the affected finger. It hurts when pressing or performing small movements. Often a swelling forms over the sore spot. At this stage, you can already feel the compaction in the tendon in the palm at the base of the finger.

After some time, the pain begins to bother you not only with movement and pressure, but also at rest. When bending and, especially, when extending, the sufferer feels some kind of interference. To perform an action, you need to exert more and more effort. Often patients feel a click in the area of ​​the last joint, after which the finger is fixed in a bent position.

And then there comes a period when it becomes impossible to bring the finger into an extended or bent position.

Description

The snapping finger was first described by A. Nott, after whom this disease is named. In 1850, he published the article “Research on a peculiar disease of the tendon sheaths of the hand, characterized by the development of nodularity of the tendon canal of the flexors of the fingers and an obstacle to their movement.” And the first operation to get rid of this disease was performed by Schönborn in 1887. The operation was successful, but what was much more important was that during this operation the doctors had the opportunity to figure out what was really happening in the fingers with Knott's disease.

Stenosing tenosynovitis is a compressive inflammation of the tendon sheath. A tendon is a cord of fibrous tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone. They are surrounded by a protective sheath - the tendon sheath. It prevents friction when the flexor and extensor tendons slide. The tendons of the finger flexor muscles exit through the carpal tunnel into the palm, and from there diverge to the fingers. Moreover, only one flexor tendon goes to the first finger, and two to the others. And to fix the flexor tendons and prevent the extension of the fingers, there are annular ligaments. As a rule, compressive inflammation occurs in the area of ​​the annular ligament. It develops when the ligaments are overloaded or under constant pressure on them.

With inflammation, not only does the annular ligament narrow, but part of the tendon also thickens. It is when this thickened part is squeezed through the narrowed ligament that the click occurs. And after some time, the thickened part cannot pass through the ligament and gets stuck in front of it.

This is an occupational disease that occurs mainly in young people whose work requires a lot of stress on their fingers. At risk are electric welders, polishers, cutters, stampers, trimmers and masons, as well as representatives of other professions in which chronic trauma to the hands occurs. Any job in which a person constantly makes grasping movements or in which something puts pressure on the palm in the area of ​​the annular ligaments can cause trigger finger.

It happens that trigger finger develops in children. This occurs because the tendon is too thick and cannot slide normally in the tendon sheath.

Diagnostics

To make a diagnosis, an examination of the patient, medical history and an x-ray of the hand are required.

The trigger finger must be differentiated from arthritis and arthrosis. In contrast to this disease, those suffering from arthritis and arthrosis do not develop a lump in the palm at the base of the finger. X-rays of the hand for these diseases will also differ. However, often the trigger finger develops against the background of arthritis and arthrosis, and then the diagnosis becomes more complicated.

Also, this disease must be differentiated from various injuries and Dupuytren's contracture. Symptoms of this disease can also appear in diseases associated with metabolic disorders, for example, diabetes mellitus or gout.

Treatment

Treatment for trigger finger can be conservative or surgical. Conservative treatment consists of eliminating the cause of the disease, immobilizing the finger, and physiotherapeutic procedures. Anti-inflammatory drugs are also prescribed.

Conservative treatment can take a long time, but it does not always lead to a cure. And if it doesn’t help, the finger is still motionless and hurts, then surgery is performed. During the operation, the annular ligament of the fingers is cut. After discharge from the hospital after surgery, the patient should exercise his fingers, but not overload them. This must be done to avoid contractures and fusion of the tendons of the fingers. After the operation, the patient is unable to work for approximately 3 weeks. However, the success of the operation can only be judged after a year.

Prevention

Prevention of trigger finger involves preventing injury and maintaining good industrial hygiene. And the last one is very important. There are cases where workers developed trigger finger because they violated work rules, for example, cutting 8 or more layers of fabric instead of 5. The disease develops very quickly, so at the first symptoms that arise in the hand when changing the type of activity or work procedure, you need to contact an orthopedist.

Doctor Peter

Inflammatory processes in the joints of the fingers occupy one of the first places in the world in terms of prevalence. In addition to the presence of pain, patients quite often complain that the finger on the hand is difficult to straighten, which may indicate a disease such as fibromatosis (Dupuytren's contracture). This pathology is caused by deformations of connective tissues and shortening of tendon fibers in the hand area.

Provoking factors

As a rule, fibromatosis is detected completely by accident. With a normal handshake, a small nodule resembling a callous formation is detected under the skin of the palm. The gradual growth of tissue leads to certain contractures that prevent the extension of one or more fingers. Most often, the little finger and ring finger are involved in the pathological process.

A characteristic feature of Dupuyten's contracture is the possibility of the inflammatory process spreading to both hands. If all necessary measures are not taken to prevent further development of the disease, the fingers on both hands become stiff and ankylosis (complete immobility of the finger) may develop over time.

The main reasons for the development of palmar fibromatosis may be the following conditions:

Carpal tunnel syndrome

With the development of this disease, the patient most often experiences the inability to flex the little finger. It is typical that tunnel syndrome occurs on the right hand, which is explained by monotonous work and incorrect position of the hand, mainly at the computer. Serious complications of carpal tunnel syndrome are indicated by the inability to bend the little finger on the hand.

Ulnar nerve neuritis

This disease is caused by injuries to the elbow joint and various wounds in the forearm. As a result of these factors, atrophy of the interosseous muscles in the arm area is observed, followed by the development of the “clawed hand” symptom, characterized by the inability to clench the fingers.

Fractures and dislocations

Fractures quite often lead to the fact that the fingers cannot be straightened, and the wrong approach to treatment, as well as prolonged wearing of a cast after a fracture, can lead to the formation of contractures and swelling of the damaged joint.

When the thumb is dislocated or fractured, swelling spreads to nearby tissues

Growing pains

This condition occurs in children 5–13 years old and is accompanied by pain in the joints, most often after a night's sleep. There is no clear division according to the localization of pain, but the most typical pathological manifestations are in the area of ​​the fingers, which are difficult to straighten in the morning. At the same time, there are no obvious reasons for the appearance of pain symptoms.

Gout

This disease is caused by excessive deposition of salts (urates) in the joints and is accompanied by the formation of tophi. The affected joints (most often the fingers) stop bending and straightening, mainly in the morning. This is caused by a slowdown in blood flow at night, which leads to the deposition of salt residues into the joint cavities. Gout is extremely difficult to treat, but with timely medical intervention, the inflammatory process can be kept under control.

Stroke

Difficulty in finger extension can be observed after strokes, which is caused by impaired innervation due to acute cerebrovascular accident (ACVA). This condition is extremely dangerous and requires immediate medical intervention.

Osteoarthritis

With the development of this disease, not one finger can be affected, but several at once, which can lead to serious deformation of the joint. In this case, extension is accompanied by severe pain and a characteristic click.

Advanced stage of osteoarthritis

Pregnancy

During the period of bearing a child, a woman’s body undergoes serious changes, including hormonal ones. In this case, pain during extension and flexion of the fingers is caused by hypocalcemia. After the baby is born, this condition goes away on its own and in most cases does not require medical intervention.

In all cases, a consultation with a doctor is necessary, who must identify the root cause that led to difficulty moving the fingers and prescribe further therapeutic measures.

Diagnostics

As a rule, when visiting a doctor, diagnosis is not difficult. Why the finger does not bend can be found out using the following clinical research methods:

• before establishing an accurate diagnosis, the doctor collects the patient’s history and complaints, on the basis of which a preliminary conclusion is made regarding the stage of dysfunction of the hand;
• Next, a visual inspection and palpation of the hand is carried out, during which it is possible to identify lesions of the structures. In addition, scar cords located near the base of the fingers can be felt under the skin of the hand;
• In conclusion, the doctor assesses the deficit in range of motion in the joint using a special tool - a protractor. The possibility of flexion of the middle finger is also being studied, since it is abnormalities in this area that indicate fibromatosis.

As a rule, laboratory and instrumental diagnostics are used extremely rarely.

To identify pathological complications, radiography of the joint may be prescribed, and preoperative preparation includes MRI

Symptoms

The severity of fibromatosis depends on the stage, which has characteristic features:

• at stage 1, the patient notices a small seal on the palm, which does not interfere with the performance of all necessary actions and does not limit the extension of the fingers;
• at the second stage, the disease is aggravated by the limitation of the functioning of the finger to 30 degrees, but there is no pain at this stage;
• at the next stage, the fingers take a bent position with an angle of 30 to 90 degrees, pain symptoms appear with impaired functionality of the affected limb;
• at the final, stage 4, the curvature of the fingers is more than 90 degrees with the spread of the pathological process to the tendon ligaments, which can grow together.

Angle of finger flexion at different degrees of fibromatosis

In the absence of medical intervention, the fingers lose mobility, the sensitivity of the hand decreases, and its functionality is limited. In most cases, fibromatosis can manifest itself 2–3 years after the onset of disease progression, which complicates diagnosis. It is characteristic that in women the development of fibromatosis takes longer than in men.

Treatment of pathology

Depending on what stage of development the disease is at, the doctor decides how and how to treat fibromatosis.

The complex of treatment measures includes:

Conservative therapy

When seeking medical help, it is important to take into account that solely medications cannot have a serious effect when the patient cannot fully straighten his fingers. The action of medications is aimed at reducing symptoms, while complex treatment is required to obtain maximum effect.

To relieve pain, it is recommended to take NSAIDs (Diclogen, Ibuprofen, Ortofen, Indomethacin, etc.). In more severe cases, it is possible to prescribe corticosteroid drugs (Diprospan, Prednisolone, etc.). If necessary, the doctor performs novocaine blockades.

Therapeutic massage and gymnastics, which significantly increases joint mobility and the extensibility of the aponeurosis, can prevent muscle atrophy and increase blood circulation. However, the patient's condition must be closely monitored during these procedures. When he is in great pain during an exercise, the exercise is stopped.

To improve metabolic processes in the hands and enhance nerve conduction, physiotherapeutic measures are recommended (electrophoresis, mud and paraffin baths, applications with ozokerite, etc.). In addition, orthopedic splints are used to fix the fingers in an extended position.

If conservative therapy is ineffective to restore the lost functionality of the fingers, aponeurectomy (surgical incision of the palmar fascia) is performed.

Surgical intervention

If necessary, surgery (aponeurectomy) is best performed at the very beginning of the development of pathologies, which makes it less traumatic, speeding up the rehabilitation process:

• in order for the finger to straighten, excision of the palmar fascia and fibrous cords is required, followed by plastic surgery;
• at stages 2 and 3 of Dupuytren's contracture, a radical aponeurectomy is performed to restore the mobility of the finger;
• at stage 4 of the disease, even surgical intervention does not guarantee a complete cure. In this case, the operation significantly alleviates the patient’s condition, but is not capable of leading to full extension of the finger;
• if the scar tissue is small, local anesthesia is used during the operation, and the rehabilitation period does not exceed 10 days;
• in severe cases, when even after aponeurectomy the inflammatory process in the fingers continues and they do not straighten, repeated surgery is required, and rehabilitation is delayed for several weeks;
• Sometimes the phalanx of the finger is amputated so that the overgrown connective tissue does not compress the nerve endings and blood vessels.

To prevent the development of inflammatory processes in the hand, it is necessary to avoid injury to the joint, normalize the rest and work regime, as well as nutrition. Of no small importance is the timely sanitation of chronic foci of infection that can lead to pathologies of muscle and joint tissues. Compliance with all medical recommendations and taking care of your own health significantly reduces the risk of developing fibromatosis and other joint diseases.

Even minor disturbances in well-being can cause discomfort. If the finger on the hand does not straighten, then the functional ability of the entire hand is lost, and the activity of fine motor skills decreases. Only an experienced specialist can make a correct differential diagnosis and recommend adequate treatment.

Causes of impaired finger movement

The inability of the fingers to bend and straighten into a fist is caused by the following factors:

• Neuritis of the ulnar nerve. It is a pathology that occurs as a result of a mechanical injury to the elbow or a penetrating wound to the forearm. Less commonly, the cause is a toxic effect directly on the nerves of the hand. The muscles in these areas gradually atrophy. The little finger on the hand stops bending, and a so-called “clawed paw” is formed. Sometimes the process affects the ring finger.
• Fractures of the arm when the joint of the hand is dislocated. As a result, inflammation occurs, after which an array of fibrous tissue remains, preventing the fingers from moving freely in the articular surfaces. Pain and swelling spreads to healthy joints. This most often occurs in children and teenagers.
• Gout. This metabolic disorder occurs in older people and is characterized by impaired metabolism of uric acid salts. The pain increases during sleep, because then the outflow of blood decreases, harmful metabolites stagnate and are deposited in the joint cavities of the hands. At the same time, the fingers bend poorly and hurt.
• Acute cerebrovascular accident. During a stroke, the motor nerve centers that regulate the activity of muscles throughout the body are damaged. The fingers not only stop moving, but also cannot feel pain, temperature or touch. More often than not, this process is one-sided.
• Osteoarthritis. Degenerative-dystrophic processes in the joint change its functional ability and are accompanied by severe pain.

More rare causes

It mainly affects the little finger, often only unilaterally, on the right or left hand. It occurs in people of a certain type of activity, whose profession involves the need to perform monotonous movements with the bones of the hand in the wrong position. The disease is always accompanied by pain and numbness in the back of the hand. The pain intensifies at night. The absence of finger movements indicates advanced stages of the disease.

Growing pain

It occurs more often in children of primary and secondary school age. Their growth zones are not yet closed, so an abnormal reaction to the rapid increase in small tubular bones is possible. The following signs are observed:

• pain that intensifies closer to night;
• The pain starts suddenly and goes away just like that.

Pregnancy

Numbness, impaired flexion and extension of the fingers are often associated with a deficiency of the trace element calcium. It enters the body of the developing fetus in large quantities to build its musculoskeletal system, disappearing from the mother’s bloodstream. The state of deficiency is especially pronounced during the month before childbirth.

Guyon's canal syndrome

It is compression of the ulnar nerve as it exits the carpal tunnel. The symptoms are similar to those described for carpal tunnel syndrome, but a different nerve is damaged and the thumb and/or middle finger are affected. The following manifestations are observed:

• numbness of fingers;
• tingling sensation;
• pain, etc.

Other symptoms due to which the finger does not straighten

The lack of free flexion and extension of the fingers of the upper extremities is accompanied by pain in them. With any pathology that causes this movement disorder, swelling and redness of the articular surfaces occurs due to inflammation that occurs in the joint cavity. The indicators of the general blood test also change. The number of leukocytes, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) increase, indicating an acute inflammatory process.

If a finger does not bend during pregnancy, this will almost always be accompanied by a decrease in blood calcium levels below 1.5 mmol/l.