How Hand Doctors Treat Finger Joint Problems
We use our hands for everything – so when a joint becomes painful or stiff it can severely impact our daily life and our ability to work, as well as do the things we love.
Renowned Bloomfield Hills hand doctor Dr. Uzma Rehman has helped thousands of patients get relief from thumb and finger joint problems. In this article we discuss the most common causes and best treatment options for finger joint problems.
What Causes Finger Joint Problems
In a healthy joint, the bones have a smooth surface on their ends made of a type of cartilage called articular cartilage. This sleek surface allows one bone to glide easily against the other in the “joints” where the bones meet. The joints are also lubricated by a thin layer of fluid that keeps the bones gliding smoothly.
Arthritis and some other conditions can cause the articular cartilage to wear out and/or result in insufficient amounts of joint fluid. The joints then become stiff and painful. Eventually mobility may be reduced and the joints may even become crooked or misshapen.
Finger joints can also be injured by crushing accidents – often occurring during an industrial accident or performance of a dangerous sport or activity.
Most Common Hand Joint Problems
Finger joint problems represent some of the most frequently encountered conditions in orthopedic and hand specialty practices, affecting millions of people and significantly impacting daily function and quality of life.
Arthritis stands as the leading cause of hand joint problems, with osteoarthritis being the most common form affecting the hands. This degenerative joint disease typically develops in the base of the thumb, the joints closest to the fingertips, and the middle joints of the fingers, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced grip strength that can interfere with basic activities such as opening jars, writing, or buttoning clothes.
Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition, also frequently affects hand joints, typically causing symmetrical joint involvement and morning stiffness that can last for hours.
Conditions like trigger finger are another extremely common hand joint problem that Dr. Rehman frequently treats in her Bloomfield Hills area practice. This condition occurs when the tendons that flex the fingers become inflamed and catch on the pulley system that guides their movement, causing the affected finger to lock or “trigger” when attempting to straighten it. The condition can affect any finger but most commonly involves the ring finger and thumb, often causing significant discomfort and functional limitation.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, while primarily a nerve compression disorder, often presents alongside joint problems and affects approximately 3-6% of adults according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, making it one of the most prevalent hand conditions that hand specialists encounter.
How Hand Doctors Diagnose Finger Joint Illness & Injuries
Hand doctors like Dr. Rehman utilize a systematic diagnostic approach that begins with a comprehensive patient history and detailed physical examination to accurately identify hand joint problems and develop appropriate treatment plans.
The diagnostic process starts with gathering information about the onset, duration, and characteristics of symptoms, including whether pain is worse with activity or rest, the presence of morning stiffness, and any history of trauma or repetitive activities that might contribute to the condition.
Bloomfield Hills hand doctor Uzma Rehman carefully examines each joint for signs of swelling, deformity, warmth, or tenderness while assessing range of motion, grip strength, and functional capabilities that help determine the extent of joint involvement and functional impairment. Specialized diagnostic tests play a crucial role in confirming suspected diagnoses and ruling out other conditions that may present with similar symptoms.
X-rays remain the primary imaging tool for evaluating hand joint problems, allowing Dr. Rehman to assess bone alignment, joint spacing, and the presence of arthritis or fractures that may not be apparent on physical examination alone.
Blood tests may be ordered when inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis are suspected, with specific markers such as rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies helping to confirm the diagnosis. In some cases, Dr. Rehman may recommend MRI or ultrasound imaging to better visualize soft tissues, tendons, and ligaments around affected joints, particularly when the diagnosis remains unclear or when planning surgical interventions that require detailed anatomical information for optimal outcomes.
How Doctors Treat Finger Joint Problems
The optimal treatment hand joint problems varies from patient to patient. It will depend upon the patient’s age, hand dominance, type of employment, degree of pain, amount of function and mobility, and any underlying disease such as arthritis. Both non-surgical and surgical finger joint treatment options are available, including medication and physical therapy.
Conservative, non-surgical treatments for finger joint problems may include: oral medications, natural joint supplements, joint injections, heat treatment, splinting, and/or hand physical therapy.
If non-surgical treatments do not provide sufficient relief of the patient’s pain and other symptoms, the hand doctor may need to consider surgical treatments. There are actually several excellent surgical options for finger joint problems.
Surgical treatments for finger joint problems may include surgical cleaning (“salvage”) of the joint to remove painful bone spurs or large amounts of inflamed tissue. In some cases fusion of the joint may be recommended by the hand doctor. And when significant joint destruction and/or deformity of the fingers is present joint replacement surgery may be the best treatment option.
Top Bloomfield Hills Hand & Finger Joint Doctor
If you are suffering from an injury or pain in your joints, fingers, wrist, elbow or arm, contact board certified Bloomfield Hills hand surgeon Doctor Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation and consultation. As with most medical conditions, early detection, awareness, and a prevention or treatment plan is the most effective way to combat the effects of conditions such as hand and finger joint problems.
Doctor Rehman will assess your individual situation, and prescribe the treatments that are best for your condition – to help ensure you are free of pain, able to regain the full use of your fingers and hand, and prevent permanent finger issues now and for years to come.
