Tag: Arthritis

Stiffness In The Fingers In The Morning

Having stiff and swollen fingers in the morning is quite familiar to people of all ages. It can even be a cause of loss of mobility in your fingers in your daily routine. Although most people think that it is primarily due to arthritis, there can be other reasons. Therefore, a doctor will be able to provide you with treatment only after a thorough diagnosis. Here are a few symptoms of stiff and sore fingers in the morning: swelling, warmth in the area, mild to excruciating pain, redness, bruising, etc. 

Causes

Here are a few causes of stiff finger joints in the morning:

• Arthritis: One of the most common orthopedic problems is arthritis, and it is considered a prevalent cause of stiff fingers. If the stiffness is due to this condition, it might get worse gradually. There are five forms of arthritis. The doctor will provide you with a suitable treatment based on a thorough diagnosis for the type. Then, there’s rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its healthy cells. As this condition gets worse with age, an early diagnosis is key to treatment. When it comes to arthritis, along with stiff hands in the morning, you might feel swelling, excruciating pain and lack of mobility in your knees and other load-bearing joints. 

• Dupuytren’s Contracture: It is a medical condition in which the collagen tissues under the skin of your palm gradually get thick and tight. It is also known as palmar fibromatosis. A cord-like structure might form due to the knots in the collagen tissues, which might pull your finger, causing a bend, resulting in stiffness. Although the most frequently affected fingers are your ring finger and pinkie, they might slowly spread around if not treated in time. Symptoms other than stiff fingers include the formation of lumps of tissues in your palms and having dimples or marks on the skin of your palms. 

• Stenosing Tenosynovitis: It is a medical condition that causes inflammation in the protective sheath over the tendons in your fingers. Another name for this condition is trigger finger. Your finger might lock in a particular position instead of free motion. It tends to cause excruciating pain when you try to bend or move your fingers. 

Your fingers may feel stiff in the morning due to several reasons. But the true cause will be known only after a thorough diagnosis by a doctor. 

DIAGNOSIS

The first step in diagnosing a particular condition is usually a session of physical exam or consultation. In this session, the doctor might ask you a few questions about your symptoms, their extent, activity level, any accident you might have been involved in, etc. They will also check your fingers and see the range of motion to examine the symptoms firsthand. 

After that, they might recommend some diagnostic tests to pinpoint the exact cause of your afflictions. Firstly, there will be a regular X-ray to check for any damages or irregularities in your bone structure. Then, in rare cases, the diagnosis might go further with tests like CT scans and MRIs.

Then, the doctor will avail you of a treatment based on the diagnosis. 

So you might want to have an early consultation to ensure that the treatment is provided as soon as possible. 

TREATMENT

The treatment of your stiff fingers will depend upon the cause to a great extent. But here are a few common treatments for this affliction:

• Home remedies: You could try heat packs and ice packs to soothe the pain in your fingers. Then there are anti-inflammatory medications you can buy OTC to have some relief from the pain. 
• Cast: The doctor might wrap a cast in case of a fracture. 
• Surgery: Surgery might be the answer in severe cases. 

Having stiff fingers is quite common but can be pretty painful, and as mentioned earlier, it can be due to several reasons. So have a proper diagnosis to ensure a suitable treatment. If you have any more queries like “Why are my fingers stiff in the morning?” you might want to have a consultation with the doctors at Germanten Hospitals. So book your appointment today!

WHY CHOOSE US?

Germanten Hospital has been one of India’s leading facilities for various medical treatments. Under insightful leadership, we have acquired excellence when it comes to treatments in neurology, plastic or cosmetic surgery, orthopaedics and reconstructive surgery. 

Dr. Mir Jawad Zar Khan has led our hospital to the forefront of the medical industry. He has experience of 22 years in orthopaedics. His alma mater is Osmania University, where Dr. Jawad achieved a gold medal for his excellence in education. He then completed advanced training in the USA and Germany. 

Dr.Mir Jawad Zar Khan was awarded the Times of India Award of “Iconic Joint Replacement Surgeon Of Telangana” by the State Hon’ble Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan and Germanten hospital has been ranked by “All India Lifestyle Hospital & Clinic Ranking Survey 2022” among the top orthopedic hospitals India. 

We have gained access to state-of-the-art medical technology and the latest advanced equipment, which has proven to be quite beneficial for our patients. 

Arthritis is a medical condition that results in inflammation of the joints causing severe pain and stiffness of the muscles. It refers to all types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis.  

The extent of inflammation depends on the diet, physical activity, water intake, current health condition and habits (smoking, drinking).

Higher intake of sugar, salt, fat and refined carbohydrates can increase inflammation. Here is a list of foods to avoid during arthritis:  

1. Red meat :
   Red meat has a higher percentage of saturated fat as compared to white meat or plant-based proportion. So it is one of the foods to avoid during arthritis. Unfortunately, red meats can also worsen the swelling and inflammation.
2. Dairy products with high-fat content :
   Arthritis foods to avoid also include dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese, milk, ice creams and a lot more. Each product is different from the other and has a different nutritional value. In order to prevent arthritis, it would be better to avoid full-fat dairy products with high levels of sugar as it increases the inflammation of joints.
3. Omega 6 fatty acid :
   The excessive consumption of omega-6-containing food items can deteriorate the inflammation. Thus, make sure to check off items like soybeans, corn, safflower, sunflower, canola oil, nuts and meat in the list of foods to avoid during arthritis. You can use olive oil as a substitute for everyday cooking as it is monounsaturated.
4. Salt
   Sodium is an essential element required for the normal functioning of the body. However, our regular salt intake is always much more than needed. Thus higher salt levels should be included in the list of arthritis food to avoid.
5. High sugar beverages
   The beverages available in the market, such as soda, fruit juices, sweet tea and coffee drinks, have tremendous amounts of sugar. Thus, these are some of the worst foods for arthritis. If you suffer from arthritis, try and control your sugar intake by up to 9 spoons per day.
6.  Fried items
   Fried snacks and food are friends in cooking oils which are high in omega six fatty acids and fatty acids. Thus, if fried snacks are a large portion of your daily life, they can worsen arthritis. Therefore, you should limit fried foods to avoid arthritis or keep it under control.
   Fried food also has a high amount of salt, sugar, and refined carbohydrates, leading to more inflammation. A better alternative for this is to go for air-fried food or baked items.
7. Canned products
   The amount of salt used in canned food items is very high. It is used as a preservative in canned vegetables, meat, soup, etc. Thus, to manage your symptoms, make sure to exclude canned foods and avoid them in an arthritis diet.
8. Alcohol
   Alcohol can be a relief to those who have arthritis. Some varieties like red wine have anti-inflammatory properties. Consuming more than 5 ounces of red wine can improve inflammation.
9. Refined carbohydrates
   White rice and flour is the highly processed form of their respective grains. The fibre and nutrition are lost in the process, making it a simple carbohydrate. Simple carbohydrate is digested much faster and causes a spike in the blood sugar level, thereby increasing inflammation. Thus, try to limit refined carbohydrate intake as it is one of the worst foods for arthritis.
10. Candy and desserts
    Candy and desserts are loads of sugar without having any nutritional benefits. It is also known as empty calories for this reason. Thus, be sure to limit desserts, candies and added sugar foods to avoid rheumatoid arthritis.
11. Processed food
    Packaged food items such as frozen packets, baked items, chips, and fast food are loaded with food items which should be avoided in arthritis. The refined grains, high amounts of sugar, and salt make them last longer than the usual fresh food items. It can result in obesity, worsening the condition. So if you are looking for arthritis foods to avoid, make sure to include processed food items on the list.
12. Gluten
    Grains like wheat and barley contain protein which is known as gluten. Following a gluten-free diet helps in decreasing inflammation.

Want more information about arthritis foods to avoid? Then come over to Germanten Hospital. Our orthopaedic experts and dieticians will help you prepare a nutritious diet chart and manage your symptoms.