Many people find numerous defects in their physique, and in some cases, it may be only a matter of appearances; on the other hand, in different situations, it may be due to some particular disorder. A persistent condition is crooked fingers, mainly those of the hands; however, this factor is not usually only an aesthetic alteration since it can be related to other states.
If you wonder why I have crooked fingers, a possible answer may be due to an inherited anomaly. It is considered an aesthetic factor if this does not generate other problems since there is no treatment for these cases. Despite this, the cause above is the least frequent, so if you still question the reason for the shape of your fingers, we advise you to continue reading the following FastlyHealarticle.
Table of Contents
Crooked fingers: causes
Having crooked fingers can result from a trauma to them, suffering from a dislocation of the bones of the fingers and that during the recovery of this did not return to their normal position or by the formation of a bony callus in the regeneration of a fracture in the phalanges.
On the other hand, when trauma has not occurred but there is deformation in the fingers, it is possibly the symptom of a disease. One of them is clinodactyly, which has a congenital origin; the curvature of the fingers characterizes it, usually affecting the finger. The little finger is generally considered a mild condition that does not impede normal finger functions.
Another disease is osteoarthritis of the hand, which is the most frequent response when a person asks why I have crooked fingers. This is because it is the second most common type of osteoarthritis in several countries, such as Spain. Although anyone can suffer from this disorder, the data are known in the Prevalence Study on Rheumatic Diseases in Spain EPISER carried out by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology [1] estimate that it is four times more frequent in women than in men and especially in those who have already gone through menopause.
The osteoarthritis in hand usually occurs more often in three main areas, the base of the thumb, the middle phalanx of the fingers, and the distal phalanx. It can be straightforward to diagnose while the patient consults with a professional and details all the present symptoms.
As it is a degenerative pathology of the joints, injuries that can cause damage to the cartilage are frequent, causing the alignment of the joint to change, which in turn causes an enlargement in the joints of the hand and fingers to be observed. Look crooked.
So, in summary, we can conclude that the causes of crooked fingers are:
- Trauma
- Bony callus.
- Dislocation.
- Clinodactilia.
- Osteoarthritis
- Other regenerative pathologies.
Osteoarthritis of the hand: symptoms
There are mainly five symptoms that occur in most people who suffer from osteoarthritis in hand [2]; among them are:
- Deformation in the fingers: patients with this disorder may have deformed fingers and have them twisted due to muscle contractures around the joint caused by the pathology. This deformation in the hands, specifically in the fingers, is the most frequent answer when people wonder why my fingers are crooked.
- Joint pain: joint discomfort, in this case, the pain that the patient feels in the hands, mainly in the thumb, is another of the most characteristic symptoms of this pathology. Despite this, the pests can also appear in the phalanges of any finger and, very rarely, on the wrist.
- Have stiffness: stiffness is a prevalent symptom of this disorder that causes crooked fingers in a large percentage of society. When they spend a lot of time with their hand at rest, for example, after sleeping, the stiffness is relatively high, and it is difficult for them to move their needle normally, up to about 15 minutes or half an hour after waking up.
- Swelling and cracking: There are times when there are flare-ups of inflammation in the joints, which can lead to swelling and a feeling of numbness in the fingers. On the other hand, feeling a crunch when moving your fingers can be a symptom of hand osteoarthritis; however, hearing it does not always indicate the presence of this disease.
Osteoarthritis of the fingers of the hands: treatment
To avoid irreversible damage to the hands, it is essential to start treatment early and see a doctor if any of the symptoms are detected. In this way, it is also possible to prevent the progress of the pathology, although the primary purpose of the treatments is to relieve discomfort and improve function.
Among the most common and recommended treatments for people suffering from osteoarthritis of the hands, the following stand out:
- The consumption of oral drugs such as analgesics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, among others.
- Perform steroid injections in the affected area.
- Undergo a splint.
- Practice physical or occupational therapies.
When these treatments do not improve the condition, the doctor may propose to perform a type of surgery depending on the affected joints and the state in which they are, to minimize pain and reactivate the functioning of the structures as much as possible:
- The specialist may opt for a joint fusion in which the worn cartilage is removed and the bones are fused, reducing mobility to the joints and their discomfort.
- Another standard option is joint reconstruction, in which rough tissue is removed and replaced with soft tissue or with an implant.
In addition, in the following article, we will talk about home remedies for osteoarthritis of the hands.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why do I have crooked fingers, we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints, and Muscles category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.