How to remove a bump on your finger. Bumps on the knuckles: causes, symptoms and treatment

Bumps on the toes are a manifestation of various diseases and complex deformities of the foot. Despite the common features of all these “bumps”—something begins to bulge on a finger or foot—the reasons for the appearance of “bumps” are completely different, and accordingly, their treatment is completely different.

Regardless of the etiology, all “bumps” cause a cosmetic defect, cause pain, and interfere with wearing shoes.

For some bunions, conservative treatment methods are sufficient and surgical treatment is not required. In others, surgical treatment methods are the only solution to the problem.

The effectiveness of treatment depends on the accuracy of diagnosis and the choice of the correct treatment method. Incorrect diagnosis and treatment methods can only guarantee the loss of your time and money, and sometimes your health.

Familiarize yourself with the different types of lumps and some of the diseases that can cause them to form.

Lumps in the area of ​​the first metatarsophalangeal joint, formed by osteophytes.

Hallux valgus

This is the most common cause of a lump. It is accompanied by drooping of the arches of the feet. A bunion with hallux valgus has the following features:

• hard, immobile, increases in size slowly;
• a rapid increase in the size of the bone is associated with the development of bursitis;
• located at the base of the first finger;
• the first finger is deviated outward;
• Calluses (corns) may form on the sole of the foot;
• Deformation of the 2nd finger is often observed.

Arthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint

Bone growths form along the perimeter of the articular surfaces of the first metatarsal bone and the base of the proximal phalanx of the first finger.

• the “bone” is formed mostly in the area of ​​the head of the first metatarsal bone on the back of the foot, but osteophytes can be along the entire perimeter of the joint;
• The first metatarsophalangeal joint is mainly deformed in isolation.
• first of all, movements in the joint are limited, and in the future they may be completely absent;
• patients feel severe pain, which becomes constant over time.

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

• bumps grow on the joints of the fingers;
• difficulty bending the finger;
• Difficulty in straightening the finger;
• pain when moving;
• increase in leukocytes in the blood;
• redness and swelling in the area of ​​the affected joint.

In the case when the results of a general blood test show low lymphocytes, this fact may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body, including one that causes the formation of tubercles on the fingers. Lymphocytes are cells of the human immune system. They are responsible for creating antibodies to viruses, bacteria and other substances that are foreign to the body.

Soft tissue lumps in the area of ​​the first metatarsophalangeal joint

Characteristic features: soft, mobile, painful, warm to the touch, can quickly increase in size.

Bursitis of the mucous membrane of the metatarsophalangeal joint

Most often, this disease appears when there are bone growths in the area of ​​the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Sometimes it can develop independently, for example, when, when wearing tight shoes, the mucous membrane is chronically injured and rubs against the shoes.

• a swelling appears on the inside of the foot at the base of the first toe;
• appears suddenly, quickly increases in size;
• there is redness of the skin in the area of ​​the bump, it is often hot to the touch, painful, soft;
• sometimes the liquid in it is detected;
• Conservative treatment is effective and quickly gives good results.

Arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint

In arthritis, a “bump” is formed due to inflamed soft tissues, swelling, and an increase in the amount of synovial fluid. The most common causes of arthritis are gout, infectious diseases (reactive arthritis), and systemic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis). Characteristic symptoms of a “bump” in arthritis:

• the skin at the base of the first finger is red, swelling is located along the entire perimeter of the joint, often very painful;
• it is soft, hot to the touch, and can be very painful;
• in some cases, general body temperature increases;
• conservative treatment methods are effective and quickly give positive results;
• The choice of treatment method depends on the causes of arthritis.

Forecast

The prognosis for life with diagnosed gout is favorable. Most patients with the disease live to old age. The quality of life improves by following measures to prevent relapses of the disease and undergoing regular examinations by a doctor.

You can get tested for gout at the Yusupov Hospital. The clinic is located in Moscow. The hospital’s equipment makes it possible to accurately determine gout at the initial stages of development. After receiving the research results, experienced doctors develop individual treatment tactics. Modern therapy helps to quickly alleviate the patient's condition. The drugs used meet quality and safety standards. To make an appointment with a rheumatologist, call the contact center of the Yusupov Hospital 24 hours a day, any day of the week.

Make an appointment

Bumps on 2-4 toes

Bunions on the 2nd to 4th toes are the result of hammertoes, claw toes, and mallet toes. Distinctive features:

• it is always formed by the head of the proximal or distal phalanx of the finger and bone growths. Sometimes the volume of the “bone” increases due to inflammation of the soft tissues;
• it is always located on the dorsum of the finger in the area of ​​the proximal or distal interphalangeal joints;

Symptomatic means problematic

The growths are visible to the naked eye. The reason for their occurrence can be judged by their appearance.

Hard and dense lumps on the joints, covered with smooth skin, usually form in men over 40 years of age and indicate gout. They are usually called gouty tophi. They grow during periods of exacerbation of the disease. The patient becomes weaker and complains of malaise. The temperature in the area of ​​the tophi rises, and the pain sometimes becomes unbearable.

If the skin on the lump is rough and red, and the growth itself is round and elastic, it is a hygroma. It usually forms in women 20-30 years old and can be single-chamber or multi-chamber. Hygromas differ from other types of growths in that their size gradually increases, and pain is felt when pressed.

Formations on the interphalangeal joints that appear after 60 years are called Heberden's nodes. They are equally likely to be found on any phalanx and are signs of osteoarthritis. This disease leads to stiffness of the hands and deformation of the joints.

Nodules up to 2 cm in diameter, which form in 20% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, are rheumatoid nodules. They do not cause pain, but the course of the disease is accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms: lethargy, fatigue, fever, and sometimes loss of body weight.

Taylor (tailor) deformation

Taylor deformity is characterized by varus deviation of the fifth toe and valgus deviation of the fifth metatarsal bone.

Characteristic signs of a “bump” on the foot:

• located at the base of the little finger;
• the fifth finger is deflected inwards, in some cases also upwards;

• The “bump” sharply increases in size and becomes painful when bursitis of the mucous bursa of the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint develops.

A few words about prevention

The best prevention for growths is a healthy lifestyle: a balanced diet, regular consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits, giving up bad habits, sweets and fried foods. Wear protective gloves before handling chemicals. Avoid stress and lack of sleep.

If you are a schoolchild or student, you have a lump on your finger and it hurts - you probably write too much and hold the pen incorrectly. In this case, the growth is an ordinary callus that will go away over time. There is no need to put a band-aid on it or try to get rid of it by other methods. It's better to buy a soft-bodied pen, try to hold it a little differently and not squeeze too much with your fingers.

Arthrosis of the tarsal joints

Tarsal joints form between the bones of the midfoot. The midfoot constantly endures heavy loads during walking and running and is injured (microtrauma).

In this case, the articular surfaces are damaged, the cartilage becomes thinner, and over time osteophytes (bone growths) appear - arthrosis develops.

Characteristic symptoms:

• these “bones” are hard, often painful, and can increase in size due to inflammation of the soft tissues;
• they appear on the dorsal surface in the area of ​​​​the instep of the foot;
• Walking in tight shoes can be very painful.

Modern methods of eliminating diseased foot bones

In modern orthopedic operations, bone fragments are cut out and moved to eliminate the diseased bone and give the correct position to the big toe. The finger is fixed with medical screws or knitting needles until final fusion.

There is another treatment option - “closure” of the deformed joint. Orthopedic surgeons remove the cartilage completely and reattach the metatarsal bone to the first phalanx of the big toe in the correct position. As a result, the bone and pain disappear.

Considering what was described above, we can say that a surgical revolution has occurred in the treatment of diseased bones. The most important thing is that the attitude towards the problem and the very essence of treatment have changed. If in the past a deformity of the thumb was considered a defect of one joint and its bones, today an integrated approach is used in the fight against the bunion.

Nowadays, orthopedic surgeons, even taking into account the operation, can rehabilitate a patient in one day. The next day, people begin to walk on their own, albeit with more support on the heel and the outer edge of the foot, but without a cast or crutches. After two weeks, the sutures are removed, and after 1-1.5 months the patient returns to his usual lifestyle, but without pain in the foot.

We can say that modern operations have virtually no disadvantages. Unfortunately, they are not made everywhere. There is a shortage of highly qualified surgeons and special, high-quality, and therefore expensive, equipment. The situation is the same in other countries, but at a much higher cost for surgery on the leg bone.

Hygroma of the foot

Hygroma is a “hernia” of the joint capsule or tendon sheath. A bulge can form on the dorsum of the foot from the ankle to the toes.

Features of hygroma on the foot:

• Forms on the dorsum of the foot. Hygromas on the plantar surface of the foot are rather an exception.
• At the beginning of its occurrence, it periodically appears and disappears, then becomes constant.
• Painless, dense or soft-elastic consistency, often mobile.
• When rubbing with shoes, signs of inflammation may appear: redness, pain, swelling.
• When wearing tight shoes it causes discomfort and pain.

What is the treatment for a bunion? What to do if the bones on your toes hurt?

Many people have asked this question. Let's deal with him.

There are many methods to combat thumb deformation, including traditional ones:

• compresses,
• iodine nets,
• foot massage
• warm foot baths with herbal infusions and sea salt.

and others.

These remedies can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation, but they cannot cure the disease itself. The joint remains deformed, and the pain in the foot eventually returns. Only qualified orthopedic surgeons can truly cure this disease, and the radical treatment is surgery on the bone.

Gouty tophi

Gout is a disease associated with impaired purine metabolism. Tophi in gout are deposits of uric acid salts in tissues.

• Men are more likely to suffer from gout, and the main reason for visiting an orthopedist is tophi;
• The location of the tophi varies greatly: from the toes to the auricles.
• their size varies - from a few millimeters to gigantic sizes;
• tophi tumors are dense and painless;
• with chronic injury from shoes, they can become inflamed, infected and suppurate;
• when the tophi are opened, a white mass (urate crystals) is released from them;
• 15-20% of patients with gout are carriers of urate stones.

Treatment tactics:

1. After conservative therapy and stabilization of uricemia levels, removal of tophi is indicated.
2. It is preferable to perform operations for small sizes of tophi tumors, without waiting for their growth or purulent fistulous complications.
3. The operations are local plastic in nature and are individual depending on the size and location of the tophi.

Reasons for the development of the disease

Hyperuricemia is the main cause of gout. This condition occurs in the following cases:

• Obesity. The diet of a gout patient included an excessive amount of fatty foods, simple carbohydrates and high-calorie foods. In addition, eating large amounts of meat increases the risk of developing gout;
• Alcohol abuse;
• History of psoriasis and hypertension;
• Hereditary predisposition.

An increase in the concentration of uric acid occurs as a result of the fact that healthy kidneys are not able to filter its sharply increased amount. Kidney pathology does not allow them to process even normal amounts of uric acid.

Preparing for bunion surgery

At the initial consultation, the doctor will explain the surgical plan to you and tell you how to prepare your leg for surgery.

If the diseased bone on the foot is not too large, and there are no changes in other toes that require intervention, the entire hospitalization will take only one day.

It is a good idea to prepare your home for the recovery period following surgery. You may want to rearrange your furniture to make it easier to walk around. It is also advisable to stock up on food so that you don’t have to go shopping, which will be uncomfortable given the pain in your finger.

Surgery to remove the bunion to relieve pain in the big toe can be performed under either local or general anesthesia. If the operation is performed under local anesthesia, after several injections at the level of the ankle joint, you will no longer feel your feet. The operation can also be performed under spinal anesthesia, in which sensitivity will be completely absent in both lower extremities, which means the patient will not feel pain.

Before any of these anesthetics, it is recommended that you do not eat for 6 hours before your planned surgery.

Your surgeon will tell you what will happen before, during, and after surgery. If there is something you don't understand, don't hesitate to ask. After you ask all the questions you are interested in and receive answers to them, you will be allowed to sign a consent to undergo surgery on your leg.

Are there alternatives to surgery for a sore big toe bone?

Not all people, when asked “what to do if the bones on the feet near the big toe hurt,” want to hear about the need for surgery. There are methods to relieve foot pain. True, if the problem is not solved, the foot disease will progress. Helps reduce pain and improve overall condition

• pain-relieving drugs
• silicone inserts for feet and toes,
• custom orthopedic insoles,
• night orthoses for fixing one or more fingers in the correct position,
• selection of comfortable shoes with the help of an orthopedist.

It should be remembered that in this case the deformity remains and the pain in the bone is relieved only temporarily.