Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of joint pain in the fingers, especially the distal joints (farther out). Raleigh Acupuncture has developed a highly effective finger joint pain solution that combines acupuncture and topical herbs applied to the finger joints. This treatment brings long-lasting relief to manage chronic arthritis pain.
Osteoarthritis of the Finger Joints
Osteoarthritis in the fingers and hands is one of the most prevalent types of arthritis, mainly because we use our fingers constantly throughout the day. Arthritis is the degeneration of joints (wearing down), so our finger joints will inevitably show wear and tear as we age. Osteoarthritis of the fingers typically starts to set in after 50.
Like all osteoarthritis, finger joint arthritis comes from slow, persistent damage to the cartilage from either natural joint erosion (most common) or repeated microtraumas (playing hand drums, knitting, gardening). Symptoms include swollen, deformed-looking finger joints and painful flair-ups. Initially, swelling occurs at the furthest joint near the fingertip, and pain typically spikes after intense use of the fingers and hands. Arthritis of the thumb is triggered when the thumb moves in opposition to the other fingers and is more prevalent in women who have gone through perimenopause.
Finger Joint Pain – Chinese Medicine Perspective
In traditional Chinese medicine, arthritis is considered “Bi syndrome.” Bi syndrome presents as pain, soreness, or numbness of the joints, tendons, and muscles. Our bodies are vulnerable to attack from external climate factors such as wind, heat, cold, and dampness. We call these attacks “invations,” and one of the major results of such invasions is arthritis in the joints. The symptoms of Bi syndrome vary depending on which climate factor is prominent.
Wind Bi Arthritis
Wind Bi arthritis presents as joint pain that moves from place to place, wrist to shoulder, knee to hip. We commonly see this with Rheumatoid arthritis, but it can also manifest with osteoarthritis. The patient’s tongue will typically display a thin white coating, and the pulse with be “floating.” Therefore, it is good to include acupuncture points that expel pathogenic wind when treating Wind Bi arthritis.
Cold Bi Arthritis
The Cold pattern of arthritis (Cold Bi) manifests as severe joint pain in a fixed location. The pain improves with the application of heat and worsens in cold weather. The tongue has a thin white coat, and the pulse is tight.
Damp Bi Arthritis
Damp Bi arthritis presents as heaviness and numbness in the joints and limbs. Pain is fixed (instead of moving from place to place) and is made worse by damp, rainy weather. People with this type of arthritis can always tell when a storm is brewing because their joints start acting up. Their tongues typically have a white, greasy coating, and their pulses are slippery and slow.
Heat Bi Arthritis
Heat Bi arthritis is more severe and can evolve from the other three patterns. Symptoms include severe pain and hot, inflamed, swollen joints. The pain is generally eased by applying cold and is made worse in the heat. In addition, the tongue is typically yellow and dry, while the pulse is slippery and rapid.
Raleigh Acupuncture Solution for Finger Joint Pain
Chinese medicine provides a powerful and effective finger joint pain solution. In our clinic, we utilize a combination of acupuncture, herbs, and an excellent topical herbal salve called “Pain Gone Cream” to bring long-lasting relief from finger arthritis pain. This cream contains 10 Chinese herbs that increase blood circulation, deeply penetrate injured joints, and facilitate healing and pain relief. In addition, you can safely use the cream whenever your finger joints are hurting.
In addition, we prescribe a highly regarded Chinese herbal formula for joint pain called Arthritis Ease. This herbal supplement was first utilized over a thousand years ago in China to relieve pain and strengthen the joints. As with acupuncture, Chinese herbs have been empirically tested by millions of patients over the centuries, providing a safe, effective treatment with no adverse side effects.
Case Study: Osteoarthritis of the Pointer & Middle Fingers
A 62-year-old man came to our clinic complaining of persistent, severe joint pain in the distal finger joints of his right pointer and middle fingers. He had recently finished a large garden project at home consisting of ripping up sod to extend his flower beds. He spent weeks with his hands in the cold spring soil, using his fingers to pull up roots, shake out the dirt, and spread mulch. Afterward, his yard looked tremendous, but his fingers felt awful!
Upon examination, we confirmed that he had swollen distal joints in his right pointer and middle fingers – the classic sign of osteoarthritis of the fingers. His acupuncture treatment included points on his hand (Baxie, LI4), his arms (LI11), and his body (LV3, ST36, SP10). These points circulated qi and blood to his hands and fingers to help promote healing of his damaged joints. In addition, we prescribed “Pain Gone Cream” to promote blood circulation in the finger joints. We instructed our patient to apply this topical salve to his painful joints three times a day until the pain subsided.
Within four sessions, the treatments resolved his pain. Next, we sent him home with a supply of the pain salve and instructed him to apply the cream whenever he felt discomfort in his finger joints.
Next Steps
If you struggle with finger joint pain, try acupuncture. Treatments are safe and provide long-lasting relief.
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What our Clients are Saying
My knees were so bad with arthritis that I couldn’t play golf. My wife did research on the internet and said acupuncture might help. I went in not expecting much. He told me it would take three to six treatments to see if it would work. My case was tougher because I’m overweight. Sure enough, after five treatments the pain started easing. I needed twelve treatments total, but my knees improved so much I’m playing golf again. I go in for what he calls tune-ups every month, but I don’t mind. The acupuncture keeps my knees not hurting. I’ve recommended it to my golf buddies and they’ve had success as well.
I had been getting botox injections for my face over the past five years, and it worked well. But a friend said that acupuncture could get more lasting results in a more natural way. I inquired at Raleigh Acupuncture and was surprised at how affordable it was. They explained that as an added bonus, I would receive acupuncture to help other issues at the same time that they treated my face. So I took the opportunity to deal with some arthritis in my hands and a bad knee. The facial rejuvenation was amazing. It happens over the course of 12 weeks and I literally saw wrinkles disappear! After each treatment I felt so relaxed. I’m hooked on acupuncture now, both for my face and the rest of me. The staff at Raleigh Acupuncture are very professional, friendly and skilled. I felt safe and comfortable during each visit.
All of my joints were hurting. I’ve got fibromyalgia and it effects me by making my joints hurt. The pain would move around from place to place, first the hip, the next day the shoulder, then the knee, etc. The practitioner at Raleigh Acupuncture explained that the best way to treat my kind of moving joint pain was to treat me holistically. Instead of treating the hip one day, the shoulder the next, they treated the root of the pain. They said this type of treatment would also improve my mood and my sleep. Right on all counts. I started feeling better after the second treatment. It’s like all of the joints just settled down and stopped giving me trouble. I had less flares and the intensity of the pain went way down. My sleep is better, not just because I have less pain. I’m more relaxed and less stressed. I’ve made this treatment a regular part of my life. I’m very grateful.
I had terrible pain in my hands from arthritis, especially my thumbs. I could not even open a jar anymore – there was no strength. My neighbor was seeing an acupuncturist at Raleigh Acupuncture, so I made an appointment. They were so sweet. I was apprehensive about the needles, but they told me they would use extra small ones, which I hate to admit, but I couldn’t even see without my glasses. They put needles in my hands, arms and in different places on my legs as well. I believe it made a substantial difference. My hands stopped hurting all the time and my grip strength increased. My thumbs still give me some trouble, but not nearly like before. I’d say I am 80% improved with my arthritis. Now I have all of my friends going to them!