Knott's disease: causes, symptoms, treatment methods

This disease is also known as stenosing ligamentitis and is a condition in which one of the fingers of the hand assumes a constant bent position. When straightened, it makes a click, like a shot. Hence the more common name of the ailment is the snapping finger syndrome.

Nott's disease is diagnosed when, due to the inflammatory process, the space under the envelope surrounding the tendon narrows. In severe cases, the finger remains bent.

If your work or hobby requires repeated repetition of monotonous grasping movements with your hands, you are at risk. Most often this disease affects women and diabetics of both sexes.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of Nott's disease are both minor and severe. Among them:

• Immobility and stiffness in the joint, especially in the morning.
• Clicking sound or clicking sensation while moving with your finger.
• Softness or lump (knot) on the palm of the base of the sore thumb.
• Periodically, it becomes impossible to unbend a finger, but after a while it unbends spontaneously, regardless of the number and intensity of attempts to straighten it.

Nott's disease most often affects a large, middle, or ring finger. Sometimes the ailment spreads directly to several fingers or even to both hands. Unpleasant sensations become especially noticeable in the morning, when trying to straighten a finger or tightly squeeze an object.

When to see a doctor

If you notice a limited movement or stiffness in the joints of your fingers, tell the expert so that he will analyze the symptoms and perform a physical examination of your arm. If the joint is inflamed and feels hot to the touch, you may need urgent medical attention, since the signs listed indicate infection.

Causes

Tendons are fibrous structures that connect muscles with bones. Each tendon is surrounded by a protective shell. Stenosing ligamentitis is diagnosed when this membrane in the tendon of the finger is irritated and inflamed. Pernicious processes disrupt the normal movement of the tendon under the shell.

Prolonged irritation in the protective envelope of the tendon can lead to scarring, thickening of the structure and formation of cones (knots), which further impedes the normal functioning of the tendon.

Risk factors

Circumstances that increase the risk of developing Knott's disease include:

• Monotonous grasping movements. Work and hobbies that require repeated repetition of the same finger movements often lead to a stenosing ligament.
• Certain health problems. Patients with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis are at risk.
• Floor. Most often Knott's disease is diagnosed in women.

Before a visit to a doctor

To make an accurate diagnosis on the basis of symptoms and medical examination, you will need to contact a district or private physician.

Before going to a polyclinic or a medical center, it is desirable to make a list of regularly used food supplements and medicines. You can also write down the main questions you want to ask the doctor in advance, for example:

• Is this a malaise temporary?
• Because of what there were signs?
• How can Knott's disease be cured?
• Can complications arise due to prescribed treatment?

The doctor will also ask you some clarifying questions. Be prepared to respond to them to inform the specialist of all the most important information. The doctor is likely to be interested in the following details:

• What symptoms did you find in yourself?
• How long have you noticed the signs of Nott's disease?
• Are the symptoms manifested periodically or are they permanent?
• Does the improvement or deterioration of your condition depend on any factors?
• Does your condition worsen in the mornings or at certain times of the day?
• Do you do monotonous movements with your hands at work or during leisure?
• Have you hurt your hand recently?

Diagnostics

The diagnosis in this case does not require complex studies. The doctor will determine the ailment based on the medical history and medical examination. Upon examination, the specialist will ask you to squeeze and unclench the fist and analyze the areas with painful sensations, smooth movements and the character of stiffness in the joints. The doctor will also palp for the detection of cones. If the detected cone appeared due to stenosing ligament, it will move simultaneously with the movement of the finger due to belonging to the affected tendon.

Therapy

There are many methods of getting rid of joint stiffness and pain syndrome, characteristic of such an ailment as Knott's disease. Treatment with conservative non-invasive methods includes:

• Recreation. For at least 3-4 weeks should refrain from classes that require a monotonous repetition of monotonous grasping movements.
• Stretching. Intense physical stretching exercises help to cope with the disease, however, only a physician should prescribe such physical exertion.
• Heat or cold. Since ancient times, many people have been tormented by Nott's disease; Folk treatment of this ailment consists in applying pieces of ice to the palm of your hand. Some patients, however, are more helped by warmers, especially if applied to their hands immediately after waking up in the morning.

Other methods

Most patients with stenosing ligament are injected with a steroid drug directly into the protective envelope of the tendon. Steroids help reduce inflammation and restore normal motor function of the fingers. This method of treatment has proved to be highly effective in 90% of cases and is applied universally. Sometimes a reinjection is required to fix the result.

If a patient suffers from diabetes, steroids may not be able to cure such a disease as Nott's disease. The operation in this case is considered the best option: through a small incision at the base of the aching finger, the surgeon straightens the compressed area in the protective envelope of the tendon. The operation does not take much time and is the most effective method of dealing with the snapping finger syndrome.