Question
The child’s little finger on the right hand is bent and cannot be straightened. This has been going on for over a year. Initially, massage helped a bit, but now it doesn’t straighten out even with hospitalization in the Hand Surgery Department of the Second Hospital.
Answer
Based on your situation, it’s likely to be related to rheumatoid arthritis. A definitive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis cannot be made solely based on detailed examinations; clinical diagnosis symptoms are also required. It is recommended to consult with a rheumatology immunology department for further treatment. Rheumatoid arthritis is a global mystery disease listed as one of the top five human incurable diseases by the World Health Organization. The goal of treatment is to alleviate joint pain, prevent joint destruction, and preserve and stabilize joint function. Different treatment methods are adopted at different stages of the disease, including regional heat therapy, hot water bath, hot spring bath, steam therapy, paraffin wax therapy, infrared therapy, ultra-short wave or short wave diathermy, etc., which can reduce pain and morning stiffness, increase regional blood circulation, and promote the subsidence of inflammation and edema, thereby reducing pain and enhancing the drug’s efficacy in the region. Medication treatment includes aspirin, which is still the first choice for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Other medications such as corticosteroids, methotrexate, tripterygium wilfordii hook F, gold preparations, and immunosuppressants also have certain effects. Lifestyle care includes regular exercise and preventing colds.