[Sanli News Report] What to do about recurring finger pain and swelling? Dr. Lu Ping-sheng discusses finger osteoarthritis and minimally invasive vascular therapy
SET News reported on Dr. Ping-Sheng Lu's clinical experience in treating hand osteoarthritis, reminding us that when fingers present with pain, swelling, stiffness over a long period, or even gradually affect bending and daily use, we should not just write it off as "using our hands too much."
SET News - Don't ignore it! Doctor warns: Long-term overuse of fingers brings early onset of osteoarthritis
Finger joint pain may involve osteoarthritis, but it can also be related to tendons, ligaments, or other inflammatory conditions. If symptoms recur or persist, the true source of pain should still be confirmed first before deciding on an appropriate treatment method.
Finger pain and stiffness might be hand osteoarthritis
Hand osteoarthritis is common among middle-aged and older populations, particularly in women.
In addition to age, genetics, long-term mechanical stress on joints, past injuries, and personal constitution may all be associated with the occurrence of osteoarthritis.
Common symptoms include:
Finger joint pain
Joint swelling or stiffness
Restricted range of motion
Pain when gripping objects or using fingers
Gradual changes in joint appearance
For people who need to use keyboards, mice, and mobile phones for long periods, or whose work requires frequent use of both hands, repetitive hand activities may make symptoms more pronounced if joint degeneration or inflammation is already present.
Hand osteoarthritis is not just about enduring pain or taking painkillers
The treatment for finger joint pain varies based on the source of pain, the degree of joint degeneration, and the impact on daily life.
Generally, treatment begins with activity modification, rehabilitation, medication, and other conservative therapies.
However, some patients may still experience persistent localized pain or inflammatory symptoms even after undergoing treatment for some time. At this stage, besides re-confirming the diagnosis, a further evaluation can be conducted to check for the presence of abnormal vascular proliferation associated with chronic inflammation.
Dr. Ping-Sheng Lu discusses chronic joint pain and abnormal blood vessels
In the 2021 SET News report, Dr. Ping-Sheng Lu shared his clinical experience in managing chronic hand joint pain using minimally invasive vascular intervention.
Research on chronic musculoskeletal pain has found that abnormal new microvessels may appear around some long-term inflamed tissues, and there may be a link between these vessels, surrounding inflammatory reactions, and pain nerves.
The concept of Transarterial Microembolization (TAME) is that a physician uses image guidance to locate abnormal blood flow related to the painful area, and then performs a selective vascular intervention.
The goal of treatment is not to "block normal blood vessels" but to target abnormal microvessels associated with chronic inflammation, hoping to reduce persistent localized inflammation and pain stimulation.
From finger joint pain to today's TAME pain therapy
Dr. Ping-Sheng Lu has dedicated himself to image-guided minimally invasive vascular intervention and chronic pain treatment for many years.
Currently, this concept of using vascular intervention to manage certain chronic musculoskeletal pain can be categorized under the technical scope of TAME (Transarterial Microembolization).
TAME is not a treatment that all patients with hand pain or osteoarthritis need to undergo.
Before evaluating interventional therapy, it is more important to first confirm:
Whether the pain has persisted for some time
The location and source of the pain
Whether imaging or ultrasound examinations have been performed
Whether medications, rehabilitation, or other treatments have been received
How much the symptoms are currently affecting work and daily life
Whether there are other rheumatologic, immunological, or neurological diseases present
Only after confirming the source of pain and treatment goals can the physician further determine the appropriate treatment approach.
Long-term finger pain is not necessarily just "aging"
If your fingers repeatedly ache, swell, or feel stiff—even to the point of affecting your ability to hold chopsticks, open bottle caps, use a mouse, work, or sleep—it is recommended to seek a professional evaluation first.
Especially when pain persists for more than a few weeks, symptoms recur, or there has been no improvement after receiving medications or rehabilitation in the past, it is highly worthwhile to re-verify the true cause of the pain rather than continuing to endure it.
Original Report Date: November 4, 2021
Original Report Title: "Don't ignore it! Doctor warns: Long-term overuse of fingers brings early onset of osteoarthritis"
Interviewed Physician: Dr. Ping-Sheng Lu
This article compiles professional content from past media interviews with Dr. Ping-Sheng Lu and has been reorganized based on current medical education needs. The cases mentioned herein represent individual treatment experiences and do not imply that all patients are suitable for the same treatment or will achieve the same results. Actual diagnosis and treatment methods must still be evaluated by a physician based on individual conditions.
