ブシャール結節

#Bouchard's nodules

手指の関節の腫れ・痛み・しびれ・変形が第一関節に起こることを「ヘバーデン結節」、第二関節に起こることを「ブシャール結節」といいます。
結節とは骨のコブのことで、手指の関節が腫れて痛むだけでなく、粘液嚢腫（ミューカスシスト）と呼ばれる水ぶくれが現れることもあります。症状には個人差がありますが、関節軟骨の摩耗や関節の隙間が狭くなり徐々に骨が変形していきます。
上記症状のため、指の動きが悪くなったり、強く握ることが困難になったりして、日常生活が困難になることがあります。
自己免疫疾患のひとつ「関節リウマチ」と症状が似ていて、一見、見分けがつきにくいため、医療機関にかかることが大事です。
ヘバーデン結節、ブシャール結節ともに、更年期に起こりやすい手指の疾患です。更年期のみならず女性ホルモンの大きな変動（減少）が起こる産後・授乳期にも、同様に手指に痛みやしびれ、こわばりが起こることがあります。鍼灸治療では、患部やその周囲の血流を良くすることで痛みや腫れを緩和する効果や関節可動域制限の改善、変形の進行を抑える効果が期待できます。

Swelling, pain, numbness and deformity of the joints of the fingers that occur in the first joint are called Heberden's nodules, while those in the second joint are called Bouchard's nodules.
A nodule is a bony bump, which not only causes swelling and pain in the joints of the fingers, but may also present as a blister called a myxocyst. Symptoms vary from person to person, but the bone gradually becomes deformed due to wear and tear of the articular cartilage and narrowing of the joint space.
Due to the above symptoms, daily life may become difficult due to poor finger movement and difficulty in gripping strongly.
It is important to seek medical attention because the symptoms are similar to those of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease, and are difficult to distinguish at first glance.
Both Heberden's nodules and Bouchard's nodules are hand disorders that tend to occur during menopause. Pain, numbness and stiffness in the fingers may occur not only during menopause, but also during the postpartum and lactation periods, when major fluctuations (decreases) in female hormones occur. Acupuncture treatment can be expected to improve blood flow in and around the affected area, thereby relieving pain and swelling, improving joint range of motion limitations and reducing the progression of deformity.