Pain in your hand fingers is often due to an injury or an underlying medical condition.
Common Causes of Finger Pain
Finger pain can stem from a variety of reasons, broadly categorized as injuries and medical conditions.
Injuries
- Cuts and Lacerations: A direct cut to the finger, often from sharp objects, can cause immediate pain.
- Broken Finger: A fracture can cause significant pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the finger.
- Broken Fingernail: Damage to the nail bed can be very painful.
- Sprains and Strains: Overexertion or sudden twisting can lead to ligament or muscle injuries in the fingers.
Medical Conditions
- Osteoarthritis: This degenerative joint disease causes cartilage breakdown, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling in the finger joints. It is a common cause of finger pain, especially in older adults.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints, including those in the fingers, resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness. Unlike osteoarthritis, it's a systemic disease that can affect other parts of the body.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: While primarily affecting the wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome, which involves compression of the median nerve, can cause pain and numbness that radiates into the fingers.
- Trigger Finger (Stenosing Tenosynovitis): Inflammation of the tendons in the finger can cause the finger to catch or lock in a bent position, accompanied by pain.
- Gout: A form of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, which can affect the fingers, leading to intense pain, redness, and swelling.
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis: Though it mainly affects the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, pain can radiate into the fingers.
- Infections: Bacterial or fungal infections around the fingernail (paronychia) or within the finger can cause significant pain and swelling.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Consult a doctor if you experience:
- Severe pain
- Inability to move your finger
- Deformity of the finger
- Signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus)
- Numbness or tingling that doesn't resolve
- Pain that interferes with daily activities
Diagnosis and Treatment
A doctor will typically diagnose the cause of finger pain through a physical exam and potentially imaging tests like X-rays. Treatment options vary depending on the cause and can include:
- Rest and ice
- Pain medication (over-the-counter or prescription)
- Splinting or casting
- Physical therapy
- Injections (corticosteroids)
- Surgery (in severe cases)
