Causes

• Ingrown Nails can affect any of the fingers. The edge of the nail presses into the skin at the side of the nail. At first, it may just cause discomfort. But if the nail breaks through the skin, it will cause a wound that can get infected. Treatment starts by removing the edge of the nail. Sometimes more of the nail needs to be removed to allow the tissues time to heal. Antibiotics may be needed.
• Trapped Nerves. The nerves in the hand can become trapped or squeezed where they pass through narrow spaces in the arm, often at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome). It can cause loss of feeling or tingling in some of the fingers. If symptoms do not go away with rest or treatment, surgery may be needed to release the nerve.
• Tendinitis is inflammation of tendons where they attach to the bone. It's caused by overuse. This causes pain and swelling at the base of the finger and pain when the fingers are moved or used. Often needs a long period of rest from the activity that caused it. A steroid shot may be needed to reduce the pain. The thumb tendon is often affected due to repetitive movements. This can cause pain and swelling at the thumb-side of the wrist.
• Muscle Cramps are brief pains that last up to 15 minutes. These occur in the hand and fingers after too much writing or typing.
• Trigger Finger affects the tendon which allows you to bend the finger. There may be a small lump on the tendon, causing pain at the base of the affected finger. It can cause stiffness and clicking when you move the finger or try to straighten it. A minor surgery may be needed for the tendon to move normally again.
• Joint Inflammation. Examples are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout. Some, like gout, may affect just one joint. Others affect many joints at the same time. Early treatment may help prevent long-term damage to the joints involved. It can also offer pain relief so the fingers can move freely and not become stiff.
• Peripheral Neuropathy is damage to the nerves in the hands. Feeling in the fingers can be affected. It can cause loss of feeling, tingling or stabbing/burning pain in some areas. The most common cause is diabetes. Wounds or injuries of the hands and fingers may go unnoticed. This can lead to serious infection, if not treated.
• Fractures can occur, often with an obvious injury. Seek help early if there has been an injury with a lot of swelling, if the fingers are not aligned as normal, if pain is severe, if there is loss of feeling or the fingers look pale.

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Pain Scale

• Mild: you feel some pain, but it does not keep you from any normal activities. Work, activities and sleep are not changed.
• Moderate: the pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you up from sleep.
• Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.

When to Call for Finger Pain

Care Advice

What You Should Know about Mild Finger Pain:

• Strained muscles, tendons and ligaments are common after using them too much during activities. Examples are typing (data entry), knitting, trigger finger or archery.
• Starting a new sport or hobby which involves use of the hands, can lead to painful hands and fingers.
• Ingrowing nails cause pain and may get worse if not treated.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Pain Medicine:

• To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
• Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works well for this type of pain.
• Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as listed on the package.
• If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.

Remove Any Jewelry:

• Remove jewelry from the wrist and fingers (bracelets or rings) that could become tight if the hand or fingers become swollen.

Cold Pack for Pain:

• For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
• Put it on the sore area for 20 minutes at a time.
• Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
• Caution: avoid frostbite by wrapping the ice pack. Do not put ice directly onto the skin.

Use Heat After 48 Hours:

• If pain lasts more than 2 days, put heat on the sore area.
• Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
• Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed. Reason: increases blood flow and improves healing.
• Caution: avoid burns by wrapping the heat pack. Do not put it directly onto the skin.

Rest the Hand:

• Rest the painful area as much as possible for 48 hours. Keep the fingers and other joints moving gently if you can. Fingers will quickly become stiff if not used for days at a time.
• Try to avoid putting pressure on your hands and fingers, such as opening bottle tops or jars.
• Keep the hand raised above the level of you heart, if you can, to help limit pain and swelling of the fingers.

What to Expect:

• Strained joints hurt for 2 or 3 days. The pain often peaks on day 2.
• Bruising may hurt for 2 or 3 days.
• Pain from long time overuse (carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis) may last a week or much longer.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Severe pain
• Fever or swollen joint(s) occurs
• Pain lasts more than 7 days
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.




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