Finger Pain

Last reviewed by Dr.Mary on August 7th, 2018.

What causes finger pain?

Pain in the finger can be annoying as well as a troublesome thing, particularly because our fingers are used in so many ways on a daily basis. Finger pain can be caused from an assortment of accidents or conditions but even though most of the problems are mainly just a painful minor problem for most, there are others which may lead to severe or long time problems with your finger. These severe problems can lead to distortion, a damage to movement and in a few cases even amputation of the finger itself. So, the question is how may a person evaluate if the finger pain is a serious or a perhaps a long time disorder as well as when you should visit a medical professional.


Finger Pain Causes

The 1st step in assessing any painful finger condition is to resolve the reason for the difficulty. Of course the most noticeable cause of finger pain is from some sort of wound. Now most injuries can heal with time as well as techniques to immobilize the finger, there are other injuries that can have bad effects on long term usage. You need to appraise the level of the pain owing to the injury. While some injured fingers can be excruciating, this pain would probably diminish as the treatment of the finger progresses. If the pain is exceptionally severe, hurts thru rests, remains painful after 2 weeks of management, has a numb or tingling sensation, or the finger is damaged or bent and you are incapable of unbending the finger or has any kind of crushing injuries you should see a medical professional.

Finger pain cannot always be caused by injuries. There are conditions; diseases as well as infections can also cause pain to evolve. But these types of pains are often harder to diagnose at home. So, what do you do when you have been having pain in one of your fingers for several days but you have not had any injury? How do you recognize when pain is a serious difficulty which needs a visit to the medical professional? Any physician will tell you that it is healthier to be safe than sorry and it is ok to seek professional advice when you are unsure.

Any type of numbness can be some sign of blood flow or nerve problems. Problems such as this can cause difficulties with movement as well as the loss of functioning if not treated properly. Some common reasons for pain in the finger include arthritis, inflammation as well as the wearing away of the joints. Arthritis can be mild or severe and again, severe pain, loss of movement and numbness are all symptoms which point towards seeing your physician. Arthritis can be managed, but absolutely no treatment may lead to total immobility.

There is also a disorder known as Reynaud’s phenomenon which can also cause pain in the finger. This condition may occur from a wide variability of causes, but leads to blood vessel spasms in the finger. These spasms block the blood flow in the finger and can lead to severe problems. So again a doctor’s visit is ok when there are spasms in the fingers because of cold temperature or even emotions.

Finger Pain Treatment

How you care for a finger which is painful depends on the cause of the pain. But there are some broad rules which can be applied.

  1. If the pain is caused by cold water or cold weather, use warm gloves or gloves made to use in water or wet environment.
  2. If the pain is caused by repetitive motion, see your doctor for guidance as well as treatment
  3. If pain is triggered by tendinitis, the use of ice as well as splinting the finger can help
  4. If you believe it is arthritis, see your physician.

There are a number of medications which are good in handling pain in the finger, contingent on the reason for the pain. Discomfort from osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis as well as tendinitis, can be managed with acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen or Cox II inhibitors. Any discomfort from rheumatoid arthritis usually responds to ibuprofen as well as other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs known as NSAIDs and likewise can necessitate drugs which work on the immune systems. Any finger pain cause by Raynaud’s phenomenon can also be treated with a calcium channel blocker. There is also OTC topical pain cream which has capsaicin. Treatment with hot wax managed by a physical therapist can also relieve pain as well as briefly loosen up fingers which are stiff.

Home-care steps for pain in the finger include:

  • Once pain has moderated; lightly exercise the fingers by stretching each finger every 10 minutes when working with a keyboard, clutching/squeezing silly putty or a rubber ball.
  • Exercise the fingers in water which is warm to raise circulation or lessening stiffness.
  • If pain is caused by tendinitis, place a splint on the finger to rest the tendon
  • If the finger is swelling, use ice for 20 to 30 minutes at a time
  • Don’t overuse hands and fingers on the job or at play
  • Buy tools or devices that allow you to perform daily tasks with less stress on the hands or fingers.

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