MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Finger pain

Skip navigation


Medical Encyclopedia
Other encyclopedia topics:	A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk Bl-Bz C-Cg Ch-Co Cp-Cz D-Di Dj-Dz E-Ep Eq-Ez F G H-Hf Hg-Hz I-In Io-Iz J K L-Ln Lo-Lz M-Mf Mg-Mz N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sh Si-Sp Sq-Sz T-Tn To-Tz U V W X Y Z 0-9

Finger pain

Contents of this page:
Alternative names Definition Considerations Common Causes	Home Care Call your health care provider if What to expect at your health care provider's office

Alternative names

Pain - finger(s)

Definition Return to top

Finger pain is defined as pain in one or more fingers.

Considerations Return to top

Nearly everyone over a lifetime has had finger injuries. As a result, the fingers can remain a bit crooked or stiff. The hand functions quite well with these minor deformities. Fingers need not open fully or close completely to be functional.

Osteoarthritis causes knobby swelling of finger joints and can also cause problems at the base of the thumb. Expect some pain and stiffness. Specific treatment, other than exercise, is not required.

Numbness or tingling may indicate a problem with nerves or circulation.

Common Causes Return to top

Injury or trauma
Osteoarthritis
Raynaud's phenomenon
Rheumatoid arthritis
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)
Any problem with the nerves of the fingers or hand
Reduced circulation to the fingers

Home Care Return to top

Avoid activities that cause or aggravate pain.

After injury, rest the finger joints so that they can heal, but use mild stretching exercises to keep them limber and maintain motion. Stretch the joints gently, not forcefully, twice a day. Stretch just to the point of discomfort, but not enough to cause pain.

Use common sense in thinking of ways to perform activities that are less stressful to the joints. For example, a big handle can be gripped with less strain than a small handle.

Avoid strong pain medicines that tend to mask the pain and may lead to excessive activity or exercise.

Anti-inflammatory medication can help. Any prescribed medication for inflammation should be taken only as directed.

Call your health care provider if Return to top

The finger pain is caused by injury.
The problem persists after 2 weeks of home treatment.
There is numbing or tingling in the fingers.
There is severe pain at rest.
It is impossible to straighten the fingers.

What to expect at your health care provider's office Return to top

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting finger pain in detail may include:

Location
- What part of the finger is affected?
- Is it on both hands?
- Is it every finger?
- Which finger?
- Is it only a particular joint? Which joint?
Time pattern
- When did the finger pain first start?
- How long has it lasted?
- Is it continuous or off-and-on?
Quality
- Is the pain burning?
- Is the pain crushing?
- Is the pain sharp?
Medical history
- Has there been a recent injury?
- What other symptoms are also present?

The physical examination will include examination of the hand and finger movement.

Diagnostic tests:
X-ray of the hand may be recommended

Intervention:
Cortisone injections into a particularly affected finger joint may be recommended. Surgery may be indicated.

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to finger pain to your personal medical record.

Update Date: 10/24/2003

Updated by: Stanford Peng, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.