Finger pain

Alternative names:

pain in the finger(s)

Definition:

Pain in one or more fingers.

Considerations:

Nearly everyone over a lifetime has a few fingers that have been injured and 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.

Don't expect an injury to fingers to heal completely. Even after healing is complete, some leftover stiffness or discomfort is possible.

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:

• 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 finger(s)

Note: There may be other causes of finger pain. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as location, quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for finger pain, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.