Finger pain
Pain - fingerFinger pain is pain in one or more fingers. Injuries and many medical conditions can cause finger pain.
Considerations
Nearly everyone has had finger pain at some time. You may have:
- Tenderness
- Burning
- Stiffness
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Coldness
- Swelling
- Change in skin color
- Redness
Many conditions, such as arthritis, can cause finger pain. Numbness or tingling in the fingers may be a sign of a problem with nerves or blood flow. Redness and swelling can be a sign of infection or inflammation.
Causes
Injuries are a common cause of finger pain. Your finger may become injured from:
- Playing contact sports such as football, baseball, or soccer
- Doing recreational activities such as skiing or tennis
- Using machinery at home or work
- Doing tasks at home, such as cooking, gardening, cleaning, or repairs
- Falling
- Getting into a fist fight or punching something
- Doing repetitive movements like typing
Injuries that can cause finger pain include:
-
Smashed fingers, such as from a hammer blow or a car door that crushes the finger.
Smashed fingers
Smashed fingers is an injury involving trauma to one or more fingers.
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Compartment syndrome, which is severe swelling and pressure in an area of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. A crushing injury can cause this serious condition, which requires immediate medical attention.
Compartment syndrome
Acute compartment syndrome is a serious condition that involves increased pressure in a muscle compartment. It can lead to muscle and nerve damage a...
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Mallet finger, when you can't straighten your finger. Sports injuries are a common cause.
Mallet finger
Mallet finger occurs when you cannot straighten your finger at its last joint. When you do try to straighten it, the tip of your finger remains bent...
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Finger strains, sprains, and bruises.
Finger strains
A strain is when a muscle is stretched too much and part of it tears. It is also called a pulled muscle. A strain is a painful injury. It can be c...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleSprains
A sprain is an injury to the ligaments around a joint. Ligaments are strong, flexible fibers that hold bones together. When a ligament is stretched...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleBruises
Bleeding into the skin can occur from broken blood vessels that form tiny red dots (called petechiae). Blood also can collect under the tissue in la...
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Broken finger bones.
Broken finger bones
If more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures...
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Skier's thumb, an injury to the ligaments in your thumb, such as from a fall during skiing.
Skier's thumb
With this injury, the main ligament in your thumb is stretched or torn. The ligament is a strong and flexible tissue that attaches one bone to anoth...
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Cuts and puncture wounds.
Cuts and puncture wounds
A cut is a break or opening in the skin. It is also called a laceration. A cut may be deep, smooth, or jagged. It may be near the surface of the s...
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Dislocation.
Dislocation
A dislocation is a disruption of the normal position of the ends of two or more bones where they meet at a joint. A joint is the place where two bon...
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Certain conditions can also cause finger pain:
-
Arthritis, the breakdown of cartilage in the joint that causes inflammation with pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation or degeneration of one or more joints. A joint is the area where 2 bones meet. There are more than 100 different types of...
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Carpal tunnel syndrome, pressure on the median nerve in the wrist, causing numbness and pain in the hand and fingers.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which there is excessive pressure on the median nerve at the wrist. This is the nerve that allows feeling a...
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Raynaud phenomenon, a condition that results in blocked blood flow to the fingers when it is cold.
Raynaud phenomenon
Raynaud phenomenon is a condition in which cold temperatures or strong emotions cause blood vessel spasms. This blocks blood flow to the affected re...
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Trigger finger, when a swollen finger tendon makes it hard to straighten or bend your finger.
Trigger finger
Trigger finger occurs when a finger or thumb gets stuck in a bent position, as if you were squeezing a trigger. Once it gets unstuck, the finger pop...
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Dupuytrens contracture, which causes tissue in the palm of the hand to become tighter. This makes it hard to straighten the fingers. It usually affects the small or ring finger.
Dupuytrens contracture
Dupuytren contracture is a painless thickening and tightening (contracture) of tissue beneath the skin on the palm and fingers.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - De Quervain tenosynovitis, which causes pain in the tendons along the thumb side of the wrist, most often from overuse.
- Infections.
- Tumors.
Home Care
Often, care at home is enough to relieve finger pain. Start by avoiding activities that cause finger pain.
If finger pain is due to a minor injury:
- Remove any rings in case of swelling.
- Rest the finger joints so they can heal.
- Apply ice and elevate the finger.
- Use over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) to reduce both pain and swelling.
- If needed, buddy tape the injured finger to the one next to it. This will help protect the injured finger as it heals. Don't tape it too tight, which can cut off circulation.
- If you have a lot of swelling or the swelling does not go away in a day or so, see your health care provider. Small fractures or tendon or ligament tears can occur, and can lead to problems in the future if not treated correctly.
If finger pain is due to a medical condition, follow your provider's instructions for self-care. For example, if you have Raynaud phenomenon, take steps to protect your hands from the cold.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if:
- Your finger pain is caused by severe injury
- Your finger is deformed
- The problem continues after 1 week of home treatment
- You have numbness or tingling in your fingers
- You have severe pain at rest
- You can't straighten your fingers
- You have redness, swelling, or fever
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
The provider will do a physical exam, which will include looking at your hand and finger movement.
You will be asked questions about your medical history and symptoms.
You may have an x-ray of your hand.
Treatment depends on the cause of the problem.
References
Donohue KW, Fishman FG, Swigart CR. Hand and wrist pain. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein's & Kelly's Textbook of Rheumatology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 53.
Schoener B, Wagner MJ. Hand injuries. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 42.
Stockburger CL, Calfee RP. Digit fractures and dislocations. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR. eds. DeLee, Drez, & Miller's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 74.
Review Date: 10/20/2022
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.