Pain - finger
Finger pain is pain in one or more fingers. Injuries and many medical conditions can cause finger pain.
Nearly everyone has had finger pain at some time. You may have:
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.
Injuries are a common cause of finger pain. Your finger may become injured from:
Injuries that can cause finger pain include:
Certain conditions can also cause finger pain:
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:
If finger pain is due to a medical condition, follow your provider's instructions for self care. For example, if you have Raynaud's, take steps to protect your hands from the cold.
Call your health care provider if:
The health care 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.
Mailhot T, Lyn E. Hand. In: Marx J, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. St Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 50.
Swigart CR. Hand and wrist pain. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 50.
Last reviewed on: 12/16/2014
Reviewed by: Dennis Ogiela, MD, orthopedic surgeon, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.