What Causes a Swollen Finger?...

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Medically reviewed by Jordana Haber Hazan, MDMedically reviewed by Jordana Haber Hazan, MDA swollen finger can result from an injury, infection, or underlying health condition. Your hands and fingers can also swell due to lifestyle factors like diet or hot weather. In some cases, a swollen finger is a short-term (acute) discomfort, while in other instances, finger swelling is a chronic (long-term) symptom.You can typically treat minor or temporary finger swelling at home. However, if a severe infection, fracture, or underlying condition is causing your swollen finger, you'll need to seek treatment from a healthcare provider to avoid complications.What Does a Swollen Finger Feel Like?A swollen finger typically involves inflammation and swelling due to pressure and fluid build-up in the finger. Swelling can feel different for everyone. The exact sensation depends on the underlying cause. Here are some possible symptoms:You might feel tightness and discomfort from the swelling, along with varying pain levels. Your finger may feel noticeably inflamed and different from the other fingers on your hand, causing you to be cautious about moving or using it. You may notice a temporary reduction in finger mobility and flexibility, which can eventually lead to stiffness.The intensity level and symptom duration of a swollen finger can vary. For example, you might experience a slightly swollen finger for a few days or an intensely inflamed finger for weeks. Based on the root cause, a swollen finger may develop with inflammation severe enough to reduce blood flow in the area or injure nerves or muscles in the hand and forearm. This can happen in cases of bad fractures or infections.CausesMultiple factors can contribute to a swollen finger, including injuries, infections, and chronic inflammatory conditions.InjuryInjuries—like an accident or a fall—can damage the bones, ligaments, and muscles in the hand, leading to a swollen finger. Potential injuries include:Fractures: Fractures are cracks or breaks in the bone. When this happens in the small bones of the finger, it often leads to severe pain, swelling, bruising, deformity, and an inability to move the affected finger.Dislocations: A dislocation is a joint injury that forces the bones out of position. Signs include swelling, intense pain, and a finger that appears out of place.Strains: A strain happens when the muscles or tendons in the hand and fingers are overstretched or torn. Strains also come with swelling, pain, weakness, and bruising.Sprains: A sprained thumb or finger occurs when the ligament is stretched beyond its normal range or torn. In addition to swelling, this commonly causes pain, tenderness, bruising, and a feeling like the finger or thumb is unstable or loose.InfectionInfections result in swelling and inflammation as fluid gathers in the affected area to support the body's healing process. If you notice a swollen finger, a bacterial infection may be to blame. Common infections in the hand include:Bite wound infection: Bacteria from an animal bite can be transmitted through broken skin and trigger an infection.Felon infection: A painful, throbbing fingertip infection can occur after contact with a sharp object (like a gardening or nail-cutting tool).Paronychia: This infection around the fingernail may be acute (occurring one time) or chronic (occurring long-term, usually in people who have constant hand exposure to water or a weakened immune system).Tendon sheath infection: An open wound near a finger joint can cause the hand's flexor tendon to become infected.Along with swelling, infections come with throbbing pain, skin redness or discoloration, and warmth around the area.ArthritisCertain types of arthritis, a condition that causes inflammation in the joints, can affect the hand and fingers, such as:Osteoarthritis (OA): OA can develop when the cartilage (cushioning) between the bones breaks down. This condition usually presents with inflammation, pain, stiffness, and a loss of motion in the affected finger joints.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): RA is an autoimmune condition that triggers the body's immune system to mistakenly attack your joints. If RA affects the hands and fingers, it can prompt swelling, pain, stiffness, and visible joint deformities that can make it difficult to use the finger or hand.Psoriatic arthritis (PsA): Another autoimmune condition, PsA affects the joints, skin, and fingernails. Along with swelling, it leads to pain, changes in the nail beds, and inflamed white patches on the skin.Gout: This arthritic condition causes excessive uric acid (a waste product found in the blood) in the body to accumulate and cause swelling and pain in certain joints, particularly the feet, elbows, and fingertips.Other Health ConditionsA variety of other health conditions might result in a swollen finger, including the following:Stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger finger): A condition that causes inflammation around the tendons in your fingers—making it hard to straighten or bend a swollen fingerCarpal tunnel syndrome: A compression of a major nerve in the hand that can cause finger swelling, numbness, and weaknessLupus: An inflammatory condition that causes the immune system to combat healthy tissue in the body—often affecting small joints in the hand and triggering symptoms like finger inflammation and skin rashesCysts or TumorsA swollen finger may be the result of a non-cancerous cyst or tumor. One example is a ganglion cyst, a fluid-filled sac that commonly develops on the wrist or the base of the finger joints. Ganglion cysts grow on tendons or ligaments as a result of constant stress or pressure, causing finger pain, tingling, and swelling.In rare cases, a tumor known as an enchondroma may develop inside the finger bone cartilage and prompt visible swelling. Enchondromas usually don't cause pain or other symptoms.Lifestyle FactorsSeveral lifestyle factors may cause occasional finger swelling, including:Diet: Eating a salt-heavy diet prompts the body to retain water, causing body parts like the fingers to swell.Medications: Some drugs, like those used to treat high blood pressure, lead to water retention and extremity swelling.Weather: As warmer temperatures heat the body, blood vessels in the skin expand and can trigger swelling.Pregnancy: Normal weight gain and increased water retention may result in swollen hands and fingers.When To See a Healthcare ProviderSee a healthcare provider if your finger swelling is the result of a severe injury, or accompanied by any of the following:Rapid swellingNumbness or tinglingAn inability to straighten the fingerSevere pain at restSkin redness or discolorationFeverDeformity of the fingerNo improvement after several days of home treatmentA healthcare provider will ask questions about your medical history and symptoms before performing a physical exam—including assessing your hand and finger movement. From there, they may order a hand X-ray to rule out injury-related issues like a bone fracture.Once they determine the cause of the swelling, they can recommend a treatment plan if needed.Treatments for a Swollen FingerTreatment for a swollen finger will focus on reducing the swelling and determining whether there's another issue at play—like an infection, fracture, or underlying health condition.Home RemediesAt-home strategies may be enough to treat some causes of a swollen finger, including the following:Rest with your hand raised: Allows fluid to drain from the fingersApply ice to the affected area: Reduces pain and swellingTake anti-inflammatory medications: Medications like Motrin (ibuprofen) for temporary symptom reliefSplint or immobilize the finger: Helps prevent additional swellingWear compression wraps: To help ease additional fluid back into the rest of the bodyMove the fingers, hand, and arm regularly: To maintain blood flow (if appropriate for your condition and approved by your healthcare provider)Medical TreatmentsCertain causes of finger swelling may require medical treatment. A healthcare provider might recommend or prescribe:Prescription medications: Antibiotics may be required for a bacterial infection, while prescription-strength pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs may be appropriate for injuries.Cortisone injections: Injecting an anti-inflammatory into the affected area can offer longer-lasting pain relief.Orthotics: A customized cast or brace helps immobilize the affected finger while it heals.Physical therapy: An injury or chronic condition may require specialized therapy to manage symptoms, increase strength and range of motion, and prevent stiffness in the finger and hand.Surgery: A damaged or injured bone, ligament, tendon, or nerve could require surgery to repair the issue. Surgery may also be necessary to treat a severe infection.How To Prevent a Swollen FingerThere are a few steps you can take to protect your fingers from injury or infection, preventing subsequent swelling. You can also take measures to manage underlying health conditions to reduce the recurrence of swollen fingers.Here are a few general tips to help potentially prevent a swollen finger:Avoid constant or repetitive hand and finger motions, and take breaks when possibleKeep your hands and fingers protected from potential injury by wearing appropriate gear during sports, manual labor, and other physical activitiesIncorporate hand and finger exercises to help strengthen the muscles and provide joint supportManage any chronic inflammatory conditions, like arthritis, with your recommended treatment planKeep other lifestyle factors in check that may lead to swelling, like eating a balanced diet and exercising regularlyComplicationsIf left untreated, a swollen finger has the potential to progress with more severe symptoms and complications. This is why it's important to seek medical attention and treatment when needed.With bacterial infections, long-term swelling can lead to nerve damage and stiffness in the affected finger. An infection can also spread to other parts of the body if not treated properly.Injuries like fractures that don't get the necessary surgical treatment can eventually result in finger dysfunction and other long-term health consequences, like arthritis.A Quick ReviewYou may experience a swollen finger for several reasons, including an injury, infection, or underlying health condition. Other times, finger swelling may result from lifestyle factors that lead to fluid retention and inflammation.Treatment strategies vary based on the underlying cause and may include at-home remedies, prescription options, and surgical procedures. Consulting with a healthcare provider will help ensure you get a proper diagnosis and management to avoid any long-term complications. 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