Finger pain has many possible causes.

The most common are accidental injuries, overuse injuries, and arthritis.

Minor injuries may heal with activity changes, splinting, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), andphysical therapy.

woman suffering pain on hands and fingers

Aaron Amat / Getty Images

Severe cases may require surgery.

These injuries develop gradually as you frequently repeat the same movements.

The ongoing stress causes small tears and inflammation in the soft tissues.

Without treatment, a minor overuse injury can turn into a full-blown tissue tear.

However, they’re most often the result of an overuse injury.

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) can put RA into remission, preventing bone deformities.

The primary treatments for OA include exercise (physical therapy),heat therapy, NSAIDs, andcortisone injections.

Advanced arthritis may require joint replacement surgery.RA also benefits from the same therapies.

Gout is managed by eating alow-purine diet.

Purines are compounds used to build DNA and RNA.

High purine levels increase blood levels of uric acid.

Gout attacks can be eased with NSAIDs, cortisone injections, or an anti-inflammatory drug calledColcrys (colchicine).

Colcrys can also be prescribed to prevent gout in people with a history of frequent recurrence.

Others may requirecyst aspiration(the removal of fluid with a needle) or surgical removal of the cyst.

The nodules can become painful and swollen.

Contracture takes place if the tightened fascia forces one or more fingers to bend toward the palm.

As the disease progresses, it becomes hard or impossible to straighten the fingers.

Cortisone injections andcollagenase injectionsmay provide relief in the early stages.

Trigger Finger

When tendons move your fingers, they glide through a protective sheath.

You may also have a tender lump at the base of the affected finger or thumb.

As the condition progresses, the finger can get locked in a bent position.

Though its more common in adults, children may be born with a trigger thumb.

Treatments include rest, exercises, splinting at night, and NSAIDs.

If conservative care doesnt help or you have severe pain, you may need surgery to release the tissues.

As a result, inflammation and many possible symptoms appear (depending on which tissues are affected).

In severe cases, you might develop muscle weakness.

The treatment of peripheral neuropathy varies.

These symptoms occur when small blood vessels tighten.

It may also be a symptom of another disease (secondary Raynaud’s syndrome).

Many can be managed with rest, NSAIDs, cortisone injections, and splinting.

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