Rest assured that the most common causes of finger-popping are not typically a problem.
This article explains when snapping fingers and cracking knuckles can be signs of a problem.
It will also discuss symptoms to be aware of and potential treatments.
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What Causes Joints to Snap and Pop?
Joints may snap and pop for many reasons.
The tendons in your hands are like cords that attach to the ends of your fingers.
When your forearm muscles contract, the tendons pull the fingers into a fist.
The tendons run through a thin tube called the flexor tendon sheath.
This goes from the middle of the palm to the tip of the finger.
This can lead to snapping noises.Because of this, you may also develop some swelling on your palm.
It can occur in multiple fingers, in different locations, and at different times.
Trigger finger is about six times more common in women than in men.
It is also more common in individuals withdiabetesorrheumatoid arthritis.
Genetics and repeated use of the hand may increase the chance of developing trigger finger.
This can occur if there is inflammation or swelling on the tendon.
This causes a snapping feeling when you are relaxing a fist.
Trigger finger tends to affect people over 40.
Severe cases may be treated withsteroid injectionsor a surgery called tenolysis to release scar tissue from tendons.
Ligament Injury
Ligaments hold joints together and can get damaged when afinger is sprainedor dislocated.
Ligaments can be partially or completely torn.
Injured fingers should be splinted or taped so the joint has limited mobility.
Applying ice on and off for 30 minutes at a time helps reduce pain and swelling.
NSAIDs can also reduce inflammation and offer pain relief.
Common symptoms of a ligament injury include pain and swelling of the joint.
If the ligament heals incorrectly, the joint may pop or snap during bending.
Finger ligament injuries may be thought of as small problems.
Osteoarthritis
Finger osteoarthritis is the wearing away of the normally smooth cartilage surfaces of the joints.
Asarthritis worsens,joint movementscan become painful.Arthritic jointsin thefingersoften cause swollen knuckles.
These growths, known as bone spurs, can create uneven surfaces and connection issues.
You may notice a small bump around the arthritic joint called amucous cyst.
There are several approaches to treating osteoarthritis.
One is by taking over-the-counter medications like NSAIDs to control the symptoms of pain and inflammation.
Another is physical therapy to maintain as much mobility and strength as possible.
Prescription medications can also help.
Osteoarthritis of the hand is more common in women over the age of 50.
It is also thought to run in families.
Often, this is sufficient to determine what is causing your symptoms.
These symptoms may be signs of trigger finger, a ligament injury, or osteoarthritis.
If so, know that there are treatment options available.
These may include injections, surgery, wearing a splint, and physical therapy.
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