2023-05-27 06:40:06
At any age, we can suffer from a swollen finger. But if you find it difficult to fold it, here are the good reflexes to adopt.
We use our hands all day long. A swollen and painful finger can therefore be truly disabling.
Why do you have trouble bending your swollen finger? What are the other possible symptoms? What is the action to take in the face of this problem? Here’s how to react in the event of a swollen finger that you have trouble bending.
What causes a swollen finger?
Several causes can be at the origin of a swollen finger. Most of the time it isa benign pathology, not serious. However, it is necessary to determine the cause of this problem to react correctly.
Trauma
The practice of a sport such as climbing, judo, basketball, etc. can cause finger injuries. Sprains are very common when practicing these physical activities. Fractures are also possible.
Generally, this injury triggers sharp pain and swelling in the finger. These 2 symptoms prevent the injured person from bending their finger correctly for a few days or even several weeks.
An insect bite can also cause your finger to swell badly. Wasp stings are the most common.
Infections
An infection is caused by a foreign body that enters and/or grows in the body. The latter defends itself and alerts you with different symptoms.
A swollen finger is often synonymous with paronychia. The pain is very sharp and also prevents you from bending your finger. It is even almost impossible to touch the infected place.
Be careful, an insect bite or wound can cause an underlying infection.
Pathologies
Some diseases are the cause of swelling of the fingers of the hand:
- inflammatory pathology : spondyloarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis;
- chronic disease : gout, effects of kidney or heart disease;
- conditions that cause inflammatory reactions : systemic lupus erythematosus, bacterial arthritis.
Chemotherapy can also cause these types of side effects. Hands and/or fingers swell and become painful. It is difficult to fold them correctly.
Other causes
Other causes are possible:
- cold : possible Raynaud’s syndrome;
- heat and pregnancy : water retention and poor blood circulation;
- aging ;
- unhealthy lifestyle : diet, lack of water, stress.
Many times we overlook blood circulation problems. However, they can be the cause of other more serious problems. If you experience the symptoms mentioned above, talk to your doctor.
What symptoms accompany the swollen finger?
One or more fingers, or even the whole hand, can swell for different reasons. Quite often, other symptoms also occur.
Pain and inability to bend it
Swollen fingers are often painful and very embarrassing. He is difficult to fold them correctly.
In some cases, such as a sprain or paronychia, it is even almost impossible to touch the damaged finger. It is far too painful. Even in the context of simple water retention, stubby fingers are painful.
Other symptoms
Your body’s alerts vary from one cause to another.
Possible symptoms are:
- hematoma : this is often the case for a sprain;
- fever : when the body fights an infection;
- a feeling of warmth : several cases like gout attack, infection, etc.
It’s possible to have symptoms that are totally away from your hand. Again, these alerts must be taken into account and reported.
How to react ?
Most of the time, the swelling of one or more fingers is benign. If you have any doubts, make a medical consultation in order to establish a diagnosis.
Natural treatments
Cold is an excellent ally in the face of pain and swelling. You can therefore use an ice pack in the case of a sprain, for example.
Are your hands swollen from the heat? Run them under cold water to relieve yourself.
In the case of rheumatism, heat can be effective to help you relax your muscles and relax your fingers.
Also eat anti-inflammatory foods like:
They help you reduce the inflammation encountered in the joints.
Finally, massages, physio and maintenance by means of some mobility exercises are very important. Maintain your hands to limit the inconvenience of bone aging.
The medical consultation
An injury, a pathology, frequent water retention are all reasons to consult a doctor. In these cases, medical treatment is necessary to relieve the pain and heal you.
For an injury, the doctor prescribes painkillers and a splint. An X-ray or even an MRI is also necessary to check the condition of your bones and tissues.
In the case of a pathology, the doctor may request additional examinations and/or refer you to a specialist.
The emergency
Are you having breathing problems? Does your heartbeat race? Contact the Samu by dialing 15 or 112.
Do you have paronychia and the infection is getting worse? Go to the emergency room to treat the infection before it gets worse.
Swollen finger and difficulty bending it: what to remember
There are several reasons that can cause swelling of one or more fingers. Very often, the finger is painful and it becomes impossible to bend it.
Pay attention to all the symptoms you experience to adopt the right behavior. If in doubt, contact a healthcare professional.
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