What medical condition does pain in the index finger indicate?
Disease description:
Recently, my index finger has been experiencing unexplained pain, sometimes accompanied by slight swelling and reduced flexibility. I would like to know what condition this might be a sign of.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Pain in the index finger may be caused by various reasons, including but not limited to:
1. Traumatic injuries: Such as bruises, cuts, or fractures, which are among the most common causes. These injuries are usually accompanied by a clear history of trauma and local swelling or bruising.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis: This is an autoimmune disease primarily characterized by joint pain and swelling. As one of the hand joints, the index finger may also be affected, causing pain.
3. Osteoarthritis: Related to age, obesity, inflammation, infection, and other factors, leading to degenerative changes in the joints. The index finger may experience aching pain when exposed to cold or after physical exertion.
4. Tendinitis (tenosynovitis): Long-term repetitive use of the fingers, such as prolonged typing or playing musical instruments, can cause inflammation of the tendon sheath, resulting in pain and limited movement.
5. Cervical spondylosis: When degenerative changes or chronic strain in the cervical spine compress the nerve roots, it may cause pain in the index finger, accompanied by neck and back pain, numbness, and weakness in the upper limbs.
6. Infections: Such as abscesses or paronychia, often accompanied by symptoms like redness, swelling, heat, and pain.
