Why is a finger swollen and what to do about it

1. Fluid retention

Swelling on all fingers at once can occur if an excess of fluid appears in the body. That happensHand swelling during exercise: A concern? / Mayo Clinicfor example in athletes who exercise and sweat a lot. Together with sweat, they lose sodium, which normally keeps water in the bloodstream. Otherwise, it comes out of it and permeates the tissue, which leads to edema.

Also, the liquid is retained Savelyeva G.M., Serov V.N., Sukhikh G.T. Obstetrics. National leadership due to hormonal changes in women during pregnancy.

What to do

If swelling on your fingers is sports related, tryHand swelling during exercise: A concern? / Mayo Clinic:

• Remove rings from your fingers before training;
• During exercise, periodically make circular movements with your hands to improve blood flow;
• Stretch your fingers and clench your fists between sets.
• Drink enough fluids containing electrolytes to retain water in the blood. Mineral water, for example, will do.

And pregnant women with swollen fingers need to tell their gynecologist about this. Usually the symptom does not portend serious problems, however, it happens that edema is the first sign of a dangerous condition - preeclampsia.

2. Injury

If you hit your finger hard, break it, dislocate it, or get a sprain, there will beDislocations / U.S. National Library of Medicine edema. It will be accompanied by redness, pain, and sometimes bleeding.

What to do

For minor bruises, you can apply a cold compress to your finger and take an over-the-counter pain reliever. But if the pain is severe, the wound is large, or the finger is bent unnaturally, you need to see a doctor. In case of dislocation, reduction will be required, and in case of fracture, fixation and restoration will be required.

3. Infection

Because of it, the finger on the hand can also swellHand Infection / American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Even through a small wound, cut or puncture, bacteria can enter the finger and cause inflammation. It can be superficial, or it can spread to the deep tissues of the fingers, between the muscles, in the fascia.

What to do

You need to see a surgeon. He will decide whether it is enough in your case to rinse the abscess and take antibiotic or an operation will be needed.

4. Rheumatoid arthritis

Inflammation of the joints most often starts on the arms. CountsRheumatoid Arthritis / American Academy of Family Physiciansthat the disease is associated with autoimmune reactions, when the body attacks its own tissues and produces antibodies to them.

In addition to swelling of the fingers, other symptoms are characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis:

• joint pain;
• joint stiffness, especially after sleep;
• the rise temperature;
• redness of the hands;
• tiredness and loss of appetite;
• bumps under the skin of the fingers - rheumatoid nodules.

What to do

With such symptoms, you need to go to the doctor. He will do an examination, which includes blood tests, X-rays of the joints, and possibly a study of the joint fluid. Only after confirming the diagnosis, the specialist will prescribe treatment. You can't completely get rid of rheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid Arthritis / American Academy of Family Physicians, but the following will help reduce symptoms:

• over-the-counter pain relievers;
• immunosuppressants;
• hormonal medications;
• antirheumatic drugs.

In addition, you have to lose weight if you are overweight, quit smoking, adhere to proper nutrition, reduce the load on the joints, but at the same time engage in aerobics and physiotherapy exercises.

In severe cases, surgery may be required.

5. Carpal tunnel syndrome

In this disease, the nerve that runs from the forearm to the hand is compressedCarpal Tunnel Syndrome Fact Sheet / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in the tissues of the wrist between the ligaments and bones. Unpleasant symptoms appear:

• numbness and tingling in the fingers, especially in the thumb, index and middle;
• soreness and swelling in the fingers;
• weakness in the arms;
• muscle atrophy at the base of the thumb in advanced cases.

Numbness, tingling, and pain can occur at night or in the morning in one or both hands. And then these signs begin to bother during the day. For example, when a person is holding a phone to their ear or driving a car.

What to do

You need to see a doctor. He can recommendCarpal Tunnel Syndrome Fact Sheet / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke:

• Wear a splint. This is a special device that is fixed to the hand at night;
• Avoid activities that exacerbate symptoms;
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers
• Use hormonal drugs from the corticosteroid group;
• Inject a local anesthetic into the joint.

If treatment doesn't work and your symptoms get worse, surgery may be needed.

6. Gout

Because of pathology in the body is delayedGout In Hands / American Society for Surgery of the Hand uric acid. It is deposited in the kidneys and also forms crystals in the joints and damages them. Therefore, they swell and hurt a lot. Usually, the big toe is affected first, followed by other bony joints. The fingers on the hands can also swell, and tofuses sometimes form on them. This is the name for painless uric acid bumps.

What to do

At the first symptoms, you need to go to the doctor. He will conduct an examination and prescribeGout In Hands / American Society for Surgery of the Hand treatment. It is impossible to completely get rid of gout. Therefore, a person will have to follow a diet low in protein throughout his life, as well as take over-the-counter pain relievers and hormonal drugs.

7. Raynaud's disease

This is a condition in which small arteries in the arms suddenly become compressedRaynaud's disease / Mayo Clinic in the cold or under stress, due to which blood stops flowing to the fingers. Therefore, they become numb, painful, pale and cold. When the seizure subsides and blood flow is restored, the fingers may swell.

What to do

In order for vascular spasms to recur less often, you need to protectRaynaud's disease / Mayo Clinic them from the cold, as well as avoid stress and sudden changes in temperature. If these measures are not enough, the doctor may prescribe medications. Usually these are drugs from the group of calcium channel blockers or antispasmodics. In some cases, experts recommend nerve surgery or injections of Botox and local anesthetics.

8. Lymphedema

She developsLymphedema / Mayo Clinicwhen something blocks the lymphatic vessels and prevents them from collecting fluid from the tissues. This can happen due to rare hereditary factors, in people with cancer or infection lymph nodesas well as after surgery or radiation therapy.

With lymphedema, not only the fingers swell, but the entire leg or arm is swollen. In addition, a feeling of heaviness and tightness of movement appears, and the skin can become coarser and harder. Another symptom is frequent infections.

What to do

There is no cure for the disease, but swelling can be reducedLymphedema / Mayo Clinic in such ways:

• Do exercises that improve lymph drainage.
• Practice tight wraps.
• Periodically carry out lymphatic drainage massage.
• Use pneumatic compression when a special sleeve is put on the hand and air is pumped into it.
• Wear compression garments if your feet and toes are swollen.

9. Mixed connective tissue disease

This is a rare autoimmune disease in which a person simultaneously developsMixed connective tissue disease / Mayo Clinic systemic red symptoms lupus, scleroderma and polymyositisand sometimes the syndrome Sjogren.

At an early stage, a person's fingers hurt and swell, their tips become white and numb. There is pain in muscles and joints, general malaise, and a red or reddish-brown rash appears on the knuckles. Symptoms of Raynaud's disease may also occur.

What to do

There is no cure for the disease. But the doctor may prescribeMixed connective tissue disease / Mayo Clinic drugs that will reduce symptoms. For example:

• over-the-counter pain relievers;
• corticosteroids;
• antimalarial drugs;
• calcium channel blockers;
• immunosuppressants;
• remedies for pulmonary hypertension.

Also, Mayo Clinic experts advise to quit smoking, protect hands from cold and avoid stress.