HEALTH TIP

Finger pain can be caused by disease or injury affecting any of the structures in the finger, including the bones, muscles, joints, tendons, blood vessels, or connective tissues. Joint pain is a feature of joint inflammation (arthritis) that may occur in the joints of the finger bones. This can sometimes be accompanied by redness, swelling, or warmth of the joints. Both osteoarthritis andrheumatoid arthritis (RA) commonly affect joints of the fingers. Trauma or injury to the finger, such as bruises, dislocations, and fractures of bone are all common causes of finger pain. Tumors of the structures in the finger are a very rare cause of finger pain. Certain conditions such as diabetes can cause damage to the nerves, resulting in pain, numbness, or tingling of the arms and legs. This phenomenon, known as peripheral neuropathy, can also sometimes cause finger pain. Infection of the skin or other tissues of the finger is a less common cause of finger pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome initially causes numbness and tingling in the hand, but as it progresses, it may cause cramping or burning in the fingers.