Associated symptoms
Pain in the index finger can also be accompanied by symptoms, i.e. other signs of illness that occur together with the pain. In the case of trauma (injury caused by external forces) such as a sports or household accident, typical symptoms such as redness and swelling appear alongside the pain. In acute trauma, in which the skin is also injured, blood can leak, whereas in blunt trauma blood cannot drain off and then becomes apparent as a hematoma (bruise).
In addition, the swelling often restricts movement, which means that the finger can no longer be bent, stretched or loaded properly. If nerves are also stressed in some form – for example in carpal tunnel syndrome or a herniated disc – typical symptoms of nerve irritation such as numbness or tingling (formication) occur. Often there is then also a so-called radiation, which means that the pain is also felt in other places, such as the hand or even the arm.
If there are accompanying neurological symptoms such as tingling or numbness, a doctor should be consulted quickly. Swelling is a typical accompanying symptom of various causes of pain in the index finger. It is an accumulation of fluid in the tissue.
Swelling is a non-specific indication of a tissue injury or inflammation. The swelling with pain in the index finger is usually caused by trauma. A distinction is made between acute trauma, for example a stab wound with a knife, and blunt trauma, for example an accidentally pinched or bent finger.
The swelling is then largely caused by blood escaping from an injured blood vessel, which can lead to a hematoma (bruise). In addition, trauma is accompanied to a small extent by the release of so-called inflammatory mediators of the body.This accelerates the healing of wounds and the defence against any bacteria that may have entered the body, but the typical signs of inflammation, which include swelling, are also produced. This inflammatory process also causes the swelling in the inflammatory causes (see above), but here it often comes to a wrongly regulated, chronic and too strong inflammation, which then has no more positive effects.
Pain at the fingertip of the index finger means painful sensations above the end of the finger joint. The pain in this area can also occur in the fingernail area or radiate from it. Depending on the cause of the pain, the quality of the pain can vary greatly.
In the case of nerve injuries, in addition to pain, symptoms such as tingling, formication or a numbness at the fingertip can occur. In addition to nerve injury, other possible causes are overstrain, for example during office work, joint inflammation or tendonitis in the index finger. If the index finger hurts when moving, many clinical pictures can be hidden behind it.
According to the frequency, again the uncomplicated trauma is the most common cause, but almost all of the other diseases mentioned above can also be the cause. In older patients without further symptoms, arthrosis should be considered, also rheumatoid arthritis can manifest itself only at a later age. Young people in particular can suffer from overstrain, especially when the index finger is under high strain, as occurs for example when working at the computer.
A frequent complication is then also tendosynovitis. In principle, however, all diseases affecting the index finger can also hurt when it is moved – even if the movement itself is not the cause of the pain. Pain in the index finger when bending and stretching the finger is a very common symptom.
They occur after almost every capsule injury, but also often as part of arthrosis or rheumatoid arthritis (see above). Since pain when bending and stretching is very unspecific, a doctor should always be consulted if the cause of the pain is unknown. Night-time pain in the index finger can be an early symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Pain typically occurs in the thumb, index and middle finger and improves after massaging or shaking the affected hand. Nocturnal pain in the index finger can also be a symptom of other causes. In order to rule out nerve damage, you should see a doctor and have your hand examined.
The snap finger is a special form of tendosynovitis. It is a tendovaginitis stenosans in the area of the flexor tendons of the hand. The snap finger is also known as the “fast finger”, trigger finger.
Characteristically, the first ring ligament is affected by a narrowing and the tendon cannot slide freely through the ligament. This hinders the bending and stretching of the index finger and clinically the finger “snaps” jerkily when bent or stretched. In addition to a stiffness of the affected finger, those affected can suffer from pressure-painful swelling and a feeling of tension.
Initially, the snap finger is usually treated conservatively, with anti-inflammatory ointments or cortisone. In the long term, only a short operation can help, whereby the ring stenosis is split under anesthesia. You can find more detailed information about the operation under: Operation of a fast finger or therapy of a fast finger
