Associated symptoms

The main symptom of all diseases and injuries of the ring finger is pain. This can be of varying intensity, stabbing, throbbing, dull or motion-dependent. The type of pain already provides information about the underlying cause.

However, the pain also leads to movement restrictions of the finger when bones, joints and tendons are injured. In addition, the fingers may be reddened, swollen and overheated, indicating an active inflammatory process. Fingers can also swell and become thick due to bone attachments or rheumatic nodules.

In the long term, prolonged illness can lead to stiffness and weakness of the fingers. In the case of swelling, there is an increased accumulation of fluid in the tissue. This can be increased joint fluid, purulent inflammatory secretions or bloody effusions.The former speak for an inflammatory event, as it can occur with mechanical irritation of the fingers, with rheumatic diseases but also with arthrosis.

Bloody effusions rather speak for an acute injury with damage to bones, muscles or tendons. The swelling can contribute to the pain and the restriction of movement and thus increase the symptoms. To prevent swelling, the finger should be cooled, elevated, compressed and immobilised after injury or in the case of acute inflammation.

This can reduce bruising and inflammation. Movement-dependent pain is typical for diseases of the finger. Both direct diseases of the musculoskeletal system and inflammation of the tissue on the finger can lead to movement-dependent pain.

Bones, joints and tendons are involved in bending or stretching the finger. Especially bone damage after injuries or in the case of advanced arthrosis can make movement painful. If the cartilage of the finger joint has completely disappeared, the adjacent bones rub against each other with every movement, which can cause considerable pain.

Diagnosis

Many of the diseases of the finger are so-called “gaze diagnoses”. This means that by describing the symptoms and clinical picture and inspecting the finger, a reliable diagnosis can already be made. This is the case with fractures and significant injuries of the finger, but also, for example, with lifted arthrosis.

The examination of the finger can be followed by an ultrasound examination and an X-ray. The ultrasound examination allows statements about swelling and fluid accumulation of the tissue. In addition, experienced physicians can also detect tendon and cartilage damage in the ultrasound.

In the subsequent X-ray image, the bony structures can be examined more closely. Arthrosis can also be recognized here by a narrowing of the joint space and other signs. In order to subsequently display the soft tissue in high resolution and more precisely, an additional MRI examination can be performed. However, this is only performed as a supplementary diagnosis in case of further uncertainties.