Associated symptoms

In addition to the swelling of the fingers, various accompanying symptoms can occur. Pain often occurs due to the increase in tissue tension. The mobility of the joints can also be restricted by the increase in circumference and tension.

Itching can also occur. The color of the fingers can also change. They are often bulging and slightly reddened.

A lighter coloration can be seen at the wrinkles. If the swelling of the fingers is caused by an underlying disease, symptoms such as fever, fatigue, increased sweating or chills may also occur. A decrease in performance, shortness of breath during exercise or newly occurring frequent urination at night in connection with swollen fingers can indicate a heart disease and should also be examined by a physician.

A clarification is then necessary. Even if simple swellings occur more frequently or in phases, a medical examination is indicated. If swelling occurs in conjunction with pain, an inflammatory or degenerative process can be assumed.

The pain can occur during exercise and movement, but also at rest. Load-dependent pain often indicates overloading or can be a sign of arthrosis of the finger joints. If the pain occurs at rest, this indicates an acute inflammation, which can also be triggered by a gout attack or a rheumatic attack, for example.

In addition to the swelling, redness and overheating of the joint is then frequently also recognizable. Also with some connective tissue illnesses such as fibromyalgia it can come to a painful swelling. Severe swelling can also be a cause of pain in itself, since it irritates certain sensors of the skin tissue (mechanoreceptors), which report the pain to the brain.

An allergic reaction, such as an insect bite in the fingers, can lead to severe swelling and pain in the affected area. Painless swellings in the fingers are usually less pronounced and are not accompanied by an inflammatory reaction. This can be caused by metabolic disorders with water retention in the tissue.

A discreet lymph congestion, in which fluid accumulates and cannot drain off, but also edema formation due to heart–lung diseases can contribute to painless swelling of the fingers. The fingers may also discolor slightly bluish, which may be a sign of an oxygen deficiency. Simple swellings due to a long period of immobilization under the influence of gravity or swelling of the hands during pregnancy are usually not painful either.

Itching of swollen fingers can occur due to the swelling itself, the tension can cause irritation and itching. Allergic reactions can also cause severe itching. Small blisters may also appear, which can be responsible for the itching.

This can also be the case with a strong heat effect. In case of itching, it should be considered whether a contact allergy is present. In other words, whether the fingers came into contact with certain substances that could have triggered the reaction.

Due to the accumulation of fluid in the tissue, nerves and vessels can be compressed by the increasing tissue pressure. Nerves cannot withstand permanent pressure well and their function is therefore disturbed. This can lead to tingling sensations or even numbness.

Activating exercises or raising the hand is then particularly useful to relieve the nerve tissue and reduce swelling.If swollen fingers and swollen legs occur together, a systemic problem of the whole body, i.e. an internal underlying disease, should be considered. In the case of heart failure, edema in the hands and feet can occur together, and this is also possible when taking cortisone or a thyroid dysfunction. If the protein balance is disturbed or the distribution of electrolytes is altered, edema can occur simultaneously in the fingers and legs.