What in the crap is wrong with my finger?

[RancidCamaro]

The first joint up from my knuckle (second down from the fingertip) is swollen on my left hand's index finger. It has been so for about a week and a half now. It's grown about 1/4 in size. It's not painful, it still bends, but it's noticeably hotter than the rest of my finger and of course it's swollen.

It suffered no trauma, and it doesn't seem intent on leaving. Any clues?

[AaronG]

well, its inflamed, to help with that, try taking some alive.

[tWiStEdBird]

Go see a doc.

[Question]

You've got STD's in your finger.

[dmw319]

hahaha ^^

[shenanigans]

Where's your finger been kyle!?!?

[RancidCamaro]

Originally posted by AaronG:
well, its inflamed, to help with that, try taking some alive.

No, I'm still alive - I don't need any more of that... unless my inflamed finger is going to kill me (Evil Dead 2/Army of Darkness style).

Oh... ALEVE.

[crazyralph]

even if it doesn't hurt if its been like that for a week and a half definitely go see a dr.

[MTMike]

Originally posted by crazyralph:
even if it doesn't hurt if its been like that for a week and a half definitely go see a dr.

[3.4 slow to go]

Originally posted by RancidCamaro:

It suffered no trauma, and it doesn't seem intent on leaving. Any clues?

It has been so for about a week and a half now. It's grown about 1/4 in size.

and of course it's swollen.
It suffered no trauma It suffered no trauma It suffered no trauma It suffered no trauma It suffered no trauma It suffered no trauma

It suffered no trauma [img]graemlins/slap.gif[/img]

[Little G]

This is a car forum, not a hospital. Go see a doctor ASAP.

[HAZ-Matt]

Originally posted by RancidCamaro:
The first joint up from my knuckle (second down from the fingertip) is swollen on my left hand's index finger. It has been so for about a week and a half now. It's grown about 1/4 in size. It's not painful, it still bends, but it's noticeably hotter than the rest of my finger and of course it's swollen.

It suffered no trauma, and it doesn't seem intent on leaving. Any clues?

Weird. You have a swollen PIP joint of digit 2 that was not the result of trauma. Usually joint injuries of the hand result from trauma, especially when they are unilateral like yours seems to be. But then again you don't have any pain, and trauma and infection usually have tenderness with them.

I can not speculate as to the cause of your problem.

Anyway, my advice is go see a doctor.

[95Batmobile]

You put it too far up your ***.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by 95Batmobile:
You put it too far up your ***.

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] or hers

[puzzled17]

Although you haven't mentioned any pain, is there any stiffness when you bend your finger? Is the redness localized only to that joint or does it extend anywhere else? Is the swelling localized to your joint or does it extend anywhere else? Is the swelling only on the dorsal aspect (or the side where your fingernail is) or does it extend all the way around your joint to the ventral (or palm side of that finger) I know you said it wasn't painful, but is that only when nothing touches it or how about when you press around the area? Do you notice any color changes or swelling with the remainder of the finger or is it solely that joint? Have you tried any over the counter medication for it? (Advil? Aleve?) If so, has that helped any? Did the swelling gradually increase or did it swell up the first few days and then it has remained the same since? Do you have any other medical conditions? (Gout? Arthritis?) Are you taking any other medications? Even though you said there wasn't any "trauma" do you remember any work you were doing with that hand (on your car? at work? at home?) that may have led to the finger being tightly pressed against any surfces or sustained any or have any new cuts on the affected finger? Do you have any other symptoms? (fever, malaise, fatigue)

Regarding the etiology (or cause) of this phenomenon, I would have to inspect your finger, perhaps do an X-ray or fluid aspiration. (Things that your primary care provider can also obviously perform). Swelling that has persisted for this period of time (1 week) without abating, although unaccompanied by "tenderness" or unrelated "trauma" does warrant a formal medical assessment. I would admonish you to make an appointment by early next week if you still haven't noticed any significant improvement over the weekend or the swelling worsens.. Good luck though, I hope it all works out.

Oh, and although I hesitate to make any recommendations without more information on your medical history, I would recommend Ibuprofen (Advil) over-the-counter, Take two 200mg tablets with food or milk three times daily and at bed time. Avoid Aleve (Naproxen) which is currently undergoing investigation regarding implicated heart event risks in at risk patients. Take this for over the weekend, but if still no improvement or worsens, definitly make an appointment. You may also want to refrain from any work requiring "strenuous activity" of that finger (as silly as that sounds) over the weekend. Once again, good luck and take care.

Any other related health concerns, I'll be around.

[ February 18, 2005, 10:30 PM: Message edited by: puzzled17 ]