Pain in the fingers of the hands when bending them: why does it happen and how to relieve it?

Notice pain in the fingers of the hands when bending them could be something punctual or chronic and the causes can be diverse. In some cases, the pain will go away and you can do a lot to prevent it from coming back; in others, although the pain remains, there are techniques to alleviate it and prevent it from getting worse.

Pain in the fingers of the hands when bending them: causes

The osteoarthritis It is a frequent cause of pain in the fingers of the hands. It is a degenerative disease affecting the joints and occurs when hyaline cartilage (which lines the ends of bones within a joint and cushions rubbing against each other) begins to wear away over time, leading to pain, swelling, and limited range of motion in the affected joint. Osteoarthritis usually affects weight-bearing joints, such as the knees, hips, or spine, but it can also occur in the hands, fingers, and other joints.

Finger pain due to osteoarthritis may be accompanied by swelling, redness, or deformity in the fingersand feeling of having the stiff hand (especially first thing in the morning).

Pain in fingers accompanied by swelling (the joint may be hot to the touch) and rigidity may also be due to rheumatoid arthritisa disease in which the immune system itself damages the joints and connective tissue.

A condition called finger on the triger (stenosing tenosynovitis), which occurs when the tendons in the finger become inflamed or thickened, can make it difficult to move the finger and cause pain or a popping or popping sensation when stretched.

The tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons) can occur in the fingers due to overuse or repetitive motion, for example, when using the mobile or the computer a lot. It can cause pain when bending the fingers and may be accompanied by swelling and tenderness.

Despite the fact that multiple factors can influence the appearance of pain in the fingers, “often one of the causes of finger pain is the misuse of the keyboard”, explains the physiotherapist Bibiana Badenes.

Spend a lot of time texting on your mobileFor example, repetitive work causes repercussions on the thumb, the tendon becomes inflamed and pain appears over time. “It is progressive and damages the joint, which in the long run it can cause osteoarthritis of the thumbor one de Quervain’s tendinitiswhich affects the two tendons that run from the dorsal aspect of the thumb to the wrist”, he warns.

Pain in the fingers can also be the result of a ligament injuryas a sprain or strain due to a blow, to the repetitive stress of the fingers or to an incorrect position of the hands when carrying out some activity.

Compression or irritation of the nerves in the hands, which occurs in diseases such as carpal tunnel syndromecan cause pain in the fingers when bending them, along with tingling or numbness.

In any case, if you notice a pain that increases or that does not go away in your fingers, you should see your doctor to determine what the cause is.

How to relieve pain in the fingers of the hands?

The most appropriate treatment to eliminate finger pain will depend on the cause. However, some general measures can help you:

Avoid making repetitive movements for a while or those activities that cause or increase pain can help recovery and prevent pain from getting worse. In some cases, especially if the pain is due to osteoarthritis or tendinitis, the wearing a splint or brace It can provide support to the fingers, reduce movement and relieve pain.apply ice (wrapped in a cloth, never directly on the skin) can help reduce inflammation and temporarily relieve pain.The heaton the other hand, is useful for relax muscles and increase blood flow.

when the pain is due to repetitive movements or poor position hands while performing an activity, it may be helpful to perform ergonomic modifications: it is convenient to make sure that the place where we work is well distributed, our body and hand posture is correct and the tools we use are ergonomic.

In this sense, some of the keys that can help avoid keyboard painaccording to the physiotherapist, are:

When using a keyboard, having the wrist in line with forearmswithout bending it, and resting on the hypothenar region (ie, the bulging area of ​​the palm of the hand below the little finger) of the hand.Avoid typing too hard.Use a ergonomic keyboardwell “stimulates the natural position of the wrists and facilitates the mobility of the fingers to write comfortably”, he explains. Do not type with your fingers perpendicular to the keys, but almost horizontal“so that whatever you press the buttons is the fingerprint area“, he clarifies. This is how the impact will be distributed.neck stretch and do whole arm movements several times a day.Vary the positions.

Finger pain relief exercises

Perform gentle exercises and stretches with your fingers can help improve your flexibility, strengthen muscles and reduce pain in those cases in which it is due to repetitive stress or poor posture, although it is advisable to consult a specialist to find out if they are indicated in each specific case.

“A first general recommendation would be to make hand relaxation exercises regularly”, indicates Badenes. Examples of these exercises are:

Wrist extension and flexion (to the different sides).Use sponge balls.Interlock your fingers and generate light pressure between them without bending the wrists or hyperextending the fingers.Pinch between each finger of the hand and thumb. Put several times a day the hand flat on the table and distribute the weight throughout the palm.