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Missing knuckle &extreme joint pain.

Hello, I'm an 18 year old female with pretty bad joint pain (at least that's what I'm assuming it is.) When I was about 10 or 11, I discovered I was missing a knuckle on my right ring finger. My finger was then about the same size as my pinky, and seemed like it had a 'shrinking' effect, due to the fact all my other fingers were growing and my ring finger was not. I don't remember much about what the doctors said about it, as it was 8 years ago. But I do know I had many x-ray's and MRI's &they wanted to do surgery on it, by taking bone from my hip &placing it in my finger (I think ?) I didn't undergo the surgery tho, because I ended up moving from California to Las Vegas w| my parents. Now, this past year, I have been experiencing very bad joint pain in my hand &fingers.  Predominantly my pinky finger &ring finger, &directly under my ring finger where it would connect to the center of my palm. The pain is at times unbearable &extremely frustrating to the point that I want to cry. I am right handed, so it makes writing anything extremely difficult and ends up w| me in pain. Does anyone know what this could be or how I could believe the pain? I'm desperate at this point. Here are a few pictures of my hand. I try to keep long nails on so the difference in how short my ring finger is isn't as visible (Yes, I am very self conscious about it.)




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Avatar universal
Hello I'm 15 years and when I was about 10 I also discovered that I was missing my knuckle on both hands I really hated because I see everyone else and like they are normal I guess but I also got bullied about it but I also have pain in my fingers on certain times and well my doctors are gonna do x-ray soon
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1193998 tn?1265117597
Interesting! (Sorry, this kind of stuff fascinates me. :) I wish I could have pretty nails like yours - unfortunately they'd drive me insane on the keyboard! :) Honestly, I think most people wouldn't notice it if you didn't say anything about it.

Anyway, I wonder if you had a fracture along the growth plate of that finger when you were little, and you don't remember it. (I have no memory of a broken collar bone at age 2.) This could have prevented the bone from lengthening normally. Over time the structural difference could eventually lead to pain just from the effort of trying to use the finger normally.

All I can really suggest is to ask for a referral to an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hands. I had a bone spur in my right ring finger a couple years ago and I know how frustrating it is to be right handed and not be able to use it! The orthopedic surgeon removed the spur and it's great - my finger, which is crooked from RA, is straighter than I ever remember it. :)

Good luck!

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Avatar universal
I just realized the pictures didn't show up so I will post them again.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r114/rmlvr/cba0be5e.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r114/rmlvr/77043a40.jpg
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