Swollen, stiff, fairly painful index finger

[SOTM]

I have had this for over a week, and it seems to be getting worse.  I am 33 and in very good health.

The 1st knuckle on my index finger is pretty swollen, stiff and has a fair amount of pain when I bend or touch it.  I have already been to urgent care, and was told it was not infected due to no heat or redness.  I was given Ibuprofen and a splint, told to follow up tomorrow if no improvement.  They sugest bloodwork to test for uric acid or arthritis.  he said possibly gout, but that is usually more painful.  I do eat a high red meat diet, with higher purine foods- ie aspargus and beans.

I do not recall injuring it enough to cause anything like this.  i do crick my knuckles- old habit I am slowly breaking- but that has never given me problems either.  I have started cold compress today and occasional war, Ill see what that does.

Just looking for ideas on what this could be :).

[Bwilderd]

Add me to the list of folks with this weird malady.  Non-dominant index finger, base knuckle, every now and then, sporadically, excruciatingly sharp pain to the touch on the underside of the finger at that base area.  Even feel the same pain when holding the finger in certain positions.  Other positions, no pain.  Seems a little swollen.  But the main symptom is a sharp stabbing pain as if it was broken - but it isn't.  What the heck is doing that?

[philnoir]

Let's hope it never comes back.

If it does and you have the insurance, have it tested for gout.

[OldJedi]

Update- I made a Doctors appointment and was examined. He had no conclusion for the swollen finger and prescribed anti-inflammatory medicine. My finger was at it's worst Sunday and Monday and then started getting better on it's own as each day went by. By Friday (Today) the swelling was completely gone and mobility is back to almost 100%. I did not take the anti-inflammatory medicine because it was getting better on it's own. I still have no idea what caused it but it went away a little slower than it arrived.

[philnoir]

Good luck... and use the Force.

[OldJedi]

Thanks, the swelling and pain did not decrease today and I will make a doctors appointment tomorrow.

[philnoir]

Yes, compression can bring down swelling, as can ice, elevation, and rest. However, that's the treatment for sprains.

Knowing nothing of your medical history, this sounds like an attack of gout. If so, it will last a couple of weeks or more, and nothing helps much with the pain.

But this could be any number of problems and not gout. I'm not a doctor and don't make diagnoses. Seek medical advice if you want a professional answer.

Naprosyn will work better than ibuprofen for the pain, but a prescription NSAID, Indomethacin is indicated for the pain of a gout attack. Call your doctor. It's not controlled and he can phone it in.

There is a test to confirm gout which involves removal of fluid from the joint, and having a rheumatologist examine the sample under a special microscope for crystals.

Gout is caused by a high level of purines, which are present in a diet high in meat, alcohol, shellfish, and a variety of other foods. You can find more information online.

As I said, it may not be gout. If these attacks continue, get a confirmation diagnosis, as there is a prevention treatment -- a medication called allopurinol.

I had one of these attacks last winter in my feet -- first one, then the other, with a month's rest in between. Very painful. This was the first time it happened (I am in my 60s), and I thought it was gout, but I also have a chronic spine disease, and now believe it was a symptom of neuropathy.

If you have any questions, doubts, further symptoms, or complaints -- see your doctor.

Best wishes.