Why Do My Finger Joints Look Swollen?

Whether your finger joints are swollen regularly or you’ve noticed sudden swelling over the past few days, it’s normal to wonder what’s causing your joints to look and feel so puffy.

There’s actually a huge list of things that can cause your finger joints to swell, ranging from chronic conditions to acute injuries to infections. To get an accurate diagnosis, it’s helpful to know what some of the possible causes are and what symptoms can accompany the swelling.

At the Valley Orthopedic Institute in Palmdale and Ridgecrest, California, our team is led by orthopedic experts Anand Shah, MD, Mehul Taylor, MD, and Adam Amir, DO, in diagnosing and treating joint issues such as swollen finger joints.

This month’s blog explores some common causes of swollen finger joints to help you better understand what might be triggering your puffy fingers.

Injuries

Any type of trauma or injury to your hand or fingers triggers an inflammatory response to aid with healing and prevent infection. Because of the increased blood flow, you can experience swelling, redness, heat, and pain at the site of the injury. 

Common finger injuries that can cause swelling include: 

• Sprains
• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Torn tendons

Taking over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and immobilizing the affected finger should help aid in the healing process and reduce swelling.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a term for multiple conditions that attack the lining of your joints or the cartilage that lubricates them. The most common types of arthritis that affect your hands include: 

• Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as wear-and-tear arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Gout

As the arthritis attacks your joints, they can become stiff, painful, and swollen, eventually making it hard to move or use them.

While there is no cure for arthritis, many effective management strategies can reduce pain and swelling and keep the disease from progressing so quickly.

Autoimmune disorders

Two autoimmune disorders that often cause finger joint swelling are scleroderma and lupus.

Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a condition that causes your body to make too much of a skin protein type called collagen, causing your skin to become very thick and hard. If it starts to affect your hands, your finger joints can swell and stiffen and eventually become hard to move.

Lupus

Lupus causes systemic (body-wide) inflammation and can affect your skin, joints, and internal organs. Symptoms can include extreme fatigue, headaches, fevers, and joint swelling. In addition to causing your finger joints to swell, lupus can also cause several finger deformities.

Steroid infections can often be effective at reducing swelling due to an autoimmune disorder.

Infections

Any type of infection — whether it’s bacterial, viral, or fungal — that affects your hand or fingers can lead to joint swelling. If you don’t treat the infection properly, it could lead to a condition known as septic arthritis, which can cause severe joint damage if left untreated.

If you suspect an infection, make sure to get the proper treatment quickly to avoid complications.

Get started with expert-level orthopedic care

In most cases of swollen finger joints, it’s best to have it examined by our team so we can make a professional diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan. To schedule an appointment, simply call your nearest office location or use our online booking feature today.