Pain in the fingers and toes- Pain is called the feeling of tingling or numb sensation in the body. Here, we will talk about facts related to pain in the hands and feet. Pain in the foot and hands can be of two types- sharp pain or a dull ache. This pain can also travel to other parts of the body. The reason behind pain in fingers and toes is some internal problem with ligaments, joints, nerves, bones, blood vessels, muscles, connective tissues, or tendons.
The human body is a very complex and delicate structure. Our hands themselves contain 27 bones. The hands’ movement depends on muscles, bones, and precise and agile movements. If there are any abnormalities in these, it will originate pain in the fingers and toes.
Table of Contents
Cause of pain in the fingers and toes
Arthritis
Joint pain is characteristic of joint inflammation. It occurs in bones at the joints. It goes along with the joints’ warmth, swelling, redness, or sore figures. A joint also gets affected by rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Trauma
These are injuries in bones such as dislocations, bruises, fractures, etc.
Tumors
Although it is infrequent cause its structure might give you soreness.
Diabetes
Diabetes causes damage in the nerves, resulting in numbness, pain, or shivering of the legs and arms. Almost 60-70% of people having people living with diabetes from soreness in the legs and hands.
Peripheral Neuropathy
It can also sometimes cause figure pain. It is a result of damage to the peripheral nervous system. Our nervous system builds up many nerves in the body. Our leg, arms receives the signal from the spinal cord and brain. The peripheral nervous system transfers both motor function information and sensory information. These include pain, temperature, the feeling of pressure, and contraction and relaxation of muscles.
Infections
The presence of any inappropriate infection between the tissues also causes finger pain. Lyme disease, Viral infections, chickenpox, herpes simplex, HIV, West Nile virus, and cytomegalovirus are causes of pain.
Nerve Injury
Injury in the nerves can be caused by vehicle accidents, sports, falls, bone fractures, or surgery.
Chemotherapy
It is used to treat cancer and causes peripheral neuropathy in the hands and feet. Around 30-40% of patients suffer from prolonged last pain for several months.
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
It occurs in the person who sits in front of a computer for a more extended period. It is a result of compression in the median nerve around the wrist. It occurs due to tightness and inflammation of the flexor tendons. While using the computer, our hands engage in several hand movements, giving rise to carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms are tingling, pain, numbness, and weakness in the thumb or first three fingers of the hand.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
When the ulnar nerve is compressed around the elbow, pinky finger, side of the hand, ring finger, causing tingling and numbness, this is also known as ulnar neuropathy.
Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome
It is caused due to continuous pressure on the hand. It can originate from hammering, golfing, weightlifting, and bicycling.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
It is an autoimmune polyneuropathy. In this, the body strikes its nerves. It causes tingling, pain, and weakness.
Vascular Damage
High blood pressure, peripheral vascular disease, smoking, diabetes causes damage to blood vessels.
Vitamin deficiencies or toxins
Toxins damage our nervous system—deficiencies such as vitamin B12, E, B1, B6, and copper. Alcohol consumption is one of the commonly reported causes of toxins.
Lupus
It affects the joints, skin, internal organs like the heart and kidney. Its symptoms are low fevers, fatigue, pain, headaches, swelling in joints, and rashes. Lupus affects joints on both sides of the body, affecting wrists and hands and causing pain in the fingers and toes.
Around 5-10% of patients with lupus evolve deformities in the finger. It is such severe that joints of the finger bents backward than usual.
Fibromyalgia
It is a chronic disease that causes pain in the body. Fibromyalgia pains are primarily felt in soft tissues and the muscles.
Diagnosis and tests for pain in the fingers and toes
To diagnose the root source of pain in the fingers and toes, the doctor might suggest the below-mentioned tests:
- CT Scan
- Physical Exam
- Blood tests
- Medical history
- Muscle strength test
- MRI scan
- Electromyography
- Tests to check ability to detect vibrations
- Nerve biopsy
- Skin biopsy
Treatment for pain in the fingers and toes
The treatment for the pain in the fingers and toes will depend on the cause of soreness.
Some common, early-stage treatments are given below:
- Cold and heat therapy
- Medicine for inflammation and medicine
- Surgery in case of nerve damage
Prevention from pain in the fingers and toes
You can adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent anybody ache. Some habits are listed below:-
- Healthy diet
- Wear loose and comfortable clothes and shoes
- Moderate exercise
- Avoid sitting or standing for a more extended period
- Control blood pressure
- Maintain healthy weight
- Control blood pressure
- Stop smoking
- Avoid repetitive motion
- Avoid alcohol
- Get plenty of rest
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