Sore finger joint

[Annpan]

Not going to search randomly on the WWW for advice on this - cause doubtless it'll tell me I have a rare incurable blood disorder or an STD (anyone else ever noticed the scare factor of internet medical quieries?)

Anyways...

My second knuckle on my right hand index finger has been uncomfortable for a few days, it is now red, swollen and hot and is getting quite sore and stiff. I can still use it, but it is very uncomfortable.

Washing in warm water seems to help - but we don't have hot running water here so that isn't so easy.

I can't tell if there is liquid under the surface or if it is just swollen.... it is perhaps a similar feeling to a sprained ankle - but having never had a sprained finger it is difficult to compare ankle to finger IYKWIM.

After my shower tonight I was going to apply some magnesium sulphate paste and a bandage, but I don't know if it'll work at all - should it help with the swelling? I have already tried lavender over the past few days, to no improvement, other that the calming effects of the aroma.

Any other suggestions? A splint?, a hot water bottle? a large whisky?, a visit to A+E?, or shall I just go and get the loppers from the shed and be done with it?

I was hoping someone could shine some of their worldly wisdom on it...

[Clara]

If something is swollen it needs cold not heat, though heat may feel nice and take your mind off the pain it won't help the inflammation one bit.

How about some arnica cream or, if you think its a sprain, ruta ointment (weleda make it - it works magic). Take an anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen).

TBH I wouldn't worry about it too much, we all get these random things, it's what my friend who runs an A&E dept would call "sore finger syndrome".........and would come home ranting about if he'd been asked to deal with.

[Annpan]

Thanks Clara

I was kidding about A+E...lol... just seems most little things I have some kind of treatment for to at least allow myself to function normally while it heals.... this one is just a right pain in the Bum. I can't seem to do any normal things like carry a cup of tea or chop onions for dinner - its just frustrating. Not sore to type though .

Thanks for the pointers.

[Clara]

... Not sore to type though .

Careful, my first thought was computing injury! Been doing a lot of mouse clicking recently?

[Annpan]

No, I have a laptop with a track pad..... 2 most likely places it was injured -
1. Sewing - I have been doing a lot recently for my online shops or
2. Pulling bits of rusty mattress springs out of the ground at the top of the garden at the weekend.

[pumpy]

Hi Annpan, try giving it a soaking in cold,salty water before turning in tonight. Maybe an infection has got in under the skin surface, while rooting around the matress springs,(if you see what i mean!).

[Big Al]

Hi Annpan, try giving it a soaking in cold,salty water before turning in tonight. Maybe an infection has got in under the skin surface, while rooting around the matress springs,(if you see what i mean!).

If it is an infection from the garden then it might be prudent to ring that NHS direct number for advice especially if you haven't had a tetnus jab. Not wishing to scare or anything but tetnus is a b'tard and a killer...

[Annpan]

I googled it, I shouldn't have, I know I shouldn't have, but I did

I don't have any symptoms of tetanus - no headache, no muscle spasms, no temperature - but now of course I am paranoid If I do get any of the symptoms I guarentee I will get myself to A+E poste haste


The injury from the matress is more likely to have been from pulling and twisting the metal to remove it from the ground - I was wearing work gloves at the time and though I do remember it scratching the back of my hand, it didn't draw blood....

I have taken ibuprofen and arnica (don't have the cream, the caplets will have to do.)

I don't trust NHS direct, they nearly killed me when they neglected to tell me that my upper body rash and swollen face was anaphylaxis - a reaction to the penicillin I had been given to clear up mastitis when my LO was ten days old - luckily it was caught by my health visitor 8 hours later - had I not had such a good HV, or if it hadn't been her day to come..... God knows... but I digress...

It's not tetanus.

[Clara]

AnnPan, I'd get yourself some arnica cream/gel too - the tablets will be homeopathic, whereas the cream/gel will actually have something in it. The latter has been proven to be as effective as ibuprofen gel, whereas the former as proven to be no more effective than placebo.

[snapdragon]

Arthur-itis -

One of the best homeopathics that I found for small joint arthitis pain is Rhus Tox - and - as you have a lot of heat in there, Belladonna.

Sounds like it would have been caused by a small injury (pulling mattress springs?) compounded by much use (sewing?)

Unless it's overuse of Port and Red Wine in which case it's the Gout

Cold compress will reduce the swelling, and try not to use it overmuch (without strapping it up/splinting or anything too restrictive)

there ya go! auntie Snappy hath spoke

[Green Aura]

Sounds like gout, honey. Lots of fluids, simple diet and anti- inflammatories. And try to rest it, although heavens knows how.

[Annpan]

Well, saw a pharmacist today, she suggested using magnesium sulphate to draw out any infection, and ibuprofen for the swelling, as I had already done that she said to get down to the health centre tomorrow to see the nurse... I envisage a trip to the hospital for an x-ray too.... what fun.

I bought ibuprofen cram, arnica cream and I am going to try magnesium sulphate on it again tonight.... I can't decide which cream to rub on it first ...... maybe the loppers weren't such a bad idea after all.......lol

[frozenthunderbolt]

If it becomes a recurring problem then large amounts of fish oil, and/or glucosamine sulphate and condroitin capsules would be a good idea. The fish oil is anti-inflammatory (among many other wonderful things) and the other promotes joint health and wellbeing. If you are very unlucky it might be osteo- arthiritus - but an x-ray should pick that up and it is unlikely to afflict a single digit at a time

[Clara]

Hi AnnPan

Did you get to the bottom of this?

I'm asking because I've something similar going on, but I reckon it is probably a computing RSI.

Be interested to hear an update.

clara

[Annpan]

I was prescribed some anti-biotics and it cleared up.... but the day after I stopped taking them it was red and swollen again as was my middle finger on the same hand, I left it for a few days to see if it sorted itself before calling the doctor again but..... yesterday I put olive oil on my hands (under my thick leather work gloves) before going out working in my garden, and by the evening it had all cleared up.

I don't know what it was, most likely an infection, but how odd to have it on the second finger too There does seem to be some grazing on the second finger, perhaps they were both grazed at the same time?
I don't know what cured it - I am not saying it was the olive oil... but who knows.


So basically I don't know but it is all better