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Suggest Treatment For Swollen Fingers

Posted on Wed, 2 Dec 2015

Question: My son who is 20 and is in college, has had 2 or 3 random swellings of a finger, knew and currently his thumb. I guess it is painful. Ice helps just a little he says. There is no injury to the area beforehand, just random. I think they last several days or maybe a week. Any clews, he has not been to any doctors yet.
Thank you for any help.
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Most likely from some sort of repeated injury he is not aware of.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

What you are describing sounds most likely like it is caused by repeated trauma to the thumb that your son may not be aware of.

The other possible is a reaction to something he is in contact with - a contact dermatitis, although this is more likely to also itch.

So I would suggest he do some sleuthing about things he does with his hands. The swelling may happen some time later, not immediately after an activity.

I hope this information helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (53 minutes later)

Thank you for your reply! The swellings have not been restricted to one specific joint, it has bounced around between the knee, finger, thumb and one other he can't recall yet. All but one have been on the right side. His primary sport is sailing which is a very symmetric activity not favoring one side over another so you would expect the issue to happen on both sides and not go away unless you quit for awhile. He has not needed to do that as they go away without resting. So far he / I cannot pinpoint any specific or unusual food, drink, vitamins that might be setting it off. Could it be a type of Arthritis? I know there are hundreds of them.
Regards,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
He should see his primary doctor.

Detailed Answer:
My guess is that the various transient swellings are probably from injury - strain or overuse, even if they don't occur symmetrically. But it would be a good idea for his doctor to see him when he is actively having swelling in a joint. His doctor can order blood tests for various rheumatological/inflammatory disorders.

Usually, with rheumatoid arthritis, there are "constitutional symptoms", such as fever, feeling ill in general. But not always, so it would be good to get it checked.

Here is a report about a variant of rheumatoid arthritis that affects different joints transiently: http://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/physician-corner/rheumatology-rounds/round-1-palindromic-rheumatism/

While I doubt that is what is going on, it would be useful to get checked out.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (11 hours later)

Thank you Doctor Berger-Durnbaugh. We will arrange for him to visit a doctor in XXXXXXX SC, where he is at College. I am all the way in California so do not have any local knowledge of the Doctors there but will start searching.

Regards,

XXXX

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Start with primary care doctor.

Detailed Answer:
I would suggest he start with a primary care doctor (family practice, or internist) to have a look and order labs. Then depending on the exam and results, the primary doc can refer him to someone appropriate such as a rheumatologist or orthopedic doctor.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (17 minutes later)

Hello Dr. Today my son went to an Urgent Care facility before we could find him a doctor. He just informed me they have given him Antibiotics, steroids and Epsom Salt. I have not heard what the diagnosis is yet. They said he should see improvement in two days and better in a week. Any thoughts on this? Steroids is a bit of a XXXXXXX

Regards,

XXXX

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Steroids are for decreasing inflammation.

Detailed Answer:
Without the advantage of seeing the problem, it is hard for me to guess. But I can say corticosteroids (prednisone, Solumedrol, etc) are used to turn down the body's inflammatory response/immune reaction, when it is excessive. I am not sure why the antibiotics - the urgent care doctor must have felt there was some source of bacterial infection.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (26 minutes later)

Ok, great. Thank you. Still trying to hear more from him.
Regards,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (20 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I hope he is doing better with his treatment.

Detailed Answer:
Perhaps the urgent care doctor found him to have a joint infection?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (19 hours later)

Good Morning Dr. My son sent new pictures today that were a bit more surprising than I had anticipated. Is there a way to send you pictures? He feels it is a little better and had a better sleep because the pain was less.

Regards,

XXXX

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You can send pictures:

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

There is a way to send pictures. If you go to the page where you type in the history, there is a place, usually on the right side of the page, where it says something to the effect of "upload images".

I'm glad he is feeling a little better.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar