stiff finger joints

[OneWithWood]

Recently I have been experiencing very stiff and sore middle knuckle joints in the fingers of both hands.  It is quite severe in the morning for about an hour and then only sore throughout the day.  The more I use my hands the less painful it becomes.  My joints do not appear to be swollen, just hurt.
At first I thought it could be carpal tunnel issues so I wore my braces at night.  It did help some but not much.  I always slept with my hands above my head but I find that if I sleep with my hands below my shoulders the pain is not as severe in the morning.
If I make a fist, even tho it hurts a bunch, the pain eventually subsides.
Anyone else experiencing similar issues?

[Magicman]

No pain unless I bump them too hard.  I thought that mine were crooked so I could point to something around a corner.   :-\

[SwampDonkey]

I have experienced it some Robert. Hasn't been too bad this winter though. But I always found that after I get up in the morning and move some it all goes away for the day. But, sometimes get a stiffness in my elbows and fingers when walking with my arms to my sides. Kind of weird stuff. Sawing all day or piling a lot of brush will agitate it for sure. One time I tried to work in a  Christmas wreath shop, and by the third day I couldn't even open my hands. I don't do anything special, so I have no remedies to share. I find I don't have all the strength and dexterity I used to have in my hands.  :

[WDH]

Arthritis, maybe?

[SLawyer Dave]

That is the first symptom that I experienced with several of my fingers, which led eventually to surgery.  They call it an A-1 release, (Doc could probably explain it better), but the ligament that travels down your finger, (causing it to bend when the muscles in your forearm contract), can become frayed and build up a "bump", and then that bump has to fit through a small opening under a tendon that anchors it just below your finger, in the palm.  Even though the problem is in your palm, you feel the pain in your middle knuckle, (at least I did/do).  It is also called a "trigger finger", because eventually that 'bump" will catch when it gets pulled through that tight spot, and your finger will be stuck in a bent position.  It then feels like someone has a hot needle inside your joint, and you may have to use your other hand to physically unbend your finger. 

I've had the surgery 3 times, one thumb and the middle finger on both hands, (and NO I have not done a lot of hitchhiking or flipping people off).  The good news is, (if this is what you are experiencing), is that the surgery generally leads to a full recovery.  Its a small incision with just a couple of stitches and is done as an outpatient with local anesthesia.  Go see your doctor, because the longer you wait, the more damage you can do.  One of my fingers took almost 6 months after surgery to get back the full range of motion.  I would also recommend that if you need such surgery, you have it done by a hand specialist.  You want to make sure they cut the right thing.   ;)

P.S.  I also had carpel tunnel, (bilateral surgery when I was 20 yrs old), caused primarily from scar tissue NOT repetitive stress,  My doc says some people just tend to form these problems in their moving parts.  Thankfully, all of my surgeries have worked well, otherwise I would have two crippled hands.

[doctorb]

I'm currently traveling and will post my thoughts when I get home

[doctorb]

I have spent the weekend in Ohio with my wife and youngest daughter, who is a freshman in college.  She is a triple jumper (no, I have no idea how she became interested in it!), and had a day long track meet on Saturday.  She did well, and seems to be very well adjusted in college.  It was a fun visit, but that's why I have been a little out of touch.

Sore and stiff fingers - Do not necessarily lead to "triggering".  If it's arthritis, then it's not really a tendon problem.  If it's a chronic tendonitis, then triggering can occur.  Triggering is when a tendon swells so that it won't slide through the tendon pulleys without more force.  They look like a snake that's just eaten something.  Sometimes it gets plum stuck in there, kinda like Winnie the Pooh in that den opening.  Sometimes it just pops back and forth, which is annoying.  And sometimes it just won't fit into the anatomic tunnel, or pulley, reducing range of motion of the finger.  Most MD's try to inject the triggering tendon with steroids to decrease the swelling and stop the triggering.  I have had this happen to me after I stacked a bunch of firewood one fall.  The shot, which was painful because the hand is so sensitive, cured it.

Arthritis usually means a swollen, painful and stiff joint, right at the area of the joint.  Triggering is usually between the joints, because that's where the pulleys are located.

[martyinmi]

I've had four digits operated on....so far. Two years ago I had my right thumb done, and that was a piece of cake.
Last summer I had three fingers on my left hand done. I don't think I'd recommend that many fingers done at once. Mine were completely healed up and fully functional in about 6 months, but all three swelled up so much in the first few months that it looked like I had a mitten on.
My surgeon told me that I needed to take at least a week off from work after the second surgery, but I compromised and took the weekend off. I ended up ripping out a few stitches and getting one incision infected a little bit. Then I managed to get poison ivy between all four fingers, which looked like kielbasas. That was not fun! :-[
My middle finger on my right hand is giving me fits now, and a steroid shot last summer didn't help, so I think I'll have him release that one sometime this summer too. Probably have  that done the Friday before the pig roast.
Don't worry Robert. I'm left handed, so I'll still be able to drink beer with ya at the pig roast. I don't think my son is coming this year, so it'll be the first year that I'll be able to partake in that event. 8)
I'm bringing my Cutco fillet knife with me. I'll see if maybe I can do a little Knife swappin' with Lynn when he's not lookin'! :D

[Magicman]

I will not be "not looking".   ;D

[mesquite buckeye]

Sounds like OAM boardlogitis. Get it most every time I fire up the mill. :-\

[OneWithWood]

 Here's the thing.  My fingers straighten out just fine.  It only hurts when I make a fist, yet if I do make a fist and hold it for about 30 seconds the pain goes away and I am good to go for the day.  There is no swelling in the joints.
Martin, I am ambidextrous when it comes to beer and practice 12oz curls on a regular basis. 
Doc, glad you were able to visit your daughter and support her efforts.

[Jeff]

Maybe you are crazy like I am. Allergy to exercise manifested in finger dysfunction. ;)

[OneWithWood]

or maybe just dysfunctional  :

[ND rancher]

I have a similar problem with all my fingers on both hands! Spent a year getting tests done with 0 results.They ruled out carpel, arthritis,triggering,and whatever they all checked with all the blood they took on several occasions.I have to go back cause its getting worse.          SwampDonkey, your description sounds about what I feel. It's a pain in more ways than one.    Keith 

[Bibbyman]

Try apple cider vinegar with mother.  Works for me.

[beenthere]

I have a similar problem with all my fingers on both hands! Spent a year getting tests done with 0 results.They ruled out carpel, arthritis,triggering,and whatever they all checked with all the blood they took on several occasions.I have to go back cause its getting worse.          SwampDonkey, your description sounds about what I feel. It's a pain in more ways than one.    Keith

Is it possible that these "no find" results are being dictated by the health group you are with? I'm seeing inklings of this and expect to see a lot more of it as the Ob-Care hits the road going flat out.

Mother is no longer with us, so I can't try out the apple cider vinegar with her.

[SwampDonkey]

Vinegar was a rub for reducing swelling from varicose veins, never thought about it for joints. :D

[ND rancher]

beenthere, I hope not! My wife is a RN and the Dr.'s I went to were refereed to us by the heart Dr,'s she works with. The only thing we know is that I have 2 collapsed arteries in a pair of fingers that one of the heart Dr.'s found. It's just frustrating!   Keith 

[doctorb]

So it could be vascular in origin?  Having a diagnosis of insufficient arterial flow in your fingers is not the same as finding nothing.  How did they make that diagnosis?

[ND rancher]

doctorb, It's between knuckle and tip of middle and ring finger on one hand.They dyed my arm and X-rayed it.No idea why,probably just abuse.   Keith