Four Years of Unresolved Finger Pain: A Struggle for Answers
At the age of 24, I have been grappling with severe pain in my fingers since 2021, and unfortunately, my condition has only deteriorated over time. The pain is now so intense that I find myself reliant on compression gloves just to find some relief. Despite undergoing X-rays, no underlying issues were identified, and tests for autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, returned negative results. Additionally, all other lab results came back within normal ranges. I have noticeable swelling and discoloration in my fingers, particularly in my pinky joints, with the right one being more affected. They've become bent and swollen, and a neurologist has observed that they have mild deformities, a change that has occurred within the last few months. When I attempt to straighten them, they produce crackling sounds, and there are instances where my right pinky locks or pops under pressure. Currently, I have a referral for a rheumatologist and am scheduled for a brain MRI to rule out multiple sclerosis. I can’t help but recall that both my great uncle and grandmother experienced similar symptoms at my age, ultimately leading to their diagnoses of dystonia and disability. I truly feel lost at this point. The agony is unbearable, and neither pain relief medications nor arthritis creams seem to make a difference. I worry about causing irreversible damage to my hands and urgently need direction. For the past four years, I have yearned for answers, but my existence has increasingly become centered around this pain. To manage my mental health, I’m currently taking Vyvanse, Sertraline, 25 mg of Quetiapine, and I am in the process of tapering off Lamotrigine.
Answers (1)
8/7/2025, 7:10:51 PM
OpenHealth AI
I'm truly sorry to hear about the ongoing pain and struggles you're experiencing with your fingers. Living with chronic pain can be incredibly challenging, especially when you feel like you're not getting the answers you need. It's commendable that you're seeking help and are actively pursuing further evaluations with a rheumatologist and neurologist.
Main Points:
- Persistent finger pain may require further assessment and tailored management.
- Focus on supportive measures to alleviate pain and swelling.
- Monitoring your symptoms closely is crucial.
Explanation:
Your four-year history of finger pain, along with the swelling, discoloration, and current deformities, indicates that there may be an underlying issue not yet identified. Even though autoimmune tests have come back negative, conditions such as inflammatory arthritis, connective tissue disorders, or even certain types of neuropathy may still be possible. The next steps you are taking with specialists should help illuminate these areas.
Next Steps:
-
Continue with your scheduled appointments:
- Rheumatologist: Bring detailed notes about your symptoms, treatments you've tried, and any patterns you observe in your finger pain (e.g., time of day, activities that exacerbate it). This information can help in diagnosing any underlying conditions.
- Follow Up on the MRI: This is important to rule out neurological conditions that could be related to your symptoms.
-
Symptom management:
- Compression gloves: These can help manage swelling and provide support. Continue using them as needed.
- Cold packs: Applying cold packs to swollen areas can reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Use them for about 15–20 minutes as needed throughout the day.
- Gentle range-of-motion exercises: If tolerable, perform gentle stretches and movements to maintain finger flexibility to prevent stiffness, but stop if it causes increased pain.
-
Pain relief alternatives:
- If current medications and creams are ineffective, discuss with your healthcare provider the possibility of other treatments (like topical lidocaine or physical therapy) that might offer relief.
-
Mental health:
- Since ongoing pain can affect your mental health, continuing your current medications and participating in supportive therapy can be beneficial. Specifically, therapy focused on coping mechanisms for chronic pain may help you manage the emotional burden.
-
Keep a symptom diary: Document changes in your pain, any triggers, and your response to treatments. This can provide valuable insights for your doctors and aid in diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Remember, you're not alone in this journey, and seeking support through friends, family, or support groups specifically focused on chronic pain can also be very beneficial. I’m here to provide further guidance or clarify anything you may have questions about.
Related Questions
Seeking Advice for Cholinergic Urticaria Without Insurance
At 27 years of age, I weigh 129 pounds and stand 5'4". I have no documented health issues and regularly take supplements such as magnesium glycinate, L-theanine, and fish oil. Lately, I've been dealing with what I suspect to be cholinergic urticaria; I tend to experience hives after exercising and sweating. Unfortunately, my medical insurance is inactive until September, so I'm looking for suggestions on how to ease my symptoms. Although I love staying active, it's quite difficult when I feel itchy around my neck, chest, and stomach during workouts. I'm also thinking about taking up swimming as a new form of exercise—any advice on this?
Strange Issue with My Penis
At the age of 17 and standing 5’11", I experienced an unexpected injury to my penis while I was engaged in masturbation around mid to late 2024. During a moment of clumsiness, I inadvertently squeezed, which led to a temporary inability to achieve an erection. Thankfully, I recognized that recovery was on the horizon, and after about 20 to 30 days, I was able to regain erections comparable to those I had prior to the incident. However, I noticed a peculiar phenomenon where my flaccid state occasionally became swollen, likely due to increased blood flow; light pressure would relieve the swelling, though it would return later. This was not accompanied by any discomfort or changes in my ability to achieve an erection. I remember it being somewhat bothersome, particularly affecting my ability to urinate until the swelling subsided, which happened when I sat down and exerted a bit of pressure. Some months later, I decided to try LSD. Interestingly, it didn’t induce much in the way of hallucinations for me, but I did experience some wavy vision and a sense of lightheartedness. During this trip, I felt extreme discomfort, as if my penis was under significant pressure, and it appeared noticeably soft and shrunken. After about two days, everything returned to its usual state. Fortunately, the puffiness I had been experiencing disappeared, although it would reemerge for a few hours after I masturbated shortly after my last session (within the same two days). Beyond that, my condition seemed fairly normal. Recently, I acquired a cannabis vape, and unlike the previous one I had tried, this one triggered some puffiness while in a flaccid state. It's worth mentioning that this puffiness did not hinder my ability to achieve an erection and would dissipate once I became aroused. I observed that the higher I felt, the more pronounced the effects were; there was one instance where I experienced discomfort from being too high, but this subsided the following morning. Remarkably, I found that I no longer had to exert pressure to urinate; it flowed freely when I was in a sitting position. Just today, I consumed cannabis and engaged in masturbation, which resulted in an unusual sensation, causing my erection to last significantly longer. As I’m writing this, the puffiness I experienced post-injury has returned; however, this time it felt firm instead of filled with blood. I needed to apply similar pressure while seated to alleviate the swelling for urination. This time, I didn’t feel anything particularly unusual. I plan to take a break from cannabis to see if my body recovers. I suspect that my original injury might have led to a pulled muscle somewhere in my pelvis, as I experienced pain while walking following the incident. At present, the puffiness continues to fluctuate, appearing and disappearing every few minutes. If anyone has insights or advice on this issue, I would greatly appreciate it.
Understanding Why Ankle Pain Can Disappear Only to Return Intensified
Profile: 20 years old, 80 kilograms, 160 centimeters tall. This morning, I had an unfortunate incident where I twisted my ankle and fell. Strangely, there was no swelling, and I managed to walk despite the discomfort. After a short while, I completely forgot about it since the pain subsided significantly. However, around eight hours later, I began to feel discomfort in my ankle again. Over the last 20 minutes, the intensity of the pain has been increasing gradually. Although it is still tolerable at the moment, I find myself limping, and the sensation is more painful than right after the incident. I’m curious what might be causing this. It’s quite puzzling that the pain vanished for a while and then reemerged, intensifying unexpectedly. Given that I have hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and often twisted my ankles during my teenage years, resulting in lasting effects on both, this experience is unusual for me.
Persistent Pain in Testicular Cord
For approximately a year, I've been experiencing discomfort in the cord linked to my testicle. The pain intensifies with even gentle contact, and there’s a sensation of tightness and twisting. At times, it can also feel unexpectedly loose and elongated. Regardless of how it feels, the junction where the cord meets the testicle consistently feels swollen and produces a throbbing ache. My mother attributes this to normal growth changes, suggesting that I would eventually outgrow it, and she's reluctant to seek medical advice. However, I’m concerned it could be indicative of a more serious condition. This issue significantly affects my ability to concentrate, and I’m eager for insight into what might be happening.
Discomfort in the Jaw, Upper Back, and Shoulders
As a 24-year-old male, I occasionally experience a nagging sensation in my jaw, upper back, and shoulders. There are moments when I notice a slight difficulty in breathing, although it’s never severe. Typically, these episodes last for around 10 minutes before subsiding on their own. This is not a regular occurrence and does not happen daily, but I have experienced this several times. I’m curious about what might be causing this issue and whether it’s necessary for me to discuss it with my GP. I have an appointment scheduled, but I would welcome any insights or advice in the meantime.