unexplained sudden brusing/redness at base of finger with swelling & numbness

ilovewings · Newbie Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

I cannot believe i found this website describing exactly what happened to me yesterday; i thought i was losing it actually. one second i was fine the next second the index finger of my left hand was quite painful; i looked at the tip of the finger and it was swollen and blue; it was also numb. I was freaking by then but went to work; in the 24 hours since then the numbness and pain departed but the finger looks absolutely bizarre; it has become purply and red and the area spread to go around my nail. It is too weird. I am encouraged by what I have read here that it doesn't seem to be serious. I called my doc and he mentioned a few possiblities. anyway, it is really a bizarre thing.

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currypowder · Newbie Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

Can I join this club please? Nice to know this happens to people all over the world (Cheltenham, UK).

Last week, big toe joint felt tingly, I looked down and actually saw a big black bruise 3cm across develop in front of my eyes. Joint remained numb for a couple of days, now fine and bruise has gone.

Tonight felt a tingle in forefinger joint (knuckle), saw swollen throbbing vein (nice!) and have now got a big black bruise around the joint, bit sore.

Just hit 40 so am a bit paranoid. Would love a solution.

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I have had this problem for a number of years, without thinking much about it, but now I'm 53 I'm thinking heart attack, stroke, the worse. I have no idea why it happens. there is no doctor who has answered the problem on this web site. I am giving you my 2 cents worth...it always happens to me when I'm working with my hands gripping something tight or wearing a ring that normally fits, unless I'm retaining water and the ring is snug. It happened today so I came to this site to see if anyone had the same issue...I'm seeing people from all walks of like... all ages...so it is probably very normal.

paz · Newbie Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

Being a 51 y.o. female I had this happen to me for the first time two weeks ago. I thought I was bitten by something but after finding this website I believe it has more to do with pressure being applied at the joint causing the vein to swell.

I had picked up a plastic box holding it in my left hand with most of the weight being on my ring finger. Once I put the box down I felt my finger tingle and witnessed it getting red and very swollen. My boyfriend thought it was a bug/spider bite however a search of the closet where the box was indicated no evidence of any multi-legged dwellers. That night and over the next few days my finger swelled to capacity and eventually the entire finger turned purple. What really looked strange was when the blood from the finger started to migrate (drain) down into my hand just below the effected finger. I was prescribed an antibotic (for the bug bite) and asked my Dr about Audenbach (spelling?) syndrome, which she had not heard of.

To me it made sense especially after reading from the others here that I must have put enought pressure on a vein causing it to swell etc. Thinking back to when I initially looked at my finger I do remember seeing the vein popping out, then retreating (hence the release of blood?)

I googled Audenbach syndrome with no real results. Seems like this is not a well known diagnosis. Has anyone found more specific info on this or perhaps a website that would be helpful?

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Thanks for all the posts. I'm a 44y.o. female with no health problems. This morning, my left index fingertip formed a bruise as I watched and the tip swelled and became numb. No apparent cause. Several hours later now and the numbness and swelling have decreased a bit but the purple bruise on the joint remains. Very strange. My guess is that a tiny capillary must have burst in there - probably too small to feel, but I'm going to ask around because we have a lot of medical friends. I'll post again if I find out anything.

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I, too, have had this problem for years - always in my fingers. It usually happens when I am using my hands, but not as a result of a blow or other trauma. Last night it happened again and the ring finger on my right hand is bruised from the mid-knuckle up to the next. After the initial sting, which I have come to associate with this result, the tendon seemed irritated, but soon the bruise bloomed and the pain went away. I am a 54 year old woman with low blood pressure. I do bruise fairly easily elsewhere on my body.

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I had this problem today. I got this feeling of pain with half of an itchy feeling on the upper part of the middle joint of my middle finger. Now there is a bruise. But, there is no-one coming up with answers!

Andikay · Newbie Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 1

This happened to me today. I was carrying a large trash bag full of wet leaves. I carried it for quite some distance in my left hand and felt uncomfortable pressure on the inside of my index finger, but I pressed on anyway. After putting the trash bag down, right at the knuckle on the inside of my index finger, it was stinging, itching and beginning to swell. I wondered if I had been bitten. I also saw a tiny blue vein that is normally not visible. I forgot about the whole thing until much later when I began to experience numbness in my fingertip. That's when I noticed that a bruise had developed in the same spot near my knuckle.

It makes complete sense that a blood vessel burst due to pressure. I felt pain carrying that heavy trash bag, but continued anyway. I wouldn't worry about this bruising/numbness being anything abnormal or crazy. I think it's just a simple case of applying too much pressure to just the right spot. I'll be more careful next time.

uklady2 · Newbie Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

Hi everyone

I came across this website like everyone else....looking for an answer to this mysterious bruising condition.

I think it is a disgrace that the Doctors don't seem to have any answers to give us and that so many people are suffering with the fear and anxiety of this condition.

For the record I am 58 years old Female and have not been diagnosed with anything that could cause this bruising and I'm not on any medication either.

Mine started on my fingers - on the veins inside the index and middle fingers and happened when just doing normal cleaning (no jewellery worn). Then one day after showering I was drying in between my toes and I felt a sharp pain and knew immediately it had happened again. This time it was a huge bruise that spread across the top of my foot from in between the toes. All I did to cause this was to move my toe over gently to dry in between.

Today another bruise occurred on the outside edge of my big toe - was not doing anything that time - it just happened. It is now sore and bruised. The pain lasts about half an hour and I usually put an ice pack around area but the bruise always follows.

I will ask my Doctor again about this and if I get any response I will post on here again.

I think self diagnosis is very dangerous and would not jump to any conclusions regarding other people's suggestions. I do suffer with cold hands and feet so maybe there is a connection with that but until I see the Doctor again I wont know for sure.

It is a comfort to read so many other people have this complaint - at least I don't feel like I am going mad.

I live in the UK.

unexplained sudden brusing/redness at base of finger with swelling & numbness

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