Shooting Pain in fingernail!

I am an occupational therapist.  For those of you with pain and numbness under your middle or index fingers it is probably a sign that you are compressing your median nerve.  That is the nerve that innervates your thumb, index, and middle fingers.  If you are doing any activities such as spending allot of time on the computer and putting pressure through your wrists then that could be the culpret.  If you have recently started some type of physical training, circuit training, that you are not used to that can also irritate things.  Modify your hand position on your computer so that you are not putting pressure down through your wrist.  Perform slow stretches to your wrist and arms to gradually elongate the nerve over time.  A wrist splint at night to keep your wrist in a neutral position can also help to reduce irritation to the nerve.  For those of you with numbness to the ring and little fingers, or nails, that is the ulnar nerve that goes along the inside of your elbow and through the wrist at the little finger side of your hand.  That nerve can be compressed and irritated if you have a habit of leaning on the inside of your elbow or the little finger side of your wrist when mousing or keyboarding.  Again, rearrange things so that you are not putting pressure down through your wrist.  Don't spend so much time on the computer.  Get a life and balance your time between healthy living.  Spending more than 20 minutes at a time on the computer without taking a streatch break is not healthy for you.  Hope this helps.  Chuck Boardman MS OTR/L

I am having this problem too, in my right index finger. It happens sporadically but its so painful when it does. When it hurts the pain stops if I press down and squeeze the fingernail. I also get a pins and needles feeling sometimes in my right hand, seems to get worse if I have slept certain ways. I think I might have a compressed nerve somewhere. Just wanted to add though, that "getting a life" the way you say isn't possible for everyone. I am a software engineer so, naturally, I am on the computer 8 hours a day at work.

thanks for sharing! i thought i was alone all these years! i tried to explain to people even doctors no one ever understood what i was talking about because my finger because it looks normal.mine is the right hand next to the pinky.some days it doesn't bother me and if i bang it omg!! the pain i could cry when i get my nails done i get so nervous and get this weird look when i explain please be careful with this finger i try explain but they don't understand.when i have the gel nails on it kinda helps when i bang it or touch it the wrong way the pain isn't that bad :).. i finally have a name for my pain!! thank you for posting and helping i don't feel so weird now :)

Hi, I also had glomus tumor, under the nail bed on my right index finger. I lived with this pain for about 6 yrs, went to so many doctors however no one was able to assist. Rather then giving up, I tried other natural medicine etc n through my own research over the last few years diagnosed that this pain ( purple mark) under my nail was indeed glomus tumor. I used to get very severe pains, which would shoot up my arm, and into my right chest. The only thing which eased the pain was heat, infront of a heater, hot water or spraying deepheat. If the pain started while driving, I had to turn on the heater which would help. What an experience I've had. After my visit to the surgeon, I felt so relieved that finally there is something which can be done. I had my surgery 5 days ago, first few days I was in pain killers however much better now. I strongly recommend that you consult a hand surgeon. At the end of the day, a recovering from surgery is nothing compared to a lifetime of unconvenience. Good luck and I'm sure all will go well

I've been having the same pain in the same exact finger! the pain is literally C R U C I A L. I always have in mind to be careful and to avoid anything touching that spot and if it happens...omg, the unbearable pains last for 10 seconds not to mention the tears and taking deep breaths to cool off. The surface seems normal, however it can be felt when i gently run my finger on it feels like a tiny bump. My doctor said that i have there options:1- inject the nerve to cause numbness (temporarily) 2- cortisone ointment (that might cause some rashness with time) 3- surgery. Any advice what to do?

hey i had the exact same symptoms as you! had my surgery last week..its still healing but i get throbbing shooting pain in my finger still! i wanted to know how long does it take for the pain to go away completely?

I had surgery on April 17th.. had to have my right middle fingernail removed, 3 stitches.. it has been really hard as far as recovery.. but nothing like the pain I was in.. but it was a full blown surgery.

Pain under fingernail (middle finger on the right hand) shooting up to elbow - - woke me up multiple times last night and has continued throughout today. After thinking on it, I recall having pinched that finger in a door yesterday morning. I now notice a bit of redness in the pink nail area, where it was pinched, and I'm hoping this is a temporary injury, maybe simply inflammation around a nerve for a short time...

If not, and considering how the pain travels, has anyone considered or tried acupuncture?

This is the exact situation I'm in only on my left middle finger. I want to scream when the wind blows to hard on it.... its so very painful. The base of it feel like a nailtech drilled a whole in it. Mine has been like this for over 10 years. So I'm really looking for insight.

I too get a sharp pain under my Finger NAILS. I get the pain only once in a while, but it is very painfull and only last for 15-20 seconds. It is usually under the four figers only and not my thumb. most of the time it is my right hand.

 

The pain is on my right ring finger, and I have been on the paleo diet. I really believe the post about diet and gallbladder! So interesting. Thanks.

Thanks to this post I was also diagnosed with a glomus tumor under my middle right finger nail.  My symptoms had been occurring for almost two years, and started to get worse this fall as the weather changed.  Luckily I came across this and contacted a hand surgeon, who did an x-ray then a MRI to confirm a small tumor less than 2mm.  I just had surgery last week and go tomorrow for my follow up appointment.  I do know that he had trouble getting the tumor, so he took more tissue out than expected! I just hope he got it all!

I'm a 56 year old male. About 3-4 years ago, my right middle finger nail was very tender at the tip of one corner.  I would put antibiotic cream and cover with a bandaid to avoid bumping it. Very painful when you bump it. Approx 1 year ago a thin, off white , resembling a second nail started to grow from under my nail. Now it is very tender and what appears to be a second layer of skin is growing out as well. I tried to trim it when wet , but it is very painful and bleeds. It appears as thow my nail is not attached in that specific area. I try to soak it every night in either cocunut oil or olive oil, it helps ease the pain. I was examined by a hand specialist who said it was an ingrown nail. I was also examined by a nail specialist who would like to remove the nail and do a biopsy of the bone under neath the nail. Any ideas? I'm lost and can't seem to locate an answer. Any ideas? please help  Rolands

Hi all! Can anyone recommend hospital and hand surgeon in the philippines.. Thanks

How long ago did you have an MRI? Maybe you should get another one. Since it is such a small area I know it can be hard for the doctors to see it. You need to make sure to have an MRI with contrast done.