I am a 54 year old female and have had this problem for several years of acute pain either at the base of my toes or fingers, follwed by pain, heat, redness and then bruising, and I haven't done anything to cause it. My latest and worst episode happened last Wednesday at the base of my third toe and it still hurts to walk after 4 days. I've never had one stay sore this long or be this painful. My endocrinologist thinks it is a form of vasculitis. I have Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease. I too wish I could get a definite diagnosis. This is the first site I have found that talks about this condition, and it is nice to know that someone can relate to what I am talking about. I asked a Podiatrist about it and he said there is no way this could happen without an injury.
Thanks
Linda
Thanks
Linda
I was googling these symptoms also. I had this happen twice in the last two months. On my left hand, the index finger. Once I felt and sharp sting, nothing stung it, it was like something inside popped. The finger joint, the distal(end) became swollen and then turned black in blue with in a few hours. It felt better in a couple of days, and then it happened again yesterday. Slightly different, slightly more to the middle of the the distal joint versus on the side. It aches minimally and I can tell by today the swelling has decreased. I am a physical therapist and have thought about what this might be, and I am puzzled. Ice helps to decrease the swelling. If it was muscle there would be more pain with movement and pressure. I think it is joint related, but after reading some your responses, it maybe something else:(?
I am also relieved to see the 'sudden finger itching/hotness/swelling/bruising' covered in this forum. I've tried Googling information on this condition before and can't find any other information which seems related.
I've experienced this maybe 5-6 times over the past 6 months. It always happens after I pick up something with a sharp-ish edge that comes in close contact with the base of a finger (usually middle or ring finger). Examples of object causing the problem: handles of heavy shopping bags, luggage handles, picking up moving boxes, etc. There has to be some amount of weight involved to trigger an attack.
What seems to happen is a blockage or breaking of a blood vessel at the underside base of the involved finger. First there is intense itching and heat with an immediate start of swelling, then greater swelling and pain. Then swelling and purple discoloration spreads up the underside of the finger from the base toward the joint(s). The worst episode I've had involved the entire finger. In that case I thought the vein leading out of my finger was blocked and that seemingly blocked-up bloodflow meant I was going to have to go to the hospital or lose the finger. Fortunately after about 15 minutes the pain and swelling started to subside. It's never happened to my toes yet (knock on wood).
With subsequent attacks the only 'treatment' I've found that seems to shorten duration is a combination of moving the base of the joint around (bending the finger 'back' away from the palm) coupled with squeezing and pressure in the finger to try to prevent blood from accumulating on the underside of the affected digit. Both of these hurt but seem to lessen the ultimate amount of swelling and bruising. Yow. Don't know if this is ill-advised, but it did seem to help a little. If blood is leaking from a small broken vessel, elevating the hand or adding ice or cold compresses seems like a good idea too (to minimize bruising). But, since none of us knows what is really happening, we're all just guessing!
I am a female in my mid-40s with no major health problems, and had a recent physical w/ normal bloodwork. I do tend to have cold hands and feet and low blood pressure, but these have never been an issue and I don't have Reynaud's or anything similar that I know of. I've never had a bruising disorder and I used to donate platelets all the time (w/ normal counts) so I know I don't have a clotting (or lack of) issue.
If anyone knows of factors that could cause one's fingers to be susceptible to this problem please comment. It's worrisome that this started suddenly in the past year w/ no other obvious changes to health, diet, supplements, etc.
At least there is a community where we can all discuss this without people thinking we are crazy! If my husband hadn't witnessed two of these incidents he would probably think I am nutty. The idea of photos is a good one - or what about short videos at 5-minute intervals? It would be great to document the progression over 30 mins so medical professionals could see what we are experiencing. Any candidates?
Thanks to all!
I've experienced this maybe 5-6 times over the past 6 months. It always happens after I pick up something with a sharp-ish edge that comes in close contact with the base of a finger (usually middle or ring finger). Examples of object causing the problem: handles of heavy shopping bags, luggage handles, picking up moving boxes, etc. There has to be some amount of weight involved to trigger an attack.
What seems to happen is a blockage or breaking of a blood vessel at the underside base of the involved finger. First there is intense itching and heat with an immediate start of swelling, then greater swelling and pain. Then swelling and purple discoloration spreads up the underside of the finger from the base toward the joint(s). The worst episode I've had involved the entire finger. In that case I thought the vein leading out of my finger was blocked and that seemingly blocked-up bloodflow meant I was going to have to go to the hospital or lose the finger. Fortunately after about 15 minutes the pain and swelling started to subside. It's never happened to my toes yet (knock on wood).
With subsequent attacks the only 'treatment' I've found that seems to shorten duration is a combination of moving the base of the joint around (bending the finger 'back' away from the palm) coupled with squeezing and pressure in the finger to try to prevent blood from accumulating on the underside of the affected digit. Both of these hurt but seem to lessen the ultimate amount of swelling and bruising. Yow. Don't know if this is ill-advised, but it did seem to help a little. If blood is leaking from a small broken vessel, elevating the hand or adding ice or cold compresses seems like a good idea too (to minimize bruising). But, since none of us knows what is really happening, we're all just guessing!
I am a female in my mid-40s with no major health problems, and had a recent physical w/ normal bloodwork. I do tend to have cold hands and feet and low blood pressure, but these have never been an issue and I don't have Reynaud's or anything similar that I know of. I've never had a bruising disorder and I used to donate platelets all the time (w/ normal counts) so I know I don't have a clotting (or lack of) issue.
If anyone knows of factors that could cause one's fingers to be susceptible to this problem please comment. It's worrisome that this started suddenly in the past year w/ no other obvious changes to health, diet, supplements, etc.
At least there is a community where we can all discuss this without people thinking we are crazy! If my husband hadn't witnessed two of these incidents he would probably think I am nutty. The idea of photos is a good one - or what about short videos at 5-minute intervals? It would be great to document the progression over 30 mins so medical professionals could see what we are experiencing. Any candidates?
Thanks to all!
I have experienced this off and on for several years and always thought it was due to something I did during the course of the day....until last night! I had been sleeping for about 45 minutes when I felt my middle left finger start burning at the base like someone was holding a match on it. I pulled my hand out of the covers and it intensified traveling to the tip, followed by incredible pain, swelling, pressure, numbness and I could not bend the finger in a fist. It was dark, confusing and I'll I could think was my finger was going to explode..... I jumped out of bed and ran it under cold water but it didn't seem to help so I turned the water to warm and starting feeling a little relief. I put on my glasses and there were NO bites. All I could do was hold my finger in my right hand hoping it would all stop and within 2 - 3 minutes the burning stopped but the pressure was intense and my finger looked pregnant!
I could see that on my lower joint on the top side of the finger, redness on either side, like a I had been burned by a pan. I looked at both sides of the finger and it was dark purple starting at the red and going down a 1/4 inch towards the inside of the finger. The inside of the finger around the lines (where they bend) were also purple but a lighter shade as well as the top inside top joint however there was not any redness. The brusing at the top joint was about 1/2 inch long and about 3/4 inches long at the bottom joint. I thought about the emergency room and figured since almost 10 minutes had gone by and I wasn't dead so I would see what it looked like in the morning and slept with it elevated.
It was still swollen, felt pressure and darker purple covering most of the joint areas however the pain was gone. I can bend it but it's not comfortably and it's no longer cold and I know with time it will heal.
I'm am 50, female and as far as I know do not have Raynaud's Syndrome and for that fact none of the other diseases described however.... I have always complained about being cold (everyone thinks I crazy because they're hot) and my hands and feet get cold easily.....
I know this isn't going to help anyone but figured what the heck!
I could see that on my lower joint on the top side of the finger, redness on either side, like a I had been burned by a pan. I looked at both sides of the finger and it was dark purple starting at the red and going down a 1/4 inch towards the inside of the finger. The inside of the finger around the lines (where they bend) were also purple but a lighter shade as well as the top inside top joint however there was not any redness. The brusing at the top joint was about 1/2 inch long and about 3/4 inches long at the bottom joint. I thought about the emergency room and figured since almost 10 minutes had gone by and I wasn't dead so I would see what it looked like in the morning and slept with it elevated.
It was still swollen, felt pressure and darker purple covering most of the joint areas however the pain was gone. I can bend it but it's not comfortably and it's no longer cold and I know with time it will heal.
I'm am 50, female and as far as I know do not have Raynaud's Syndrome and for that fact none of the other diseases described however.... I have always complained about being cold (everyone thinks I crazy because they're hot) and my hands and feet get cold easily.....
I know this isn't going to help anyone but figured what the heck!
Instant ice always works for me.....
I have been getting broken blood vessels/capillaries in my fingers for quite a few years and the symptoms are similar to those mentioned in the preceding posts...pain, swelling and bruising. Sometimes it will recur a few days later if the vessel doesn't heal and I put pressure on the finger tip again. I had this happen two weeks ago and I can't get the finger to heal as it usually does after 2 to 4 days. Just as it seems to be getting a little better, it breaks again with more bruising. Or perhaps there is just a slow leak. I'm hoping that it eventually will heal completely and go back to a normal color. Has anyone had any serious problems due to repeated swelling and bruising? It is my index finger and seems to be cold much of the time, like it is not getting sufficient circulation. I don't know what could be done for it even if I went to a doctor. I also don't know whether it would be better to put heat or ice on it. Initially I always ice it, but this time it has not helped too much, as it is still blue.
Sure wish a doctor would check in here and give a more qualified opinion as to whether to be worried about this. Like others, I fear that it might happen to a vessel that would cause more problems, like in my head! I don't think there is a worry about a blood clot from the finger tip migrating to the heart or lung as a leg clot could do. I think I was told that the capillaries in the finger are too small to carry a dangerous clot anywhere. (I'm not a doctor, however.)
Sure wish a doctor would check in here and give a more qualified opinion as to whether to be worried about this. Like others, I fear that it might happen to a vessel that would cause more problems, like in my head! I don't think there is a worry about a blood clot from the finger tip migrating to the heart or lung as a leg clot could do. I think I was told that the capillaries in the finger are too small to carry a dangerous clot anywhere. (I'm not a doctor, however.)
I just experienced this yesterday. I am a healthy 29 year old female in CA. All of a sudden I felt a strange numbing feeling on my finger, then a sharp pain. I looked at it and could see sweeling and felt tightness. I touched it and it was hotter than the rest of my hand. I had to ignore it since I had 35 kids entering my classroom, but when I looked at it again a few hours later, most of my finger was bruised and more swollen than before. I don't know what could have caused this. The last thing I had done, before noticing my finger's reaction, was open a door. Could gripping a door knob have been enough pressure to make my blood vessel burst???
My middle finger has turned purple mostly from the knuckle to the hand. I'm curious about the cause...??
My mother has been having similar symptoms for years. She's in her early 50's and would get a pulsating painful feeling that seemed to come from the vein in the knuckle of one of her fingers. I think it changed finger for her but usually a middle finger or index. Since it was painful she tried to massage it, but then it seemed that that broke the vein/capillary or whatever and she would bruise. Now I think I'm getting it too, I'm 27. I haven't had it burst and bruise like mom's but I do get pain and throbbing that seems to come from the vein in a knuckle, or the palm side under the knuckle. We both have varicose vein issues and our blood pressure is on the low side.
An earlier post mentioned vitamin k which as a topical cream is supposed to quickly heal bruises. I guess the idea is internally it should boost the strength of the vessels beforehand? Sounds like a good idea to me, I'm going to try it. Also it would seem that anything that is supposed to help with the varicose veins would be a good idea (ie butcher's broom), as that has to do with weak vessels as well.
An earlier post mentioned vitamin k which as a topical cream is supposed to quickly heal bruises. I guess the idea is internally it should boost the strength of the vessels beforehand? Sounds like a good idea to me, I'm going to try it. Also it would seem that anything that is supposed to help with the varicose veins would be a good idea (ie butcher's broom), as that has to do with weak vessels as well.
I have had this condition for about 7 years, I am 25. Interestingly, my father claims to have had this all his life.
One 'remedy' I have worked out for this is simply pressure. If you apply pressure to the finger to stop it swelling then it seems to do less 'damage' -(mechanism unknown).
As soon as it begins I grab the nearest plaster (or sticky tape!) and wind it around the joint fairly tightly which stops it swelling up.
Take this off about an hour later, and it's almost like it never happened.
Your mileage may vary!
:-)
One 'remedy' I have worked out for this is simply pressure. If you apply pressure to the finger to stop it swelling then it seems to do less 'damage' -(mechanism unknown).
As soon as it begins I grab the nearest plaster (or sticky tape!) and wind it around the joint fairly tightly which stops it swelling up.
Take this off about an hour later, and it's almost like it never happened.
Your mileage may vary!
:-)
Thank goodness I found this site! I've had a few 'sore finger' episodes; currently my little finger on my right hand looks as if rigormortis has set in, my family are faintly horrified at the sight and have told me to visit my doctor asap! Can't say I am in too much of a rush to do that though, especially after reading all the stories here, guess we're all just members of an exclusive club. Contributing factors? I have low blood pressure, trapped nerve in spine, HAD chronic fatigue syndrome several years ago.....................all quite random but perhaps relevant who knows. Keep these stories coming, it's all very intriguing.
I'm pretty certain that this is Paroxysmal finger hematoma (or haematoma, depending on where you are in the world). It seems to be pretty harmless. I've had it for years and although it can be pretty painful for a while and it is a nuisance I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. It put my mind at rest to see how many of you have it too because I felt like a bit of a freak.
hello all... i have experienced the exact same thing. on two different fingers. a feeling of being stung. then purple bruising and swelling following for a few days. kinda like when you break a glow stick. it's like, snap, then a rush of swelling and purple. i thought the first time i broke a blood vessel while putting my ring on and was bleeding inside. the second time it happened i knew what to expect when i felt that first pain. i quickly removed my ring before it got trapped behind the swelling...
anyway. it sucks. and... my roommate immediately thought it was gout. he's a very sharp guy. after he said that we looked it up. and there are MANY factors which lead me to believe it's an early warning of that ailment. including sharply swelling joints and purple discoloration. could be in the hands, feet, elbows, etc. it's caused by high levels of uric acid in the body. that can be caused by a number of things, including diet, like too much sugars, meets, and so on.... and stress...
i recommend you all look into that and head into a doc to check it out... that's my best guess. where the hell are all the doctors replying to us on here btw. there's a bunch of us, and no one seems to have any answers. anyway. good luck. Lee
anyway. it sucks. and... my roommate immediately thought it was gout. he's a very sharp guy. after he said that we looked it up. and there are MANY factors which lead me to believe it's an early warning of that ailment. including sharply swelling joints and purple discoloration. could be in the hands, feet, elbows, etc. it's caused by high levels of uric acid in the body. that can be caused by a number of things, including diet, like too much sugars, meets, and so on.... and stress...
i recommend you all look into that and head into a doc to check it out... that's my best guess. where the hell are all the doctors replying to us on here btw. there's a bunch of us, and no one seems to have any answers. anyway. good luck. Lee
Really interested to hear all of this. I too have the same experience a few times now. The most recent one happened just a few moments ago, prompting me to google the subject.
Its previously happened on my index finger, butjust happened on my wedding ring finger. A sudden intense itch and stinging pain and when i looked at the finger the vein was black/blue and swollen and my whole finger was hot and red. The finger and vein felt and still feels, very stiff like i am over stretching it.
Just out of interest do any of you also suffer with severe migraines?
Its previously happened on my index finger, butjust happened on my wedding ring finger. A sudden intense itch and stinging pain and when i looked at the finger the vein was black/blue and swollen and my whole finger was hot and red. The finger and vein felt and still feels, very stiff like i am over stretching it.
Just out of interest do any of you also suffer with severe migraines?
I have migraines and I am sitting here with a black/blue finger.
Out of the blue today, without any impact or injury, the middle finger of my right hand stung like a tendon was being overstretched. Very very painful. All i could do was stare at my finger. I grabbed an ice pack to put in on my finger, all the while trying to figure out how i could have injured my finger so severely and not realized it. The ice numbed it and then the pain resolved. However, the finger [inside palm side-middle pad of the middle finger] was red and swollen and hot. Later i noticed it was black. Although it is indeed comforting to know that there are others with this, I would still like to know the cause and if there is any treatment.
Out of the blue today, without any impact or injury, the middle finger of my right hand stung like a tendon was being overstretched. Very very painful. All i could do was stare at my finger. I grabbed an ice pack to put in on my finger, all the while trying to figure out how i could have injured my finger so severely and not realized it. The ice numbed it and then the pain resolved. However, the finger [inside palm side-middle pad of the middle finger] was red and swollen and hot. Later i noticed it was black. Although it is indeed comforting to know that there are others with this, I would still like to know the cause and if there is any treatment.