5 reasons you may have shooting pain in your fingers

Our fingers are responsible for many of our interactions with the world. So when you feel a sharp, shooting pain in one or more of your fingers, it can be difficult to accomplish simple tasks. This is because your fingers are connected to several ligaments, tendons and nerves. One painful finger injury can make regular hand movements uncomfortable.

Finger pain has several different causes. It can occur after you’ve broken a bone, torn a tendon, or as a result of a chronic condition like arthritis. However, shooting pain in your fingers can be specific to a handful of conditions.

5 conditions that cause a shooting pain in your fingers

Whether your shooting finger pain is due to an injury or chronic condition, it can feel extremely limiting. The severity and frequency of the pain you’re feeling can help you recognize whether you’ve sustained damage to a tendon, bone or nerve. Shooting pain can be indicative of many causes, including:

• Dislocation — Severe impact to the fingers can cause one or more of them to dislocate from their sockets. This can cause an immediate shooting pain to spike through the affected fingers and hand. In some cases, the joint relocates itself, but there can still be pain after it does. In some cases, a medical professional has to help reconnect the joint.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome — Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the carpal tunnel in your wrist restricts the median nerve. This usually happens as a result of irritated and inflamed tendons linked to overusing the hand and wrist. Because carpal tunnel syndrome affects the nerve running from your wrist into your hands, it can shoot pain into your fingers. It is usually accompanied by a tingling sensation.
• Peripheral neuropathy — Peripheral nerves are nerves that run throughout your hands and feet. Peripheral neuropathy is a condition in which one or more of these nerves are affected by injury, irritation, or inflammation. When this happens, shooting pain and tingling can spread into one or more of your fingers. The pain can become worse with movement. 
• Strains — Overexerting your fingers during physical activities, such as climbing, can cause the tendons to stretch or tear. According to a study, at least 41% of injured rock climbers sustained overuse injuries in their fingers. Depending on their severity, finger strains can trigger a shooting pain that lasts until the affected tendons recover.
  
• Osteoarthritis — Osteoarthritis typically affects the dominant hand and is caused by the breakdown of cartilage, or the tissue that cushions the joints. Arthritis in your fingers can be linked to a dull, aching pain, especially in the morning. It is usually accompanied by stiffness and swelling. As the cartilage breaks down over time and the finger joint loses its cushion, shooting pain can spread throughout the hand. 

What can you do about shooting finger pain? 

It would be best to see a doctor who can diagnose your shooting finger pain so that you can treat it efficiently. In the meantime, you can practice these safe tips to help ease your pain:

• Rest — While your fingers heal from injury, you may need to rest them. Doing so can help limit the risk of further injury and the recurrence of your shooting pain. You can rest your finger joint by using a device like a splint to hold it in place. A study showed that wearing a splint, especially at night, helped temporarily reduce finger joint pain. If you still feel shooting pain or if your pain continues or worsens with rest, you should contact a medical professional immediately.
  
• Ice – If used correctly, ice can help keep swelling down. The cold can also help distract you from pain that shoots from your finger to the rest of your hand. You should only apply ice for 10 minutes at a time and never directly onto your skin.
  
• Go to physical therapy — If you still experience shooting pain in your fingers after a few days, physical therapy may be for you. Physical therapists can introduce you to exercises and stretches that can strengthen your fingers, reduce inflammation, and ease your pain. In fact, a study showed that, when combined with other treatments, finger exercise can effectively improve hand function and strength.

Visit Advent Physical Therapy for top-notch finger pain treatment

Do you suffer from shooting pain in your fingers that affects your daily life? If you said yes, then you should consider getting help from Advent Physical Therapy. Our physical therapists can evaluate your fingers to determine the root cause of your pain. Our specialists can then build you a personalized therapy plan designed to reduce and prevent shooting pain in your fingers. 

Contact our team today for more information about treating the shooting pain in your fingers or to schedule an initial appointment.