Finger pain when bending is common and can come from several different issues. The exact cause depends on where it hurts, how it started, and what other symptoms you have.
Common causes
- Recent injury such as jamming, bending it backwards, or a fall can cause a sprain, ligament injury, or even a small fracture, leading to sharp pain, swelling, and limited motion when you bend the finger.
- Overuse problems like tendinitis or repetitive strain (typing, gaming, tools, instruments) can inflame tendons, causing aching, stiffness, and pain with bending.
- Joint problems such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can cause deep aching pain, stiffness, and sometimes swelling that is worse with movement or in the morning.
Nerve and tendon issues
- Trigger finger happens when the tendon catches in its sheath, so the finger may click, lock in a bent position, or feel stuck, often painful at the base of the finger when you move it.
- Nerve problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome or peripheral neuropathy can cause pain, tingling, or numbness in the fingers that may worsen with certain positions or movements.
When to seek urgent care
- Get urgent medical help if the finger looks deformed, you cannot straighten or bend it at all, pain is severe after an injury, or there is open wound, significant swelling, or loss of feeling.
- Also seek prompt attention if pain has lasted more than a few days, is getting worse, or you have redness, warmth, or fever that could suggest infection.
What you can do now
- Until you can see a clinician, resting the finger, briefly icing (10–15 minutes at a time with a cloth), and using over‑the‑counter pain relief if safe for you can reduce symptoms.
- Avoid activities that make the pain worse, and consider gently moving the finger within a pain‑free range instead of forcing a full bend.
Why a proper exam matters
- Only an in‑person medical professional can diagnose the exact cause, sometimes with X‑rays or other tests, because different problems can feel similar but need different treatments.
- If you describe which finger, where it hurts (joint vs base vs whole finger), how long it has hurt, any injury, swelling, clicking, numbness, or locking, a clinician can narrow down the likely cause and guide treatment.
