ORTHOPEDICS/HAND & WRIST
Reasons
Finger-popping is not a problem at all.
Most of the people can make their fingers popping by cracking their knuckles. The sound heard comes from the air bubbles moving in the fluid that surrounds the joints.
Nevertheless, when no pain is related to this finger popping, it is occasionally a problem and certainly harmless. Therefore, if noisy finger joints are related to pain or inflammations, a doctor visit is recommended.
Ligament Activating
An activating finger commonly causes a Ligament snapping.
Finger’s ligaments are like ropes that fasten to the ends of your fingers. When the muscles of the forearm contract, the ligaments pull the fingers into a fist and the ligaments run part of their course over a cover called the flexor ligament cover.
When the mechanism of movement of the ligament within the sheath is not smooth, patients will suffer an activating finger.
Signs
Activating finger is frequently unclear, and may apparently appear from anywhere.
It may happen with one or more fingers as it may also happen at any time in different places.
Trigger finger usually comes from a difference between the size of the ligament and the size of its entrance to the sheath.
This difference can occur due to a localized inflammation on the ligament itself.
When this difference reaches a critical point, the ligament will experience resistance from the ligament sheath. At first, this is characterized by a snapping of the activating finger, but If this disorder worsens, the trigger finger may necessitate more pressure from other fingers to straighten, or may not straighten at all.
Risk Factors
Trigger finger is about six times more frequent with women than in men, and much more frequent with diabetes.
Other factors such as genetic tendency or work-related use may increase the chance of developing an activating finger.
Therapy
Trigger finger therapies may consist of simple steps such as relaxation and injections. If the signs persist or worsen, therapy that is more aggressive (surgery) may be recommended.
Tendon Damages
The Tendons that hold the joints together are usually damaged when a finger is injured or dislocated.
The tendons can be partially or completely torn.
Regular signs of a tendon damage embrace pain along the side of a joint and inflammation of the joint.
Note that if a tendon heals inadequately, the joint may snap or pop during twisting.
Frequently tendon damages to the fingers are taken to be of minor meaning, however but if not treated correctly, they can lead to chronic and long-lasting difficulties with the finger joints.
For such reason, a medical professional to determine if further evaluation or treatment is needed should evaluate any doubted tendon damage.
When to See a Doctor
If the joint looks enflamed, deformed, or discolored
If finger cannot fully extend
If coldness at the fingertip appears
If soreness along the palm side of the finger is felt
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis means when a finger is wearing away of the normally smooth cartilage surfaces of the joints.
As arthritis worsens, joint motions can become restricted and painful. Arthritic joints in the fingers frequently cause inflammation, “knobby” knuckles.
Finger arthritis may also cause popping and snapping due to small bone limbs around the arthritic joints.
The joints may pop or snap as well because of alignment irregularities.
Other factors that increase a person’s chance of developing arthritis in the hand comprise: manual labor or repetitive use of the hand and smoking.
When to Call a Doctor
If the finger joint looks enlarged or deformed
If there is a dull, burning sensation in the fingers
If there is morning painfulness lasting around 30 minutes
If there is soreness in the joint
If there is a loss of flexibility or a grating sensation
Final word
Pain combined with noise at a finger clicking, snapping or popping, is a problem worthy to have the finger checked by a specialist.
Occasionally, simple solutions may be enough to these problems, but sometimes, other problems may require more therapy that is aggressive.