Sore fingers

[hairyben]

I've had, on and off for the past couple of weeks, sore fingers - mostly 2nd/3rd/little on my right hand but also mild on the left once or twice. They feel locked up, a bit like the feeling you might get in your back if you're working stooped over for an extended period and have to stretch out. A couple of times I've gone to pick up something mildly heavy requring extended but firm grip, or pull a stiff lever and had that electric shock jolt feeling.

Any ideas what it could be? I'm 40, fairly active (sparky), can't think its RSI as I do a wide variety of stuff, might spend a few hours of a day chasing boxes but all hammer drills etc are modern with rubberized cushioned handles so can't think its vibration related.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I've had this for about 6 months. Tested for gout, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, all negative. Naproxen helps but gives me diarrhoea, cocodamol helps but gives me constipation!! Get I need to juggle both to get somewhere in the middle.

Getting really fed up now. It's unbearable in the mornings when I wake up, improves during the day.

[hairyben]

I've tested positive for gout but thats always affected the feet, and this is a completely different pain sensation - the gout swelling is a dull ache, tenderness and high sensitivity to the point I can't apply pressure eg barely walk. The fingers have that slightly seized up feeling but you can stretch them out without wincing, very similar to how you'd stretch out a tired back

[DocJock]

Possibly cubital/radial tunnel syndrome. It's like carpal tunnel syndrome, but in the elbow rather than the wrist.

https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/cubital-radi...

[Jayzee]

Well, this is weird timing OP. You’ve exactly described what I suffered from, out of the blue, about a week ago. Both hands. Things seem to have cleared up now, but I noticed it, especially when laying down either reading or on my phone, which then turned into a sort of pins and needles. All seems fine now. Weird.

[MrGman]

What you describe was one of the first symptoms i had from an under active thyroid.

I use to get my fingers locking, weird muscle spasms and would wake up everyday with extreme pins and needles in my hands. Doctors were useless with those symptoms and we never really got anywhere.

I do a lot of climbing so it was put down to that, Couple of years later I was diagnosed with thyroid problems and since i've been on medication everything has been back to normal.

[bmwmike]

+1 on this, worse in mornings and in winter. Same age ish. At worst point was painful switching the lights on! Love the NHS but for this it seemed like a non issue, dumped into physio (useless) when they couldn't identify a cause.