Swolen fingers.

[equinox]

This is something that seems to happen to me every winter. My fingers swell, go reddish and are painful.

 

This is a big problem for me as I play electric bass ALOT and this problem really screws up my playing. I think it's the cold so I've been bathing my hand in hot water and it seems to help for a while but it always come back and it's spreading accross my hand (started with my right pinky).

 

Does anyone know what this is and, even better, how to stop it?

[Pkittie]

My fingers are also swollen & red especially in winters. I went to two docs, they said it's becoz of poor circulation. Fortunately my feet are saved. The only thing you can do to prevent it from getting worse is by wearing gloves at all times when you step out and not putting your hands in cold water. Besides that there is little to be done...keep them moisturized...

[equinox]

I have terrible circulation. My hands are nearly always cold I do wear gloves but maybe I should invest in a thicker pair, maybe the ones skiers use.

[COtuner]

I have terrible circulation. My hands are nearly always cold I do wear gloves but maybe I should invest in a thicker pair, maybe the ones skiers use.

 

Actually skiiers wear thinner gloves because they are heated up from moving around, and need to be able to grasp the poles. My suggestion (from living in a lot of extremely cold regions) is to buy glove liners . Wear those underneath thick mittens.

 

I wear glove liners from Smartwool (ems carries them) and I have mittens that are real shearling. Don't have hand issues outside, although I wake up with stiff joints in the morning. I'm going to try silk glove liners at night (my bedroom stays in the high 50s due to poor insulation in the roof)

 

Feet are my problem - I wear thick wool socks all winter.

[COtuner]

This is something that seems to happen to me every winter. My fingers swell, go reddish and are painful.

 

This is a big problem for me as I play electric bass ALOT and this problem really screws up my playing. I think it's the cold so I've been bathing my hand in hot water and it seems to help for a while but it always come back and it's spreading accross my hand (started with my right pinky).

 

Does anyone know what this is and, even better, how to stop it?

 

You could also be developing mild arthritis from playing bass - I have mild arthritis (osteoarthritis) in my knees, and it really only shows up when the temperatures drop. Check out the silk glove liners, and also look online for exercises for arthritic fingers. You can do those when you're not playing and it helps keep the blood circulating.

[BlackOps]

Are your fingers swelling or is the swelling in the joints in your fingers? Also is it just one hand or both?

Different than osteoarthritis, I have rheumatoid arthritis at first onset and before I was diagnosed I would soak my hand and wrists in the sink in very hot water and it would help for awhile.

If it is the beginning stages of osteoarthritis they can treat it with anti-inflammatories to reduce the pain and swelling. No matter what I recommend you make an appointment with your doctor and have it looked at sooner than later since only a Dr would be able to tell you for sure what is wrong.

[lost1607307474]

^^ Yes, swollen fingers can definitely be a sign of arthritis. Cold whether will make arthritis worse, also. While some types of arthritis mean only the joints swell, other types of arthritis make your entire fingers swell to what is sometimes referred to as "sausage fingers." See your doctor if the pain persists or if you are worried about it