Swelling in a finger, hand, or wrist

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Swelling in a finger, hand, or wrist

Injuries are the most common cause of finger, hand, or wrist swelling.

Noninjury causes of swelling include:

• Heat-related illnesses, such as heat edema or heat exhaustion.
• Clothing, jewelry, or splints that are too tight.
• A reaction to a bite or sting.
• An allergic reaction. Something you ate or drank, a medication, or a reaction to a medical treatment may cause this.
• Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, which are common in people who have arthritis.

Swelling is more serious when:

• Rapid swelling of both palms occurs, which may indicate a severe allergic reaction.
• Swollen skin turns pale or cool. This may mean the blood supply has been decreased to the swollen area or below it.
• Swelling develops with signs of infection.
• Swelling develops suddenly or gets worse in the fingers and hands of people who have heart disease, heart failure, or kidney disease. Kidney, heart, or circulatory problems may cause ongoing swelling of your fingers and hands.
• Hands or face swell suddenly during pregnancy. This can be a sign of pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia). Normal fluid buildup during pregnancy may cause mild swelling of your fingers and hands that goes away after delivery.

Treatment will depend on the cause of your swelling.

Credits

Last updated:	November 13, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer