My finger feels stiff: what should I know?

Stiffness after heavy hand use can follow temporary irritation. Stiffness with aching or bony enlargement may occur with hand osteoarthritis. Morning stiffness in several joints, warmth, or swelling can occur with rheumatoid arthritis. A finger that catches, clicks, or locks when bending may fit trigger finger. A firm cord or nodule in the palm with gradual difficulty straightening can occur with Dupuytren's Contracture. These patterns overlap, and a symptom alone does not identify one condition.

Gently move the finger through a comfortable range several times during the day; do not force a painful stretch or repeatedly test a catching finger. Pace gripping, use a larger-handled tool where possible, and protect the hand from cold if that worsens symptoms. A clinician can check motion, tendon glide, joint tenderness, sensation, and strength, then decide whether a splint, hand therapy, medication, or imaging is appropriate. Avoid borrowing another person's splint or medicine.

Seek prompt care after an injury if the finger is visibly crooked, numb, blue, severely swollen, or cannot bend or straighten. Arrange an appointment if stiffness persists, returns frequently, interferes with work, or is accompanied by swelling, warmth, catching, or loss of grip. Sudden severe pain with redness or fever needs urgent assessment.

Ask which structure seems restricted, whether the pattern suggests a joint or tendon issue, and whether hand therapy or imaging would help. Ask how to modify work, what movement is safe, and which changes require earlier review.