What should you know about swelling in palm of hand below fingers?

Repeated gripping, keyboard use, or manual work can irritate tendons and soft tissues in the palm. A cut, puncture, bite, or splinter may cause local swelling and infection, especially if redness and warmth spread. A finger or hand injury can swell around the joints and make bending difficult; a distal radius fracture may also cause broader hand swelling after a fall onto the hand. Rheumatoid arthritis can present with swelling and stiffness in several small hand joints, often affecting function on waking. A firm lump, clicking finger, or pain during bending gives additional clues.

Remove rings before swelling increases and rest from forceful gripping. Keep any wound clean and covered, and avoid squeezing a lump or trying to drain it. Elevate the hand when possible; a wrapped cool pack may help after a minor injury. Note which finger or joint is involved, whether movement causes catching, and whether sensation or colour changes. A clinician can inspect the skin, tendons, joints, and nerves and decide if imaging or treatment is needed.

Seek urgent care for severe pain, rapidly increasing swelling, a pale, blue, cold, or numb finger, or inability to move the fingers. Prompt review is needed for a hot red palm, fever, spreading redness, pus, or a deep wound. Arrange an appointment when swelling persists, recurs, or interferes with gripping and finger movement.

Ask whether the swelling involves a tendon, joint, skin, or nerve, and whether an X-ray or other test is appropriate. Ask which hand movements to limit, how to protect the area, and what changes need faster review.