Stiff Fingers When Waking Up – Causes and How To Overcome

Stiff Fingers When Waking Up – If waking up in the morning should feel a fresher body after getting enough sleep, some people actually feel discomfort in some parts of their body ^[1].

Fingers are the most common body part and are prone to stiffness.

When Stiff Fingers When Waking Up, be it in the morning or anytime after you go to sleep, here are a variety of possible causes.

Stiff Fingers When Waking Up Causes

1. Dupuytren’s Contracture

Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition when the layers of tissue under the skin of the palms shorten or thicken ^[3].

This causes the hand cannot be opened wide and normally because it constantly tends to bend ^[3,4].

Dupuytren’s contracture can affect one hand or both at the same time, especially on the little finger and ring finger ^[3].

The following are a number of symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture apart from stiff fingers that cannot be moved every time you wake up: ^[3]:

• The fingers (especially the little finger and ring finger) bend toward the palm.
• In the middle of the hand, a small lump appears but is not painful.
• There is a feeling of discomfort every time you hold something.
• Wrinkles appear in the palm of the hand due to the bending of the fingers.

Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition that is at higher risk for people between the ages of 40 and 70, especially men. ^[5].

People of Northern European descent also have a greater chance of developing this disease, especially if there is a family member with a history of Dupuytren’s contracture. ^[3].

Diabetics also have a high risk of experiencing these stiff fingers, including people who have the habit of smoking and drinking alco**holic beverages ^[3].

2. Trigger Finger

The Trigger finger is a condition of stretching or bending of the fingers due to doing certain activities for too long ^[6,7].

The particular activity in question is using a gadget or typing on a computer or laptop ^[8].

The tendons of the finger are basically surrounded by a protective sheath which, if this part is affected by inflammation, then this causes a trigger finger. ^[6,7].

Some of the main symptoms of trigger finger that need to be watched out for include:: ^[6,7]

• The base of the finger hurts
• There is a lump at the base of the finger
• When bending and straightening the fingers will make a ‘click’ sound
• Decreased hand activity
• Limited hand movement

In the trigger finger, the cause is not yet clear, but some people with the following diseases or health disorders have a greater chance of getting the trigger finger ^[6]:

• Cysts on fingers or palms
• Infections of the fingers or palms
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout
• Diabetes

Not only that, usually this condition is easier if someone has experienced an injury to the base of the finger or palm ^[6].

Trigger finger not only triggered by typing or playing with gadgets for a long time, but also when holding certain objects that are too long and too strong  ^[6,7,8].

When the fingers are under strong pressure or the thumb is active doing certain activities, trigger finger will occur ^[6,7,8].

3. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis, which is inflammation that attacks the joints and often causes swelling in the affected area of the body ^[9].

Damaged cartilage generally causes osteoarthritis so that stiffness occur in the body, including the fingers in the morning ^[9,10].

Some of the main symptoms of osteoarthritis besides stiffness, swelling and joint pain are ^[9]:

• Every time you move the joint there will be a friction sound
• Crooked fingers due to stiffness
• A lump appears on the finger joints
• Decreased muscle mass
• Muscles are getting weaker

Even though the symptoms are mild at first, there are times when the symptoms get more severe until they limit body movement ^[10].

4. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Stiff fingers, especially when you wake up in the morning, could be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, a type of arthritis in which the joints become inflamed for a long time ^[10,12].

The inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is different from the inflammation that occurs in osteoarthritis, although the symptoms are similar ^[11].

Rheumatoid arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disease because the immune system attacks the body incorrectly ^[11].

5. Injury

Stiff Fingers When Waking Up can occur as a result of an injury to the hand.

Self-injury can occur in a variety of conditions or forms, such as fractures, joint/bone dislocations, muscle injuries, sprains, or strain on the hands.

This can cause the fingers to sometimes be affected so that they become stiff and difficult to move.

If the fingers of the hand when waking up not only feel stiff, but also bruised, swollen, experience a warm sensation in the stiff area, and feel pain, you should see a doctor immediately..

How to Overcome Stiff Fingers When Waking Up

Although there are various possible causes, the condition of stiffness in the fingers needs to be confirmed by taking a number of examinations.

Symptomatic patients should undergo scanning tests such as X-rays, MRI examination and CT scan.

After knowing the condition that causes or triggers it, the new doctor will be able to deal with the factors that cause it, such as: ^[3,6,9,11]:

• Administration of pain relievers, such as ibuprofen.
• Physiotherapy or physical therapy to make the muscles in the stiff joint area more flexible and strong.
• Surgery, if the joint damage is so severe that it requires repair or the finger is stiff and painful due to a fracture

In addition to medical treatment, Stiff Fingers When Waking Up can be relieved by exercising and managing a healthier diet.