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What Causes Severe Pain On The Fingertips?
Question: I have extreme finger tip pain. Two years ago my MRI showed the c4-5 level showed disc osteophyte complex. Mild central canal stenosis slightly greater results, AP dimension of the thecal sac is 10 mm. Severe right moderate left foraminal stenosis is present.
the c5 c6 level shows extensive disc osteophyte complex slightly greater right paracentral. There is contact and flattening of the ventral aspect of the ventral aspect of the cord, moderate central canal stenosis resulting. AP dimension of the thecal sac approximately 8 mm. foraminal stenosis is moderate left severe right. Could this be the cause of my painful finger tips ?
the c5 c6 level shows extensive disc osteophyte complex slightly greater right paracentral. There is contact and flattening of the ventral aspect of the ventral aspect of the cord, moderate central canal stenosis resulting. AP dimension of the thecal sac approximately 8 mm. foraminal stenosis is moderate left severe right. Could this be the cause of my painful finger tips ?
Brief Answer:
Finger tip pain causes and MRI interpretatio
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. You are suffering from finger tip pain (I assume it is bilateral). It could be due to few reasons
- Neuropathic - Sensory neuropathy can cause current like finger tip pain, tingling sensations. The cause can be diabetes, B12 deficiency, drug induced, nutritional deficiency, alcohol induced. The compressive lesions can also cause neuropathy like disc at C6-7 or C7-T1 or canal stenosis at same level, compression at axilla/wrist.
In your case, the disc and canal stenosis are at upper level i.e. C4-5 and C5-6. The nerves arising from these areas supply arm and forearm outer aspect. The pain should occur at those areas. The canal stenosis can cause radiating pain from neck till forearm and thumb-index finger. You can develop weakness of all fingers due to cord compression.
So the cause of finger tip pain due to C4-5 and C5-6 disc are unlikely.
- Vascular cause - Some vascular diseases like peripheral vascular disease (atherosclerosis of subclavian artery/axillary artery), stenotic lesion in radial or ulnar artery, Raynaud's disease can cause severe burning type of finger pain. Vascular illness usually causes pale fingers, change in nails, less hairs over hands, redness/bluishness.
For confirmation, you can consult vascular surgeon and get doppler ultrasound of upper limb arteries. It will help in confirming illness.
I think the pain is most probably due to nutritional deficiency like B12/folic acid or vascular illness. You can also send me the images of your MRI cervical spine. I will be able to correlate better with the images.
Hope it will help you. If still in doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Finger tip pain causes and MRI interpretatio
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. You are suffering from finger tip pain (I assume it is bilateral). It could be due to few reasons
- Neuropathic - Sensory neuropathy can cause current like finger tip pain, tingling sensations. The cause can be diabetes, B12 deficiency, drug induced, nutritional deficiency, alcohol induced. The compressive lesions can also cause neuropathy like disc at C6-7 or C7-T1 or canal stenosis at same level, compression at axilla/wrist.
In your case, the disc and canal stenosis are at upper level i.e. C4-5 and C5-6. The nerves arising from these areas supply arm and forearm outer aspect. The pain should occur at those areas. The canal stenosis can cause radiating pain from neck till forearm and thumb-index finger. You can develop weakness of all fingers due to cord compression.
So the cause of finger tip pain due to C4-5 and C5-6 disc are unlikely.
- Vascular cause - Some vascular diseases like peripheral vascular disease (atherosclerosis of subclavian artery/axillary artery), stenotic lesion in radial or ulnar artery, Raynaud's disease can cause severe burning type of finger pain. Vascular illness usually causes pale fingers, change in nails, less hairs over hands, redness/bluishness.
For confirmation, you can consult vascular surgeon and get doppler ultrasound of upper limb arteries. It will help in confirming illness.
I think the pain is most probably due to nutritional deficiency like B12/folic acid or vascular illness. You can also send me the images of your MRI cervical spine. I will be able to correlate better with the images.
Hope it will help you. If still in doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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