How to Pinpoint the Cause of Ring Finger Pain

Other than wearing a wedding band and hitting S and L on a keyboard, your ring finger probably doesn’t get a lot of individual use. But you need it to eat, type, grip, and perform many daily tasks that we all take for granted. Left untreated, ring finger pain can become debilitating and turn into a deformity or arthritis, greatly affecting your quality of life. The good news is that fixing ring finger pain is often easy and nonsurgical.

You aren’t alone if your ring finger hurts and you don’t know why. Ring finger pain affects a diverse swath of adults, whether or not you work with your hands or use a computer heavily. Children may experience ring finger pain from an injury or a congenital condition. Aging increases the rate of ring finger pain from chronic diseases and degeneration.

If your ring finger is tingling, stiff, burning, popping, or locking up, keep reading to learn what it could mean and when it’s time to see a hand specialist.

Why Do I Have Pain in My Ring Finger?

Your ring finger is next to your pinky finger, and some refer to it as the “fourth finger.” 

When your ring finger hurts, this is a signal that there’s something going on with its bones, joints, tendons, or nerves. This damage is often the result of a direct injury or wear and tear. Sometimes, though, chronic diseases can harm tendons, nerves, and muscles, causing ring finger pain.

Your ring finger could also experience symptoms from a problem higher up in the arm. It’s connected to the ulnar nerve, which originates in the neck, and the medial nerve, which extends from the armpit. Compression of either nerve can radiate to the ring finger.

Ring Finger Pain’s Associated Symptoms

Ring finger pain takes various forms depending on whether it’s caused by an underlying disorder or traumatic injury. Some of the symptoms that you may notice alongside pain in your ring finger include:

• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Clicking or catching
• Locking
• Numbness
• Burning
• Tingling
• Warmth
• Weakness
• Visible deformity
• Limited range of motion

Common Causes of Fourth Finger Pain

Ring finger pain can occur on its own, or it can develop alongside symptoms in the pinky finger, wrist, elbow, or forearm. 

Disorders That Can Affect Ring Fingers

Ring finger pain is often a sign of a chronic condition, congenital disease, or nerve entrapment.

• Trigger finger: This tendon condition causes pain in the ring finger or thumb. It feels like the ring finger “catches” when it bends, or locks up when it straightens. Trigger finger is often most noticeable when you wake up. Diabetes is a common risk factor.
• Osteoarthritis: Age and injury typically cause this degenerative condition, characterized by cartilage loss and grinding bones. Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, stiffness, swelling, and bony lumps on finger joints.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: This immune system disorder can produce swelling, pain, and deformity in many joints, including the ring finger. One of rheumatoid arthritis’s common complications is what’s called a boutonniere deformity, or a crook in joint of the middle finger that’s hard to straighten. 
• Dupuytren’s contracture: This condition causes the fingers or hand to curl involuntarily. One of the primary symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture is a lump in the palm at the base of the ring finger. It’s most prevalent in people of northern European descent. 
• Ganglion cysts: A sac of fluid (or cyst) on the ulnar nerve in either arm can cause pain and numbness in the ring finger.

Find out how IHTSC helped a patient with hand rheumatoid arthritis regain mobility

Examples of Ring Finger Injuries

You may assume that if you break a finger, you’ll know. But some acute injuries to the ring finger aren’t immediately obvious or easy to identify.

• Jersey finger: This football injury happens when you grab a jersey and it’s yanked away, catching on the finger and tearing the tendon.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: Numbness and tingling on the thumb side of the ring finger can be a sign of this condition if other fingers show symptoms, too. Carpal tunnel syndrome is more common in the dominant hand, so for right-handed people, it may be the reason their right ring fingers hurt.
• Cubital tunnel syndrome: The cubital tunnel is an ulnar nerve entrapment in the elbow. Also called the funny bone, cubital tunnel syndrome is sometimes the culprit when a patient’s ring finger hurts. Pain in the ring finger, especially when the elbow is bent, or when the ulnar nerve is compressed at the wrist, is one of the condition’s most common symptoms.
• Fractures: Pain in the ring finger could be a sign of a broken bone in the hand (finger or palm) or wrist.

Learn more about hamate fractures, the broken wrist with a twist

Diagnosing Pain That Affects the Ring Finger

A proper diagnosis is key to a fast, safe, and lasting recovery. A physician will ask how you use your hands regularly and your medical history, perform physical exams on the hand and finger, and order imaging scans if necessary. Experienced hand specialists know how to connect the dots to pinpoint the cause of ring finger pain and start the best course of treatment. 

At-Home Treatments for Ring Fingers That Hurt

If your ring finger pain isn’t severe, these relief methods are safe to try at home.

• Ice or heat application for 20 minutes
• Elevation
• Rest (stopping an aggravating activity)
• Consistent gentle stretching, such as finger extension, wrist pronation, hook-fist stretch, and full-fist stretch
• Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
• Frequent breaks from repetitive hand or wrist tasks
• Wearing a wrist splint at night

If these methods don’t work or the pain worsens, it’s time to seek medical attention.

Medical Care for Ring Finger Pain

Ring finger pain is associated with various conditions, injuries, and problems arising from everyday tasks. If at-home treatment doesn’t bring relief, you’ll only find out for sure what’s causing the pain by seeing a hand expert. 

Consulting a specialist doesn’t mean you are more likely to have surgery. Your physician will prioritize the least invasive options. Those might include providing better instructions on a combination of at-home exercises and splinting that will work, alongside injections and physical therapy if needed. If your ring finger pain requires surgery, it’s likely to be a minor procedure.

Signs It’s Time to Make a Hand Specialist Appointment

Anytime pain prevents you from being comfortable and doing the things you love, even if you’d rate it as a mere annoyance, you are justified in consulting an expert. If you found this article by googling “my ring finger hurts,” that’s a red flag, too. However, consider any of the following symptoms as signs to seek immediate care.

• Sudden severe pain
• Visible deformity
• Lumps
• Complete loss of function
• Unexplained, persistent pain
• Pain and symptoms associated with arthritis or diabetes
• Swelling that doesn’t respond to ice or over-the-counter anti-inflammatories

Find Relief for Ring Finger Pain at IHTSC

The hand and wrist are intricate structures. A family doctor may not be qualified to distinguish between the many possible explanations for ring finger pain. 

IHTSC’s board-certified specialists are world-renowned experts at diagnosing and treating finger pain of all types. For extensive injuries and chronic conditions, our team is equipped with comprehensive rehabilitation services. Schedule a consultation to take the first step toward a personalized treatment plan.

Call 317-743-3985 or book an appointment online.

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• Woman Regains Mobility With Surgeries for Wrist and Hand Rheumatoid Arthritis

Medically reviewed by Kathryn Peck, MD