Sudden swollen finger joint - what could be causing it?

[Sparklesea]

My index finger has suddenly gone blue at the top joint. It’s swollen, a bit hot and really painful. What’s going on?
I’ve had this before on other finger joints but never quite this painful. What could be causing it?

Hmm I think I would call 111 for that. Hands are tricky.

I think its the heat causing joints to swell

Psoriatic arthritis?

rheumatoid arthritis?

Is that a cut at the top of the finger? Possibly an infection?
Or gout?

Yes there is a scratch but it’s not deep enough to cause an infection. The pain is in the joint rather than the finger tip

Gout?

The pain is less sharp now but the bruising has spread further down. I haven’t injured it at all.

I get that intermittently. It goes away on its own.

If you’ve got a colour change that is spreading, then I would definitely call 111 [broken record]

Only other thing I can think of is a vascular issue. Is the finger cold/numb? If you squeeze it gently until it goes white, does the colour come back within 3 seconds?

Looks like Achenbach syndrome. I get it, finger goes hot, sharp pain then bit swollen bruised like the clears up

No numbness or coldness. Yes the colour does come back quickly (but pressing on it isn’t comfortable!)

I’d never heard of this but I think it really fits. Thanks so much! Seems like nothing to worry about then. I have a doctor appointment next week anyway so will check

I get this once every few months. Very weird but just goes away after a few hours.

Looks like raynauds, I have it to but affects different or multiple fingers causes pain etc.

I had this last year and it recurred several times and then stopped. For me, the trigger could be something as mundane as carrying a shopping bag or cutting small branches in the garden using secateurs. A few hours later, my finger would feel sore and swollen and look bruised. Then the next day it would go numb and tingly. I concluded it was Achenbach syndrome. I booked a GP appt after it had happened several times but by the time they saw me it had gone. I haven’t had it for about a year now.
Achenbach is not linked to any harmful outcomes and often seems to happen to women between 40 and 60 so quite possibly linked with hormone changes affecting the vascular system? I also had low ferritin levels at the time due to heavy periods and don’t know if that could have been a factor.

Yes I’ve started getting this - it’s the rupture of a small blood vessel. It can be very painful.

I had the exact same thing in my 3rd toe a few months ago and I think it was gout. I never got medically checked, but several rounds of ice packs and elevating it seemed to make it go after a couple days. I know you can get it in other joints too.
My toe looked so bruised, red and swollen I was convinced I'd somehow broken it in the night.