*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Finger Pain

There are many causes of finger pain. You can often ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.

How you can ease finger pain yourself

If you see a GP about pain in your finger, they'll usually suggest you try these things:

rest your finger when you can
put an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a towel and place it on your finger for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
take paracetamol to ease the pain
stop or cut down activities that are causing the pain - for example, typing, using vibrating tools for work, or playing an instrument
remove any jewellery on the painful finger
strap the painful finger to another finger next to it - put a small piece of cotton wool or gauze between the 2 fingers and use tape to loosely strap them together
think about using gadgets or tools to make difficult or painful tasks easier - for example, to open jars or chop vegetables

do not use ibuprofen in the first 48 hours after an injury
do not use heat packs or have hot baths for the first 2 to 3 days after an injury
do not lift heavy objects or grip anything too tightly
do not stop using your finger completely - after a few days, do gentle hands and finger exercises to help ease any stiffness

You can ask a pharmacist about:

the best painkiller to take
splints to support your finger and ease pain - flexible rubber splints are available if you still need to use your finger
if you need to see a GP

These might be signs of a broken finger.

What we mean by severe pain

Severe pain:: always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
you cannot sleep
it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
Moderate pain:: always there
makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
you can manage to get up, wash or dress
Mild pain:: comes and goes
is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

If you have finger pain you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

Finger pain is often caused by bruising or injuring your finger.

Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing the pain in your finger.

Symptoms	Possible cause
Pain, swelling and bruising, difficult to move finger or grip anything	Sprained finger
Pain, swelling and stiffness at the base of your finger that lasts a long time, may be hard to move your finger, may have a lump	Tendonitis (de Quervain's disease) or arthritis
Pain, swelling, cannot straighten the end of your finger, often happens after catching your finger on something	Mallet finger
Pain or tenderness in your palm at the base of your finger, stiffness, clicking when you move your finger	Trigger finger
Ache, numbness, tingling or weakness in your fingers or hands	Carpal tunnel syndrome
Sudden, sharp pain, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury	Broken finger

Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.

Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.