Why Your Finger Joints Click, Snap, and Pop

Many people can make their fingers pop and snap, often called cracking knuckles. The sound you hear is caused by nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide bubbles moving in the fluid that surrounds your joints. Rest assured that the most common causes of finger-popping are not typically a problem.

When there is no pain associated with popping or snapping fingers, it is usually harmless. However, if your noisy finger joints are painful or swollen, you should contact your healthcare provider.

This article explains when snapping fingers and cracking knuckles can be signs of a problem. It will also discuss symptoms to be aware of and potential treatments.

What Causes Joints to Snap and Pop?

Joints may snap and pop for many reasons. Some of the conditions that cause it include:

• A condition known as trigger finger
• Finger and hand injuries
• Arthritis
  

Trigger Finger

The tendons in your hands are like cords that attach to the ends of your fingers. When your forearm muscles contract, the tendons pull the fingers into a fist. The tendons run through a thin tube called the flexor tendon sheath. This goes from the middle of the palm to the tip of the finger.

If you have the condition known as trigger finger, that tendon movement isn't smooth and may feel painful and stiff. This can lead to snapping noises. Because of this, you may also develop some swelling on your palm.

The cause of trigger finger is often unclear. It can occur in multiple fingers, in different locations, and at different times.

Trigger finger can happen if the size of the tendon and the size of the opening of the tendon sheath aren't compatible. This can occur if there is inflammation or swelling on the tendon.

This causes a snapping feeling when you are relaxing a fist. If symptoms get worse, you may need to use your other hand to straighten the trigger finger, or it may not straighten at all.

Treatments for trigger finger include steroid injections, rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and possibly surgery.

Ligament Injury

Ligaments hold joints together and can get damaged when a finger is sprained or dislocated. Ligaments can be partially or completely torn. If the ligament heals improperly and is too loose, the joint can pop and snap as you bend your fingers.

Finger ligament injuries may be thought of as small problems. However, if not properly treated, they can lead to long-term issues with the finger joints. If you think you may have a ligament injury, it's best to reach out to a medical professional.

Osteoarthritis

Finger osteoarthritis is the wearing away of the normally smooth cartilage surfaces of the joints. As arthritis worsens, joint movements can become painful. Arthritic joints in the fingers often cause swollen knuckles.

Finger arthritis can cause popping and snapping. This can happen as a result of small, pointed bone growths around the arthritic joints. These growths, known as bone spurs, can create uneven surfaces and connection issues. You may notice a small bump around the arthritic joint called a mucous cyst.

A history of manual labor or repetitive use of the hand may also increase your chance of developing arthritis in the hand.

Treatment for Joints That Snap and Pop

Treatment may include:

• Injections
• Surgery
• Wearing a splint
• Physical therapy

Often, people start off with a simple treatment approach. If the symptoms get worse or come back, a more invasive treatment may be recommended.

Summary

Fingers and knuckles that crack, snap, or pop are typically nothing to worry about. However, you should speak with your healthcare provider if you have finger pain, numbness, or a burning sensation. You should also reach out to your doctor if you see any swelling, or are having difficulty with finger movement.

These symptoms may be signs of trigger finger, a ligament injury, or osteoarthritis. If so, know that there are treatment options available. These may include injections, surgery, wearing a splint, and physical therapy.