Hi - For the past few weeks, I have noticed that my five year old will cross all of his fingers on both hands. What I mean is, he crosses his index and second finger the usual way, and then crosses his third finger and pinky. He does this on both hands simultaneously, and then makes a sort of fist with his fingers crossed that way. He does this somewhat absentmindedly throughout the day, and I made sort of a mental note to mention it to his doctor next time, but I really didn't think much more about it. Then yesterday morning he told me that his fingers (all of them) hurt "all of the time." He says it is the entire finger that hurts, not just the knuckle or anything, and it hurts all the time, and that is why he has to cross them like that. It apparently relieves some of the pain.
I casually mentioned it to him this morning to see if he was consistent and he very matter-of-factly said they are still hurting.
Of course I am going to ask the doctor about this when we go in a few weeks, but in the meantime I was curious if anyone had any ideas? I researched juvenile arthritis, but that doesn't seem to match, from what I can see. Thanks!!
M.
Hello everyone and thank you for your advice and concerns. I should have mentioned for those of you who thought I was taking his pain a little too lightly that I have already discussed it with the doctor on the phone, and they did not feel a need to see him sooner. I should also mention that this finger-crossing is something he is doing absent-mindedly. It is not keeping him from doing any of his normal activities. He is a huge *artist* at our house and is constantly drawing, coloring, painting, and he is still doing all those things, as well as his other normal activities. So even if it does turn out to be more than growing pains (which both I and the doctor suspect), it is not disabling and he only mentioned it on his own the one time.
I do want to thank everyone again for their support. I will let you know what the outcome is after his doctor visit.
Maybe you could try giving him some tylenol. If he still does it maybe it is a tick or sensory issue?
No idea, but is it possible they are falling asleep or feeling funny from a lack of circulation DUE to the crossing? Dr. may ask this too, so you may want to ask him to describe what it feels like, and also ask at differen times of day... see if it makes a difference when you ask.
good luck!
Dear M., I'm sure it's self inflicted, however, you should at least take him to the doctors to ensure he doesn't have any arthritic issues.
They could be sore from a habit he has developed unconsciously. My daughter had to break a habit of 'cracking' her neck when she felt stressed that eventually caused her neck and shoulder pain.
I second the suggestion to see a rhuematologist. The other thought is zinc deficiency (random pain in extremities like toes and fingers).
This could be a cause or an effect of the twisting, but it's not worth a wait, and I wouldn't just mask it with Tylenol or other placebos. Twisting fingers could lead to other damage. I would also recommend massaging his arms and hands--maybe as a way to soothe him to sleep. It will help the circulation, just massage down the arm from the shoulder to the fingers, then back up to return the blood flow.
why would you wait to go to your doctor. your child is in pain that he crosses his fingers to relieve the pain
Don't wait. Schedule and appointment right away. the pain could be something serious.
I was reading your post and it really made me think of my Dad. He constantly does what your son does and has done it for years. Although he never complained of his fingers hurting, his was a nervous tick. Constantly twisting and contorting his fingers, and biting his nails. I know this probably won't help, but it just hit home with me that's all. Does your son seem nervous at all? Maybe talk to your doctor about that also. Couldn't hurt.
I would go to the doctor to rule out juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
While you are waiting to see the doctor: Things to think about...
Does he play video games or anything a lot?
Can children get growing pains in their hands?
Is he learning an instrument?
A new sport? Tennis, baseball, badmitton, anything the hands have hold in a different way?
My sister had juvenile arthritis. I seem to remember swelling with that.
Good luck and really if there is continued pain make them take you at the doctor sooner. People cancel their appointments so they probably can figure a way out sooner than a few weeks.
Seems strange to me that a 5 year old would know what makes the condition feel better. What does his teacher say? Does he do this in school also? Does he do it just in front of you. I hope to GOD that it's more make-believe than a problem. I wouldn't want to hear that something was serious with a little child like him. Good luck mom. I'll say a prayer.
I think its very important to talk to your pediatrician ASAP- there is a chance they could be seizures and you should see a neurologist. make notes of when they happen, how long it lasts, is he responsive etc.. my son has spikes in his frontal brain upon drowsiness= we see Dr. Kahn at Luthern General. right now he doesnt needs meds but he may be prone to seizures when he gets older who knows. all he does for a split second his eyes roll up= sometimes his arms and hands do a kind of squeeze thing. if I ask him about it he says he does it on purpose. often kids are having seizures and many of us are unaware because it does not look obvious
It sounds like he found a new talent and just likes to try it out all the time. My son "Buckle Fractured" his arm when he was 6 and I was told the bones are still soft and slightly flexible. It sounds like he's just straining his poor little fingers too much and they just ache. Try a mini finger massage. Maybe even play with playdough to exercize his fingers (and fine motor skills). If nothing else hurts, I would just call the doctor for advice and save the trip. If it doesn't get better after a few days of not doing it get it checked out. Good luck.
I can't say if your son is doing the same thing but my son would do that with his second and third fingers on both hands and then stick him in his mouth. He is was only 2 1/2 at the time so didn't communicate to me as well as your son does. Anyways, I was told it is a sensory issue. Sometimes it can be helped with occupational therapy and other times it doesn't interfere with their daily lives so they will outgrow it. What they are doing, is they need for input in that sensory area and are getting that input through their joints. I am no expert in the area at all, I am still learning. I have found alot of people who have children with this problem though. It is very broad and has many different levels of issues. Since your child is 5 and this is the first you have noticed anything different, I am sure it is something else or something that will pass. Good luck!
Hello I know it is 6 years old thread however I wanted to know if there was any resolution to this in your case, because for last few weeks my son is having exactly similar issue. Hence wanted to know.
I don't know if it can happen in the fingers, but my 4 year old granddaughter goes through growing pains about once every 3 or 4 months. She wakes up in the night, crying that her legs hurt. A little TLC along with a massage usually is cure enough, sometimes a little tylenol is required as well. Again, not sure that happens with the hands, but I wonder if it could by why he's been doing the finger crossing to begin with.
Hi
My son who is now 12 has had pain in his joints from fingers to his knees at different times and my Dr said there groing pains. Something about the joints fuseing together. It usually lasted about 3 weeks but the Dr said it could last longer. It usually hurt more when he would rest the joints, so if he did something like writing and stuff in school when it was his fingers or running we would usually ice them before they gro to relaxed to hurt. My sons pain seemed to be worse at night, so we would rub a pain reliever on and wrap a warm/wet towel around it, that seemed to help alot. Hopefully this will help you alittle until you get to his Dr.
Good Luck
