# Weird finger lump.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-finger-lump/164550>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 27, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-finger-lump/164550 "2003-03-27T16:57:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ElJeffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ElJeffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElJeffe)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-finger-lump/164550/1 "2003-03-27T16:57:10Z")

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Okay, so I have this… problem. Actually, it’s not so much of a problem as an oddity. On the inside of my middle finger on my left hand, right where the finger joins the hand, there’s a strange, hard lump under the skin. It feels kinda like bone, or perhaps a particularly sturdy cyst, or something. From the feel of it, it’s only a few millimeters across. It doesn’t really hurt, per se, unless I push on it really hard, which causes a very faint and dull soreness.

It popped up some time ago, and I pretty much ignored it. Then it went away for - gosh, must’ve been a year or two. Now it’s back.

Should I be concerned at all? Should I bother seeing a doctor about it? Is this in any way normal? Nobody I know has any clue what it is. I’m not frightened of doctors, but I can think of better ways to while away my time, and I’d rather not miss the work.

Any thoughts?  
Jeff

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**Author:** ![summerbreeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@summerbreeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/summerbreeze)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-finger-lump/164550/2 "2003-03-27T17:01:28Z")

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Rheumatoid arthritis is what causes these lumps (nodules) in my hands – same place as yours, they come & go. Age isn’t a factor, **ElJeffe** , as it is with most osteoarthritis. I’d see a doctor.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-finger-lump/164550/3 "2003-03-27T17:05:35Z")

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Sounds like a ganglion cyst on the tendon - these aren’t serious (it is rather amusing that whacking them with something to pop them is considered an effective tratment)

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**Author:** ![Kelsonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df705f/32.png) [@Kelsonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelsonk)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-finger-lump/164550/4 "2003-03-27T17:58:48Z")

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I’ve also had the exact same thing, in the same place and all. I actually thought it was caused by pulling on my lawnmower too hard, and breaking something in my hand. I wouldn’t be too worried about it, mine went away rather quickly.