If you slam your finger in the door it’s important to quickly identify the extent of your injury in order to determine what sort of treatment you require. Some slammed fingers can be treated at home with rest and ice, while others require medical treatment and potentially even an antibiotic.
It’s impossible to get through life without slamming your finger in the door at least once. Even the most cautious individuals will eventually come face to face with the pain and agony of a smashed finger.
When it happens to you or your child, you can find relief as soon as possible and reduce the risk of worsening the injury by simply knowing what to do.
Immediately after smashing your finger in the door you should:
-Place an ice pack on your finger(s) to help alleviate some of the pain and keep down swelling.
-Elevate the injured finger. If you let your finger dangle down by your side you actually increase swelling and worsen painful throbbing.
-After a few minutes, try to use your finger to make simple motions to see if movement and function is returning or if something more serious seems to be the matter.
-If the injury seems minor but is still causing some discomfort, you can take over the counter pain relievers to help manage discomfort.
Whatever you do, don’t wrap the injury. In most cases this only reduces the amount of blood flow able to reach to these areas, which is the opposite of what you want. You need as much oxygen and minerals to pump through your injured finger as possible.
Signs You Should Go To Urgent Care For Smashed Finger
A smashed finger can be very painful, but usually results in minor injury. If you notice any of the following symptoms you should head over to your local urgent care.
-Your finger appears deformed and misshapen.
-You feel nothing at all and the finger is numb, this is especially telling if you have not put any ice on it yet.
-If you notice any signs of infection developing on or around the injury.
It’s very common for fingernails to fall off. If your nail is bloody, falling off or loose, or you have any other open wounds related to the injury, it’s important to keep it clean and free of infection to prevent further issues.
If your bone is sticking out of your finger you should head to the emergency room.
Signs Your Finger Is Broken
If your finger is broken you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
Bruising, swelling and/stiffness of finger—All of these are common symptoms for minor injuries too. The rule of thumb is if symptoms persist or become more serious around 5 to 10 minutes after the injury occurs you are possibly looking at a broken bone.
Numbness—If you can’t feel anything it might seem better than a lot of pain, but numbness is not necessarily a good sign. If an injury is serious enough it will cause the nerves to swell and create a feeling of numbness. This is not always indicative of a broken finger, but it’s best to have it checked out at urgent care.
Exposed bone—if you can actually see the bone sticking out of your skin, it’s a pretty clear sign that it is broken. You need to get medical attention immediately. Anytime bones are exposed there’s the risk for serious infection. If the bone breaks through the skin you will need antibiotics.
Only a doctor can determine if your finger is really broken or not. If you suspect your finger is broken, visit a doctor as fast as possible in order to correctly start the healing process.
Help! My Finger Won’t Straighten Out
If your finger is jammed or smashed and as a result no longer straightens out at the tip, this is known as mallet finger or mallet fracture. This indicates that the tendon responsible for extending the finger is stretched out or torn.
If the bone that supports this tendon breaks the finger may also fail to extend, this is known as an avulsion fracture.
At Home Self-Care Treatment For Broken Fingers
Make sure to take good care of your smashed finger in order to prevent worsening of the injury or the development of an infection.
Keep your finger clean and sanitize it regularly, especially if you have any open wounds. Make sure to rest your finger and carefully follow all doctor orders so that it properly heals.
Urgent Medical Center can check and treat your finger, as well as provide X-Rays to determine if your finger is broken. Visit us today for fast, friendly medical treatment our community has relied on for many years!
