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This type of injury may also result for other reasons. You reach out your arm to break a fall, and your finger jabs into the ground. This type of injury usually heals quickly if there is no fracture, although the pain may linger for months when direct pressure is applied to the finger. A thumb sprain can also happen over time from activities or sports that involve repetitive grasping or hand twisting.
A Doctor will examine your hand for signs of any complications such as nerve or blood vessel damage. They will also perform an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis and check the fractured piece of bone is not displaced. A simple fracture to one of the phalanges is relatively straightforward to treat and heals well. A break which is close to the end of the bone, near the base of the thumb is more common.
When should I see my healthcare provider?
Your follow-up appointment with a doctor or hand specialist should be one week after your initial treatment. At the follow-up appointment, the physician will check that the bone fragments are still aligned and healing properly. Failure to treat a broken thumb can often result in arthritis or breaking down of the joint. This can cause chronic pain, stiffness, and swelling.
It's not without side effects to your health, however. In this test, you doctor puts pressure on your thumb during an X-ray to see how the damaged UCL looks when it’s being strained. Your doctor may inject a local anesthetic into your thumb if the pressure is too painful.
How common are broken fingers?
To diagnose a sprain, your doctor will first move your thumb in various directions to see how it’s affected by a damaged ligament. Sprained thumbs are also common in sports that require you to use your hands, such as football, volleyball, rugby, or basketball. Read about how minor sports injuries can be treated at home. Read on to learn more about how to know if you’ve sprained your thumb, what can cause a sprain, and how it’s treated. Grade 3 —This is when the ligament is completely torn or pulled off the bone.
Cold reduces pain, swelling and inflammation in injured muscles, joints and connective tissues. If the iced area turns white, stop treatment immediately. If you have vascular disease, diabetes or decreased sensation, talk with your health care provider before applying ice. A thumb strain involves an injury to a muscle or a tendon, which is a tissue that connects muscle to bone. Both thumb sprains and thumb strains usually cause pain.
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You may need to do rehab exercises each day, often under the guidance of a specialized hand therapist. These exercises can help with swelling and stiffness. They might take X-rays of both thumbs to compare your sprained thumb to your other thumb. Seek emergency care if signs of a Grade 3 sprain or a fracture are visible through the skin and/or if you’ve lost your range of motion. A bone fracture will need to be realigned and immobilized by a cast, while a torn ligament will require surgery for reattachment.
Use an ice pack or something else cold , but make sure you wrap anything frozen rather than apply it directly to your skin. Your provider will use an X-ray to look for any fractures. Treatment varies depending on the severity of your fracture but may include a splint or surgery. People generally recover well after finger fracture treatment if they follow a rehab plan prescribed by their provider. You can relieve pain from a finger fracture for a short time with ice and medication.
How do you treat broken finger at home?
Common causes may include a fall on an outstretched hand or an attempt to catch a ball. Many of these symptoms can also occur with a severe sprain or ligament tear. You should see your doctor so they can determine the cause of your injury. The first metacarpal starts at the webbing between your thumb and index finger and extends back to the carpal bones of your wrist. Mix a few drops of arnica essential oil in 1 tablespoon of carrier oil like coconut oil.
Your local pharmacy can also be a good option, as the pharmacist can take a look and advise you further on finger fracture treatment. Unlike other broken bones, there often isn’t a huge amount that can be done about a broken finger. However, there are some things that can help it to heal faster, such as using a splint or strapping your broken finger to another finger to hold it still . As we go about each day doing our normal activities, there’s always a risk of tripping, falling and getting injured. If you experience a thumb sprain, reach out to your healthcare provider.
Others might immediately appear to be broken, pointing in an odd direction or sometimes the bone might even come through the skin in particularly bad fractures. One of the advanced forms of free private treatment for a broken finger that could be available in your local area is physiotherapy. You can contact us today to learn more about physiotherapy treatment for a broken finger in your local area. Taping a sprained thumb will help reduce its range of motion and provide a small amount of compression to the injury.
Arthritis is a common complication of a broken thumb. Some cartilage is always damaged by the injury and isn’t replaceable. This increases the chance of arthritis developing in the injured thumb joint. In about one third of breaks to the first metacarpal, there’s only a single broken fragment at the base of the bone. The surgeon inserts screws or wires through your skin to hold the broken pieces in proper position while the bone heals. It can be painful, so sedation or anesthesia may be used.
The cast is kept on for 3 to 6 weeks depending on the patient’s age. In some cases, a more lightweight splint may be used. "A better understanding of the meaning of a broken finger and the pictures were a great help as well. Thank you." Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support , Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support , Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee in 2006. Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In severe thumb sprains, your ligament can be partially or completely torn, which often needs surgery. Treatment for thumb sprains often involves rest, using a splint and physical therapy. If you suspect that your finger might be broken, it’s best to seek medical attention to check. An urgent care centre or walk-in clinic is a good idea if there is one available, as a broken finger isn’t serious enough for accident and emergency.
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