How Do You Tell If A Finger Is Jammed Or Broken?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. If it’s a jammed finger: When a person jams a finger, he or she will experience pain, redness, and the finger will feel weak. …
  2. If it’s a broken or fractured finger: If the finger is fractured, the swelling will last for days.

What does your finger look like when it’s jammed?

Share on Pinterest A jammed finger

How long does it take for a jammed finger to heal?

Most of the time a jammed finger will get better on its own

within a week or two

. But even with treatment, your finger may stay swollen or sensitive for many months. During recovery, try to use the finger as little as possible while it heals. Take a break from sports or other activities that could worsen your injury.

Should you pull a jammed finger?

If you are like many athletes, one of the most common recommendations for an acute finger sprain is

to “pull it out

.” This should not be done. Pulling on any joint could create further stress on a newly injured ligament.

Do jammed fingers get bruised?

Depending on how badly you injured yourself, it may be hard to tell the difference between a jammed and broken finger. While jammed fingers are less serious than a fracture,

you will still experience bruising and swelling

; and even with a broken bone, you may have a limited range of motion.

Can you move your finger if it is fractured?

You may not always be sure the finger is broken and try to bend it. If it’s broken, doing so will usually be painful.

Don’t be fooled if you can still move

the finger. In some cases, there may still be some range of motion and only dull pain.

Will a jammed finger turn purple?


The area will also bruise

, giving the finger a bluish or purple hue. The finger may also look slightly deformed or out of place. In addition, you won’t be able to move a broken finger (or only be able to move it lightly).

How do you pull out a jammed finger?

The first thing you can do on your own for a jammed finger is to

remove all rings from the hand, then ice and elevate the injured finger to minimize swelling

. Apply ice for 15 minutes, wait until the finger temperature returns to normal and repeat the process.

What is a jammed finger called?

A jammed finger occurs

when the tip of the finger is compressed towards the hand

. As the finger is compressed, the ligaments supporting the joints are stretched or “sprained.” Ligaments are soft tissues that hold bone to bone. The greater the force, the more severe the sprain.

How do you make a swollen finger go down fast?

  1. Keep your hand/arm elevated. If you keep your hand down, gravity is keeping the extra fluid in your hand. …
  2. Apply ice to the affected area.
  3. Wear a splint or compressive wrap. Do not apply too tightly. …
  4. Take anti inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen.

Can U bend a broken finger?

Bending a broken finger will usually be

very painful

, but in some cases, you may still have full motion of your finger and only a dull pain even though it’s broken. Within about 5-10 minutes of breaking your finger, you may notice bruising, swelling and possibly redness.

What should I do if I think I’ve broken my finger?

Treatment.

Temporary splinting, ice, and pain control

are helpful supportive treatments. Make a splint to immobilize your finger even if that means putting a popsicle stick or pen next to it and wrapping something around the stick and your finger. Apply ice to the injured finger as you head to an emergency department.

Can you go to urgent care for a broken finger?

— toes/fingers

can normally be treated

at an urgent care) Any deep wounds or cuts, gunshot wounds, knife wounds, etc. Loss (or near-loss) of limbs or appendages.

What to do when your finger is swollen and hurts?

  1. Remove any rings in case of swelling.
  2. Rest the finger joints so they can heal.
  3. Apply ice and elevate the finger.
  4. Use over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Motrin) or naprosyn (Aleve) to reduce both pain and swelling.
  5. If needed, buddy tape the injured finger to the one next to it.

How long does a jammed finger stay swollen?

A jammed finger or broken joint will cause pain, swelling, and immobility of the finger. Swelling may occur and last for

a few weeks

. The swelling should go down after a few weeks, but the swelling may persist depending on the severity of the injury.

Can a jammed finger be permanent?


An untreated jammed finger can lead to permanent difficulties

. The most common complication is stiffness. A treatment team for a jammed finger often includes an occupational hand therapist to help with motion.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.