When Should I Be Worried About A Smashed Finger?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Speak with a doctor or nurse if your smashed finger

causes extreme pain

or involves more than just the fingertip. You should also seek medical help if: you can’t straighten your finger. the finger is noticeable bent or crooked.

How do you know if a finger injury is serious?

  1. If there is severe pain or deformity.
  2. If there is uncontrolled bleeding.
  3. If there is numbness (loss of sensation)
  4. If the finger is pale or bluish in color.
  5. If there are exposed bones or tendons.

Can a smashed finger be dangerous?

Crushed or Smashed Fingertip.

The end of the finger may get a few cuts or a blood blister. Sometimes, the nail can be damaged. Broken bones are not common with this kind of injury. If they do occur, they are at risk for

a bone infection

(osteomyelitis).

How do you tell if smashed finger is broken?

  1. The fracture site is very swollen.
  2. The affected finger appears unnatural or deformed.
  3. The fracture site is tender and bruised.
  4. You have difficulty moving the affected finger completely.

Should I go to the doctor if I smashed my finger?

People should

seek medical attention if

a smashed finger causes severe pain. It is a good idea to speak with a doctor to ensure no further damage was done to a joint if more than just the fingertip is involved in the injury.

When should you go to the doctor for a finger injury?

A person should see their doctor as quickly as possible when:

the finger appears deformed or crooked

.

they develop a fever following the injury

.

the finger becomes significantly swollen

.

What do do for a smashed finger?

  1. Ice it. Use an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling. …
  2. Elevate it. 2 Letting your hand dangle at your side after smashing your finger will simply increase swelling and that uncomfortable throbbing. …
  3. Use it. …
  4. Take a pain reliever.

What does a sprained finger feel like?

Sprained Finger Symptoms


Pain in one of your finger joints

when you try to move or use it. Stiffness in your finger or having a hard time straightening or bending it. Tenderness in your joint when you touch the area. Swelling in one of your finger joints.

Can you get a blood clot from smashing your finger?


A blood clot can form after a trauma to the finger damages blood

vessels or breaks a bone. Examples include: a heavy object falling on the fingers, like when you accidentally hit your finger with a hammer. a crush injury, such as when you get your finger caught in a car door.

How do I stop my finger nail from throbbing?


Apply ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours on the first day, then 3 to 4 times a day after

that. To reduce the throbbing, keep your hand or foot above the level of your heart.

How do you elevate your fingers?

Elevate (raise) your finger

above the level of your heart

as often as you can. This will help decrease swelling and pain. You can elevate your hand by resting it on a pillow. Use a splint or compression as directed.

Will Epsom salt help a smashed finger?

Epsom salt can help

reduce pain and swelling

. Soak your swollen fingertip for 15 to 20 minutes in warm or cool water mixed with Epsom salt.

What happens if you don’t drain blood under nail?

If blood is spontaneously draining from the hematoma, drainage of subungual hematoma is generally not required. You should not try draining your subungual hematoma at home as improper drainage may

result in infections or permanent damage to the nail bed

.

When should I go to the ER for a swollen finger?


Immediate medical attention

is also necessary if you have swelling and other symptoms such as fever, chills, or redness or warmth of the finger. “If there’s persistent joint swelling, there’s the risk of irreversible joint damage that could lead to deformity and loss of function,” Dr.

When should you go to the hospital for a swollen finger?

Seek immediate medical care if you, or someone you are with, have finger swelling along with other serious symptoms including:

High fever

(higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit) Inability to move the finger. Severe pain.

How do I know if my finger is sprained or fractured?

  1. Swelling that lasts for several days.
  2. Swelling that may extend to other parts of the hand.
  3. Bruising around the injured area.
  4. Extremely sharp pain.
  5. Limited range of motion of the finger.
  6. The finger looks misshapen or deformed.
  7. Stiffness.
  8. Burning or tingling.

Will a sprained finger heal on its own?

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.

What happens when you smash your finger and it turns black?

After the crushing injury, you’ll likely notice that the fingernail on the injured hand has turned dark or purple. This is due to

blood pooling beneath the fingernail

, which can be a rather painful type of bruise. If the blood under the nail is painful, you’ll need to let the blood out.

Can you move a sprained finger?

Finger sprains are often splinted or buddy-taped (taped to an adjacent finger) for a short period of time. So long as there is no fracture or dislocation,

most finger sprains should be allowed to move within about a week

.

Can a blood vessel burst in your finger?

Normally, a finger becomes bruised due to trauma. However, with Achenbach syndrome, the bruising appears to be caused by a

spontaneous rupture of blood vessels for no known reason

.

Should you drill a hole in your fingernail?

You could try to burn or drill through the nail to relieve the pain, but this is a procedure often best left to your physician. If you really want to do it at home, I suggest using a very

small-diameter drill bit

and rotating it between your thumb and pointer finger.

Is it normal for a hematoma to harden?

Many injuries can develop a hematoma and give the area a firm, lumpy appearance. If you have an injury, you might have more than a bruise. It’s important to see your doctor if your bruise swells or becomes a firm lump, because it might mean something more severe happened under the skin.

How do you relieve pain under your nail?

  1. Apply ice and elevate the injured nail area as soon as possible after the injury.
  2. Trim a torn or detached nail, and tape the nail in place.
  3. Try to drain blood from under the nail if you have pain.

How should I sleep with a swollen finger?

Positions in bed


Lie down on your back

, and elevate your affected arm on 1 to 2 pillows. If your hand is more swollen than the rest of your arm, elevate your hand on a larger pillow than the rest of your arm. Lie down on your side.

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 a sprained finger feel numb?

There may be difficulty bending or straightening the finger and pain with range of motion. This is especially true if there are other associated injuries involving the joint or the finger, including fracture and dislocation.

Numbness and tingling may be present in the finger if the digital nerves are bruised or torn

.

Why does my finger throb?

Carpal tunnel syndrome and other medical conditions that affect the nerves and muscles in your arm and hand can cause:

throbbing pain in the hand and fingers

.

pain

when moving the affected fingers or when moving your wrist. difficulty typing or writing.

How long does a swollen finger last?

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. You may even notice decreased pain and increased mobility even though your finger is still swollen.

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.