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    Did I Sprain My Finger?

    Sprained-Finger

    A Sprained finger is common and most often occurs when you fall on your hand accidentally. However, no matter the cause, if you have a painful finger with swelling, it could be a sprain. So, how do you tell if its a sprain?

    When a sprain occurs, its due to overstretching or tearing of a ligament. Sometimes, it will even feel jammed.

    Although some people think a sprain and a strain are the same, they are not. A finger sprain is an injury on its own. It occurs when one of your muscles or tendons are injured. These muscles and tendons are the cords that connect your bones and muscles.

     

    What Causes a Sprained Finger?

    The most common cause of a finger sprain is bending it too far back or bend in the wrong direction (hyperextension.) Additional causes are as follows:

    • Basketball injury
    • Fall onto your hand
    • Balance or coordination issues

    Schedule an Appointment

    South Florida Hand Center has become the preferred orthopedic practice for finger sprain treatment in Broward and Palm Beach. Call us 24/7 at 888-409-8006 to schedule an appointment or use the button below.

    Symptoms of a Finger Sprain

    When a sprained finger occurs, it’s common to have symptoms, such as:

    • Pain or stiffness in one of your finger joints when you try to move it
    • Tenderness in your joint when you touch the area
    • Swelling in one of your finger joints

    In addition, athletes who sprain their fingers tend to ignore the injury. However, this is not a smart idea, since the injury can become severe if left untreated.

     

    Treatment Options a Sprained Finger:

    When treating a finger sprain, a physician will first examine your finger. Most commonly, the RICE method is recommended. This stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation, such as:

    Rest: If a specific sport or activity caused your sprain, take a break from it for a while to help your finger heal.

    Ice: Within the first 24 hours of your injury, you should apply ice to the area for 15 minutes at a time. If your symptoms last longer than that, you can do this for several days after the injury too. This will ease any swelling or inflammation in your joints, and help ease the pain. Don’t put the ice directly on your skin. Instead, put it in a plastic bag or a cloth.

    Compression: Your doctor may recommend that you wear an elastic compression bandage around your finger to provide support and prevent swelling.

    Elevation: During the first 24 hours after your injury, try to keep your injured hand elevated to reduce swelling.

     

    Additionally, it’s common for a doctor to suggest anti-inflammatory medications, which reduce swelling and help with the pain. Splints or tape are also a common treatment. However, if your injury is severe, you may require surgery. And this happens when a ligament is completely torn or a piece is of bone has broken off.

    If you are a sprained finger and you need additional treatment options, call us at 888-409-8006. Our top hand and wrist specialist is here to help! Offices conveniently located throughout South Florida!