Many of us probably don’t think much about our fingers. We use them for everything and probably take for granted the sensitivity and dexterity involved. The thought of a jammed finger might not seem like such a big deal. Our fingers have so many nerve endings concentrated into such a small area that an injury to the fingers can be quite painful.
A finger jam occurs when it receives a hard blow to the end of the finger, basically crushing all of the different joints together. The result can be a painful injury that swells and limits the mobility of your finger. As with any injury, if you suspect at all that it might be fractured, it is best to get to a doctor as soon as possible so the finger can be properly set. If however, the injury appears to be minor and you are content to treat it at home, here are some steps that you can take to alleviate some of the discomfort.
With an injury such as this, or any sports injury, the best thing to do is put it on ice. Swelling is caused by blood rushing to the injured area. When we apply ice, the ice constricts the blood vessels surrounding the injured area and thus reduces the blood flow around the injury. Apply the ice for twenty minutes at a time over the course of the day to make the swelling go down and to help dull the pain.
Further pain relief can be found in over the counter painkillers like ibuprofen. They help to manage the inflammation that is a result of the swelling and also help to reduce pain. If you feel that these over the counter pain killers are not strong enough to help you manage the pain, then you probably need to see a doctor for your injury.
The ability to immobilize the injured finger will allow it to heal a little faster and will also help to prevent you from injuring it further. You can buy finger splits for a relatively small amount of money at most pharmacies. They are typically made of an aluminum shank that is padded on one side with foam rubber. The aluminum is flexible and can be molded to fit the most comfortable shape for your finger. After you have fashioned a splint that fits you, have someone help you tape it on securely using athletic tape. You should find that the immobility lessens the pain considerably as well.
If after a few days the swelling does not go down and the pain persists, then you should probably see a doctor. Any injury that involves a fracture or ligament damage should not be left untreated. If your body is left to heal itself, but doesn’t get things aligned properly, then you may have limited mobility or functionality of that finger for the rest of your life. If you feel like something isn’t right, it probably isn’t. Go to a doctor so they can take x-rays and find out for sure.
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