How to Treat Sprained Fingers

A finger sprain is a type of joint sprain caused by a strong impact on the tip of the finger. ^{[1] X Source of Research} This is a common injury in sports, especially volleyball, basketball, football and rugby. A finger joint sprain usually heals on its own without treatment, but there are some self-care tips to speed recovery. In some cases, you may need medical treatment to restore normal motor function to your fingers.

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Treating a finger sprain at home

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Check to make sure the injury is not serious. The degree of pain caused by a musculoskeletal injury does not always correlate with severity. In other words, there are injuries that are very painful but not dangerous. A sprained finger is painful at first, but it’s not as serious as a dislocated or broken finger. ^{[2] X Research Source} Signs of a dislocated or fractured finger are some degree of flexion, slight swelling, or bruising. So if your finger is really sore with an abnormal bend or a lot of swelling or bruising, then you need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. If you don’t have any of the above signs, you just need to rest your hands and take care of yourself.

However, if your finger is very painful, numb, weak, swollen, or bruised, you should see a doctor right away.
Sprains often damage the ligaments around the finger joint and limit its movement.
Mild sprains are classified as a Grade I sprain, meaning the ligaments are only slightly stretched but not yet torn. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Let your fingers rest and wait patiently. Improper handling of the ball is often the cause of finger sprains during basketball, volleyball, and baseball. If the injury occurs while playing sports, you may need to take a break – from a few days to a few weeks and depending on the extent of the injury. In addition, the rest time depends on the nature of work, you may have to take a few days off or switch to another (temporary) job so that your hands and fingers are not subjected to high work intensity. In general, rest is necessary with sprains, strains, bruises, and most causes of swelling.

During this time, the injured finger interferes with the ability to grasp objects. Typing or writing is also difficult, especially when the injury occurs in the dominant hand.
In addition to some sports, finger sprains are also common at home, such as clamping hands at the door. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Apply ice. Inflammation is a major cause of pain in a sprained finger, so applying cold early on is a smart solution because it restricts local blood circulation, reduces swelling, and numbs nerves. ^{[5] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to source} You can apply anything frozen, like ice cubes, gel packs or frozen berries (beans are best). If you choose to apply cold, apply it for 10-15 minutes every hour, until pain and swelling subside. After a few days you can stop applying cold.

While applying, you should elevate the table/arm with several pillows to counteract the effects of gravity and help reduce swelling.
Be sure to wrap a thin towel around the pack to avoid frostbite.

Take anti-inflammatory drugs for a short time. Another effective way to reduce inflammation and pain is to take an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Mofen-400), or naproxen (Ameproxen). ^{[6] X Research Sources} NSAIDs help control inflammation, which in turn can reduce swelling and pain. Keep in mind that NSAIDs and other pain relievers are usually only taken for a short time (less than 2 weeks) because of their negative side effects on the stomach, liver, and kidneys. To reduce discomfort and/or stomach ulcers you should not take NSAIDs on an empty stomach.

Children under 18 should not take aspirin because of the risk of developing Reye’s syndrome, while ibuprofen is not suitable for infants under six months of age.
If you don’t have any NSAID medications, you can take a pain reliever like acetaminophen (Panadp), but pain relievers don’t reduce inflammation.
If you do not want to take medicine, you should apply an anti-inflammatory or pain reliever cream or gel to the sprained finger joint. Creams or gels can be absorbed locally through the skin without affecting the stomach.

Bandage the injured finger. While waiting for it to heal, you should bandage the sprained finger with the adjacent finger to stabilize and better protect the injury. ^{[7] X Source of Study} Select a medical-grade adhesive tape that binds the injured finger to the adjacent finger of equal size. Be careful not to bandage too tightly, or it will cause more swelling and even cut off blood circulation to the finger. It is better to insert a gauze pad between two fingers to avoid blistering.

If you do not have medical tape, you can use regular tape, electrical tape or rubber tape.
To better immobilize the injury, you should use a wooden or aluminum splint with tape. The aluminum splint can be bent to adjust to most injuries.

Find remedies for finger sprains

Consult your doctor. If after a week rest, immobilization, and other self-treatments fail to cure the pain, swelling, and stiffness of the finger, then you should see a doctor. Instead of a sprain, your finger can crack or break due to compression in the long bone of the finger, or a sprain near a joint. A dislocation fracture is a condition in which a ligament detaches and tears a piece of bone from its place. ^{[8] X Source of Study} If a fracture occurs, your doctor will place a metal rod on your finger and teach you how to keep the brace for several weeks.

Your doctor must take X-rays to look for evidence of fractures or other conditions that can cause pain, such as osteoarthritis (wear and tear), osteoporosis (brittle bones), or a bone infection.
Remember that many times small cracks do not show up on an X-ray as long as the swelling persists.
An MRI scan shows more clearly the condition of the tendons, ligaments, and cartilage in and around the injured finger.

See your doctor or chiropractor. They are specialists in rehabilitation and mobility of the vertebral and peripheral joints, including joints in the hands and fingers. If the knuckle is really sprained or slightly dislocated, they can use chiropractic (or arthroscopic) techniques to reposition the joint. When chiropractic you often hear a “click” or “crack” sound and soon the finger pain will be reduced completely, the movement of the joint will improve markedly.

Although sometimes just a single manipulation can relieve pain and restore full mobility to the joint, it usually takes several adjustments to see significant improvement.
Chiropractic should not be done in the presence of broken bones, infection or rheumatoid arthritis.

Please refer to an orthopedic surgeon. If symptoms persist or worsen, or if joint mobility cannot be fully restored within one to two weeks, you should seek referral to an orthopedic surgeon. ^{[9] X Research Source} Orthopedic surgeons are also joint specialists, but they use injections and surgery to treat complex joint injuries that are difficult to treat. If the finger has broken and cannot be restored to normal, you will need to undergo minor surgery. Alternatively, they inject steroids directly into or near the damaged ligament and/or tendon to quickly reduce inflammation and allow the finger to return to normal movement. ^{[10] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

The most commonly used steroids are prednispone, dexamethasone, and triamcinpone.
Potential complications of corticosteroid injections into the hand are infection, tendon weakness, local muscle atrophy, and nerve irritation or damage.

Advice

Some athletes try to self-treat a finger sprain by pulling it out in the hope of a successful re-arthrosis, but in reality, the adjustment must be left to a medical professional.
Bandaging fingers together before playing sports can prevent sprains.
The habit of cracking knuckles can damage the joints and surrounding soft tissues, making them more susceptible to injury.
Immediately after an injury, you should apply cold, but when the swelling and bruising have gone, switch to hot compress.
You can use common household items and duct tape to make a splint or joint bandage. You can use a 3D printed brace and electrical tape or a short piece of pencil to make the brace.

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Treating a finger sprain at home

Find remedies for finger sprains

Advice

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