Immediate First Aid
- Ice it. An ice pack can quickly reduce pain and swelling. …
- Elevate it. Raising the injured finger above the heart slows the blood flow and reduces the throbbing. …
- Use it. If possible, keep using the finger to promote circulation. …
- Take a pain reliever.
How do you treat a finger hit by a hammer?
Though they can be very painful, most smashed fingers heal after a few days of at-home care. Rest, ice, elevation, and the use of OTC pain and anti-inflammatory medications are generally the best way to get immediate and long-term relief from this injury.
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.
How do you know if a finger injury is serious?
What Are Some Common Symptoms of a Broken Finger?
- Your affected finger is bent into a strange or unnatural position.
- There’s excessive swelling in one localized area.
- There’s significant tenderness and bruising in one localized area.
- Your pain is exceptionally severe.
- You’re finding it difficult to move the affected finger.
What happens when you hit yourself with a hammer?
Self-inflicted blows to the cranium with a hammer are a very rare phenomenon and life threatening, due to the risk of laceration of the superior sagittal sinus and resulting rapid exsanguination.
How do you know if smashed finger is infected?
When a cut on the finger becomes infected, symptoms include:
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- swelling.
- redness.
- increasing pain in the area.
- pus.
- feeling unwell.
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.
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. If you have an autoimmune condition, eating anti-inflammatory foods can help reduce swelling.
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.
When should I worry about a bruised finger?
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following: Increased pain or swelling. Hand or arm becomes cold, blue, numb, or tingly. Signs of infection: Warmth, drainage, or increased redness or pain around the bruise.
How do you treat an injured finger?
Management and Treatment
- Rest: Let your finger rest, if possible. …
- Ice: Ice the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, especially within the first 24 hours. …
- Compression: Wrap an elastic compression bandage around the injured joint to support it and reduce swelling.
Is my finger sprained or dislocated?
Finger sprains and dislocations symptoms
Finger that looks crooked where the bone has been displaced. Inability to move or extend the finger. Redness and swelling around the injured ligament or dislocated joint.
What do you call someone who hurts himself?
A self-inflicted injury occurs when someone purposely hurts themselves. Self-inflicted injury is also called self-injury, self-abuse, self-mutilation, deliberate self-harm, parasuicidal behavior, and non-suicidal self-injury.
Can hitting yourself in the head cause damage?
She says you don’t have to be knocked unconscious, hit your head on the ground, or be directly hit in the head in order for the hit to cause problems. “The repetitive force of the brain kind of going back and forth in your skull can cause minor damage,” she points out.
How do you elevate a smashed finger?
Raising the injured finger above the heart slows the blood flow and reduces the throbbing. Letting your hand dangle will increase the pain and swelling. Use it. If possible, keep using the finger to promote circulation.
Can a smashed finger cause a blood clot?
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.
What happens if you don’t drain blood under nail?
You should not try draining your subungual hematoma at home as improper drainage may result in infections or permanent damage to the nail bed. A subungual hematoma is sometimes drained by a doctor.
How long will smashed finger be swollen?
The fingertip will usually stay a little bit swollen permanently, but it should not interfere with function. It will take longer than you think is reasonable, about six to twelve months, for the swelling to go down as much as it will.
How long does it take for a smashed fingernail to fall off?
Unless the area of bleeding is very small, an affected nail will usually fall off on its own after several weeks because the pooled blood has separated it from its bed. A new fingernail can regrow in as little as 8 weeks.
What is a nail bed injury?
Overview. Nail bed injuries are a type of fingertip injury, which is the most common type of hand injury seen in hospital emergency rooms. They can be minor or they can also be very painful and uncomfortable, even limiting your finger movement.
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.
Can 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.
Is my finger broken or just swollen?
The most tell-tale symptom of a broken finger is immediate pain after the injury. If the pain and swelling prevent movement or use of the fingers, there’s crushed tissue or exposed bone, then you should seek medical attention.
Can a vein pop in your finger?
Popped Vein in Hands
Generally, a normal vein will clot fast. As well, normal vein clotting caused by a leak will prevent or limit the swelling. Generally popped a vein in the finger can be treated at home. However, contact a specialist if you have any concerns or experience intense pain.
Should you tape a sprained finger?
Buddy tape
Buddy taping the injured finger protects it from further injury and encourages it to straighten as it heals. For moderate to severe sprains, wait about 48 hours after the injury happened or for the initial swelling to start subsiding before taping the finger.
What a dislocated finger looks like?
A dislocated finger is usually obvious. The finger appears crooked, swollen, and is very painful. It may be bent upward or at strange angles. You probably won’t be able to bend or straighten the finger if it is dislocated.
What do you say when someone gets hurt?
Here are FIVE THINGS we COULD say to someone who is some serious pain.
- This really stinks. Or, this really is awful/heartbreaking/painful.
- My heart breaks WITH yours. Empathy from others is felt when it’s real. …
- You are NOT ALONE. Then, don’t leave them alone…just show up, be present… …
- You are doing GREAT. …
- Nothing.
How many punches can a person take?
There are around 80–90 pounds in every punch for a normal person…. So around 20 punches to the gut could result in the spillage and possibly the failure of your internal organs. 7 to 10 clean knocks to the skull may result in some sort of cynopsy, so the overlooming prospect of death.
How does a punch knock you out?
The carotid artery, which provides blood to the brain, has a reflex area known as a sinus, which helps regulate the flow of blood and oxygen to the head. A sharp knock on the jaw could jolt that sinus, altering blood and oxygen flow by enough to generate a loss of consciousness.
Can I sleep after I hit my head?
It is generally considered safe for people with head injuries or concussions to go to sleep. In some cases, a doctor may recommend waking the person regularly to make sure his or her condition has not worsened.