While a broken finger may not sound like the worst thing, it can be incredibly annoying, and improper care can lead to lifelong problems. Here are a few tips to help care for a broken finger and ensure it heals correctly.
Get diagnosed
The first tip may sound obvious, but many people skip it. A fracture, for example, can actually be pretty difficult to diagnose yourself, which means you won’t take the correct steps to heal it.
Getting your break or fracture diagnosed means your treatment starts immediately, you will get a finger splint, medication, etc, and you will already be on the path to healing it fully.
If you’re unsure whether an injury requires further medical attention, you can book an online telehealth consultation with Updoc to discuss your symptoms and receive guidance on the next steps. A doctor may recommend an in-person assessment or imaging if a fracture or more serious injury is suspected.
Wear splint/cast as directed
Once you do have your splint or cast, be sure to wear it correctly. Splints, in particular, are often removable, and you need to be sure you reapply them correctly when you take them off.
You mustn’t forget that surrounding structures may also have been damaged, such as cartilage or tendons. Your splint or cast is needed to stabilize those areas as well, not just the fracture itself.
Elevate your hand
Much like with any injury, it is always best to keep your hand elevated above your heart when you break or fracture a finger. This will stop blood from reaching the finger, relieve the throbbing pain you feel, and reduce swelling.
You don’t have to do this the entire time your finger is healing, but it is a must for the first two or three days, as that is when swelling and throbbing will be at its worst.
Keep your hand dry
Another simple and fairly obvious tip is to keep your hands dry. First off, if you have a splint or a cast, getting it wet can cause the material to start disintegrating and slow the healing process.
Secondly, and often more annoyingly, if you are wearing a cast, a wet finger or hand won’t dry properly, and can easily cause skin irritation and become incredibly itchy. If you are icing your finger and hand, put the ice in a Ziploc bag to limit moisture on your skin.
Stop smoking
If you smoke, you should stop while your finger is healing. Smoking slows down the healing process and can extend the problem for days or even weeks. This can be difficult, especially if you are a regular smoker, but you should cut it out for at least the first week of the healing process.
Keep your hand/arm mobile
Another mistake that many people make is that they not only stop moving their damaged finger, but also their entire hand and arm too. This leads to stiffness and lasting pain that persists long after your finger is healed.
Instead, be sure to move the rest of your arm and hand as you heal. Unless the break is in the finger and hand, you don’t have to keep everything else still to help heal the fracture or break.
Side view of a person’s hand
Avoid using the injured finger
While this is obvious when you first break your finger, the mistake people make is using it again the moment they feel they can. This should be avoided, as finger breaks or fractures can easily recur when you consider how small and delicate the bones are.
Instead, avoid lifting or moving heavy objects with the affected finger, and take your time when using it again. Start slow and light, and then gradually work up to regular use again.
Watch for warning signs
The tricky thing with breaks and fractures is that you often can’t tell the difference between healing pain and “it’s still broken” pain, especially in the first couple of weeks. However, there are some warning signs to look out for.
Swelling that lasts several weeks is the first to look out for. Secondly, if the pain remains consistent or worsens, it is worth visiting a doctor again, as that is clearly something that should be improving, not staying the same or getting worse.
Gentle exercises
Once the finger starts to feel much better, the constant pain is gone, you’ve had the splint or cast removed, etc, then you should start with gentle exercise. As in the earlier point, not moving the finger and joints can lead to long-term stiffness and pain.
The easiest route is to refer to your doctor and find out which exercises to do, especially in the beginning. From there, you can build on what you were told until your finger is as good as new.
Be patient
Finally, you need to be patient. Breaks and fractures, no matter how big or small, can take much longer than you think to heal. Because of this, you need to take your time with healing, the exercises, etc.
Even when your finger feels fine, still be careful with how you use it until you know for sure it is completely healed and ready to go again.
This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.
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