You may have been there before—you slam your finger in the door, you jam one while playing a game of football, or maybe you fall and land on one of your fingers the wrong way. But, is it actually broken? While the immediate sharp pain and swelling that ensues post finger accident may send you running to the ER, it could just be a sprain or something less severe. Here are the common signs of a broken finger and what you should do if you’ve got some phalanges that aren’t feeling too hot.
Symptoms of a Broken Finger
- Bruising, Swelling, and Stiffness – While these symptoms may come along with a sprain or less serious injury, bruising, swelling, and stiffness that occurs around 5-10 minutes post-injury could be indicative of a broken bone. It’s also possible that the bruising, swelling, and stiffness could extend to other fingers too.
- Numbness – Numbness typically isn’t a good sign for your finger. After an injury, finger numbness occurs as swelling compresses the nerves. Although it may not be a surefire sign of a broken bone, it’s probably in your best interest to get it checked out.
- Exposed Bone – If you’re reading this and your finger bone is exposed, go to the emergency room. Don’t even read further. Just go to the emergency room! If you’ve injured your finger and there is bone showing, seeking medical treatment immediately in necessary. Exposed bones, also known as compound fractures, are serious and can cause an infection (or worse) if the bone is exposed for a long time.
Finger First-Aid
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, it may be in your best interest to visit your doctor. In the meantime, be sure to stabilize an injured finger by creating a makeshift splint if you don’t have a medical one (many flat household items can be used for a makeshift splint, such as a pen). Ice Packs are a good remedy to tame swelling and over-the-counter medicine can help reduce pain.
