What Causes Swelling And Pain After An Injury In Hand?

Posted on Sat, 14 Mar 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 14 Mar 2015 Answered on

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I jammed my finger last weekend when I used my hand to break a fall. I wore a splint for a few days and iced it and it seemed to get better so I stopped wearing the brace. By today it had swelled back up and there was sharp pain in my fingertip especially,when I type, and some discoloration is,back.

Should I have it checked out and xrayed or just keep wearing the splint and icing it?

Answered by Dr. Sunil Kumar Srivastava (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Use hot fomentation, a splint, an X-ray and a checkup.

Detailed Answer:
Hi!
I may suggest that icing should be done in initial 6-12 hours only and in later periods hot water fomentation is advisable to reduce swelling.
It is obvious that there is soft tissue injury in finger joint; but to be on safer side, a check up or an X ray is needed. Just in case any subluxation of joint or chip crack/fracture near finger joint of phalanx which may be missed.
My advise would be to avoid typing or any working with finger till you X-ray and check up.
Use splint and hot water fomentation
Take Ibuprofen or Diclofenac, anti-inflammatory medicine in consultation with a doctor.
A neglect of injury may be unsafe and cause some limitations and lingering pain, especially in "finger joint damage".
Best wishes,
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar