How Should Finger Swelling With Pain And Hardness Be Treated?

i sliced my middle finger at the last joint butchering beef last night. i took pain killers when it occured. i recently cut my finger in the same place and it has just healed. now today, the finger appears slightly swollen and is in constant pain. bending the joint is very hard and painful, is this just the process of healing the wound? am i jumping the gun rightr now and just let it establish healing for at least another day?