Jammed Finger

Jammed Finger Injury

Jammed finger is basically an injury to the finger joints that causes severe pain and swelling. Understanding the anatomy of bone fingers will help you know how exactly does a finger jam. Phalanges are bones by which our fingers are made and interphalangeal joints are joints by which these phalanges are connected. These joints are made up of ligaments and joint capsules, which help in holding these phalanges in correct position. Jammed finger is basically an injury to any of these interphalangeal joints. In maximum cases the joint between the finger and second bone is affected. Such injuries are common during sport activities like basketball and football. A direct hit to the fingertip causes extreme force to pass to the finger joints through the bones. This force can damage the ligaments and the joint capsule that hold the bones in their positions. Other reasons for jamming a finger include, bending a finger in the wrong way, smashing the finger between two hard surfaces, slamming of the finger by the door of a car, etc.

A jammed finger can be damage of the tendon or ligament, or it can also be dislocation or fracture of the bones. Swelling, loss of motion, bruising, pain, etc. are some of the common symptoms of a jammed finger. Jammed finger swelling can be noticed easily, because the knuckle of the injured finger starts looking bigger as compared to other fingers. The pain experienced due to a jammed finger, depends on the severity of the problem. In some cases a jammed finger injury can cause less pain, while some may face unbearable pain.

Jammed Finger Treatment

It is necessary that a jammed finger is treated immediately to avoid further complications. Negligence to this can cause permanent dysfunction of the affected finger. One should immediately apply ice to the injured part to get some instant relief from the pain. Keep the ice for about 15 minutes and then remove until the finger attains normal temperature. This can subside the pain and the swelling caused to the jammed finger. The immediate treatment for jammed finger is normally R.I.C.E, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

Try to pull up the jammed finger by opening and closing your fist. If the injury is severe, then do not do this as it can worsen the problem. Analyze the jammed finger, so that you can treat it appropriately. For minor cases of jammed finger, any treatment that is applicable for a sprain can be used. If the finger movement is very painful, then it is necessary to immobilize the finger with help of a finger splint. Tape the affected finger with its adjoined finger for providing proper support to the jammed finger. To alleviate the jammed finger pain you can have pain killers. For quick recovery you can consult a physician and learn some jammed finger exercises. If you observe jammed finger bruising, then there are chances of a bone fracture. For such injuries you should immediately seek medical help. You may require to take an X-ray to find out whether it's a bone fracture or not.

Jammed finger recovery takes time if the finger is fractured. This may take months to heal the finger injury completely. However, minor cases that do not involve dislocation or fracture require less time. It is always wise to consult a health expert for proper treatment of jammed finger, since there is risk of finger dysfunction if immediate treatment is not taken.