What to do if you slam your thumb in car door?

Smashed fingers, causing direct trauma to one or more fingers, should initially be treated with ice to reduce swelling. If blood builds up under a fingernail, a heated wire may be used to burn a hole through the nail.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mountsinai.org

What do you do if you smash your thumb in your car door?

Immediately after the trauma occurs, you should soak the smashed finger in cold water and take some acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help reduce the pain and swelling. As you take these steps, assess the injury to determine whether you need to consult with a healthcare practitioner.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on southtampaimmediatecare.com

Can slamming a finger in a car door break it?

Crushed or Smashed Fingertip.

Most often, this is from a car door or a screen door. The end of the finger may get a few cuts or a blood blister. Sometimes, the nail can be damaged. Broken bones are not common with this kind of injury.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on seattlechildrens.org

How long does a crushed thumb take to heal?

A broken finger or thumb usually heals within 6 to 8 weeks, but it can take longer. It may be 3 to 4 months before full strength returns to your hand. Once it's healed, use your finger or thumb as normal.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk

How do you know if slammed finger in door is broken?

If a smashed finger causes severe pain, a person should see a doctor, as they may have broken it. Additional signs of a broken finger include: dislocation around the joint. deformity.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com

What to do when you slam your finger

19 related questions found

What happens if a smashed finger goes untreated?

If you fear your finger may be broken or dislocated, do not wait to see the doctor! When left untreated, broken and dislocated fingers can cause serious problems in the long term, including permanent loss of movement and sensation.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on oaaortho.com

How do you know if a smashed finger is bad?

However, there are a few particularly telltale signs that point to a fracture:
  1. The fracture site is very swollen.
  2. The affected finger appears unnatural or deformed.
  3. The fracture site is tender and bruised.
  4. You have difficulty moving the affected finger completely.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on barringtonortho.com

How do you tell if thumb is broken or bruised?

Symptoms of a fractured thumb include:
  1. Severe pain at the fracture site.
  2. Swelling.
  3. Limited or no ability to move the thumb.
  4. Extreme tenderness when the thumb is touched.
  5. A misshapen or deformed look to the thumb.
  6. Numbness or coldness in the thumb.
  7. Instability of a joint in the thumb.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on orthoinfo.aaos.org

Should I drain my thumb if I smashed it?

If you smash a finger, the first step is to relieve the swelling and pain with an ice pack, elevation, and an over-the-counter painkiller if needed. Moving the finger helps promote circulation. If there is blood beneath the fingernail, do not drain it yourself unless your healthcare provider gives you the OK.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on verywellhealth.com

When should you go to the doctor for a thumb injury?

the pain in your thumb is stopping you doing normal activities. the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back. the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks. you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your hand.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk

Can you wiggle your finger if it's broken?

You may still be able to move your finger even though it's broken. But moving it will usually cause pain. Sometimes the pain will be dull and not too much for you to bear. You should still see a provider even if you can tolerate the pain.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on my.clevelandclinic.org

Can you break your thumb by slamming it in a door?

Your fingers are one of the easiest parts of your body to break. You can break bones in your fingers by using tools, such as hammers and nails, etc., slamming them in a door, or catching a ball.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on alexanderorthopaedics.com

Can slamming finger in door cause nerve damage?

Tendon Damage — Severe trauma can damage the tendons that connect muscles to bone, which usually causes pain, tenderness, and reduced mobility. Nerve Damage — External force can damage the nerves in the finger, which generally produces tingling, weakness, and a burning sensation.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on midwesthand.com

Should I go to the hospital for a bruised thumb?

When to go to the ER for a Sprained or Broken Thumb. Seek emergency care if signs of a Grade 3 sprain or a fracture are visible through the skin and/or if you've lost your range of motion. A bone fracture will need to be realigned and immobilized by a cast, while a torn ligament will require surgery for reattachment.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on visitcompletecare.com

How long should a bruised thumb last?

Most bruises aren't serious and will go away on their own within 2 to 4 weeks.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on myhealth.alberta.ca

Can you leave a broken thumb untreated?

Failure to treat a broken thumb can often result in arthritis or breaking down of the joint. This can cause chronic pain, stiffness, and swelling.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com

How do you tell if your finger is broken without an xray?

Typical symptoms of a broken finger include swelling, stiffness, and bruising. Within several minutes of the injury, your finger may experience swelling. Bruising and the inability to move or bend the finger often follow this swelling. Numbness is also a common symptom of a break.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on handandwristinstitute.com

What to do when you smash your fingernail and it turns black?

Treatment for a black fingernail

Apply ice (wrapped in a cloth) or cold therapy for 10 minutes at a time, every hour to reduce bleeding and swelling. Elevate the hand to reduce bleeding and swelling. This aids the tissue fluids to flow away from the site of injury using gravity to assist.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on sportsinjuryclinic.net

Why is my thumb purple and swollen?

A finger typically turns purple when blood is not circulating well to the hand. Blood is bright red when it is moving the proper amount of oxygen through the body. Without an adequate amount of oxygen, blood turns dark and color changes—including a change to a purple tone—follow.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on verywellhealth.com

What happens if you don t go to the hospital for a broken finger?

According to the Mayo Clinic, a few days usually won't make a big difference with a broken finger. But if you wait too long, it can impact healing and possibly lead to decreased range of motion or reduced grip strength. If you have any of the warning signs, it makes sense to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on countrysideortho.com

How do you treat a swollen thumb?

Treatment
  1. Rest. Try not to use your hand for at least 48 hours.
  2. Ice. Apply ice immediately after the injury to keep the swelling down. ...
  3. Compression. Wear an elastic compression bandage to reduce swelling. ...
  4. Elevation. As often as possible, rest with your hand raised up higher than your heart.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on orthoinfo.aaos.org

What is throbbing pain under thumb nail?

An acute paronychia causes throbbing pain, redness, warmth and swelling in the skin around a nail. In some cases, a small collection of pus forms under the skin next to the nail, or underneath the nail itself. Often, only one nail is affected.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on health.harvard.edu

How deep are nerves in thumb?

The depth of the palmar digital nerves was about 3 millimetres, but less at the digital creases, and their diameter lay between 1 and 1.5 millimetres as far as the distal digital crease. Clinical applications of the findings are discussed.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov