Is My Finger Broken?
By Johnny Barthel, OT, CHT
How Do I Know if my Finger is Broken?
How did you injure your finger?
Is my finger is broken? The mechanism of injury or MOI is very telling if you broke your finger. Some injuries tear a tendon or ligament and not a bone. Pain hours after an injury is a good indicator that there might be a break or sprain. Generally, pain is one of the best indicators to determine the severity of the injury.
Did I break my finger?
How do I know if my Finger is Broken? Can you move the finger?
Many people will answer yes; however, the question really should be, “can you move it like you could before the injury.” You may still be able to move a finger that is broke. If you cannot move or straighten it without extreme pain, you need to have a doctor look at it.
Does your finger have a deformity?
Or was it, and someone popped it back in place? Basically, this could be a dislocation, meaning out of joint. A dislocation sometimes has a fracture too. You may have swelling and bruising as well. If your finger has a deformity or does not appear normal, you need to have a doctor examine it.
Are You Experiencing a Bruise or Swelling?
Even a “sprain” can bruise and swell; however, with broken bones you will experience a deep dark purple-blue-black color. Therefore, if the swelling stays in the finger or area for several days, it will not hurt to have a doctor examine it.
Should You Visit the ER?
If you are not bleeding, yes, you can wait a day or two and see if “Mother Nature” helps it heal. However, if it is pointing in the wrong direction or looks wrong, get an x-ray and see your doctor. Sometimes fractures in the hand and wrist are so small that they do not show up on an x-ray immediately, and the ER states there is not a fracture. However, if pain and lack of motion persist, you should have a doctor examine it. You can compare your finger which has the injury to the finger on your other hand.
To make an appointment with JOI Rehab for Hand Therapy, please call 904-858-7045.
Find out how to join the JOI Rehab Team by reading this article. We are currently looking for Athletic Trainers and Massage Therapists.
Related Article: RICE Protocol for Injuries
JOI and JOI Rehab
JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.
You can still call 904-JOI-2000 to make new patient JOI Physician Appointments if that is your preference.
Finally, to make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.
