What happens if you bend your finger back too far?

When the finger is bent back too far, one or more of the collateral ligaments can also be torn. If the collateral ligaments are torn, there could be an increase in side-to-side movement of the joint. As the volar plate is stretched and torn, it may also pull off a small piece of bone.

Can you still bend your finger if you break it?

Bending a broken finger will usually be very painful, but in some cases, you may still have full motion of your finger and only a dull pain even though it’s broken. Within about 5-10 minutes of breaking your finger, you may notice bruising, swelling and possibly redness.

How can I tell if I broke my finger?

What Are Some Common Symptoms of a Broken Finger?

Your affected finger is bent into a strange or unnatural position.
There’s excessive swelling in one localized area.
There’s significant tenderness and bruising in one localized area.
Your pain is exceptionally severe.
You’re finding it difficult to move the affected finger.

What should I do if I think I’ve broken my finger?

Treatments for a broken finger or thumb

try to straighten your finger – they’ll give you an injection of local anaesthetic to numb the pain.
put your finger in a splint or cast, or strap it to another finger to keep it in position.
give you a tetanus injection or antibiotics if there’s a cut to prevent infection.

Can you do anything for a broken middle finger?

The first critical step for any finger injury is immobilization. We need to keep the finger in place to allow it to heal. Your doctor may recommend a cast or splint depending on where and how severe the fracture is. For a stable fracture, a simple splint may do the trick.

What happens if you dont treat a broken finger?

This can lead to decreased ability to use your injured finger, such as when you are trying to grasp something. This can also cause a deformity. There can also be a complication with some fractures called “nonunion.” This is when two ends of the bone don’t heal properly. This leaves the fractured area unstable.

Do I need a cast for a broken finger?

Most commonly they occur due to a finger getting slammed in a door. These fractures can affect the fingernail, bone and tissue, causing pain, deformity, blood under the nail, swelling, bruising and even bone sticking out through the skin. These fractures usually require a splint or cast, but generally heal very well.

Should you sleep with a finger splint on?

Wear the tip protector at night while you sleep. During weeks 3 and 4, you may do your normal activities without the splint during daytime hours. Again, you must still sleep in your splint. If your occupation requires heavy bending and lifting with your fingers, you should continue to wear the tip protector at work.

How tight should finger splints be?

Your splint should be snug enough to hold your finger in a straight position so that it does not droop. But it should not be so tight that it cuts off blood flow. You should keep your splint on unless your doctor tells you that you can take it off.

How long do I wear a finger splint?

Immobilize your finger. A splint will be placed on your finger to keep it straight while it heals. You may need to wear this splint for 6 to 8 weeks. You may need to continue to use the splint during sports activities for another 6 to 8 weeks.

Can I remove my splint to shower?

Tape a sheet of plastic to cover your splint when you take a shower or bath, unless your doctor said you can take it off while bathing. If you can take the splint off when you bathe, pat the area dry after bathing and put the splint back on. If your splint gets a little wet, you can dry it with a hair dryer.

Should I wear my splint to bed?

“If you have had a fall or think you may have fractured your hand or wrist, it is OK to wear a brace overnight until you can get to the doctor’s office,” says Dr. Delavaux. “But be sure to get it checked out, especially if the pain doesn’t get better after a day or two.”

What are 4 types of splints?

Splint Types

Long leg posterior splint.
Stirrup splint.
Posterior ankle splint.

Is there an alternative to a cast?

What Are Alternatives to Casts? More and more, we’re seeing removable splints and walking boots as an alternative to casts–or used before or after a cast is put in place. While these options aren’t a solution for all fractures, they work well for some patients and injuries.

What is the most painful bone to break?

Here’s a look at some of the bones that hurt the most to break:

1) Femur. The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the body.
2) Tailbone. You could probably imagine that this injury is highly painful.
3) Ribs. Breaking your ribs can be terribly distressing and quite painful.
4) Clavicle.

Do doctors use casts anymore?

Plaster. While fiberglass material is newer, many casts used today are still made from plaster. Plaster casts are most often used when a fracture reduction (repositioning of the bone) is performed.

What happens if a cast is left on too long?

The skin can break down and become infected if it remains wet for a long time. Do not trim, file or break off rough areas around the edge of a plaster cast. A metal file may be used to smooth the rough edges of a fiberglass cast.

Should I wiggle my toes in a cast?

Try to keep the area around the edge of the cast clean and moisturized. Wiggle your fingers or toes while wearing a cast or splint. This helps with circulation. You can apply ice for 15 to 30 minutes over a cast or splint.

Can a bone move in a cast?

Many joints will tolerate six weeks of immobility from casting. Ankle fractures and wrist fractures commonly immobilize the broken bone with a cast, and these joints get moving pretty quickly when out of plaster.

Should a cast feel tight?

The cast should be comfortable to wear, holding the affected bone still, without feeling tight or having any areas of pressure. If you have a non-waterproof cast, with a cotton wool style liner, you will need to get the cast changed if it gets wet. The liner will retain the moisture and remain damp.