hit my thumb with hammer how treatment

^{Immediate Treatment}

• Ice the injury. Icing the injury reduces swelling and can reduce bruising by slowing the bleeding into the affected area. ...
• Elevate the injured finger. Holding your injured finger up reduces blood flow thus reducing swelling and pressure. Don’t dangle your hand after you have smashed your finger.
• Move the injured finger. Be sure to move your finger gently. There may be some pain and throbbing but make sure to move it. ...
• Use over-the-counter medications. Taking a pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen will help with minor pain and swelling.

What to do if your finger is hit by a hammer?

How to Treat a Finger Hit by a Hammer 1 Method 1 of 3: Taking Care of the Finger. Check for swelling. Your finger will likely swell no matter how hard you hit it. ... 2 Method 2 of 3: Treating a Subungual Hematoma. See your doctor. ... 3 Method 3 of 3: Continuing to Care for the Finger. Change the bandages. ...

What do you do for a broken thumb?

Treatment. If there are no broken bones, treat the smashed thumb by applying ice to reduce the swelling and lessen the pain. Use over-the-counter medications to help with the pain. Keep the smashed thumb or finger clean and apply antibiotic ointment and a bandage to protect it from infection.

How do I treat a smashed finger?

A smashed finger is a common injury that involves trauma to the finger. Though they can be very painful, most smashed fingers heal after a few days of at-home care. Rest, ice, elevation, and the use of OTC pain and anti-inflammatory medications are generally the best way to get immediate and long-term relief from this injury.

What happens when you get your finger smashed by a hammer?

Just the mention of a finger getting squashed in a door or getting pounded by a hammer is enough to make most people cringe. The throbbing pain of a smashed finger is highly unpleasant, to say the least.

Should I go to the doctor for a smashed thumb?

The injury causes immediate damage to the nail, such as a visible crack. The skin is open and may need stitches. There is dirt in the wound you can't wash out. There is significant or worsening pain, redness, or swelling.

How long does a smashed thumb stay swollen?

The fingertip will usually stay a little bit swollen permanently, but it should not interfere with function. It will take longer than you think is reasonable, about six to twelve months, for the swelling to go down as much as it will.

How do you heal a swollen thumb fast?

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

How do I reduce swelling in my thumb?

Try these methods for reducing swelling in your fingers:Keep your hand/arm elevated. If you keep your hand down, gravity is keeping the extra fluid in your hand. ... Apply ice to the affected area.Wear a splint or compressive wrap. Do not apply too tightly. ... Take anti inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen.

What happens if you hit your finger with a hammer?

If you’ve ever caught your finger in a door, or hit it with a hammer, you’ve probably experienced common symptoms of a smashed finger. Any trauma or injury to your finger can lead to: severe finger pain, especially aching and throbbing pain. inflammation (pain, redness, and swelling) difficulty using the finger tip.

How to help a smashed finger heal?

Gently massaging the injury site and the surrounding area can help improve recovery time by encouraging blood flow to the site. This can also help break up dead blood cells and tissues. The recovery time for a smashed finger depends largely on the severity of the injury and location.

How to treat a finger that is infected?

Very gently apply an ice pack or compress wrapped in a hand towel or cloth to the injured finger for 10-minute intervals with 20-minute breaks, several times daily. Never expose the skin directly to ice, or for longer than 10 to 15 minutes at a time, to avoid the risk of frostbite or further inflammation.

What happens if you bruise your finger?

A painful bruise may develop at the injury site after the initial swelling goes down. Depending on the location of the injury and its severity, the bruise may cause throbbing, aching, or numbness. Once the initial pain and swelling improve, you should increasingly try to stretch and move the injured finger.

How long does a bruise on a fingernail last?

The bruise will remain visible for a few months until the affected portion of the nail grows out. If you suspect that your nail may fall off, or the bruise is visible on 50 percent or more of the nail, call your doctor. Your doctor may be able to help prevent the nail from falling off by relieving pressure.

How to get relief from a sprained ankle?

Rest, ice, elevation, and the use of OTC pain and anti-inflammatory medications are generally the best way to get immediate and long-term relief from this injury. Seek medical attention for injuries that involve the joints, have noticeable abnormalities or breaks, cause severe pain, or don’t respond to basic treatment.

How to clean a broken nail?

Clean and cover open wounds. If the nail or skin is broken, gently clean the area using soap and water, or an antibacterial rinse. Then, cover the wound with sterile gauze or bandages. OTC antibiotic ointments or cream s can also be applied to the wounds after cleaning sessions to help prevent infection.

How to stop a finger from spraining?

Don't keep ice on too long or you can develop frostbite. 1 . Elevate it. 2  Letting your hand dangle at your side after smashing your finger will simply increase swelling and that uncomfortable throbbing. Hold it up to reduce the pressure in ...

What to do if you can't move your finger?

If you can't move your finger or if you can't feel it after a few minutes (you have to give the throbbing time to go away), then you should visit the doctor. Take a pain reliever. Over-the-counter painkillers can help relieve the constant reminder that you didn't move quick enough. 3 .

How to get blood out of fingernail?

Steps to Relieve a Blood Under the Nail 1 Wash the finger thoroughly. You do not want to develop an infection in the tip of your finger. 2 Open the paper clip so that you have a straight edge. 3 Holding the paperclip with the pliers, heat the tip in the flame until it is red-hot. 4 Carefully touch the red-hot tip of the paperclip to the area of the nail where most of the blood is collected (usually the darkest spot on the nail) and put just a little pressure on it. Keep it there until the paperclip burns through the nail. Don't push hard; just let the heat do the work.

How long does it take for a fingernail to hurt?

Depending on the extent of the injury, your finger may hurt for a few days or a few weeks. It may also be sensitive for up to a few months. 6 Draining the blood from the fingernail may help to relieve some of the pain and pressure, but only do this under a doctor's instruction. If the pain is severe or getting worse, check with your doctor.

How to get rid of a swollen finger?

Wash the finger thoroughly. You do not want to develop an infection in the tip of your finger. Open the paper clip so that you have a straight edge. Holding the paperclip with the pliers, heat the tip in the flame until it is red-hot.

How to get a finger out of a sprained finger?

Assuming you've extricated the finger (this would be step one), there are a few things you can do to alleviate your excruciating pain. Ice it. Use an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling. Keep the ice on it for 15 minutes a couple of times an hour for the first few hours after smashing it.

What happens if you smash your finger?

Smashing your finger is just the beginning. After a day or two, blood will likely start to build up under your nail. You might see the nail turning color—usually dark blue or black—and feel a lot of pressure. This is what happens when a bruise is contained in the tiny space at the tip of a finger.

How to stop a smashed finger from hurting?

1. Icing. Icing a smashed finger can limit the inflammation. It is crucial to never place ice directly on the skin. Icing should be done for no more than 15 minutes and can be repeated several times a day. A person can place the finger on top of the ice pack to avoid additional pressure. 2.

How to heal a finger that is inflamed?

A person may need to to avoid physical activity, such as contact sports and lifting heavy objects until the finger fully heals. 3. Elevation . Elevation can help reduce inflammation and is often a key to recovery. Elevation helps to reduce inflammation because it slows the flow of blood to the finger.

Why do you need to see a doctor for a smashed finger?

Other reasons to seek medical attention for a smashed finger include: severe swelling for more than 2 days. deep wound. the finger will not bend.

What to do if you have a smashed finger?

Clean and cover. A smashed finger may result in an open wound, such as a scrape or cut. People should clean the wound immediately when this occurs. They should also cover the wound with a bandage and antibiotic cream if these are available.

How long does it take for a smashed finger to heal?

Short-term treatments for a smashed finger are for the first couple of days after an injury. These should include a combination of: In most cases, an injured or smashed finger will feel better within a few days of using at-home treatments. It is not uncommon for a bruise to develop as a smashed finger heals.

How to make your finger feel better?

Inflammation causes swelling, which helps to stabilize a bone or joint to reduce the chance of further injury to the area. Treating or reducing the swelling can make the finger feel better. 1. Icing.

What to do if your finger is broken?

Additional signs of a broken finger include: dislocation around the joint. deformity.

What to do if you smashed your hand with a hammer?

If you were working with a hammer and accidentally hit a finger or your hand, you need to seek medical support.

What happens if you hit your hand with a hammer?

Swelling. Another big problem with hitting your hand with a hammer is that typically, extreme swelling follows. This is usually because small blood vessels have been damaged or burst when they were struck, so leaking blood is filling up your hand. This is essentially a severe bruise, otherwise known as a hematoma.

Can a hammer damage bones?

Underlying Damage. Hammers are extremely strong and can easily damage bones if they hit in just the right way. This is true of larger bones, which means that the smaller, delicate bones in the hands are particularly vulnerable to being damaged by a hammer.

Can you xray your hand?

In the meantime, your urgent care provider can x-ray your hand to look for significant damage. They'll also use a syringe to hygienically drain the blood from your hand so that the swelling comes down and your pain will immediately go down, too.

How to prevent a smashed finger?

These include: Pay attention when getting out of a car or closing a door in your home. Teach children some basic safety techniques. Take special care when working with or moving heavy objects and materials.

What to do if you can't move your finger?

If you cannot move your finger, then you should seek medical attention. Use over-the-counter medications. Taking a pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen will help with minor pain and swelling. Note: If you have a torn fingernail as a result of the injury, carefully clip away along the torn edge.

How to treat a fingernail infection?

Keep a bandage over the injured fingernail to protect against infection. For the next 7 days after removing the bandage, soak the affected fingernail in a salt water solution (1/4 teaspoon of salt to 8 ounces of warm water) at least once a day. 2. Medical Treatment.

How to get frostbite out of finger?

Keeping ice on the affected area for too long can lead to frostbite. Elevate the injured finger. Holding your injured finger up reduces blood flow thus reducing swelling and pressure. Don’t dangle your hand after you have smashed your finger. Move the injured finger. Be sure to move your finger gently.

How to get blood out of fingernail?

Touch the hot tip of the paper clip to the injured fingernail where blood has pooled and the heat will burn a small hole into the nail. When the paper clip is removed and the hole is open, blood should release from the fingernail (If not, repeat the procedure).

How to treat a bruising finger?

Ice the injury. Icing the injury reduces swelling and can reduce bruising by slowing the bleeding into the affected area. Keep the ice on your finger for about 15 minutes at a time over the course of the first few hours. Keeping ice on the affected area for too long can lead to frostbite.

Why is it painful to hit your finger?

Whether you hit it with a hammer or close a door on your finger, it can be quite painful because there is a concentration of nerve receptors in the fingertips that allow for our sense of touch. Injuries can involve one or more fingers, but if your nail bed has not been injured, ...

How to treat a smashed thumb?

If there are no broken bones, treat the smashed thumb by applying ice to reduce the swelling and lessen the pain. Use over-the-counter medications to help with the pain.

What happens when your thumb is smashed?

The impact that occurs when a thumb is smashed often results in an accumulation of blood under the thumbnail. Once the fingernail becomes loose or falls off, there is an increased risk of infection to the sensitive, unprotected skin underneath.

Why is my thumb smashed?

A thumb or finger can be smashed while engaging in nearly any activity. **The most common causes of this type of injury are being closed in a car door, hit with a hammer, shut in a drawer or jammed while playing sports.

How long does it take for a thumb nail to fall off?

When this happens, the nail will most likely fall off within a few days or weeks.

Can you splint a smashed thumb?

If the injury affects more than just the tip of the thumb, seek immediate medical assistance. Do not apply a splint to a smashed finger unless directed to do so by a physician. **Splinting a smashed thumb may affect long-term mobility of the digit.

Can you lose your fingernail from a smashed thumb?

In more severe cases, the finger bone might be fractured, as well. There is also the possibility of losing the fingernail. In addition to the bruised and swollen appearance of the smashed thumb, a significant amount of pain and tenderness is present around ...