A smashed finger happens when one or more fingers get hurt from trauma. Most of the time, you can treat it at home with first aid, ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers. However, the length of time the pain lasts for a smashed finger can vary. It depends on the severity of the injury.
What Is a Smashed Finger?
A smashed finger is a common injury that happens when a heavy object or something with force hits the finger, causing damage. This can occur from dropping something on the finger, hitting it with a hammer, or shutting it in a door.
What to Do If Baby Smashed Finger in Door?
According to Dr. Luo of Randy Y. Luo, MD, MBA, “A smashed finger is a sudden incident, which can happen anytime. So, always go for first aid to prevent complications later. To treat a smashed finger, the first step is managing the pain.” Following are some ways to do this:
Ice: Apply an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling. Use it for 15 minutes at a time, a few times an hour for the first few hours. Wrap the ice in a cloth to protect your skin.
Elevation: Keep the injured finger raised above your heart to slow blood flow and reduce throbbing. Avoid letting your hand hang down, as this can increase pain and swelling.
Pain Relievers: Take over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen) to help with pain and swelling. Tylenol (acetaminophen) can also relieve pain.
Finger Movement: If you can, keep moving the finger to improve circulation. If you can’t move it or if you lose feeling, contact your healthcare provider.
Should I Wrap a Smashed Finger?
Wrapping a smashed finger is a major mistake you should never make. Compression is often used for joint injuries like wrist strains or knee sprains. However, it’s not recommended for a smashed finger. Applying pressure can reduce blood flow. This means the finger gets less oxygen and nutrients for healing.
When Should I Be Worried About a Smashed Finger?
“Usually, a non-serious smashed finger does not require medical attention. You can wait it out till it heals itself. You can expect the pain to last a few days or weeks. However, if it takes longer than this, act quickly.” Says Dr. Randy Luo.
It can be hard to tell if a finger is broken or just sprained. The main difference is the severity and how long the symptoms last. For a sprained finger, you might have pain, swelling, and stiffness.
However, these usually get better in a few days. A broken finger will have more severe and longer-lasting symptoms. Signs of a broken finger include:
• Very sharp pain at the injury site
• Swelling and tenderness that lasts several days
• Swelling that spreads to other parts of the hand
• Severe bruising around the injury
• Unable to move the finger without extreme pain or not at all
• A misshapen or deformed finger
• Numbness, burning, or tingling sensations
• You might also hear a crack when the finger breaks. A bone fragment piercing the skin is a clear sign of a fracture.
How Long Does a Smashed Finger Take to Heal?
Most of the time, a smashed finger will start healing within a few days with at-home care. It’s common to get a bruise as the finger heals. This bruise means your body is fixing the damage. Therefore, it might cause ongoing pain, discoloration, aching, or numbness.
Wrapping Up
A smashed finger is a common occurrence. Therefore, many patients wonder, “How long does the pain last for a smashed finger?” So they know when to act.
“Most smashed fingers start to feel better within three to four days. However, you need proper at-home care, like rest, ice, elevation, and over-the-counter pain medication. If the injury affects the fingernail, it might take about three months for a new nail to fully grow back.” Says Dr. Randy Luo.
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