I will tell you why a sprained finger is still painful, unbendable, and not healing after six months.


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sprain that occurs when the ball hits the fingers in sports, etc.’It’s been a few days since I sprained my finger and it still hurts…’
Many people may have pain but leave it alone if it does not interfere with their lives.
Why is it so hard to heal a sprained finger?
I will tell you why your sprained finger still hurts, won’t bend, and won’t heal after six months.” We hope that you will read and become more knowledgeable about the following.

The author is a judo therapist:Ryota Ito

What is a sprained finger?

An injury in which an object strikes or catches the finger, causing the joint to move beyond its normal range of motion (range of motion) and damaging the tissue of the joint.
It is one of the most common injuries that are very common in the hospital and osteopathic clinic, and one of the very most experienced in treatment.
If you make a mistake in how to treat and cope with it, you may have to live with the aftereffects for the rest of your life…

Symptoms of sprained finger

There are three levels of finger sprain symptoms: mild, moderate, and severe.
Let’s look at it symptom by symptom.

Mild sprained finger that may not swell

There are three levels of finger sprain symptoms: mild, moderate, and severe.
Let’s look at it symptom by symptom.
Minor finger sprain that may not swell
It hurts!” and “It hurts when I move it, but it’s not swollen, so there’s no need to treat it” after the pain has been experienced by you.
Frankly, with this level of symptoms, I might not feel the need for treatment if I hurt as much as I do.
However, caution should be exercised.
Even a sprain that is not swollen can damage ligaments.
Ligaments are muscles that connect bones to bones.
If that ligament is even partially torn, the joint will be a little loose.
Although there may be little or no disruption to your life, it is recommended to check the affected area with ultrasound for future use.

Moderate finger sprain that invariably causes internal bleeding

Soon after a finger sprain, internal bleeding begins to occur, and moving the finger also causes pain, and over time the finger becomes more difficult to bend.
Ligament and tissue damage has occurred and the heat sensation will gradually become more intense.
Injuries to ligaments are also more likely to be treated in medical facilities because partial tears are seen.

Severe finger sprain that is quite painful if bent even slightly

The pain, swelling, heat, and internal bleeding symptoms are also quite severe, and even the slightest movement is painful.
Sometimes the affected area can be extremely painful.
Severe finger sprains often result in complete rupture of the ligaments, and although the finger normally moves only in the flexion and extension direction, the rupture of the ligaments connecting the bones allows a little sideways movement as well.
It is better to check the extent of damage and swelling of the ligament by ultrasound, since a lateral bending test of the finger immediately after the injury can be quite painful.

You thought it was a sprained finger, but it turned out to be a fracture or a torn tendon…

In many cases, what is thought to be a sprained finger is actually a “broken bone” or “torn tendon
The site where it occurs is at the fingertip, just below the base of the nail.
There are two types: tendon mallet finger and bony mallet finger.

tendon mallet finger:Resulting from the extensor tendon that extends the finger being torn by an external force.
bony mallet finger:An intra-articular fracture of the first joint, in which the bone to which the extensor tendon is attached has been displaced by an intra-articular fracture.

Even if only the tendon is torn, there is little swelling and not much pain, so people may leave it alone, thinking, “If I leave it like this, the finger will grow back someday.
However, without proper treatment at the right time, the fingers will never grow.
In bony mallet finger, the symptoms are similar to those of severe cases because of swelling and inflammation, so a visit to a medical facility is in order.
The condition of the affected area is then checked with images to determine whether it is a ligament or bone injury.
Another important feature of ultrasound is that it can see microscopic damage that cannot be seen even with x-rays.

If you sprain your finger, keep it cool and go to a medical facility.

If you sprain your finger, do not judge yourself, but go to a medical facility while keeping it cool.
The method of immobilization and treatment depends on “what has been damaged” by the sprained finger.
Never judge yourself.

Treatment to avoid residual injuries

Here are the treatment options for each.

Minor injury

Most of the time, minor injuries do not require immobilization.
However, there is pain when moving it, so weak taping is used.
Taping also serves to restrict movement, and is used in situations where bandaging is not necessary, but a little immobilization will help the patient get better faster.
Here are some simple taping instructions.

Photo shows how to wrap and position the taping in case of a second joint injury.

If you wind it left-handed from your point of view, your symptoms will often be relieved. (If it does not change, try winding it on the right.)
Since the stretchable tape has a strong fixing force, be careful not to wrap it too tightly.
Wrap the non-stretch tape around the skin as if it were a skin ride.

medium level

Moderate damage requires stronger fixation than mild damage.
The purpose of immobilization is to minimize swelling and to allow internal bleeding to subside quickly.
At the same time, [the shortest possible duration and the least amount of fixation] is also the shortest path to healing.
If the purpose of the fixation and the appropriate period of time cannot be reproduced, the pain will not be easily reduced, so it is necessary to ask about the symptoms and the practitioner must also check the condition after each treatment!
Patients will feel more comfortable if the progress and future course of action can also be clearly demonstrated.

Severe ligament rupture

Torn ligaments will not regrow without surgery or ultrasound treatment.
We often hear the expression “stretched ligaments,”but ligaments are not elastic.
Please know this by all means.
It only feels like it has been stretched because it is partially cut.
Now the fixation, with the finger slightly bent, is done for at least one week.
The decision to remove or extend the fixation is then made based on the degree of pain in the finger, the degree of change in internal bleeding, and the firmness of the tissue.
Once the internal bleeding has settled, the fingers should be bent as much as possible.
This is because the longer the immobilization keeps the finger immobile, the harder the tissue becomes, and when the immobilization is removed, the finger will not move at all.
By keeping the patient in a constant state of pain and able to move, the duration of interference with daily activities and pain-free time can be shortened.
The degree of pain must always be taken into account in order to move it.
The key is to continue the treatment to ease the pain while maintaining the range of motion through repetition of this assessment.
Incidentally, in the case of a thumb ligament tear, surgery may be necessary because it interferes with daily life.

tendon mallet finger and bony mallet finger

A hammertoe is a condition in which a tendon is severed or a fracture of the fingertip prevents the finger from extending.
Torn tendons and fractured fingertips require 4-6 weeks of immobilization.
In our clinic, a patient who had been in the fixation and oxygen room and ultrasound for three weeks after the tendon was torn also regenerated the tendon and was able to extend the finger that had not been able to stretch.
Since immobilization alone is not sufficient for some fractures, it is necessary to assess the condition of the affected area with ultrasound, which provides a clear and detailed view of the fracture.
Even time-lapsed ones are indications for surgery, so it is strongly recommended not to leave the finger unattended when it does not grow.

bone fracture

Fractures due to sprains of the fingertips were bony hammertoes, but fractures also occur at the second joint due to pulling on the ligaments and require immobilization.
The standard immobilization period is 2 to 4 weeks, and inadequate immobilization may result in surgery.
It is important to understand the angle of the finger and the need for fixation.

A sprained thumb of the hand needs special attention and may require surgical treatment

Sprains of the thumb of the hand require special attention.
Unlike other fingers, the thumb performs the plucking motion, so it can be quite inconvenient if it is left with residual effects such as lack of strength.
Fixation is difficult, and rest is also difficult because of the large role of the fingers.
In this case, too, surgical treatment is recommended for a quicker recovery.
Fixation is important, but I believe that the quickest and best outcome for the patient’s symptoms and condition is the most important.

How risky is it if left unattended?

Let’s take a look at the process and see what happens if left untreated.

one week

The pain reduces the opportunity to bend the fingers.
After a few days, when the pain becomes manageable, you need to start moving the finger because missing this period makes it difficult to bend and stretch the fingers.”

three months

The symptoms are still present in the fingers, but after a prolonged period of non-use, the patients can go about their daily lives without moving their painful fingers, and they begin to think lightly, “My fingers are still symptomatic, but if I just rest a little longer, I will be able to move them again.
In the case of hammertoe, data show that the probability of healing is high up to 3 months, but after that time, it varies depending on the severity and extent of the damage.
Seek medical advice.

half year

A minor finger sprain should not take six months
However, a moderate or severe finger sprain can cause pain and awkward movement for as long as six months.
A moderate or second joint fracture can leave the finger swollen, making it hard to bend the finger and still painful.
What appears to be swelling is tissue deposits that have hardened due to lack of movement.
Movement will soften that tissue, but it will take a long time before the fingers are slim again.

one year

The tissue has already deposited and will remain intact with no change in the limited bending range of the finger or the swollen appearance.
If it just won’t move, moving it may help it bend again.
In most cases, complete finger flexion will not be possible.

Reasons for lingering and not healing

Why doesn’t the pain go away forever even though I have been to the hospital?
We will tell you why.

How to fixation

If the fixation is too tight or the angle of the finger to be fixed is not appropriate, the pain can be prolonged.
With proper angular fixation, pain can quickly subside and ease.
If the pain does not subside, consult your doctor immediately.

tight-muscled

There is no damage to the ligament or bone, and the pain does not subside despite immobilization, which is probably due to tight muscles.
It is easier to bend the fingers while pressing on muscle points other than the fingers.
Methods and locations will be described later.

Tissue adherence

If the immobilization is too tight or the immobilization period is too long, the tissue will stick and bending the finger will cause pain.
If the pain is caused by tissue adhesion, it will gradually decrease or disappear with continued movement.
It is assumed that neither tendon nor bone is damaged.

Wrong treatment method

Fixation at the wrong angle, fixation that is too strong, or moving too soon can prolong pain.
Fixation should be moderate, not too strong or weak, and of minimal duration.
Once the immobilization is removed and the patient begins to move at the appropriate time, the pain will be gone at an early stage.
This discernment is really important.

What not to do

Some people “pull” their fingers as soon as they sprain them.
There is no benefit to pulling a finger with a sprained finger.
Start icing as soon as possible.
After that, do not judge yourself, but treat yourself properly.
By taking appropriate measures at an early stage, you will not be plagued with aftereffects that will last a lifetime.

Self-care and taping

What you can do for self-care
Bend fingers, use
Loosen muscles that don’t move
The two points are
Pain will keep you from moving the painful finger, but this action can also leave you in pain, so “dare” to use it and return it to the moving finger.
Of course, when it comes to moving your fingers, it is advisable to consult with a doctor before doing so.

For self-care to relax muscles that are not moving, flex and stretch your fingers while pressing the muscles between the bones on the back of your hand.

The area to be moved while pressing is the hard or painful area.
Bending movements that were painful at first gradually become easier.

summary

A sprained finger, if untimely, can result in a finger that will never bend.
Please get treatment as early as possible to avoid permanent aftereffects that will remain with you for the rest of your life.


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