Injured Finger Concern?
I’m a 25-year-old female, weighing 150 pounds, and currently taking Lamictal and Guanfacine, along with daily marijuana use. A couple of months back, I experienced an incident where I struck my middle knuckle against a wooden coffee table while lifting my child. The impact broke the skin and was extremely painful. For a few days, the area around my lower knuckle turned purple, yet I retained the ability to move my finger. Fast forward two months, and the level of discomfort remains consistent with that initial injury when I try to bend my finger, whether forward or backward. There's noticeable redness and mild swelling at that specific knuckle. I’ve never encountered a broken bone, sprain, or similar injury prior to this. My mother suspects that I may have a jammed finger, but my online research indicates that such an injury typically heals within a few days to a couple of weeks. I’m curious about your insights on my situation. While I feel normal when my hand is at rest, any efforts to grasp objects, use my hand for support, or even slight pulling on my finger result in significant pain. What might be happening with my finger, and what steps do you recommend?
Answers (1)
6/18/2025, 11:01:11 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like your finger injury is still causing significant discomfort and isn’t improving as expected. The persistent pain, redness, and swelling after two months may suggest that there is an underlying issue, such as ligament damage, cartilage injury, or possibly a fracture that wasn't initially detected.
Explanation
When you hit your finger on a hard surface, you could have sustained a jammed finger, which involves damage to the ligaments. Although these injuries typically heal in a few weeks, the ongoing pain indicates that something might be amiss, like a more severe ligament strain or even a fracture that didn’t heal properly. It's common for some injuries to take longer to heal, especially if they were initially underestimated or treated as minor.
Next Steps
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Rest and Protect Your Finger: Avoid any activities that require using your finger, especially gripping or applying pressure. You can use a buddy taping method by taping your injured finger to an adjacent finger for support.
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Ice the Area: Apply ice to the injured knuckle for 15-20 minutes several times daily, especially after any activity that causes pain. This can help reduce swelling and relieve discomfort.
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Elevate Your Hand: Whenever possible, keep your hand elevated above your heart level to minimize swelling.
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Monitor Symptoms: Keep track of any changes in pain severity, swelling, or the range of motion. If your symptoms worsen or do not improve over the next week, it may necessitate further assessment.
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Consider Pain Management: Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help manage discomfort, but make sure to follow the dosing instructions.
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Consult a Specialist if Needed: If pain persists despite these measures, especially with increased swelling, deformity, or loss of function, it may be necessary to get an X-ray or an evaluation from a healthcare provider. They can assess for potential damage or fractures that may not have been evident initially.
Taking these steps can help manage your symptoms and assess the situation further. Healing takes time, and it's essential to listen to your body and not rush back into activities that could aggravate the injury. Let me know if you have any more questions or need further support!
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