What is a finger sprain?
A sprain is an injury to a joint that causes a stretch or
tear in a ligament. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue
that connect one bone to another.
How does it occur?
A sprain usually occurs when there is an accident. For
example, a ball may hit the tip of your finger or you may
fall forcefully onto your finger.
What are the symptoms?
You have pain, swelling, and tenderness in your finger.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will examine your finger. You may
have an x-ray to be sure you have not broken any bones in
your finger.
How is it treated?
Treatment may include:
- applying ice packs to your finger for 20 to 30 minutes
every 3 to 4 hours for 2 or 3 days or until the pain goes
away
- elevating your hand on a pillow while you are lying down
or on the back of a chair or couch while you are sitting
(to help reduce swelling)
- taking an anti-inflammatory or other pain medicine
prescribed by your health care provider
- doing exercises to strengthen your finger during the
healing process.
Your health care provider will recommend that your sprained
finger be splinted or "buddy taped" (taped to the finger
next to it) for 1 to 4 weeks after your injury.
How long will the effects last?
Your finger may remain swollen with decreased flexibility
and strength for many weeks. Sometimes the joint swelling
may take weeks or months to go away, and in some cases may
be permanent. It is important to continue doing finger
exercises during and even after you return to your normal
activities. These exercises help strengthen your finger and
improve range of motion.
When can I return to my normal activities?
Everyone recovers from an injury at a different rate.
Return to your activities will be determined by how soon your
finger recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been
since your injury has occurred. In general, the longer you
have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will
take to get better. The goal of rehabilitation is to return
you to your normal activities as soon as is safely possible.
If you return too soon you may worsen your injury.
In many cases, you will be able to return to your activities
as long as you are wearing your splint or have your finger
taped.
How I prevent a finger sprain?
Finger sprains are usually the result of injuries that are
not preventable.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
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