Injuries await us everywhere: at home, at work, in the gym. One of the most common injuries is finger bruising. Moreover, both the upper limbs and the lower are equally exposed to danger. With confidence, only one thing can be said: any injury should not be ignored. Everyone should know how to provide first aid in the event of damage. Of course, if possible it is better to immediately contact a traumatologist to avoid complications. But if the injury is minor, it can be cured at home with the help of folk remedies.
What causes damage?
Every day, each person performs a huge number of actions, and most of them can lead to a bruised finger. Quite often, injury occurs due to an impact on a blunt object or its fall on the phalanx even from a small height. A characteristic sign of minor damage is the preservation of the integrity of the skin, the absence of wounds on it.
In everyday life, literally anything can happen:
- A heavy object fell on his fingers. This situation (depending on the circumstances) can lead to a fracture.
- Hit the door jamb. Such injuries are characteristic of young children who often run about headlong, not noticing obstacles.
- The fall of the subject on hand.
A bruise of a finger on a hand can be identified by external signs. But if you are not sure, it is better to contact a traumatologist for an accurate diagnosis. The severity of the damage depends on the location of the hit.
Signs of a finger injury
As already noted, injury is characterized by soft tissue damage without compromising skin integrity. However, if the injury is severe, then the tendons and muscles can rupture. The wounds of the joints of the hands have certain signs, which we will now consider:
- the injury site flashes with sharp pain;
- the appearance of a tumor on the finger is characteristic, and difficulty in bending is also noted;
- redness of the focus occurs, sometimes small abrasions can be observed;
- the nail often blackens from a bruise and exfoliates, the entire damaged area is numb, the level of motor activity decreases.
If the blow to the finger is very strong, then bleeding, crack, closed or open fracture is possible. No need to write off the bruise. If a strong ongoing pain is detected, you should immediately consult a specialist, because this is the first sign of a fracture.
Symptoms of a Toe Injury
In principle, there are no striking differences. It is worth noting that the most common bruises of the thumb and little finger. Among the main signs, one can distinguish sharp pain, redness and swelling, an increase in the temperature of the wound area due to a rush of blood. Hematoma under the nail is a common occurrence. Its appearance is characterized by a rush of blood with subsequent darkening. With strong impacts, the nail may crack and fly off.
How to distinguish a bruised toe from a dislocation? There are some easy ways. Firstly, with a minor injury, the pain will gradually subside, the most unpleasant sensation lasts twenty minutes. The functionality of the finger is not violated, there is practically no discomfort while walking, which can not be said about the fracture. Then, most likely, you can’t move your finger. As for hematoma and swelling, they appear in both cases. The only difference is that with a fracture, edema occurs immediately and does not go away for a long time. If this is a bruise, then the hematoma will be detected after some time. You can try to feel the injury, the continuity of the bone directly indicates minor damage.
Most common injury
The thumb is most vulnerable to a variety of sprains and shocks due to bone structure. Most of the victims are men, this is mainly due to professional activities. A bruise on a finger is considered a painful injury. It can be cured pretty quickly if you act correctly.
Damage to the thumb, unlike the other four, is the most painful. But the treatment methods remain the same. Unpleasant sensations in the area of the bruise will remain approximately for several weeks, but then it will be possible to forget it like a nightmare.
Classification of minor damage
There are four types of finger bruises, depending on the severity of the consequences:
- Minor injury. The appearance of redness, small scratches is characteristic. The pain subsides within a few minutes, a visit to a doctor is not required.
- A sharp pain that quickly goes away. Capillaries are damaged upon impact, resulting in hematoma and swelling.
- Strong blow on a dumb subject. Significant damage to muscle tissue and blood vessels is observed, a large blue hematoma is detected. For some time, the injury site swells. A severe bruise of the finger may be accompanied by a dislocation.
- Impaired motor activity. Severe swelling, cracked bones, joint damage. There is also a rupture of the tendons and the nail plate.
First aid
Often we can hear the question: "Bruised finger, what to do?" The first step is to provide first aid. If the pain is very severe, it is better to send the patient to the doctor, and before that a number of actions should be performed:
- The first step is to cool the injury. There are two ways to do this: apply a cold compress or place your finger under ice water.
- If there is blood, you need to make a hemostatic dressing and apply to the wound.
- When the place of damage is not visible, it does not hurt to apply an iodine grid. Thus, you can protect the wound from infection.
- In severe situations, an analgesic should be given.
- In conclusion, it is necessary to put a tight bandage on the finger and send the victim to a traumatologist.
First aid is very important, as you can avoid serious consequences and speed up the healing process. Note. If a man has a bruise or a woman has severely bruised a finger, in no case should it be completely immobilized, as this will lead to stagnation and the appearance of a tumor.
Bruise treatment
A traumatologist based on x-rays can conclude that the injury is serious. If there is no severe damage, then you do not need to apply gypsum. A bruised finger is usually treated at home. It is necessary:
- take painkillers if necessary;
- perform physiological procedures;
- apply creams, ointments with a restoring effect.
If the damage is serious, as a result of which the nail plate comes off, the doctor will also prescribe antibacterial drugs. Rupture of ligaments means surgical intervention, because you need to sew them together.
Alternative methods of therapy
After visiting your doctor, you should start treatment. It is better for a traumatologist to clarify with what methods of traditional medicine therapy should be carried out. You can quickly cure a finger bruise with Vishnevsky ointment. This tool relieves swelling perfectly, and if you apply the ointment to the damaged area and cover with a bandage, then after a few hours you can see the first result.
The following agents are also very effective in treatment:
- Cabbage. Attach the sheet to the injury and secure with a bandage. The dressing is recommended to be changed every half hour, it perfectly relieves inflammation and swelling.
- Bodyagi. In pharmacies, ready-made ointment of the desired consistency is sold. To simplify your task, you can simply apply the product to the injury site and cover with a bandage, change about twice a day.
- Potatoes. It should be cooked in a uniform, knead and put this pulp on the injured area. This compress can be changed an unlimited number of times, it perfectly relieves pain and reduces bruising.
- Bulb onions. The best cure for infections. It must be crushed with a blender, moisten the bandage in the resulting slurry and apply to the bruised finger. Change the bandage twice a day: morning and evening.
- Honey, vinegar and oil. Mix all ingredients, moisten gauze and wrap finger. A good tool for relieving edema and eliminating hemorrhage.
Information about the treatment of a bruise will help not only you in a similar situation, but also your loved ones. The ability to provide first aid is priceless, because in this way you can even save a person’s life.
Possible complications
Damage to the phalanges of the fingers, especially in children, does not pass without a trace. Of course, this depends on the nature and severity of the injury. A small bruise is unlikely to remind of itself after a few years, which can not be said about more serious injuries.
Soft tissue of a person is rather capricious. When injured, changes can occur in them that will lead to complications. Often they do not appear immediately, but some time after a bruise. Remember that if you do not treat the damage, then the recovery will take a very long time. It is better to use all the tips and get rid of pain in the finger with the help of medical and folk methods.
Prevention
To manage to get injured, it is not necessary to engage in heavy physical labor. If a woman bruised a finger on her hand, there will be a lot of screaming. Men prefer to hide emotions and try to forget about the injury. This does not need to be done, because, as we said above, complications are possible.
You can hit your finger anywhere and anytime, it is almost impossible to predict this event. You should carefully monitor yourself, be more careful when playing sports. Separately, it is worth mentioning the ice. Very carefully you need to walk on the ice, because as a result of a fall, a finger bruise will be the most harmless injury. Minor damage is better than a broken leg or arm.
No matter how hard we try to protect ourselves from injury, they happen. The main thing is not to hesitate in providing first aid, and then take all possible measures to restore the functionality of the damaged limb. Only careful attention to your health can minimize injuries and bruises.