A finger injury can be frustrating and can affect your daily life. After all, you have to use your fingers in various tasks for much of the day. Many of you may also be wondering: When should I seek help from a medical professional to treat a finger injury? You may also be worried about whether your finger is sprained or broken. Fortunately, various signs can help you determine if your finger is broken or sprained. Before discussing a sprained finger vs broken, you must know what a sprained and broken finger looks like. Let’s get started:
When the ligaments that support and connect the joints of a finger become damaged, this can lead to a sprained finger. It is caused when you bend the finger backward or the finger gets jammed from hitting it on something. Despite this, damaged ligaments can also impact surrounding connective tissue, such as cartilage and muscles. A sprained finger may become swollen and painful, and be difficult to move. You may also notice inflammation because it is your body’s first line of immune defense against an injury. Mobility will also be reduced with the injured finger. Here are some other symptoms of a sprained finger:
A GP Glenroy can assess a sprained finger, rule out a fracture, and advise treatment like splinting or taping. They can also refer you for an X-ray or specialist care if needed.
Depending on the severity of the sprained finger, it can improve within a few days if you take care of it properly. You may expect sprained finger recovery after a few weeks of rest and rehabilitation.
Injury to the bones or joints of the finger can lead to a broken finger. You might notice the same symptoms as when you have a sprained finger, but the pain of a broken finger may be more severe. The long phalangeal bones within the fingers and palm, or the knuckles, can also be affected by a broken finger.
Here are the signs of a broken finger, which will help you understand that your finger is broken:
If you struggle with a broken finger, you need to see a medical professional. An X-ray is the best way to diagnose a broken finger.
You may be wondering: How can you tell if your finger is broken? A broken finger causes severe pain, swelling, deformity, difficulty moving it, and bruising. On the other hand, a sprained finger has swelling and pain, but the finger doesn’t change its shape, and movement improves over time, although you need an X-ray to confirm.
You need to seek medical attention if you have a sprained finger. However, you can also follow the methods written below after consulting a doctor:
Treatment for a broken finger depends on the type of fracture. Mild fractures can be healed by rest and taping or splinting, while severe injuries may need surgery with pins or screws to stabilize the bone.
After checking the symptoms, you can tell whether you struggle with a sprained finger or a broken finger. If you have mild to severe finger pain, get in touch with Magnus Medical, the most trusted Medical centre Glenroy.
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