Treatment For Swollen Hand Injury

How Do Healthcare Providers Treat Sprained Fingers

If your symptoms dont improve within 24 to 48 hours of your injury, see your healthcare provider. Treatment for a sprained finger depends on the severity of the sprain. Treatments may include:

• Buddy taping/support: Your provider tapes your sprained finger to the finger next to it to increase stability or may recommend the use of a supportive wrap such as Coban.
• Splinting: A plastic splint or finger brace helps keep your finger straight for a period of time to allow for healing.
• Surgery: Your provider may suggest surgery to repair severely torn ligaments.

Whats Causing Your Hands To Swell

When hands swell, its hard to ignore. Especially as the swelling often comes with pain. And it may be more difficult to hold objects and carry out daily activities.

Hand swelling is typically caused by fluid retention, arthritis, or a rise in your body temperature. Some causes will improve on their own and are not cause for alarm. Others can become more serious and damage the structures of the hand. Hand swelling may also indicate an underlying illness.

Treatment depends on the cause of your hand swelling, but in general, following the R.I.C.E. protocol can usually treat most causes of swelling. You may also need medication for underlying conditions.

Pro Tip

Hands are important for almost everything we do daily. When they are swollen, it can really interfere with your activities of daily living and decrease your quality of life. Dr. Chandra Manuelpillai

Swollen Fingers Caused By Exercise

During a workout, such as running, hiking, or other forms of intense exercise, your body works hard to pump blood to your heart, lungs, and muscles. This directs blood flow away from the blood vessels in the hands, causing them to widen and the fingers to swell.

Swollen fingers after a workout are generally no cause for concern. However, you can reduce this post-exercise symptom by getting the hands and arms moving and making sure that youre staying hydrated.

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Enchondroma With Pathological Fracture

These benign tumours commonly involve the hand skeleton and, in particular, the base of the phalanges. Radiographs demonstrate cortical thinning with slow expansion of bone. Forceful hand activities may abruptly produce pain and swelling, as the weakened bone fractures. Curettage and bone graft is preferred in most cases. However, this may have to be delayed if a fracture has occurred to allow healing of the bone and to prevent instability.

Swollen Fingers Caused By Heat

Another potential reason for swollen fingers during and after working out or spending time outside in hot weather is increased body heat. In fact, exposure to heat, whether internal or external, can cause something called heat edema.

Heat edema commonly causes swelling in the extremities, especially in the fingers, hands, toes, and feet. While its generally not dangerous, it can indicate an imbalance in fluids and electrolytes. In some cases, it can also be linked to another underlying condition.

Luckily, you can reduce heat edema by keeping hydrated and cooling your body temperature back down as soon as possible.

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When Should I See My Healthcare Provider About Finger Pain

Tell your provider if you continue to have pain or swelling after the injury. These could be signs of a more severe injury, such as a broken finger.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Sprained fingers are common and usually result from injury or trauma. Signs include pain, stiffness, swelling and tenderness. You can often treat mild sprains at home with RICE and medication, but more severe sprains require medical treatment. People generally recover quickly from sprains and can go back to their everyday activities within a short time.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 08/12/2021.

References

Swollen Fingers Caused By Hormones

Hormonal changes, especially during menstruation and pregnancy, can cause symptoms such as bloating, swelling, mood changes, and more. These symptoms often occur due to a shift in hormones like estrogen and progesterone.

Swelling of the hands and fingers is a common symptom of premenstrual syndrome , and often appears during pregnancy, as well. Other symptoms of PMS may include:

• abdominal bloating and pain

• weight gain
• abdominal pain

Early treatment for preeclampsia is crucial in ensuring a safe pregnancy and delivery. Treatment may include medications, frequent monitoring, or in some cases, early delivery.

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Do I Require Further Treatment

You may be advised that you require physiotherapy following this type of injury, unless your symptoms are minimal on your initial appointment. Your physiotherapy could be at a variety of locations in the Hull and East Riding area.

You can self-refer to physiotherapy by contacting the following number depending on the location of your doctor:

• Hull GP patients self-refer to Healthshare: 300003
• East Riding GP patients self-refer to East Riding Physiodirect 208300 or self-refer online at chcpmsk.org.uk

On occasions the clinician may wish to refer you to the physiotherapy team within the hospital trust. If this is the case they will advise you of this and you should receive an appointment at Hull Royal or Castle Hill Hospitals within 5 to 7 days of your attendance at the Emergency Department. If you have received no contact within this time please call the physiotherapy admin team on 674880.

Home Remedies For Swelling From An Injury

Swelling is your bodys natural response to an injury. Despite the number of precautions you may take, injuries can happen at any time and any place. You could be walking down the road and you accidentally twist your foot, or you could be trying to lift a heavy bag and injure your arm in the process.

Swelling happens whenever your skin, organ, or other parts of the body enlarge as a result of fluid buildup. Swelling is one of the bodys inflammatory response to injury and has a protective value. The excess fluid protects the tissues from further injury and aids in the healing process.

Swelling resulting from injury can be quite painful and requires immediate action to prevent further damage.

The following are the common signs and symptoms of injury and inflammation at the site of the trauma:

• 6. Apple Cider Vinegar

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What To Do For Swollen Hands

Our hands do so much for us. They are capable of so many different functionsholding, touching, grasping, wavingand so much more! So, if you look down and notice you have a swollen hand, it can be scary. To make it less scary, we broke down some of the causes and symptoms to help you understand what to do for swollen hands.

Things To Know About Hand Injury

• Intricate in design and function, the hand is an amazing work of anatomic engineering. Form follows function in the hand therefore, any injury to the underlying structures of the hand carries the potential for serious handicap. To reduce this risk, even the smallest hand injuries require proper medical evaluation.
• The goal with injuries to the hand is a rapid and accurate initial evaluation and treatment. In other words, once an injury occurs, the doctor strives to begin medical treatment quickly so the short- and long-term effects on the hand can be minimized.
• The hand consists of 27 bones . When the other associated structures are considered, the potential for a variety of injuries exists when trauma involves the hand.
• The most common cause of the injuries was blunt trauma, followed by injury from a sharp object.
• Most hand injuries will heal without significant loss of function if evaluated by a doctor soon after the injury.

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Two Types Of Hand Injuries

Orthopedics are helpful for treating both acute and chronic hand injuries:

• Acute Hand Injuries: An acute injury means that an accident happened, and you suddenly have new pain. These injuries often require medical treatment, and the pain goes away when the injury heals. Examples of acute injuries include broken bones from a sports accident or car accident.
• Chronic Hand Injuries: Some patients cant identify a specific time when their hand was injured. Instead, the pain slowly crept in, resulting in a situation where the pain is fluctuating or ongoing for weeks or months. Chronic hand injuries are often caused by repetitive motions, such as carpal tunnel from typing. Or, they can happen in people with autoimmune diseases and other health conditions.

Treatment varies depending on the type of injury we are dealing with and the underlying cause of the injury. Our team of orthopedic doctors works closely with each patient to identify an accurate diagnosis so we can design a personalized treatment plan.

Cast Splint And Brace

Immobilization limits unnecessary movement, which promotes proper healing. It also ensures that your bones line up correctly.

To immobilize your hand, youll wear a cast, splint, or brace. The best option depends on your specific injury.

Metacarpal fractures are often difficult to effectively mobilize and will likely require surgery.

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Nonsurgical Treatments For Finger And Hand Injuries

When you hurt your finger or hand, rest and ice are often the first treatments for broken finger care. You can also take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain.

For injuries that dont require surgery, your doctor may treat your finger or hand problem with a:

• Splint or buddy taping. This involves taping one finger to another to keep it from moving.

After your finger or hand injury starts to heal, your doctor may prescribe physical therapy.

Lacerations Dislocations And Fractures Medical Treatment

Lacerations

• Antibiotics, particularly for bite and puncture wounds
• Tetanus shot if indicated
• Hand wounds that have not been treated six to eight hours after initial injury may not need sutures. Many health care professionals leave these wounds open since they are sutured they are more prone to infection.

Internal damage: Lacerations that involve tendons can be treated at a later date by a hand surgeon with positive results. Therefore, an emergency department doctor may clean and close a hand laceration, then recommend tendon repair to a specialist at a later date.

Deep cuts: Some injuries require immediate treatment in the emergency department or are surgically repaired. When an injury to an artery is diagnosed, a surgeon must evaluate for immediate surgical repair. If a large artery is cut, there is the possibility of massive blood loss. Death may result if bleeding is not controlled.

Bites: The main complication of bite wounds is infection. To help prevent infection bites require thorough cleansing and irrigation . Puncture wounds and wounds where tissue is crushed are particularly likely to become infected. The risk of infection increases when these wounds are stitched closed, so most bite wounds need to be allowed to heal without stitches. The doctor may decide to loosely stitch large bite wounds. Most bite wounds require antibiotics and close follow-up to assure healing.

Dislocations and fractures

Fractures

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Can I Treat A Sprain At Home

You can often treat a mild sprain at home. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help relieve pain. You can also use RICE therapy :

• Rest: Let your finger rest, if possible. Stop doing the activity that injured it while your finger heals.
• Ice: Ice the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, especially within the first 24 hours. Put ice in a towel or plastic bag rather than directly on your skin. Icing the injury can help relieve pain and swelling.
• Compression: Wrap an elastic compression bandage around the injured joint to support it and reduce swelling. Be sure the wrap is not too tight and is comfortable.
• Elevation: Elevate your injured hand to minimize swelling, especially within the first 24-72 hours. Keep it elevated overnight, if possible.

Where Can I Find Treatment For My Hand Ligament Injury In Nyc

Dr. Steven Lee is the Chief of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC and has been consistently recognized as one of New Yorks top orthopedic doctors by New York Magazine and Castle Connolly. If you are suffering from symptoms of a hand ligament injury and evaluating your treatment options, schedule a consultation with Dr. Lee today.

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What Are The Causes Of Hand Edema

Hand edema may be caused from trauma/injury, infection, arthritis and repetitive stress injury. Hand swelling can also be caused by a cast that is too tight. Depending on the cause, edema can last for a short time, such as when it occurs during or after exercise. Chronic hand edema, or swelling that builds up over time, often indicates an inflammatory process.

Swollen Fingers Caused By Infections

Similar to an injury, the inflammatory response is a necessary part of the healing process when an infection is present. Infections can cause a wide variety of symptoms, depending on the type and severity of the infection.

Infections of the arm and hand can cause swollen fingers, as well as infections in the joints of the fingers. Other signs and symptoms of an infection might include:

• a wound thats having trouble healing

• trigger thumb

These types of tendinitis specifically affect the tendons in the fingers.

One of the initial interventions for reducing the pain and swelling associated with tendinitis is cold therapy. Applying ice to the swollen fingers can help to reduce blood flow to the area and reduce pain.

More serious cases of tendinitis usually require medical treatment.

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Treating Hand Injuries With Orthopedics

Whether your hands are moving in repetitive motions at work or you are risking a hand injury on the sports field, pain in the hands can happen to anyone. These injuries are not only uncomfortable, but they can hinder your daily activities and life responsibilities.

Even a small hand injury can make the simplest tasks feel impossible. If your fingers or hands are hurting, then it can be hard to type at the computer, wash the dishes, or drive a car. You need functioning hands to get through the daily activities at home and work!

Minor injuries will usually heal on their own with at-home first aid treatments. But serious injuries should be checked out by an orthopedic doctor. If there is an injury that requires treatment, such as a torn ligament or fractured bone, time is an important factor that helps you avoid unnecessary complications in the future.

Our team at Orthopedic Associates offers full-service diagnostics and treatments for every part of the musculoskeletal system: hands, arms, legs, ankles, knees, hips, feet, back, neck, and more. We invite you to reach out for a consultation if you need treatment or a diagnosis.

Avoid Tasks That Make The Pain Worse

Try to avoid tasks that are causing the pain or making it worse. This may be anything that has a repetitive nature, such as using a screwdriver, painting or lifting heavy objects. You might be able to change the way you do some tasks to take the strain off your hands and wrists. Some conditions affecting the hand and wrist wont get better until you stop doing certain tasks.

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Can I Prevent A Sprained Finger

You cant always prevent sprained fingers, especially if you play sports where your fingers come into contact with a ball. Sometimes the use of buddy straps or supportive wraps may be helpful in preventing an injury. If you have balance problems or trouble walking, try using assistive devices to reduce your risk of falling on your hands.

Lets Breakdown The Causes Symptoms And What To Do For Swollen Hands

Swollen hands are a sign that there is fluid buildup or inflammation of the tissues or joints of the hand. They also may be the result of trauma, infections or other abnormal processes. It all depends on the cause, but swollen hands can occur during or after exercise and last for a short time. Swelling that builds up over time, or chronic hand swelling, may indicate an inflammatory process like arthritis. Swollen hands may also be caused by different orthopedic conditions such as a bone fracture.

Swollen hands may be accompanied with common symptoms including redness and warmth around the affected area or fever and chills. Other symptoms that may go hand in hand with a swollen hand include:

• Reduced movement in a joint or range of motion

• Repetitive stress injury

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Home Remedies For Swelling On Face In Hands And Feet From An Injury

1. Ice / Cold Compress

When applying a hot compress on your affected area, the blood will flow more to that area, reducing the inflammation and pain associated with swelling. The same goes for a cold compress applied on your swollen area, it can numb that area and lessen inflammation as well as swelling .

How to do it:

• Take a clean towel to soak into warm water
• Place it over your swollen area and wait for 5 minutes
• Soak that towel in cold water and apply the same
• Repeat this routine twice per day till you get good results

Note:

• Do not apply ice directly on your skin to avoid damaging it or possible frostbite.
• Ice is not suitable for chronic injuries.

2. Exercise

When it comes to home remedies for swelling, exercise is the most recommended because it is a good way to boost your blood circulation and stop the fluid retention within your hands and legs.

You can go swimming to take pressure off the feet while still boosting circulation.

In accordance with the journal International Archives of Medicine, exercising can alleviate lower limb edema. Furthermore, this helps in lessening swelling in ankles if you have a sedentary lifestyle or if your problem is caused by aging.

For swelling caused by an injury, most cases are caused when the fluid pools in the tissues, and exercise can reduce this impact.

3. Elevate The Injured Area

4. Use Bromelain

Note: This enzyme should not be taken before surgery because it might result in excessive bleeding.

5. Supplement With Quercetin

Note: