No matter how big or small, most injuries can throw off your whole routine or ruin your plans. The last thing you want to happen is to get injured because it can be expensive and painful. Now, the most common parts of your body that can get injured are your hands.
Most people think of their wrists or their arms when you talk about hand injuries. But they forget the most vulnerable part, your fingers. It’s so easy to hurt your fingers. For one thing, we use them in almost everything we do. Can you imagine going about your day without the use of just one finger? It’s inconvenient.
People can hurt their fingers in various ways. The best thing you can do to help yourself is by getting immediate first aid or medical attention. Don’t let the pain or swelling get worse.
To get a better understanding, here are a few examples of common finger injuries.
1. Skier’s Thumb
As the name suggests, this is an injury that’s most commonly picked up from skiing. This injury is a wound to the ligament that controls your thumb’s flexibility. It makes up 8 to 10 percent of ski-related injuries.
However, despite its name, it’s not just caused by skiing. A simple fall on an outstretched hand while you’re holding something can cause this injury. If your thumb gets pushed backward at high speed or with significant impact, it can tear the ligament.
Whether the injury is mild or severe, it’s vital to get a medical professional to help you. With mild cases, you can get by with icing your thumb, some painkillers, and limiting movement. For severe cases, you will need to discuss surgical and nonsurgical solutions with your doctor.
2. Mallet Finger
This injury is similar to a skier’s thumb in that it tells you the most common cause through the name. This is an injury to the tendon that straightens your thumb or finger. It’s also commonly referred to as baseball finger or drop finger. It can be hard or impossible to straighten your finger afterward.
When you get this injury, your finger will droop at the tip and look bruised and swollen. It’s caused by force to the tip of the finger from something heavy or fast-moving. This can happen when you’re trying to catch a ball, but it ends up hitting the tip of your finger. Something as mundane as changing bedsheets can also cause this injury.
If the impact wasn’t too bad, some time and ice should be enough to treat the problem. But if the pain is more than you can bear, it might be something more serious. Make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible to have your finger treated.
3. Fracture
A fractured finger is one of the more severe types of injury you can get. You can fracture a finger in many ways. With enough force, some of the causes of a skier’s thumb and a mallet finger are also possible ways to fracture your finger.
For the most part, this is the type of injury where you shouldn’t take your chances. You should seek professional help and advice as soon as possible. Even when minor finger fractures can heal on their own, they might heal incorrectly. This can ultimately affect functionality and flexibility.
Make sure to give your doctor as much information as possible about your injury and how it happened. This may play a role in the treatment and future prevention.
Conclusion
Finger Injuries are common but more people might not be aware of what they are and their causes. This information can help you be more aware of what you’re doing. These injuries don’t just happen out of nowhere or during sports and outdoor activities. Everyday tasks can cause them too. So, make sure to be more aware and careful with how you use your hands, fingers, and the rest of your body.
If you or someone you know happens to get a hand or wrist injury, please visit our clinic. North Florida Hand and Wrist provides the best hand and wrist care through our team of capable hand and wrist doctors. We’re available to take your call even outside of typical business hours in case of emergencies. Call or visit us today to get your hand and make an appointment.
