How do I reduce the swelling on my finger?
Asked by
bluejay (
1014
)
April 1st, 2012
I crashed my bike more than a month ago and a cut I got on my thumb got swollen. It’s still swollen and is getting on my nerves now. I can’t even fully bend my thumb now. Is there anything I can do for it?
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8 Answers
Why’s it swollen? Contusion or infection?
If you have an infection how are you dressing it?
It should have gone down by now. Time to see a doctor. If it’s infected and not treated, it could lead to blood poisoning and you don’t want that!
That’s not a cut. You broke it. If it hurts a month later you messed it up big time. Get to a Dr. You need to get it fixed or it’s going to mess with you the rest of your life. I’ve broken elbows, my nose, and my collarbone. They take about eight weeks to stop hurting.
Like already mention. If its only the cut that is swollen than infection has set in. If its the whole finger than you probably broke or sprained something. Either way you need a doctor from here out.
Best way to tell is touch you injured finger and then touch the fingers on your other hand. If it feels warmer than the other uninjured fingers on your other hand, than its probably infected.
Also, when was the last time you’ve had a tetanus shot?
Clostridium, the bacteria that causes Tetanus poisoning, has an average incubation period of 3— 21 days with the average being 8 days. Lockjaw is a ghastly disease and nothing to meddle with, but I am fairly certain you have escaped it. It is still a good idea to have a booster though.
Thumbs are vital (yeah- I know that you have figured that out by now- being as you have been having pain for a month) and really you need to have it looked at to determine the source of the swelling.
I am going to assume that it is otherwise at least basically functional or you would have sought medical attention sooner. It is possible that you badly sprained it or it is infected but it is more likely that you fractured it and it just needs a splint and some R&R.
Hopefully it just needs more time. A bad sprain can take 6 weeks to heal. But the swelling is bothersome. Please consider seeing a medical professional.
@Adirondackwannabe It’s still swollen, but I can fully bend it. Holy macaronis has it really been half a year???
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