Are you suffering from the broken finger blues? Do you fear that the days of playing an instrument or typing on a keyboard are gone for good? Never fear! There is hope yet for those with a broken digit. In this article, we'll explore what happens when you break a finger and whether or not you can still move it.
What happens when you break a finger?
Let's start with the basics. A broken finger occurs when one or more bones in your finger are fractured. This can happen as the result of trauma, such as hitting your hand on something hard, or through repetitive stress injuries from activities like typing or playing instruments.
When a bone breaks, it typically causes pain, swelling and bruising in the area around the injury. Depending on which bone is affected and how severe the fracture is, there may also be visible deformity.
For many people who suffer a broken finger (or fingers), their first concern is whether they'll be able to move their injured digit(s) ever again.
Can you still move your finger if it's broken?
The answer to this question depends largely on how bad your fracture is. While some people may experience very little loss of mobility after breaking a finger bone/someone may have limited mobility due to other factors involved ('we will discuss these later'), others may find that moving their injured digits causes severe pain or discomfort .
There are several different types of fractures that affect fingers, each with its own degree of severity:
Hairline fractures
A hairline fracture refers to a small crack in one of your bones but does not usually cause complete separation between pieces unlike any nerve damage ('a gap') . These types of injuries tend to heal relatively quickly with rest / without intervention, but if they're located near joints/it could lead problems during joint movement especially rare cases where nerves need direct attention.
Minor /Insignificant fractures
Another type of fracture is a minor or insignificant one, which can affect one or more bones in your finger. These types of injuries often cause very little pain and usually heal without intervention.
Compound fractures
A compound fracture is when the bone breaks through the skin or another kind of opening and usually require surgery, as well as medical attention to avoid infections/knowledge on wound care during healing process.
Dislocations/The dreaded gamekeeper’s thumb!
Sometimes after severe trauma (or even more trivial ones), it's not just the bones that are injured but other structures such as tendons, cartilage etc . A dislocation occurs if 'a joint becomes displaced'. This determines how painful movement/or motions like gripping/smoothness would be during use/stability with grip strength or capability reduces . Also known as "the dreaded gamekeeper's thumb", this injury involves tearing or stretching the ligaments at the base of your thumb where it attaches to your hand.
Broken Finger Treatment: What should you do next?
If you've broken a finger, there are some things you should do immediately:
- Seek medical attention- head over to any nearby hospital for Professional/ Medical treatment
- Apply ice - Wrap region around affected area with clean towel; this helps reduce swelling.
- Elevate- It could also prove beneficial elevating aforementioned body part above heart level ("Above The Heart Technique") by propping up arm somewhere elevated from ground/a cushioned surface would help ease blood flow issue
4.Take medicine- Over-the-counter pain relievers can be helpful in managing moderate levels of discomfort had/allergic drug side effects: Ensure proper consultation with Doctor(Acanthapine/Bromindione). In serious cases involving what seems like knuckle breaks/displacement disability/critical nerve damage/painful inflammation on areas surrounding broken limb/'flail' fingers - surgery may be necessary; often depending on location of injury to joint/tissue, the doctor may provide a cast/splint for stability.
Can you move a broken finger?
So, can you still move your injured finger? It's possible that you may be able to - especially casesthat do not involve any tears in tendons/ligaments. However it's better staying cautious until consultation with professional is done before attempting non-casual activities (e.g., typing).
In some cases exercises like mobility and stretching activities could be integrated into rehabilitation schemes. Where there are no complications post-treatment/recovery time show no sign of more than stiffness at most , fargone would have got dependent on people very close with one for minor tasks from day-to-day.
How to exercise fingers after they've been injured
If exercising limited movement/strength has been approved as complementary treatment,you should start modestly / progressively dynamic by doing warm-up stretches /holds 5-10 times(for each hand if involves opposable properties) then gradually build up daily intensity using specialized tools like stress balls rubber bands or even weighted gloves-wrist roller etc); consult specialists who: physiotherapists/hand therapists ['Understand Exercising Injured bones/fingers' needs'] .
Aside these, good nutrition also plays an important role in expediting the healing process; vitamins such as A,B,C,D,E being integral part . Also other intakes like magnesium because strengthening immune system helps reinforce damaged cell walls while incorporating joint friendly nutrients will come crucial during recovery programs especially organic Calcium/Lycopene rich foods ('Including Mangoes/Spinach among others') .
Final Thoughts
Breaking a finger can bring anyone down but it should never stop them. Once under medical care/by trying simple methods/practice sessions work of regaining some control & independence over their lives moves forward. As stated earlier, effects vary depending on severity & location of injury but seriousness coupled with patient awareness can lead to uneventful progress; that said, there's always a very good chance of recovery for any broken (or injured) finger.