MamaBearTeacher Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I hurt my finger 3 weeks ago but I thought it was just bruised and it did not hurt a lot. After 2 weeks the pain and swelling did not go away and I went to the urgent care. They x-rayed it and said it was broken (the xray did not look bad to me but the doctor mentioned something about 'in pieces') She put a piece of metal against it and wound surgical tape around it and said that I would have to wear that for 6-8 weeks but to come back in 2 weeks to see how it was healing. It is a week now and the swelling does not seem to be going down. Yesterday the finger looked straighter but today it looked bent and deformed. I keep bumping my hand into things. Today I bumped it into a plate and it has been hurting a lot since then. Do you think I need more than this piece of metal and tape? I just cannot imagine living life with a cast and taking care of my children with severe special needs and behavior problems. I also would not like surgery. I would be too afraid that something would go wrong. But I don't want to end up with a deformed finger or one that is always in pain. I have never had a broken bone before and don't know anything about this. What should I do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entropymama Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 OW! Just for comparisons, I slammed my finger in a door when I was a teenager and broke it. They did the same thing with the metal and tape and it healed up fine, although it took a while. I do remember having to have it drained, though. :ack2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhschool Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I would go to a specialist RIGHT AWAY! DC fell on his hand when he was 10. The stupid pediatrician didn't even look at it; she ordered xrays. The stupid radiologist told her there were no breaks. So I did nothing. Two weeks later the hand is black and swollen. I run to a specialist, who tells me "you should have come to see me when it first happened; I could have done something." He ordered more xrays. Apparently there *had* been a break. Apparently the hand was now deformed permanently. DC worked hard to get back all his mobility with some physical therapy, so he didn't lose function. But he has a deformed hand. So...go to the specialist NOW please! Learn from my mistakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Yikes! I also had my finger slammed in a car door and broken. It never totally healed correctly, so it is slightly bent in a funny angle. It still hurts occasionally and it was probably 20 yrs. ago! I think I would leave it taped up for another week and see how it is then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 You are wearing a splint. It is fairly standard treatment for a broken finger. Are you taking anything like Motrin to reduce the swelling? Are you putting ice on it to bring the swelling down? Did you tell the Dr how long ago your finger was broken? Go back at the end of the second week and see what they say. By then they will have a better idea if the splint is working. But, try to get the swelling down with Motrin, ice and elevation. Try to spend time with your hand above your heart. And, I hate to tell you, but a broken finger might always be a little crooked. And sometimes it hurts for a while, even after it heals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 You are wearing a splint. It is fairly standard treatment for a broken finger. Are you taking anything like Motrin to reduce the swelling? Are you putting ice on it to bring the swelling down? Did you tell the Dr how long ago your finger was broken? Go back at the end of the second week and see what they say. By then they will have a better idea if the splint is working. But, try to get the swelling down with Motrin, ice and elevation. Try to spend time with your hand above your heart. And, I hate to tell you, but a broken finger might always be a little crooked. And sometimes it hurts for a while, even after it heals. :iagree: when my finger was broken, they said all they could do for broken fingers was to splint them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBearTeacher Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 Thanks. Yes, I told the doctor it had been 2 weeks. I will try the ice and elevation. The last time I took Motrin I got really bad hives. I am worried I am reinjuring it every time I hit it against something. I am really trying not to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 You are probably not injuring every time you hit it, but it will hurt. A broken bone is very sensitive. You can go to the drugstore and buy a splint that has a lot more padding if you like. You can get them in walmart or CVS or whatever. If Motrin gives you hives then it would be foolish to take it, no? Try some tylenol instead, or whatever you can take that is also an anti-inflammatory. Ice or soaking it in ice water will also help. But, you don't want to soak it in the splint, because that shouldn't get wet. If you think that you are hitting it a lot, you can wear a sling, also available at a drug store or walmart etc. That will keep the whole hand out of commission and keep it safe. You can adjust a sling so your hand is above your heart, that will help bring down the swelling. If you can't afford a sling, then use a dishtowel/large scarf etc tied in a creative fashion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocelotmom Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I broke my finger mid-July. The NP at work told me to expect it to be swollen for up to 6 months. It's feeling nearly normal now - I still tape it with surgical tape when I'm at work because the specific pressure that writing puts on it makes it ache, but it's pretty much fine the rest of the time. But still noticeably swollen compared to the same finger on the other hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBearTeacher Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 Thanks! I will get a better splint from the drug store and maybe a sling. It was just swollen and not hurting much before but now it is deformed and hurting much more. That does not sound good, does it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBearTeacher Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 I just got a new padded splint and it's a lot more comfortable. I think I was winding the tape too tight with the other one. There is a bony bump sticking out on one side of my finger since last night. This is either because: 1) it fused in a deformed way last night or broke more yesterday when I bumped it. 2) only one side of the swelling went down so far. It seems that if I hold it straight with my other hand it looks straight but if I just let it go the bump sticks out. The splints do not correct this. Should I be trying more to straighten it to prevent it from healing wrong? Sorry to post so much about my finger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 At this point I would go to the orthopedist. Fully functioning hands are important enough to make the trip to the specialist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBearTeacher Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 I will try to go to an orthopedist. What might he/she do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 I will try to go to an orthopedist. What might he/she do? X-ray it and determine if it needs more than a splint. If it does, the orthopedist will be able to tell you what your options are. However, it might take weeks to get in to see an orthopedist. Maybe you should go back to see your family doctor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBearTeacher Posted September 8, 2012 Author Share Posted September 8, 2012 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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