A bagged finger is a type of sprain caused by a severe impact on the fingertip itself. It is a fairly common injury among athletes, especially among those who play volleyball, basketball and rugby. The joint often heals on its own without the need for special treatments, although some specific home remedies can speed up recovery times. In some cases, medical care is needed to restore the finger to its normal functionality and allow it to recover all the range of motion.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Home Remedies
Step 1. Make sure the injury is not serious
The intensity of pain experienced from musculoskeletal injuries is not always directly related to the severity of the damage. In other words, an injury can be very painful, but not necessarily serious. A bagged finger is often very painful at first, but it doesn't compare to a more serious injury such as a fracture or dislocation. To understand if a finger is sprained or severely broken, you need to look at the degree of deformity. So, if your finger is really very sore and unnaturally bent, you need to see your doctor as soon as possible. If this is not possible, you must still rest and take care of it at home.
- In any case, seek immediate medical attention if your finger swells, becomes numb, or the pain becomes unbearable.
- When a finger is bagged, the damage extends to the ligaments surrounding the knuckles and the ability to move is reduced by tissue compaction.
- If the injury is moderate, it is typically referred to as a grade 1 sprain, which means the ligaments have stretched a little too much, but haven't torn.
Step 2. Rest your finger and be patient
The most common cause of this trauma in sports such as volleyball, basketball, or baseball is misalignment of the fingers while catching the ball. If you get a bagged finger while playing one of these sports, you need to take a break from playing, which can be a few days or a couple of weeks, depending on the severity of the damage. Depending on the work you do, you will also need to consider avoiding certain tasks or switching to occupations that do not involve extending fingers and hands for some time. Sprains, strains, bruises, and most injuries that trigger an inflammatory response usually respond well to rest in the short term.
- Meanwhile the ability to grasp and hold objects will be impaired due to the bagged finger. You may also have difficulty typing or typing on the computer, especially if the injured finger is in the dominant hand.
- A finger injury can also occur at home, not just during sports; a typical example is when the finger gets stuck in the door.
Step 3. Apply ice
Pain is mostly caused by inflammation, so it's a good idea to use cold therapy as soon as possible to slow circulation to the area, reduce swelling, and numb the surrounding nerves. Any type of cold source is effective, such as ice cubes, a gel pack, or a bag of frozen vegetables (peas are especially good) taken from the freezer. Regardless of what you choose, apply it every hour for 10-15 minutes, until the pain and inflammation have subsided. After a few days you can stop this treatment.
- As you put the ice on, take cushions to hold your finger and hand up to combat the effect of gravity which tends to bring blood flow to the extremity and thereby increase inflammation.
- Don't forget to wrap the ice in a thin sheet before placing it on your finger, so you avoid the risk of frostbite or cold burn.
Step 4. Take anti-inflammatories for a short time
Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is an effective alternative to combat inflammation and pain; these are available for free in pharmacies and are drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Oki, Moment) or naproxen (Aleve). This category of medicine helps to keep the body's inflammatory reaction under control by reducing swelling and pain. Keep in mind that NSAIDs and other types of pain reliever medications typically only need to be taken for a short time (less than two weeks), as they cause side effects to the stomach, liver, and kidneys. To reduce the risk of stomach irritation or ulcers you should never take them on an empty stomach.
- Do not give aspirin to children, as it has been related to Reye's syndrome, while ibuprofen is not indicated for newborns.
- If you can't get NSAIDs, you can take pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tachipirina), which is helpful in managing bagged finger pain, but be aware that this family of drugs does not reduce inflammation.
- As an alternative to oral medications, you can choose to apply an anti-inflammatory or pain reliever cream or gel directly to the injured finger. These ointments are only absorbed locally, so you avoid the risk of creating gastric problems.
Step 5. Wrap your finger with duct tape
During the convalescence period you can consider wrapping the stuffed finger with the fingers next to it using adhesive tape; in this way you guarantee greater stability and protection at the injury site. Choose a medical tape and wrap the injured finger with the one next to it that is similar in size. Avoid squeezing it too tight, though, or it will cause more swelling and risk blocking blood circulation in the area. Put some cotton gauze between your fingers to prevent blisters.
- If you can't get medical tape, paper tape, a self-adhesive, Velcro bandage, duct tape, or rubber band is fine.
- If you want to provide even more support for your bagged finger, use a wooden or aluminum splint that is secured with tape. You can also find the aluminum splint made to measure, so that it adheres perfectly to the injured finger.
Part 2 of 2: Finding Medical Care
Step 1. Consult your family doctor
If rest, finger immobilization, and other home remedies aren't effective for reducing pain within a week or so, make an appointment with your doctor. The problem may not be a bagged finger, but a microfracture, a stress break in the long bones of the finger itself, or an avulsive fracture near the joint. An avulsed fracture is when the hyperextended ligament tears a piece of bone from the graft site. If the finger is broken, the orthopedist will fix a metal splint and give you all the instructions to hold it for a few weeks.
- Your doctor may take x-rays of your hand to look for signs of fractures or other more serious conditions that cause pain, such as osteoarthritis (from attrition), osteoporosis (brittle bones), or a bone infection.
- Be aware that microfractures are often not seen on an x-ray until the swelling subsides.
- MRI allows a more accurate analysis of the condition of the tendons, ligaments and cartilage around the injured finger.
Step 2. See an osteopath or chiropractor
Both are joint specialists whose goal is to restore normal motility and function of the spinal and peripheral joints, including those in the fingers. If your finger is really bagged or even slightly dislocated, then the osteopath will manipulate it to realign and reposition it. Remember that the most severe dislocations need to be reduced by an orthopedist. During these procedures you may hear a "snap" or "creak" coming from your finger, often followed by immediate relief and improvement in motility.
- While sometimes a single manipulation session is enough to find some relief from the pain and regain range of motion, it typically takes several sessions to notice significant improvement.
- Joint manipulation is contraindicated in case of fractures, infections or inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid.
Step 3. See an orthopedist who specializes in hand surgery
If your symptoms worsen or do not subside, or if your finger does not regain full motion within a few weeks, then you should see a specialist orthopedist. It is a doctor who deals with the musculoskeletal system, but with particular attention to the functionality of the hand, who could recommend injections or surgery to solve the most problematic traumas. If your finger is found to be broken and not healing normally, you will likely need to undergo a minimally invasive surgery. Alternatively, he could offer you cortisone injections directly into the finger or even into the damaged ligament or tendon; doing so quickly reduces inflammation and restores normal finger motility.
- The most commonly used corticosteroid drugs for injections are prednisolone, dexamethasone, and triamcinolone.
- Complications associated with these injections in the hand are infections, weakening of the tendon, localized muscle atrophy, and irritation or damage to the nerve.
Advice
- Some athletes are tempted to self-heal the bagged finger by pulling it, hoping to reposition the joint. However, it is a type of manipulation that should be left to doctors.
- If you bundle your fingers before a game, you reduce the risk of bagging or distorting them.
- Constantly snapping your fingers can damage the surrounding joints and soft tissues, making them more prone to injury.
- Immediately after the injury, apply ice packs and switch to heat therapy when the swelling has subsided.
