Thumb sprain is a common trauma in sports such as volleyball, basketball, baseball, skiing, tennis, table tennis, and sledding. However, whether you are injured while exercising or not, you need to know how to bandage your finger to start the healing process. Afterwards, you will need to continue taking care of your thumb to make it recover quickly - for example, compressing the area and making movements to regain mobility.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Assessing the Need for Medical Treatment
Step 1. Go to the doctor
If you are in school or participating in a competition, there are usually health professionals around to help you. Even if you think the thumb is just dislocated, remember it could be dislocated or even broken. In some cases it will be necessary to perform x-rays or an MRI to understand how to treat the injury.
Step 2. Follow your doctor's advice
If your thumb is fractured or dislocated, strictly follow your doctor's instructions regarding treatment. If, on the other hand, it is a simple sprain, you will be advised to wear a brace or bandage your finger. If the bandage is necessary, the healthcare staff will apply it.
Step 3. Ask for painkillers
If the pain is intense (as it always happens in the beginning), ask the doctor what are the most effective pain relievers; for example, over-the-counter pain relievers may be enough, or your doctor may prescribe something stronger. Remember to also inquire about the dosage and posology.
Part 2 of 4: Wrapping the Sprained Thumb
Step 1. Gather all the material
Since you have to bandage your own thumb, hold the injured hand with the palm facing up. Use an elastic bandage (available at all drugstores) and get a pair of scissors. Put the end of the bandage on the inside of the wrist of the affected hand, right where the heartbeat is heard. Next, wrap the bandage around the back of your hand and then your little finger. Bring the bandage over your thumb using your sound hand.
Alternatively, you can use kinesiology tape, but be aware that it can irritate the skin and make the removal process difficult
Step 2. Apply a wrist anchor
Start by wrapping the joint twice comfortably, without squeezing too much. Make sure that blood circulation is not impeded by the anchor. If you experience tingling in your hand and / or fingers, the extremities are cold or turn blue, the bandage is too tight.
Step 3. Band the back of the hand and fingers
Start at the end of the bandage on the inside of your wrist, where you can feel the heartbeat. From here, bring the bandage around the base of the thumb and then across the back of the hand in a diagonal direction, towards the tip of the little finger. Wrap all four fingers and then always wear the bandage on the back in a diagonal direction. The bandage should end on the side of the hand just below the little finger.
Step 4. Wrap your wrist and repeat the same process
After attaching it once again to the wrist, put the bandage back on the back of the hand following the same path described in the previous step.
Step 5. Pinch the end of the bandage under the coil that runs diagonally across the palm
Wrap your thumb and pin the bandage to the bandage strip that is diagonally across the back.
Step 6. Bring the bandage around the thumb from one diagonal strip to the other
Remember not to over-tighten the bandage, otherwise it will impede normal blood circulation. With each step around the thumb, move the bandage slightly upwards, overlapping the various coils. The more you move towards the tip, the more support the joint is.
When the finger is well bandaged, bring the bandage diagonally across the back of the hand and towards the wrist. When finished, you can cut off the excess bandage
Step 7. Check the circulation of the dislocated thumb
To do this, pinch the nail of the finger itself for two seconds. Let go and look at the nail; if it turns pink within a second or two, blood circulation is normal. If it takes longer than two seconds, the bandage is too tight. Unfortunately, the only way around this is to remove the bandage and start over.
Other symptoms of a tight bandage are tingling, numbness, or a sense of pressure
Step 8. Lock the bandage to the wrist
Use medical tape to secure the end of the bandage to your wrist.
Part 3 of 4: Taking Care of a Sprained Thumb
Step 1. Follow the RICE protocol to accelerate healing
This word stands for the English terms R.east (rest), THEce (ice), C.ompression (compression) ed ANDlevation (elevation). While there is no conclusive evidence that these four factors are as effective as previously believed, doctors nevertheless encourage their patients to put them into practice.
- Rest your thumb by resting it on a soft surface and try not to use it, especially in activities that could worsen your condition.
- Apply an ice pack to reduce pain and edema. The wrap could be an ice pack or a box of frozen vegetables, such as peas. Remember to always wrap it in a towel and never place the ice directly on the skin. Keep the compress on your thumb for 10-20 minutes at a time.
- Compress your finger with a bandage.
- Lift your thumb for five seconds and then return it to the resting position. Repeat this procedure every hour or so.
Step 2. Avoid heat, alcohol, massage, and running for the first 72 hours after injury
All of these factors have proven to be detrimental to a quick recovery process; in some cases they can even make the injury worse.
Step 3. Take medication to relieve pain
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are useful for controlling suffering, but not in the first 48 hours; at this stage, in fact, they are counterproductive. These medicines reduce the inflammation caused by the sprain. Ibuprofen is the most common NSAID used in cases of sprain.
- The recommended dose is 200-400 mg taken orally every six hours. Eat something when you need to take the medicine, to avoid stomach pain.
- You can also use anti-inflammatory gels that can be applied directly to the skin, in the most painful areas. Massage the gel into your skin until it is completely absorbed.
Step 4. Use arnica to avoid bruising
It is a medicinal herb that can reduce the bruising and swelling related to the sprain. You can take it in tablets or apply it directly to the painful area.
- Spread some arnica cream, available in all drugstores, directly on the sprained thumb.
- Add a drop or two of geranium or lavender essential oil to the cream to further reduce the bruise.
Step 5. Do exercises to improve mobility
When the thumb suffers this injury, its range of motion is likely to be reduced. To bring it back to normal, you need to perform exercises like the ones described below:
- Rotate your finger in circles.
- Grab small items like pencils and marbles. Try to put some pressure on your thumb by squeezing the object. Repeat the exercise for five minutes.
- Squeeze a ball in your hand. Hold the position for five seconds and repeat the exercise. Aim for two sets of 15 reps to strengthen your grip.
- Remove your thumb from the other fingers. Try to get it as far as possible and hold the position for five seconds. Afterward, return to the natural position.
- Fold your thumb towards the palm. Try to get it as close as possible and hold the position for 5 seconds. After this time, return your finger to its normal position.
- Take your thumb away from your palm. This movement is similar to what you would do to flip a dime. Extend your finger for five seconds and then relax it to its original position.
- Do not apply any external force to the sprained finger until recovery is finalized (or until the thumb has healed completely). Let the healing process take its course, do not pull or hold your thumb with the other hand.
Step 6. Eat a healthy diet to speed up your recovery
A balanced diet allows you to heal quickly. In particular, you should take calcium and protein to help the injured thumb recover. Do not use your finger while eating, to avoid further damage. For balanced eating, choose fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and foods rich in fatty acids.
Avoid fats, starches and sugars
Part 4 of 4: Knowing Thumb Sprains
Step 1. Identify the symptoms of this injury
If you're not sure if your finger is sprained, it's worth knowing the symptoms to look for. These are:
- Throbbing, intense and / or stabbing pain;
- Swelling;
- Hematoma.
Step 2. Be aware of the most common causes of thumb sprains
Although there are numerous traumas that lead to this injury, the most frequent causes include:
- Repetitive activities that involve the use of the thumb and that apply excessive pressure on its joints;
- Sports such as basketball, volleyball and other activities in which there is a very good chance that a ball will hit the thumb violently;
- Contact sports, such as martial arts or rugby.
Step 3. Understand why the bandage is beneficial
The bandage not only stabilizes the injured joint, but at the same time compresses the thumb. The pressure stimulates the flow of lymphatic fluids which carry important nutrients to the damaged tissues around the trauma site. Lymph also removes toxins and waste products, another important factor in the healing process. The bandage accelerates the tissue regeneration process and prevents the injury from worsening.
