Medicine
Fact-checked

At TheHealthBoard, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Are the Different Ways to Treat a Jammed Finger?

Lainie Petersen
Lainie Petersen

To treat a jammed finger, a person should elevate it, apply ice, and monitor the finger for symptoms of a more significant injury. If the pain becomes severe or movement does not return to the joint after a few hours, it is typically a good idea to seek medical attention, as the injury may be severe. This type of injury sometimes responds well to physical therapy, which may be ordered by a doctor if the finger does not respond well to home treatment or requires more advanced medical care.

Jammed finger is a term typically used to describe an injury in which the finger joint has been injured. In many cases, it is possible to safely treat a jammed finger at home, but there are situations in which professional medical care is necessary. A finger that first appears to be jammed may, in fact, be fractured or have sustained significant tissue damage that could permanently affect the finger if left untreated. This is why it is important for parents, coaches, and individuals suffering from a jammed finger to pay attention to the sufferer's symptoms. Significant pain and immobility that last more than several hours can be a sign of a serious problem that should be addressed by a health care professional.

A person with a jammed finger.
A person with a jammed finger.

After the accident that injures the finger, the affected person should treat a jammed finger by keeping the hand elevated and applying ice or cold packs for about 15 minutes. The icing treatment should not extend past 15 minutes so as to avoid damaging the skin. Instead, remove the ice treatment and allow the hand to warm back up. The ice treatment can be repeated as necessary. Between ice treatments, the sufferer should note whether his symptoms are getting any better. This observation is an important part of making a decision to seek professional care.

A woman with her jammed finger wrapped.
A woman with her jammed finger wrapped.

If these basic efforts to treat a jammed finger don't seem to be working and the sufferer remains in pain or cannot move his finger properly, it is time to contact a doctor. The doctor or other health care professional who examines the finger may decide to order an x-ray to determine if any bones have been fractured or broken. In such cases, the doctor may apply a splint to the finger and eventually recommend physical therapy that can help the finger to heal so that the sufferer can regain full movement. Even if the finger is not fractured, the doctor may recommend taping the finger during the next several weeks if the sufferer is going to engage in sports or other activities that may aggravate the condition.

Discussion Comments

Rotergirl

Not much you can do for one except rest it and let it heal. They're kind of like a sprain in that they hurt nearly as much as a break does.

My dad coached basketball and his players were getting jammed fingers all the time. He said it was the most common injury for a basketball player because the ball can take a bad bounce, or the player misjudges the trajectory during the game and makes a grab for it at the wrong time. It was just part of the game, but I know it had to hurt to keep playing with a jammed finger. Sometimes, the players would fib about their fingers being jammed so they could stay in the game.

Pippinwhite

My jammed fingers were always a result of contact with a basketball in one incident or another. I never played basketball, but we used them in PE and I got a couple of bad jams trying to snag a ball during a game. Tylenol and ice were the remedies of choice. That and just not using it any more than I had to.

I was in about the seventh grade and jammed the middle finger on my right hand in PE. It swelled up to ludicrous proportions and I could hardly write the rest of the day. At least it was a Friday and I could rest it that weekend.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • A person with a jammed finger.
      By: Rob Byron
      A person with a jammed finger.
    • A woman with her jammed finger wrapped.
      By: LockStockBob
      A woman with her jammed finger wrapped.
    • Ice packs can reduce the inflammation caused by a jammed finger.
      By: michelaubryphoto
      Ice packs can reduce the inflammation caused by a jammed finger.
    • A jam fingered occurs when a finger joint has been injured.
      By: nebari
      A jam fingered occurs when a finger joint has been injured.
    • Jammed fingers are common during contact supports, such as wrestling.
      Jammed fingers are common during contact supports, such as wrestling.
    • Jammed fingers may occur as a result of a football injury.
      By: Actionpics
      Jammed fingers may occur as a result of a football injury.
    • An x-ray will determine if any bones in the hands are broken or damaged.
      By: Gufh
      An x-ray will determine if any bones in the hands are broken or damaged.
    • A medical doctor can determine whether a finger is dislocated, sprained or broken.
      By: praisaeng
      A medical doctor can determine whether a finger is dislocated, sprained or broken.