What is a jammed finger?
A jammed, or sprained, finger occurs when the soft tissues in your finger stretch or tear. Soft tissues, like ligaments, connect your bones together and support your joints, which help you move.
It’s common to have a jammed finger. It can happen after an injury, like during sports, or from accidents, like a fall, or even from your finger getting caught in a leash while walking your dog.
If you have a jammed finger, your finger may be painful, stiff or swollen. You can treat mild sprains at home. If symptoms persist or worsen, you should seek medical treatment.
What are the grades of a jammed finger?
Your provider may assign a grade to your jammed finger. A grade is the level of severity of your sprain. Grades for a jammed finger include:
- Grade 1: Your ligament has small tears. Your joint is stable (your bones aren’t likely to move out of place).
- Grade 2: You’ve partially torn your ligament. Your joint shows mild instability (possibility of your bones moving out of place).
- Grade 3: You’ve completely torn your ligament. Your joint shows major instability (your bones are likely to move out of place).
Sometimes the soft tissue damage is so severe that it results in a dislocation. This occurs when the finger bones move from their original position and your joint’s no longer in alignment.
How common is a jammed finger?
Jammed fingers are very common. They most often occur among athletes who need to handle a ball, like basketball, football and volleyball. When a ball becomes airborne, it can land incorrectly in your hand and unintentionally smash against your fingers. This may result in a sprain of your ligaments, leading to a jammed finger. Jammed fingers can also occur when you trip, fall or accidentally hit your hand against a stationary object.
Is a jammed finger serious?
Most jammed fingers aren’t serious injuries that require immediate medical attention. If you have a mild sprain, you can usually treat the injury at home. If you experience severe pain, swelling and/or stiffness, you should visit a healthcare provider.
FAQs
A jammed finger will usually have some range of motion, but if a person has a broken finger, they will hardly be able to move it. If it is still not clear whether the finger is jammed or broken, a doctor may take an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis.
Can you wiggle your finger if it's broken? ›
A common myth is that if you can move your finger, it is not broken. While severe fractures or joint dislocations may prevent movement, for most fractures the finger will still move quite well. Generally, movement will become more difficult once swelling increases.
How do I know if my finger is broken or just bruised? ›
Broken
- Finger can't bend.
- Pain and swelling persist or get worse even after resting and icing.
- Finger appears deformed or bent out of its natural shape.
- Often requires surgery or a special splint.
- A broken bone is apparent.
- Ligaments can remain intact.
There will be visual clues that you have broken your knuckle as well. For example, if you make a fist, you may not be able to see your knuckle because it broken. The lack of swelling and the pain may make you think that your knuckle is not broken, but if it is sunken in, this is a sure sign that it is.
How to unjam a finger quickly? ›
Apply ice for 15 minutes, wait until the finger temperature returns to normal and repeat the process. After the swelling goes down and the pain diminishes, try to move the finger very slightly. If the injury is mild, you will be able to move it with little discomfort after a short time.
What does a slightly broken finger feel like? ›
Broken fingers rarely go unnoticed. Frequently, you have immediate pain after trauma and sometimes a deformed finger either at a joint (commonly a dislocation) or through the bone as a fracture. If there is no deformity, a person will typically feel a sharp pain at the injury site.
What does a hairline fracture finger feel like? ›
For most people: You feel pain in your finger/thumb, especially when moving it, although this may be dull, tolerable pain. You experience swelling of the finger/thumb area. You find it difficult to use your finger/thumb and/or have restricted movement.
How long does a jammed finger last? ›
Recovery time for a jammed finger is dependent on the degree of injury. It can take a few weeks to many months for the swelling and pain to resolve. Some stiffness may persist. For those returning to sports, buddy taping should be used for a few weeks or until the finger is completely recovered.
What does a sprained finger look like? ›
Share on Pinterest Symptoms of a sprained finger include redness, pain, bruising, and swelling. Inflammation is the primary symptom of a sprained finger. Inflammation occurs because it is the body's first line of immune defense after an injury. A sprain may also cause reduced mobility of the injured finger.
Why is my finger purple and swollen after hitting it? ›
Bruises occur when small blood vessels under your skin tear or rupture, most often from a twist, bump, or fall. Blood leaks into tissues under the skin and causes a black-and-blue colour that may become purplish black, reddish blue, or yellowish green as the bruise heals. Rest and home treatment can help you heal.
Do Not. Do not splint a smashed finger without first consulting your provider. Do not drain blood from under the fingernail unless your provider instructs you to do so.
How long does it take for a broken finger to heal without a cast? ›
Overview. Breaks in the bones of the finger usually heal well in about 3 to 4 weeks. The pain and swelling from a broken finger can last for weeks. But it should steadily improve, starting a few days after you break it.
How to know if a finger is jammed or sprained? ›
Recognizing a Jammed Finger
Common symptoms of a jammed finger include: Pain in the finger's PIP joint, which can be dull and mild for a slight sprain or sharp and throbbing for a severe sprain. Swelling and redness in the PIP joint, which may be more evident when comparing the affected finger with the others.
Do jammed fingers heal on their own? ›
A jammed finger is a common injury that's usually not serious. Icing, resting, and taping a jammed finger is often enough to allow it to heal in a week or two. However, if you can't move the finger or it hurts too much to move it, you'll need an X-ray to make sure it's not broken or dislocated.
What does a sprained finger feel like? ›
Sprained Finger Symptoms
Pain in one of your finger joints when you try to move or use it. Stiffness in your finger or having a hard time straightening or bending it. Tenderness in your joint when you touch the area. Swelling in one of your finger joints.
