How To Heal A Jammed Finger: Causes, Signs & Natural Treatments

If you have hurt your fingertip in a volleyball match or slammed a door on your finger, such accidents may cause a jammed finger. Natural treatment for jammed fingers mostly involves topical soothing methods. While most of the time, it subsides on its own, without any treatment, sometimes it may cause finger pain, stiffness, and finger swelling.

In this article, you will learn about jammed fingers, their symptoms, and how they can be managed with home remedies. Scroll down to learn more about this finger injury.

What Is A Jammed Finger?

A jammed finger is a common occurrence that causes the tip of your finger to be pushed back toward your hand.

The force of the impact can cause your ligaments (bands of connective tissues that hold your bones together) to stretch or tear, thereby resulting in a finger sprain.

This may damage your tendon or even cause a fracture in the finger joint. If your finger isn’t fractured by this impact, it can become swollen and painful.

A study conducted on 3838 common finger injuries prevalent in the military found that 1,878 were Army personnel, 769 were Air Force, 623 were Navy, and 568 were Marines. It was further observed that emergency departments encountered 35% of initial injuries, followed by orthopedic surgery clinics (32.3%), family medicine clinics (22.2%), and urgent care centers (10.8%).

It can be difficult to tell if your finger is broken or jammed. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how you can differentiate between the two.

Signs And Symptoms – Jammed Finger Vs. Broken Finger

Jammed Finger

The signs and symptoms of a jammed finger include:

• Pain in the affected finger
• Difficulty in using the jammed finger to hold anything
• Inflammatory symptoms like redness and swelling in the injured finger

Broken Finger

The symptoms exhibited by a broken finger are:

• Severe throbbing pain in the affected finger
• Inability to move or even straighten your finger
• Swelling in the finger that may last for days or even weeks

While the symptoms of both jammed and fractured fingers may be similar in certain ways, they are much worse and severe in the case of the latter.

We have already understood what triggers a jammed finger. Let’s look a little more into this right below.

What Causes A Jammed Finger?

A jammed finger is caused by any sudden force that causes your fingertip to be pushed down.

It is most commonly triggered by an injury to the joint of your middle finger. This joint, where your finger bends in half, is referred to as the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP).

When small ligaments (collateral ligaments) that support the PIP joint are strained or overstretched, your finger may get jammed. Such strains tend to happen when your finger ends up absorbing a lot of force from an injury that may occur due to the following activities:

• Catching a ball
• Playing sports like basketball and volleyball that require repetitive hand movements
• Slamming doors
• Lifting heavy objects
• Bumping into objects while distracted
• Typing or working with tools without breaks

A jammed finger needs to be fixed. Most cases of jammed fingers are minor and can be treated right at home unless it is a fracture that you are unaware of. Listed below are some natural remedies that can help in treating a jammed finger.

How To Fix A Jammed Finger Naturally

1. Ice Pack
2. Epsom salt
3. Aloe Vera Gel
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
5. Turmeric

5 Natural Treatments To Fix Jammed Fingers

1. Ice Pack

You Will Need

An ice pack or cold compress

What You Have To Do

1. Apply an ice pack to the jammed finger immediately after the injury.
2. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and remove.
3. Repeat as and when required.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this multiple times daily.

Why This Works

An ice pack can help alleviate the pain of the jammed finger by numbing the area. It can also help in alleviating swelling and inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory effects

(1).

Quick Tip

If you do not have an ice pack, soak the finger in chilled water for 15 minutes to reduce swelling. Keep your finger elevated to reduce discomfort.

2. Epsom Salt

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt
• Water
• A large bowl or basin

What You Have To Do

1. Fill a large bowl or basin with warm water.
2. Add a tablespoon of Epsom salt to it and mix well.
3. Soak the jammed finger in the mixture for 15-20 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You may do this once daily.

Why This Works

The anti-inflammatory activities of magnesium in Epsom salt can help in soothing inflammation, pain, and swelling associated with a jammed finger

(2).

3. Aloe Vera Gel

You Will Need

1-2 teaspoons of aloe gel

What You Have To Do

1. Apply freshly extracted aloe vera gel to the affected finger.
2. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this multiple times daily.

Why This Works

Aloe vera exhibits excellent healing and anti-inflammatory properties (3). Hence, it can be a great option for alleviating the pain and inflammation in the affected finger.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of water
• Cotton ball

What You Have To Do

1. Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a tablespoon of water.
2. Soak a cotton ball in this mixture and apply it to the affected finger.
3. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and remove.

How Often You Should Do This

You may do this 2-3 times daily.

Why This Works

While there is no scientific evidence to back this claim, anecdotal evidence suggests that the anti-inflammatory nature of ACV can be quite effective in treating inflammatory symptoms like swelling and pain.

5. Turmeric

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 4 tablespoons of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Add 4 tablespoons of coconut oil to turmeric powder.
2. Mix well to form a thick paste.
3. Apply the paste to the affected finger and leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
4. Rinse it off with water.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 1-2 times daily.

Why This Works

Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, possesses excellent anti-inflammatory and healing properties (4). It may help in treating the pain, swelling, and redness in the jammed finger.

6. Lavender Oil

You Will Need

• 3 drops of lavender oil
• 2 teaspoons of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the lavender oil with coconut oil properly
2. You can massage the mixture on the affected finger

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 1-2 times daily.

Why This Works

Lander oil has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties (5). It may help in reducing swelling and pain in your jammed finger.

Apart from the remedies mentioned above, you also can tape your jammed finger for temporary relief. Check out the next section to know how.

Using A Tape For Jammed Finger

This first-aid approach allows you to stabilize your injured finger till you receive medical help. Taping your jammed finger to an adjacent uninjured finger can protect it from further danger and provide temporary mobility and stability. Laurie, a blogger, talks about how she healed a bruised finger after she jammed her finger into a supermarket elevator. She reveals she visited an orthopedist and observes, “I went with the nurse who taped my injured finger to the unhurt finger next to it. This process is called buddy taping where we use the unaffected finger as a splint to keep the injured finger from moving too much and aggravating the injury (i).”

You Will Need

• Medical tape or adhesive bandage tape

What You Will Have To Do

• Clean and dry the injured finger.
• Choose an adjacent, uninjured finger.
• Align the jammed finger next to the adjacent finger.
• Wrap the tape around both fingers. Keep it snug but not too tight.
• Secure the tape ends in place.
• Test finger movement for comfort.
• Occasionally check and adjust the tape as needed.

While these natural and herbal remedies do their job in speeding up the healing, here are some tips to protect your finger from further damage.

Prevention Tips

• Avoid using the jammed finger until it has recovered completely.
• Take a break from sports and other physical activities that may worsen the injury.
• Keep the finger strapped or splinted until it has healed completely.
• Once the jammed finger heals, do small exercises like making a fist or holding a tension ball or other objects to regain the lost strength of your finger.

Quick Tip

Wearing a splint to reduce inflammation and soothe the jammed finger. However, ensure not to bind splints tightly around the finger.

If the remedies and preventive measures mentioned above fail to work, it is important to seek medical advice to rule out fractures or other serious injuries. Learn more about when you need to visit a doctor below.

When To Seek Medical Attention

You should seek medical attention if you experience the following symptoms even after a few days of using home remedies:

• Increasing pain
• Severe swelling
• Numbness at the tip of your finger
• Inability to move or straighten your finger

Visiting your doctor in case of these symptoms will help you get timely treatment and prevent complications like chronic pain, joint stiffness, misaligned fingers, swan neck deformity, and reduced range of motion (6).

Infographic: Top 5 Ways To Treat Jammed Fingers

Jammed fingers are very painful on any given day. This happens when your fingertip is pushed back toward your hand, resulting in swelling and difficulty holding anything. While a broken finger requires immediate medical attention, jammed fingers can be treated easily at home with simple remedies. Check out the following infographic to know more.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Does warm water help a jammed finger?

Yes, warm water may help reduce the stiffness that oftenn accompanies a jammed finger. However, warm water may be used after the swelling has subsided and the finger has healed a little. Cold water is recommended as first aid in case of a jammed finger.

How do you fix a jammed finger in 24 hours?

Jammed fingers may take up to 2 weeks or sometimes longer to completely heal. However, symptoms can be reduced and the swelling managed by keeping the finger immobile, compressed, and elevated. In addition, if you do not want to try holistic treatments or alternative medicines like massage, acupuncture, or, chiropractic care, you may take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help with the swelling and pain.

How long will a jammed finger stay swollen?

The swelling on a jammed finger usually goes away within 2 weeks. However, it may persist for months in some cases.

Illustration: Natural Ways To Heal A Jammed Finger + Causes And Symptoms

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Don’t let a jammed thumb slow you down! Discover quick and effective remedies in this helpful video. From ice therapy to gentle exercises, learn how to alleviate pain and restore mobility in no time. Check it out.

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Dr. Zeel GandhiBAMS

 

Dr. Zeel Gandhi is an Ayurvedic doctor with 7 years of experience and an expert at providing holistic solutions for health problems encompassing Internal medicine, Panchakarma, Yoga, Ayurvedic Nutrition, and formulations.

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Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.

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Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief

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Dipti SharmaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Dipti is a health and wellness writer specializing in holistic health practices. She graduated from Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, and has worked closely with Ayurvedic doctors, which has given her a deep understanding of traditional remedies and their applications.

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