What to do if you hit your finger with a hammer

Pain in the arm

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment. In the case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should only be prescribed by the attending physician. For a diagnosis and the right treatment, you should consult your physician.

Pain in the hand: causes of occurrence, in what diseases occurs, diagnosis and treatment methods.

Pain can be accompanied by various pathological processes of the upper extremities. injuries, degenerative and inflammatory lesions, neurological syndromes. Arm pain can be one of the symptoms of cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive system diseases.

Variety of arm pain The variety of pain syndromes is determined not only by the complexity of the structure of the upper extremities, but also by the variety of functional loads. According to its nature, the pain can be tugging, shooting, breaking. It may be bothersome when stressing the arm, or it may occur at night and disturb sleep. In addition, there may be irradiation (recoil) of pain into the arm in myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, colic, cholecystitis, peptic ulcer.

Arm pain may be physiological and caused by Muscle fatigue After hard or unusual exertion.

After significant physical activity that exceeds the threshold of muscle endurance, there may be delayed pain (1-2 days after physical activity). Specialists believe that they are caused by damage to muscle cells, their membranes, the connections between the microfibrils. These pains are usually prolonged.

Injuries. Bruises, fractures, tendon sprains, muscle tears. characterized by a sharp onset of pain and its intensity. Contusions and fractures are accompanied by severe pain, swelling, and hemorrhage from small or large vessels.

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Ligament sprains are caused by sudden movements of the joint, lifting heavy weights, and falling with resting on the hand, and are characterized by varying degrees of connective tissue fibers damage. Such an injury is accompanied by severe pain, swelling, and limitation of movement in the joint. Often, sprains occur at the wrist and elbow joints after heavy loads or repetitive, monotonous motions.

Ruptures and tears of the muscle occur with excessive strain. In addition to severe pain, there is bleeding in the area of the injury and an inability to tighten the muscle.

Endocrine disorders (diabetes, hypothyroidism), impaired joint mobility due to arthritis or rheumatism, tumors in the nerve area (neurofibroma, schwannoma) or outside the nerve (hemangioma, lipoma) are additional factors that increase the risk of such inflammation. As a rule, tunnel syndrome develops with prolonged single-type movements (working at the computer, playing tennis) or with trauma. Improper posture, scoliosis, and osteochondrosis contribute to this.

Inflammation of tendons and joint ligaments Also develops with significant physical exertion and trauma, especially in cases where the tendons are attached to powerful muscles. Stretching and microtraumas in the place of attachment are accompanied by a breaking, aching pain, which can become intolerable under physical exertion. Inflammation leads to swelling and limited mobility in the joint. Epicondylitis is a common pathology of the arm, in which inflammation involves the junction of the muscle and ligaments of the elbow joint. In this case, the pain is localized in the elbow and accompanies movement in the elbow, hand and fingers.

Joint damage from arthritis Causes not only pain, but also stiffness of movement. The causes of this lesion can be osteoarthritis, gout, etc.д.

For rheumatoid arthritis Small joints in the hand are characterized by joint stiffness in the morning, followed by joint stiffness in the large joints. In addition to increased pain, joint deformities and limited mobility, the disease is also characterized by general manifestations of the disease. fatigue, sweaty palms and feet, weight loss.

Deposition of uric acid salts (urate) in the joints is the main manifestation of gout gout. Causes severe pain. Its intensity is so great that even the mere touching of the painful joints causes discomfort. The disease is caused by a metabolic disorder.

With inflammation of the elbow periarticular synovial pouch. bursitis. pain occurs in the elbow and is accompanied by swelling of the joint. In addition to severe pain in the hand that limits movement, localized reddening of the skin and an increase in temperature above the joint area may occur.

Arm pain may be a consequence of Anterior lumbar muscle syndrome And accompanied by muscle spasm and compression of the nerves and vessels of the shoulder girdle. Degenerative changes in the vertebrae (osteochondrosis) of the cervical spine, trauma.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and its complications (disc protrusions, intervertebral hernia) cause pain in the hand due to pinching of the nerve that provides its innervation. Not only may you experience sharp pain but also numbness and impaired sensation in your hand.

There is another cause that should always be kept in mind for arm pain. myocardial infarction. The patient feels severe pain behind the sternum, which may extend to the neck, back, and left arm. Such pain is not the only sign of this dangerous condition. As a rule, shortness of breath, cold sweat, shortness of breath.

Diagnosis and examinations for arm pain To diagnose a condition that may cause arm pain, you must consider how acute the pain occurred, as well as the events that preceded its occurrence. For severe injuries, diagnosis is usually straightforward, but to distinguish a contusion from a fracture, x-rays are necessary.

Radiological examination of the humerus is intended to diagnose injuries, as well as to monitor the ongoing treatment.

Pain in the joints of the hands

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should only be prescribed by the attending physician. For diagnosis and proper treatment, consult your physician.

Pain in the joints of the hands Pain in the joints of the hands: the causes, in what diseases occurs, diagnosis and treatment.

Definition Pain in the joints of the hands limits their mobility, depriving them of the ability to perform work related to fine motor skills for a long time. A person may be disturbed by pain when moving or at rest, with reddening of the skin over the pathological joint, swelling, and a local rise in temperature.

Types of pain in the joints of the hands According to the nature of the pathological process the following groups of joint disorders can be distinguished:

  • Arthritis is inflammation of the synovial membrane of a joint.
  • Osteoarthritis. damage to the cartilage structures of the joint.
  • Periarthritis is inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the joint (tendons, serous bags, muscles).

    The pain resulting from the inflammatory process varies in intensity, often increases during the second half of the night, and decreases after the beginning of motor activity.

Traumatic damage to the joints of the hands Characterized by swelling, redness, and restriction of movement in the injured joints.

Reactive arthritis. An immune pathology in which the body’s own immune system attacks various joints, resulting in autoimmune inflammation. Unlike other autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, in the occurrence of which an infectious component can only be assumed) reactive arthritis is directly related to a recent infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract or genitourinary system.

Psoriatic arthritis. A common chronic inflammatory joint disease associated with psoriasis (a non-infectious skin disease manifested by dry red plaques on the skin). End phalanges of the fingers and nail plates are most often affected. The fingers swell, become red, and take on a sausage-like appearance (psoriatic dactylitis). Destruction of the nail (onycholysis) and, in rare cases (about 5%), shortening of the finger.

Arthritis in systemic lupus erythematosus Occurs in one form or another in 50% of patients. Both one or more joints may be affected, and there are almost always other manifestations of the disease: a characteristic rash on the cheekbones, kidney damage, pleurisy. In the chronic course of arthritis, there is often a deformity of the fingers in the form of “swan neck”, “button hinge”, ulnar deviation. Occasionally occurs rheumatoid-like phenomena. morning stiffness with frequent and persistent arthritis of different groups of joints.

Swan-neck deformity of the fingers Gout, or as it used to be called “rich man’s disease,” is a disease in which urate (salt) crystals deposit in various tissues. Primarily the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot is affected, but the hand joints can also be affected.

Osteoarthritis. a group of diseases arising from different causes, but with similar clinical manifestations and affecting all components of the joint:

  • After trauma;
  • In some diseases associated with metabolic disorders (ochronosis, hemochromatosis, Wilson-Conoval disease);
  • Endocrine disorders (hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly);
  • In the postmenopausal period (due to changes in hormonal background and calcium metabolism).
  • morning stiffness or pain for less than 30 minutes;
  • Bony overgrowths of two or more joints, and deformity of one of the ten joints evaluated;
  • Less than two swollen joints.

Infectious, or purulent, arthritis is an inflammatory cause of joint damage when an infection enters the joint cavity. Often occurs with open trauma to the joint area with skin damage or as a result of the transfer of infection from a purulent focus through the blood.

Among infectious arthritis, arthritis in gonorrhea should be singled out separately. It occurs more often in women 3-4 weeks after infection and related gynecological problems, may be accompanied by a rash.

Patients with internal tuberculosis may see a Tuberculous allergic synovitis. It is characterized by hand lesions, pain and swelling of the joints, symmetry of the lesion (on both sides) and lack of morning stiffness.

What doctors to see if you have pain in the joints of the hands

In case of pain in the hands, stiffness in the morning, swelling, redness or rash above the affected area, consult a physician or paediatrician. Depending on the accompanying symptoms, you may need to consult an infectious disease specialist, rheumatologist, arthrologist, endocrinologist. Phthisiatrist.

If there is a previous injury, an examination by a traumatologist or surgeon to rule out a dislocation, sprain, or fracture is necessary.

Diagnosis and examination for hand joint pain During the examination, the doctor considers the severity of the joint lesion, the persistence of the lesion, the presence or absence of stiffness in movement, and the degree of change in the surrounding tissues.

Examination for pain arising in the joints of the hands may include:

    Radiological examination of the hand joints;

Radiological examination of the bones of the hand is intended to diagnose traumatic injuries, pathological changes, and to evaluate bone development according to the age of the patient.

Definition of a contusion as a soft tissue injury

A contusion is defined as an injury in which there is disruption of soft tissue, but no disruption of the superficial coverings. The name appeared as a definition of the cause of the injury. That is indicative of the obligatory impact of a blunt object on the affected area in the form of a blow.

An injury may result in the formation of:

The most common bruise on any part of the body, including a finger or other limb, is a bruise that turns blue at first, turns greenish and then yellow as it heals.

Traditional treatment

If there is no serious injury, you can get rid of a bruised finger on the hand at home. Take into account that if there are serious complications, it is strictly forbidden to engage in self-treatment. this can lead to serious complications, such as complete immobility of the joint.

Before proceeding with therapy, it is best to consult with your doctor. He will determine the safest and most effective treatment regimen.

It is best to consult a traumatologist, a doctor who specializes in such injuries. Usually a specialist will prescribe pills and ointments that can relieve a person from inflammation and soreness. The composition of such means necessarily contains ibuprofen, aspirin or ketoprofen.

The most popular medications are:

  • Voltaren;
  • Deep Relief;
  • Nicoflex;
  • Vishnevsky ointment.

These medications have approximately the same effectiveness, so it is impossible to say definitively which one is better.

Apply the medicine directly to the affected area. Do not forget that with this treatment it is necessary to observe the dosage. Otherwise you risk encountering side effects in the form of an allergic reaction. Various compresses will help to get rid of pain.

It is very easy to prepare them, the most popular are the following recipes:

  • Take medical alcohol and horseradish juice in equal amounts. Mix them thoroughly and soak a piece of bandage in the mixture. Put it on the skin, wrap the food film on top. Leave it on for a few hours and then take it off. Repeat the procedure every day until you are free of soreness.
  • Take some aloe leaves and then squeeze out all the pulp. Mix it with a small amount of thistle so that it has the consistency of dough. Lubricate the affected area, then leave it on the skin for several hours. After this time, the pain will subside.

Symptoms of bruises

Contusions are accompanied by the appearance of the following clinical signs:

  • redness, swelling, or lump
  • Hemorrhage (hematoma) or bruise (appears at the site of redness, area of appearance. Subcutaneous fatty tissue, intermuscular and subfascial space);
  • Severe or nagging pain (the intensity of pain depends on the location, force of impact, and shape of the traumatic object).

Pay attention to prolonged pain, it may indicate a fracture, bleeding internal organs, torn ligaments.

First aid for traumatic injuries to fingers

Seek medical help at any time of the day or night if:

  • You believe the injury is serious;
  • the injury looks like a dislocation (the finger is crooked or deformed);
  • Bleeding did not stop after direct pressure in the projection of the vessel;
  • the cut is very deep (e.g. bones or tendons are visible);
  • The wound is gaping and may need stitches;
  • Blood under the nail causes severe pain;
  • There is a complete or partial tearing of the nail;
  • Failing to clean a contaminated wound or remove a foreign body;
  • The cut or abrasion looks infected (redness of the skin around the wound, swelling or pus).

Post-traumatic arthritis. not uncommon!

Most patients who see a rheumatologist with post-traumatic arthritis of the joint tend to ignore everyday injuries. After slipping on an icy walkway, these people shake themselves off and walk on, rubbing their bruised back. They twist their wrist at the gym, and forget about it until their next workout. But even if the pain after a joint injury subsides on its own after a few days, there may be time delayed effects. Even minor trauma can provoke inflammation, which leads to degenerative processes in the cartilage. And if minor injuries have a recurring nature (for example, during work), the body’s resource is exhausted even faster.

In the zone of risk of post-traumatic arthritis are men from 20 to 50 years old, as well as women aged 30-60 years. Every 7th patient suffering from arthritis complains namely of posttraumatic pathology. Sometimes the disease occurs in children and adolescents. Excessive weight is an additional risk factor.

Finger contusion on the hand: recommendations for treatment at home

Among all domestic injuries, finger contusions are the most common. Therefore, information on the treatment of bruised finger on the hand at home should have everyone.

A contusion is a closed injury of soft tissues and organs, caused by a strong impact on them with a blunt object. With these injuries, the skin is usually not subject to significant damage. However, on the damaged area immediately there are swellings, bruises, there are painful sensations. Tumor is formed due to the growing hemorrhage. Blood may pool or leak into nearby cavities as it permeates tissue.

Small vessel injuries can be followed by spontaneous bleeding which stops after about 5-10 minutes. Bleeding from large vessels may continue for more than a day.

A bruise forms at the site of the injury, with a color dependent on the time of the injury (purple-blue on the day of injury, blue-yellow). Three to four days later, on the fifth or sixth day. yellow).

A bruise is always followed by swelling, pain. After a while, the pain disappears, but the movements and touch can still cause discomfort for a long time.

Because of the tissue’s ability to heal quickly, bruises most often go away without leaving a trace. Severe bruising, however, may require a special approach. Such symptoms as a long persistent pain, the appearance of visible bruising and bruises can in no case be left unattended, because bruises often become the cause of serious complications.

Among these injuries, contusions of the fingers are the most common. The thumb and little finger. This happens due to the fact that the hands, and therefore the fingers of the upper extremities are the most active parts of the human body. The fingers are used in almost every activity. Due to haste and inattention, the normal process of work is often disrupted, which can lead to injury.

When fingers are bruised, the action is always closed. Damage can be caused by violent impact, pinching, or the impact of something heavy on the finger. In the case of a bruise, you should not immediately go to the doctor. However, quite often a contusion may not be the only injury. It can be accompanied by a fracture, bone cracking, etc.д.

Treat a Finger Hit by a Hammer

In order to correctly diagnose an injury and rule out collateral damage, you should be able to analyze and distinguish between the symptoms of different ailments. A common bruise of the finger is indicated by these signs:

  • Severe pain that increases with contact with the site of the injury;
  • Difficulty in moving the finger (but remember that the finger does not lose motor function when it is bruised)
  • The occurrence of swelling;
  • Discoloration of the limb due to a hematoma caused by a vascular injury.

A doctor should be consulted if there is:

  • acute, unceasing pain;
  • Inability to move;
  • Visible cracking of the finger;
  • deviation of the limb to the side, a significant change in its appearance;
  • nail plate rejection;
  • Bleeding;
  • A deterioration in the general condition of the body.

If there is any doubt about the nature of the injury, an x-ray should be taken.

If the above complications are not observed, the bruise can be treated at home.

There are a number of recommendations that must be followed when beginning treatment for a bruised finger.

First of all, for the duration of treatment, you should remove any jewelry from the finger, if any. If there is bleeding, after the bleeding has stopped, apply a tight dressing and try to keep the limb upright.

To prevent a hematoma from growing, put something cold on the bruised area. Ice, frozen meat, ice cream, snow, and running water are good for this. Keep your finger in the cold for 3 minutes. If after this procedure you still feel pain, you should repeat it. Eventually the pain should subside completely. But direct contact with cold should be avoided (it is advisable to wrap a clean piece of cloth around the wounded limb).

Treat wounds or abrasions with hydrogen peroxide. This is done to prevent infection and tissue contamination.

If there is damage to the nail plate, the surface around it should be treated with iodine. To avoid infection a plaster or sterile dressing is applied. This helps to avoid further damage to the nail and reduce pain.

People with a low pain threshold may take an anesthetic.

2-3 days after an injury to reduce the area of hemorrhage on the traumatized area superimposed warming compresses. A warm bath will also work. Over time the bleeding should completely disappear. If there is no pain, you can massage the injured limb.

In addition, traumatologists advise to use ointments and gels, which include sodium diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen. They should be applied to the entire injured area at least 4 times a day. If there are open wounds or abrasions, these remedies should not be used.

Medications can be combined with some folk remedies.

One such remedy is decoction of arnica flowers. From the infusion of this plant can make compresses. This will help relieve pain and inflammation and reduce the bruising. The infusion is prepared as follows: 1 ч. л. Pour 1 cup boiling water over arnica flowers and leave in a closed container for 2 hours. The resulting liquid must be strained. The infusion is drunk in 1 tbsp. л. Three times a day before meals. Using this recipe, you can make an infusion of arnica roots, which has the same effect.

The bruised area can be rubbed with camphor rubbing alcohol to relieve inflammation.

One of the best remedies to combat bruises is an infusion of dried water. The infusion is prepared according to the following recipe: 2 tbsp. л. Grind the herbs into a powder, pour 4 tbsp.л. boiled water. The resulting porridge is immediately applied to the bruised area. You can also make a compress by wrapping it in gauze or bandages.

Help get rid of bruises can be hot baths from a concentrated solution of English salt. To prepare the solution, 400 g of salt dissolve in a bucket of water. You can put the injured hand in a bucket or make a bath using a different utensil.

In the treatment of severe bruises helps alcohol infusion rosemary flowers. Potato decoction will also do. The area of the injury is rubbed with these remedies 2 times a day.

Another good remedy is considered a white cabbage. Cabbage leaf put on the bruised area and fasten with a bandage or tissue. Keep the compress for 30 minutes, then change the sheet.

Among the most effective remedies are raw potatoes cut into thin slices and applied to the bruised area. From grated potatoes can make a compress.

Honey can help with inflammation and reduce swelling. When mixed with aloe paste you can get an excellent remedy for bruises, quickly relieving pain and inflammation of tissues.

What to do if you hit your finger with a hammer

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section can not be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should only be prescribed by the attending physician. For diagnosis and proper treatment should consult your doctor.

Contusion: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

A contusion is a closed mechanical injury of internal tissues or organs without significant structural damage. Contusions are characterized by sudden, rapid and short-term nature of the traumatic factor. Contusions are, for the most part, local. The most vulnerable are the dermis and the vessels underneath it, which leads to formation of hematomas and edemas. As a result of a severe contusion, internal organs can be injured. The severity of the process is determined by the type of tissue or organ injured by the injuring agent (skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, parenchymatous or hollow organs, brain or spinal cord, etc.).).

In cases where the injury is severe, there are multiple ruptures of small vessels with subsequent hemorrhage and impaired organ function.

A contusion is considered the most common type of domestic injury and occurs, as a rule, when falling or hitting hard objects. In children of first years of life, domestic, play injuries, contusion of soft tissues of face and neck predominate. At an older age, transportation, sports, and street injuries are considered major.

Lung and/or heart bruising due to mechanical impact on the chest is a potentially hazardous injury. The vast majority of victims are drivers who hit their chests on the steering column of a car.

A contusion of superficial soft tissues is always accompanied by edema of the injured place as a result of lymph, blood and local aseptic inflammation impregnation of the skin. Swelling is affected by the extent of subcutaneous tissue damage at the site of the injury. In the area of the cranial roof, for example, there is little edema due to the thin layer of subcutaneous fat, whereas even mild bruising of the face is accompanied by severe swelling.

As a result of a head contusion, concussion can develop.

Severe deep bleeding often leads to additional trauma to adjacent tissues as a result of their compression, which is accompanied by a gradual increase of pain and impairment of the function of the traumatized organ.

Often in the place of injury there are abrasions and shallow wounds, which serve as a gateway for pathogens of infection.

Classification of the disease Contusions vary in severity:

  • the first is a slight injury without violation of the integrity of the skin or with minor scratches and abrasions, practically painless, self-healing for several days;
  • The second is a contusion of the muscles, accompanied by severe pain, formation of swelling and hematomas;
  • Thirdly, ligaments and tendons can be damaged as a result of contusion;
  • Fourth. contusion of internal organs with severe swelling and painful sensations, with the possibility of disruption of the damaged organs.

Hemorrhage at the bruised area appears as a blue-bagreen spot, with the color gradually changing to greenish and yellow. Depending on the location of the contusion, bruising and swelling can occur immediately, as is the case with subcutaneous tissue and upper skin injuries. In the case of contusions of deep tissues, the hematoma develops hours or even days later.

Soft tissue injuries are accompanied by pain of varying intensity. For example, with contusions of large nerves and their endings, the pain is always sharp and piercing. When the torso and extremities are bruised, there may be tense hematomas with tearing pain, sometimes with superficial numbness.

Swelling that accompanies a contusion impairs the mobility of the injured tissue, causing discomfort when moving or turning your torso (such as in the case of bruised ribs). The most severe pain the victim feels immediately after the bruise of the soft tissues, and after a couple of hours it subsides. Soreness increases with pressure.

Severe pain occurs when there is bruising of the periosteum, external genitalia, or large nerve trunks.

Symptoms of a contusion and a closed fracture are very similar: severe pain, swelling, and limited mobility. But if a contusion causes the pain to subside within 2 to 3 hours, a fracture, on the other hand, may cause increased pain.

The general condition of patients with limited, superficial bruises usually does not suffer. But with multiple bruises of the body, large or festered hematomas, hemarthrosis (hemorrhage into the joint cavity), fever with a temperature of 38°C or higher may occur due to the absorption of blood breakdown products.

Symptoms of lung contusion include hypersensitivity and pain in the chest area, ribs, and in some cases dyspnea. Other physical signs may be seen due to combined injuries.

Diagnosing a contusion The main methods of diagnostics:

Radiological examination of the lung structure in order to diagnose various pathologies.