Broken finger...again...any tips for pain?

[ThisOldCabin]

Ok,I have broke my pinky finger this time and its about to kill me,lol.I have broken fingers before so I know what it feels like.I went to the ER the first time about 20 years ago and got a x-ray,a splint and a $700 bill.I remember it hurt alot but they gave me pain pills then and these days I don't take pain pills or even OTC pain medicine.I have iced it and that hurts,too.Its not a bad break as I can move it and its not bent out of its normal shape.Its just swelled and black and throbbing like crazy.I was wondering if anyone knew of anything that I could put on it so the pain would ease up some.I'm thinking only time will help but I thought I could ask anyway.Thanks,Lisa

 

[freemotion]

Ice is the only thing I can think of......maybe in water so you don't have the hard ice right on your finger.

Or....put the ice in a tall stiff drink. Ice your finger between sips. No, seriously.

 

[Kala]

Ice is the only thing I can think of......maybe in water so you don't have the hard ice right on your finger.

Or....put the ice in a tall stiff drink. Ice your finger between sips. No, seriously.

 

[ORChick]

I realize that you want to avoid an "unnecessary" medical bill, and dislike taking pills. But ... about a month and a half ago I stumbled and twisted my *ankle*. Took it home, put it up on a pillow, iced it, and countered the suggestions from DH and friend (an MD, but living too far away to see the injury) that I go to the ER with "well, what will they do? Send me home, tell me to put it up, and to ice it". When I could localize the pain a bit more I realized it was on the side of the foot, and not the ankle, that is, among all those small bones. Long story short. even after 6-7 weeks I still am having some issues with it; I think that maybe indeed I should have taken it a bit more seriously, but ... too late now.
I can't offer any advice, except that maybe you should reconsider your aversion to pain pills. And take care of the injury. I rather wish that I hadn't been so stubborn with my foot. It will be fine, I know, but I have the feeling that I will end up being one of those people predicting weather changes with their bones.

 

[Marianne]

Ouch!
Years ago people taped fingers to popsicle sticks, then they said to tape it to the next finger. Don't know what they're doing now, but the pain will still be there.
Other than cold (even a bag of frozen peas is a nice ice bag - just put a big X with a permanent marker on it so you can keep it for next time and not serve it up for supper one night), time is a necessary ingredient here.

Sorry, I bet it is really painful.

 

[k15n1]

Be sure to take breaks between icing. Otherwise, you'll end up getting frostbite---you know, frozen skin.

I'd suggest elevating your hand, which should reduce some of the swelling. Don't over-do it, though. Just a little above your heart. You still want blood to flow to your hand.

 

[Bimpnottin]

I realize that you want to avoid an "unnecessary" medical bill, and dislike taking pills. But ... about a month and a half ago I stumbled and twisted my *ankle*. Took it home, put it up on a pillow, iced it, and countered the suggestions from DH and friend (an MD, but living too far away to see the injury) that I go to the ER with "well, what will they do? Send me home, tell me to put it up, and to ice it". When I could localize the pain a bit more I realized it was on the side of the foot, and not the ankle, that is, among all those small bones. Long story short. even after 6-7 weeks I still am having some issues with it; I think that maybe indeed I should have taken it a bit more seriously, but ... too late now.
I can't offer any advice, except that maybe you should reconsider your aversion to pain pills. And take care of the injury. I rather wish that I hadn't been so stubborn with my foot. It will be fine, I know, but I have the feeling that I will end up being one of those people predicting weather changes with their bones.

I did about the same thing with my ankle a year and a half ago. Still messed up, should have gone in, but everyone who looked at it after it turned into the size of grapefruit, said it's swollen, so not broken. Yeah, I'd watch it and go in swelling doesn't go down.

 

[Hhoky]

Ice, 20 min on 45 to 1 hour off, Comfrey poultices -hot- (An amazing anti inflammatory and repairing herb, worth getting ahold of some) rotate between the ice, but wait till your skin warms up. Never put the heat directly after the cold or vice versa.
Eat lots of fresh pineapple. It contains great anti pain relieving goodies.
Make sure to get Vitamin D, Calcium and Phosphorus in your diet to help with the repairing. (Milk, Fatty Fish, Dark green leafy foods, Nuts)
And sleep! You will heal faster and not notice the pain as much if you can sleep a lot, at least in the first 3 days.
Hope this helps.

 

[freemotion]

Hi Hhoky!

 

[Emerald]

I just broke the long toe next to the big toe about three weeks ago(tripped over the darn vacuum that i had just shut off! haha) and the best thing I found was a bag of ice(aka crushed ice in bag wrapped in thin towel) and kept it elevated. The pain about made me pass out whenever I had to walk to the bathroom the first few days but is much better now... I did take Aleve tho.. Oh and every day past the first day I soaked it in cool water that had epsoms salts in it. It is still a bit purple and still aches when i walk too much but I was darned if I was going to the ER for a broken toe which they would have told me to do pretty much what I was doing and then charged me about $1000(or my insurance who knows now a days).

Just keep it up and iced off and on.. and then tomorrow soak it in cool epsom salt water.. it will get better as long as you didn't damage any nerves.
and {{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}} to you from one clutz to another..