What have I done?
Discussion
And what should I do?
Last night, I was quite innocuously holding a small shackle in my left hand and a small spanner in my right, with a view to undoing the shackle bolt. As I applied pressure to undo the bolt, I had 3 or 4 sharp cracks in my left-hand wedding finger. These were similar to the sound and sensation you get when you "crack" a knuckle, ie pull it apart, but much louder and there were 3 or 4 in rapid succession. Immediate pain in the finger, not unbearable but noticeable. I took my wedding ring off straight away in case of swelling. 99% sure it's not bone damage of any sort.
I couldn't see that I was doing anything unusual or holding the items strangely, and this has never happened to me before.
Last night I could bend the finger far enough to touch the pad at the base knuckle with the tip, albeit with some discomfort. This morning, it's still very tender, and I can't bend it as easily, although I can still bend it. Using my wedding ring as a gauge, the first segment of that finger is definitely swollen - not massively but enough that I can't easily get the ring on. The main pain is on the underside of my finger, under the first section from the knuckle/hand.
From web pictures, there is a long tendon which runs up the underside of the finger. Is is just a strain/sprain which I need to wait to heal, or do I need to do trouble the medics?
Last night, I was quite innocuously holding a small shackle in my left hand and a small spanner in my right, with a view to undoing the shackle bolt. As I applied pressure to undo the bolt, I had 3 or 4 sharp cracks in my left-hand wedding finger. These were similar to the sound and sensation you get when you "crack" a knuckle, ie pull it apart, but much louder and there were 3 or 4 in rapid succession. Immediate pain in the finger, not unbearable but noticeable. I took my wedding ring off straight away in case of swelling. 99% sure it's not bone damage of any sort.
I couldn't see that I was doing anything unusual or holding the items strangely, and this has never happened to me before.
Last night I could bend the finger far enough to touch the pad at the base knuckle with the tip, albeit with some discomfort. This morning, it's still very tender, and I can't bend it as easily, although I can still bend it. Using my wedding ring as a gauge, the first segment of that finger is definitely swollen - not massively but enough that I can't easily get the ring on. The main pain is on the underside of my finger, under the first section from the knuckle/hand.
From web pictures, there is a long tendon which runs up the underside of the finger. Is is just a strain/sprain which I need to wait to heal, or do I need to do trouble the medics?
CAPP0 said:
I'll do that. It's uncomfortable rather than painful, but reasonably swollen now. Any idea how long it will take to heal? Should I be immobilising it (strapping it to another finger?).
Strapping might be a good idea. I'd go and see a doctor first though. I broke my thumb 18 months ago and didn't go and see a doctor for about 2 weeks and it's never been the same since. I thought I could just rest it but I should have had it in a splint/cast.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff