How do you tell if your thumb is sprained or torn?

Is my thumb broken or sprained? Both a broken (fractured) thumb and a sprained thumb can cause pain, swelling and bruising, but there are some differences to look for. A broken thumb usually causes more intense pain, and your thumb may look deformed or misshapen. A broken thumb can also cause numbness or tingling.

How do you know if you injured your thumb?

You may have bruising, tenderness, and swelling around the base of your thumb, near the palm. If the ulnar collateral ligament is completely torn, the end of the ruptured ligament may cause a lump or swelling on the inside of the thumb. Your thumb joint may also feel loose or unstable.

How long does a thumb sprain take to recover?

A sprained thumb can be treated with a brace or cast and will likely take 3-6 weeks to fully heal. If your sprain is severe, you may need surgery. Every patient is different, so visit a hand surgeon to determine the best treatment for your injury.

Can you break your thumb and still bend it?

Can I bend a broken thumb? Depending on the severity of your broken bone, you may still be able to bend your thumb. It is important to pay attention to the other signs of a broken thumb and seek treatment immediately if you suspect a broken bone.

What is jammed thumb?

A jammed finger occurs when the tip of the finger is compressed towards the hand. As the finger is compressed, the ligaments supporting the joints are stretched or “sprained.” Ligaments are soft tissues that hold bone to bone. The greater the force, the more severe the sprain.

What are common thumb injuries?

Thumb Injuries: The Complete Guide to Diagnosing your Thumb Pain

• Carpal Tunnel Hand & Thumb Injuries.
• Trigger Thumb Injury.
• Base of Thumb Injury: de Quervain’s Syndrome.
• Thumb Ligament Injuries: Skier’s Thumb & Gamekeepers Thumb.
• Catchers’ Thumb Injury.
• Volar Plate Injury: Thumb.
• Bowling Thumb Problems.
• Thumb Fracture.

Do you need to see a doctor for a sprain?

You probably won’t need to see your doctor about a sprain. But give them a call if: Your pain is severe or doesn’t get better with over-the-counter medications, elevation, and ice. You can’t walk, or you have severe pain when you do.

Can a xray show a sprain?

While a sprain will not show on an x-ray, the imaging can help rule out a broken ankle or foot bone. Persistent swelling: If you have swelling that doesn’t go down after several days, an x-ray can reveal if there is something else going on, such as a bone fracture or fluid around a joint.

When should you get a sprain checked out?

Check if you have a sprain or strain

1. you have pain, tenderness or weakness – often around your ankle, foot, wrist, thumb, knee, leg or back.
2. the injured area is swollen or bruised.
3. you cannot put weight on the injury or use it normally.
4. you have muscle spasms or cramping – where your muscles painfully tighten on their own.

How is a sprain different from a strain?

The difference between a sprain and a strain is that a sprain injures the bands of tissue that connect two bones together, while a strain involves an injury to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.

What is the difference in a strain and a sprain?

How do you know if a sprain is serious?

People with a more severe ankle sprain — characterized by extreme bruising or swelling and an inability to bear weight on the foot without significant pain, or when there doesn’t seem to be any improvement over the first several days after the injury — should seek medical attention, Drs. SooHoo and Williams say.