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Fingers
Avoid activities that cause or aggravate pain.
After injury, rest the finger joints so that they can heal, but use mild stretching exercises to keep them limber and maintain motion. Stretch the joints gently, not forcefully, twice a day. Stretch
just to the point of discomfort, but not enough to cause pain.
Use common sense in thinking of ways to perform activities that are less stressful to the joints. For example, a big handle can be gripped with less strain than a small handle.
Avoid strong pain medicines that tend to mask the pain and may lead to excessive activity or exercise.
Anti-inflammatory medication can help. Any prescribed medication for inflammation should be taken only as directed.
For smashed fingers:
• Apply an ice pack to decrease the swelling.
• Over-the-counter pain medications may help relieve discomfort.
• If pain becomes excessive, with blood under the fingernail, talk to your health care provider. Your health care provider may assist you in taking the following steps to relieve the pressure:
1. Heat the end of a bent paper clip (or a similar size metal wire) over an open flame until it is red hot. Use a pair of pliers to hold the paper clip during sterilization.
2. While it is still very hot, touch the tip of it to the injured fingernail. This is not a painful procedure for most people.
3. The heat of the clip will burn a small hole in the fingernail. It is not necessary to press hard on the fingernail to burn a hole. (Another technique is to drill a small hole in the nail by
twirling a scalpel blade, sharp knife, or needle.)
4. As the paper clip is removed, blood should start releasing through the small hole. If not, retry the procedure until blood comes out and pressure is relieved.
The pain will be relieved as the pressure is released. Soak the injured finger in warm water with a few drops of disinfectant for 20 minutes, 4 times a day, for 2 days.
This procedure can be repeated, if necessary, if the hole closes over and the pressure rebuilds.
The finger should be washed carefully before and after the procedure. Antibiotics may be administered if the procedure was not performed under sterile conditions.
DO NOT
• DO NOT splint a smashed finger without first consulting your health care provider. Decreased long-term finger mobility may result.
• DO NOT try to drain a swollen finger unless your health care provider instructs you to do so.
Wrist
For carpal tunnel syndrome, you may need to make adjustments to your work habits and environment:
• Make sure that your keyboard is low enough that your wrists aren't bending upwards while you type.
• Take plenty of breaks from activities that aggravate the pain. When typing, stop often to rest the hands, if only for a moment. Rest your hands on their sides, not the wrists.
• An occupational therapist can show you ways to ease pain and swelling and stop the syndrome from coming back.
• Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or naproxen can relieve pain and swelling.
• Various mousepads, typing pads, split keyboards, and wrist splints (braces) are designed to relieve wrist pain. Some people find these devices help their symptoms. You may wish to try a few different
kinds to see if any help.
• You may only need to wear a wrist splint at night while you sleep. This helps reduce the swelling. If that alone is not working, wear the splints during the day and apply hot or cold compresses
periodically.
For a recent injury:
• Rest your wrist. Keep it elevated.
• Apply ice to the tender and swollen area.
• Take over-the-counter pain medication, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Wear a splint for several days. Wrist splints can be purchased at many drugstores and medical supply stores.
For non-infectious arthritis:
• Do flexibility and strengthening exercises every day. Work with a physical therapist to learn the best and safest exercises for your wrist.
• Try the exercises after a hot bath or shower so that your wrist is warmed up and less stiff.
• DO NOT perform exercises when your wrist is actively inflamed.
• Make sure that you also rest the joint adequately. Both rest and exercise are important when you have arthritis.
Elbow
In adults, the following steps can help treat many cases of elbow pain:
• When you first notice the pain, apply ice up to 15 minutes every hour for the first day. Continue to apply ice every 3 to 4 hours for up to 3 days. Wrap the ice in a cloth -- do not apply ice
directly to the skin.
• Wrap the elbow with a bandage, such as an ACE bandage. You may need an air splint to keep the elbow immobilized.
• Keep the elbow elevated above your heart, if possible.
• Give the elbow joint complete rest for at least 2 days. DO NOT return to the activity that caused the problem for at least 3 weeks. Then, gradually strengthen the muscles around your elbow. A
physical therapist can teach you how to do this.
• While you are resting the joint, take pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• After the initial rest period, you should begin to gradually strengthen the muscles around the elbow through gentle flexibility exercises.
• For nursemaid's elbow, call the child's doctor. This can be easily treated in a doctor's office.
Reviewed By: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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