Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

How likely am I to get help on the NHS for this?

24 replies

Injuredfingers · 07/02/2025 21:00

Back in the autumn I injured my hand when a dog wrenched away from me and the lead caught my fingers. They were bruised, swollen, painful, but just about moveable so I figured they weren't broken or dislocated so just strapped them and tried to manage the injury myself.

I still can't fully bend the index and middle finger and they're still swollen. The middle finger hurts and is twisting on itself and looks deformed. They're very stiff as well.

Will the NHS look at this or is it just something I'll have to live with? My hand is able to be used, it's just impaired finger wise.

OP posts:
Notmanyleftnow · 07/02/2025 21:01

I'm pretty sure the NHS would help, but there may be a long waiting list.

Latenightreader · 07/02/2025 21:02

I'd definitely go and see your GP as a atarting point.

Jenstam · 07/02/2025 21:02

Hey. No you don't have to live with this. Your GP can refer you for an x ray or to an orthopedic hand surgeon for an assessment...in the first instance let your GP take a look.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Kendodd · 07/02/2025 21:13

I had something like this happen with my fingers.
A few GPs and doctor friends, (so not my GP) were looking at it at a social and discussing between themselves (and me) if they thought it was broken or not. We didn't quite get to the stage of taking bets on if it was broken or not 😀
Anyway, one told me to just go to minor injuries and get it xrayed. I did this, no referal or anything. Turned out it was broken. And I didn't do anything else about it. My finger still isn't completely straight but works ok, took a long time to heal though.

Maybe just go get it xrayed, see what they say about it then decide what to do.

yellowbananasss · 07/02/2025 21:15

There's a whole hand therapy team who can certainly help regain function via therapy once an ortho doctor has looked at the damage.

nocoolnamesleft · 07/02/2025 21:17

I would worry that there may be limitations in what can be done for an injury ignored for that long, but I would expect the NHS to try. Really hope it isn't your dominant hand.

StormingNorman · 07/02/2025 21:22

You should probably go to your GP but you’d get answers quicker if you went to Minor Injuries.

Ferrazzuoli · 07/02/2025 21:23

I agree, go to minor injuries.

DevilsIvyy · 07/02/2025 21:26

Why on earth didn’t you get it checked out at the time? Sounds like they were fractured and have now healed bent.

Original poster
Injuredfingers · 07/02/2025 21:34

nocoolnamesleft · 07/02/2025 21:17

I would worry that there may be limitations in what can be done for an injury ignored for that long, but I would expect the NHS to try. Really hope it isn't your dominant hand.

It is my dominant hand sadly. I can kind of manage, but I can't grip very well.

OP posts:
Original poster
Injuredfingers · 07/02/2025 21:37

DevilsIvyy · 07/02/2025 21:26

Why on earth didn’t you get it checked out at the time? Sounds like they were fractured and have now healed bent.

I thought that they wouldn't be able to be moved if they were broken so just did first aid then strapped them up. I think maybe I was being over optimistic with hindsight.

OP posts:
museumum · 07/02/2025 21:37

A private physio for £50 can certainly take a look and give you some exercises.

NotMoreBadNews · 07/02/2025 21:37

StormingNorman · 07/02/2025 21:22

You should probably go to your GP but you’d get answers quicker if you went to Minor Injuries.

Minor injuries don't want to see month old injuries, they are for new problems that need immediate attention. Make a GP appointment, hope you get some answers soon 😄.

AppleKatie · 07/02/2025 21:37

Maybe?

go and see an actual doctor. This is madness.

Original poster
Injuredfingers · 07/02/2025 21:40

AppleKatie · 07/02/2025 21:37

Maybe?

go and see an actual doctor. This is madness.

I have a high tolerance for illness and injuries and I'm not great at seeking help 😂 I admit defeat now though as it's apparent something has happened.

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 07/02/2025 22:16

Okay, as it's your dominant hand, I think you should give it a go. GP, and angling for referral to a hand orthopod.

Foxgloverr · 07/02/2025 22:21

Goodness. Why have you left it this long to get it looked at? I would try minor injuries as they should be able to xray it straight away. It doesn't matter that it's an old injury. It needs an xray asap.

You may have caused permanent damage by not dealing with it for so long. Especially concerning that it's your dominant hand. Why on earth did you not do anything about it before?

olympicsrock · 07/02/2025 22:23

You definitely will be helped by the NHS. You need a hand surgery review in the first place ( can be orthopaedic or plastic surgeons) and the likely first plan is to work with a hand therapist. They can work wonders.

Kendodd · 07/02/2025 22:38

NotMoreBadNews · 07/02/2025 21:37

Minor injuries don't want to see month old injuries, they are for new problems that need immediate attention. Make a GP appointment, hope you get some answers soon 😄.

Show quote history

I went to minor injuries with a similar month old injury (no as old as the OPs injury) and they saw and xrayed me.

InfoSecInTheCity · 07/02/2025 22:39

You will need an X-ray, sounds like you could have something like a ruptured tendon.

I had this when I broke my hand falling onto it. The X-ray picked up on the broken metatarsal and the need for it to be screwed back together, but initially missed the finger damage. It was only when the cast came off and we realised that my finger was clawed and couldn't straighten that they did a new X-ray and found it. I needed 6 months of weekly physio, several sets of hand exercises a day and a splint at night to force the finger into a straight position.

It's about 90% now, won't ever fully straighten and slightly reduced grip strength but it's a functional finger.

Go get an X-ray.

Original poster
Injuredfingers · 07/02/2025 22:51

I'll phone for a GP appointment on Monday. They send you for an xray to a local community type hospital as my dh once had to go there.

OP posts:
Crispynoodle · 07/02/2025 23:02

They will your first step should be an X-ray which your GP could refer you for

JoyousGreyOrca · 07/02/2025 23:06

museumum · 07/02/2025 21:37

A private physio for £50 can certainly take a look and give you some exercises.

She does not need private physio. If that is what she needs, the NHS will provide it.
But her hand first needs to be assessed properly and x rayed.

Bubblegumtatoos · 07/02/2025 23:27

Definitely see your GP. Hand injuries are taken very seriously in the NHS.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page