To go to A&E for a broken finger?

[VioletteValentia]

A week ago I fell on a clenched fist, and my little finger swelled up and turned black. I assumed it was broken and left it as they can’t do much for a broken finger.

However it’s healing like this. I can’t bend the top knuckle and it still hurts. The tip is numb and tingly. Would you go to A&E for this? Picture included, last one is my other finger for comparison.

Sorry, cross-posted while you were giving more advice Moreis

I wish the NHS would publicise the Minor injuries units as this is exactly why they exist
OP if you can’t bear it minor injurIt’s unit nearer to you

This way the heart attacks and accidents will get treated faster

I think many people don’t realise that a lot of areas don’t have minor injuries units or walk in centres. My nearest (only) is the A&E 20 miles away. If I went to GP with a broken finger, I would be sent to wait at A&E as the only place able to x-ray.

I agree parrot and it drives me nuts on threads like these where you get told to go to minor injuries. We don't have a stand alone one within an hour of where I am so it's either a&e or nothing as gp and walk in centre would send you there anyway so it's taking up an appointment for nothing.

Op that needs seeing to, it was an accident even if it was a week ago. Broken fingers need splinting properly to make sure they heal as well as possible. As the tip is numb and tingly there could be nerve damage or a trapped nerve that needs treating as well as the bone.

All the advice to leave it unless you're in unmanageable pain is ridiculous. I had a badly broken wrist requiring surgery and it wasn't unbearably painful and I definitely shouldn't have left it.

Get an appointment with your GP or surgery nurse
GPs or surgery nurses don't fix broken fingers

You need to go to A&E as your broken finger is the result of an ACCIDENT - the clue is in the title. It will be pulled into place and then strapped so that it heals properly

Thanks everyone. Will get it looked at tomorrow. I can’t go tonight as DS is in bed and I can’t/don’t drive, so will have to do it in the morning. It’s not unbearable, just a bit sore but it’s almost impossible to use.

Definitely get it seen to. I was filling up the windscreen washer on my car on a cold day 20 years ago and the boot slammed shut on the middle finger it my right hand. Someone at work said it was fine. When I asked the Dr a few months later he said I should have had in a splint.

I have arthritis in my hands and am always catching that bent finger, it bleeds and takes a couple of weeks to heal. (My.arthritis doesn't hurt as I use a squash ball to squeeze to keep movement but I have less grip on my fingertips. I wouldn't wash your best china for example)

I am glad you're having it looked at.

yes, go where you can get an x-ray. i'm the first to say a&e isn't for a lot of things, but a broken finger is totally appropriate.

If its numb and tingly, then you must get it seen. That is a sign that your nerve is being compressed, or has been badly damaged. It will only be fixed by medical attention and the clock is ticking to permanent damage. However, tomorrow will be fine.

Go where has x-ray facilities. We've been in minor injuries today and come out with a diagnosis of a fractured thumb - appointment with plastics tomorrow for a discussion. It's currently splinted with lots of Elastoplast.

Minor injuries. Needs to be sorted or you'll have arthritis in the finger.

Sorry Sea I have to disagree. Almost all crush injuries (rather than cuts) with residual numbness/tingling are a result of ‘bruising’ to nerves which either heal on their own or not. There is nothing to fix so to speak. There is no ticking clock. Improvement in tingling etc can take a substantial amount of time and there is nothing a doctor can do to change that.

Not GP.
They can't do X-rays!
GP will only tell you to go and get an X-ray.
Best to go to urgent care centre, walk in centre or A&E - depends what is near you.
May be quiet on a Sunday eve. Good luck.

Hey!! Well I could have written this last week!

I had an altercation with a football. The pain when it hit my finger was terrible!!

Anyhow, two days later it was purple and I couldn’t bend it. It was agony. So yes I went to minor injuries. Turns out I’ve broken it and the tendon is damaged. Have a follow up appointment in two weeks.

I would go, that’s what minor injuries is for. Xxx

Who told you they do nothing that’s nonsense they do so . Bones in the hands are worst ones to break as there is so much movement needed in your hand and should always be check out straight away at A& E and yeah they do plenty to help it heal correctly

IVe broken fingers twice and both times they did stuff see photos

Get that check out ASAP before u lose use of the finger

Get it checked - a little finger might not seem like much, but your hands are the most valuable tools you will ever have.

A few months ago I injured a finger playing sport. There wasn't much pain, but it swelled and turned purple. I went to minor injuries the following morning (having called them to check they do x-rays; otherwise it would have been A&E), and after the x-rays was referred to hand therapy. They think it was the tiniest fracture, too small to show on the x-ray. It was in a moulded splint for six weeks, and I had to do finger bending exercises every hour. But once they were satisfied it was healing as it should, three weeks in, I didn't need any more appointments after that. The finger's not quite the same as it was though - I can't put my rings back on it.

I can understand the temptation not to get it looked at: the possible hours of waiting, hearing the worst of what it might be, hearing what you're not allowed to do while it heals, needing to have follow-up appointments. Just the thought of trying to arrange an appointment brings me out in a cold sweat sometimes.

My gp would hand me an X-ray card to go up to nearest dept in next few days. Therefore not needing to be triaged or taking up a cubicle.

Good luck Op and apologies if you DONT have a minor care accessible - I assumed most people did which is wrong

Go to your Gp, they can request an X-ray.

If no minor injuries go to A and E. It needs to be looked at.

Don’t go to GP! They will send you there anyway. It needs an X-ray so they know what they are dealing with. You can’t have the bone healing back in an awkward position!

I was in and out with my broken digit in 45 minutes! Not once was I made to feel like I was wasting their time!