How would I know if I had broken my little finger?

[MrsZoidberg]

I banged my hand yesterday and bent my little finger into and across my palm - with all my weight against it. There was a squelchy cracking noise then agony.

I can bend it and straighten it if I concentrate, its swollen but not bruised (I don't bruise much) and when I can bare to touch it, I can feel a ridge on it.

I know I can just go to MIU and get it xrayed but I'm a full time carer, and it is difficult to get out for the length of time I'd be waiting at MIU so unless I strongly believe its broken I'd rather not go.

Anyone have any experience of this sort of injury?

Without an X-ray it is impossible to be certain. Swelling accompanies a break or fracture, but also tearing cartilidge or a tendon in the joints
I knocked my pointing finger on a brick wall quite hard, and the knuckle swelled. DH was sure I had broken it and had healed oddly. Years on still not sure, but looks like arthritic joint now.

But the cracking noise sounds omninous to me - have it X-rayed.
Good luck

If you have broken it they would probably just strap it up anyway. Unless it needs straightening out. Try strapping it to your ring finger for support to make it easier to live with.

I broke mine, it was just strapped against my other fingers.

Yep, strap it to your next finger with micropore. That's all they will do anyway, if that.

I've never seen anyone with a broken finger be able to bend it, so it's probably just badly bruised, and you may have damaged the ligament. Strap it up if it's really painful, and ice can be helpful.

I hope it heals soon :)

(NB - My A&E experience isn't comprehensive. I'm too queasy for down there!)

It needs an xray.
When I broke time they manipulated it back into position to make sure the bone lined up and then taped it to the adjacent finger.

Thanks for all the advice.

Since I posted this morning, it has become a bit more flexible. I can now straighten it all the way, and can make a fist (No that is not how i hurt it in the first place )

I think I'll give it another day (I really hate having to go to MIU/A&E), but thanks again for all your help.

I broke my little finger in four places two of which were though the joint but din't get in checked for 24hours as everyone said is wan't broken as I could bend it.

The might not just strap it, I had to have it all pinned back together which involved two operations and then 6 months of physio to get to to work again.

I have hospital fear and asked what if I don't have the op, what's the worst that can happen and they said it could turn into a claw shape and be totally un-usable

Might be fine but I would get it checked.

Sorry about the shit typing, am eating dinner

I think you could probably do with an x-ray, because if it is broken you want to make sure that it heals with the bone aligned right. I would wait until a quiet time in MIU and go in.

I broke my ring finger once and although it was naggingly painful, it wasn't the agony you would expect, and I could just about bend it. The hospital strapped it up and said I had to keep bending it so many times an hour to make sure I didn't lose the movement in it.

The swelling has gone down quite a bit today and I can bend and straighten it with only minor pain now.

I think I've got away lightly, it really did take quite a knock, and I think it was the sound and not the pain that made me feel so sick. It still hurts when I touch it, use it etc but I don't think it is broken.

I'm dreadful with injuries - if it was one of the dogs I wouldn't hesitate to rush them to the vets, but if it's me, I tend to just "give it one more day".

Hurray! and Phew! Glad you'r on the mend.