If your knuckle only has a minor fracture, the pain may not be as severe, but it’ll still hurt very badly. As soon as the pain comes on, stop using your hand as you could further injure your knuckle.
If your hand is indeed broken, see a doctor soon. You may need to have a bone put back into place, get a splint, have surgery, or get a cast. Technically, you can’t actually break your knuckle—your knuckle is a joint where two bones meet. When you “break your knuckle” it’s actually one of your phalanges, which are the small bones inside of each finger. The popping sensation isn’t always present when a knuckle is broken. Whether or not you’ll experience a popping feeling depends on the severity of your fracture.
You may not notice your finger is numb until the initial pain subsides or you put a cold compress on the area to soothe the pain.
When your knuckle starts to swell, you may notice a new tingling or numbing sensation as the swelling develops around your fracture or break. Take aspirin, ibuprofen, or another over-the-counter pain medication to decrease the swelling and deal with the pain. Apply ice to the injury early to help alleviate swelling. Wrap an ice pack with a paper towel and apply it to your knuckle or use a bag of frozen vegetables. Keep the ice pack on for up to 20 minutes at a time. [6] X Trustworthy Source University of Rochester Medical Center Leading academic medical center in the U. S. focused on clinical care and research Go to source
There are cases of bones breaking without any bruising present, but they are rare. Keep your hand elevated to decrease bruising. Keeping your hand above your heart will allow the blood to flow away from the injury. [8] X Research source
The fracture may affect the position or angulation of your finger, causing it to stick out at a strange angle.
Make sure to dry your wound completely as moisture makes it easier for bacteria to grow. You can also cover the wound with a clean dressing to prevent infection. Remove any loose pieces of material from the injury. If there is an impaled object in your knuckle, leave it in place for the doctors to remove in the hospital.
You may experience malrotation, which is where your finger is twisted in a direction that doesn’t match your other fingers. If your bone is malrotated, you will need a doctor to reset it.
Don’t push yourself. If you try too hard to fight through the pain and make a fist, you could injure or dislocate your knuckle further.
This is a good way to test your finger for a break if you can’t physically move the finger itself.
You will probably have to wear a splint or brace for a few weeks until the knuckle heals. Casts are not often necessary for breaks in the hand and fingers. In extreme cases, you may need surgery to reset the position of a bone or repair it.
