Should I see a doctor if I sprained my thumb?

Should I see a doctor if I sprained my thumb?

Anyone who experiences thumb pain, particularly if it lasts longer than a few days should see a doctor. Even though most sprains do not require treatment, a doctor might recommend a splint and ensure that there is no additional damage.

How do you test if your thumb is sprained?

When you sprain your thumb, you’ll usually feel pain, discomfort, and stiffness at the base of your thumb near the palm. You may have trouble grabbing or pinching objects, or barely be able to move your thumb. You’ll also see swelling and bruising around the base of your thumb.

How can you tell if you have a broken thumb or sprain?

Your ligaments connecting your bones will also most likely be unable to function properly, which can also make it difficult to move your thumb. In particular, check to see if you can move your thumb backwards. If you can move it backwards without pain, you probably have a sprain rather than a broken bone.

What happens if you don’t treat a sprained thumb?

When diagnosed and treated properly, most thumb sprains will heal well with no complications. However, a sprained thumb that is ignored with the hope that it will heal on its own may lead to long-term problems, including chronic instability, weakness, and arthritis.

Is it normal to have pain after breaking your thumb?

It is normal to experience severe pain right after you break your thumb. The pain happens because your bones have nerves surrounding them. When a bone breaks, it can irritate or compress the surrounding nerves, which causes pain. If you don’t experience severe pain right after the injury, there is a chance that your thumb is not broken.

What can a doctor do for a broken thumb?

Treatments for a broken finger or thumb. A doctor or nurse might: try to straighten your finger – they’ll give you an injection of local anaesthetic to numb the pain. put your finger in a splint or cast, or strap it to another finger to keep it in position.

How to tell if you have a sprained thumb?

Symptoms of a sprained thumb 1 Thumb sprain symptoms include pain at the time of injury, usually as the thumb is bent backward. 2 Specifically, pain at the base of the thumb and in the web of the thumb. 3 You may see swelling over the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP joint) at the base of the thumb. 4 Joint laxity and instability may be apparent.

Can a broken thumb cause swelling and pain?

A sprained thumb could also result in swelling and stiffness. Your thumb may also be in pain if it’s broken. If you have a broken thumb, you’ll feel intense pain radiating from the site of the break.

How long does it take for a sprained thumb to heal?

With a sprained thumb, the thumb or hand usually swells and may bruise. Pain might last for only a week or two. After that, the usual problem is function. You might have trouble writing, turning a doorknob, or holding a drinking glass. Sometimes this is felt as pain and sometimes weakness.

What causes pain at the base of the thumb?

Pain at the base of your thumb. This pain could be a symptom of thumb injury or overuse, basil joint arthritis, or carpal tunnel syndrome. Additionally, pain at the base of your thumb can be caused by injuries to the ligaments at the lower part of your hand and in your wrist.