swollen extremities

[skyclimb]

My big finger is swollen, and it won't go back down. What should I do??

My index finger is swollen, and won't bend cause of all the blood in it. What should I do(heat/cold) or eat to help move the blood outta there for quick recovery.

Thanks

[willstrickland]

The obvious question: How/when did it happen?

[backcountrydog]

ice, ice, ice...and vitamin I

[lummox]

cold. or use a leech.

[catbirdseat]

You just might want to have a doctor look at that. Could be a blood clot. It doesn't sound right. Better ask Norman_Clyde.

[STORER]

Ice alone will not make the swelling got down. After you ice it(make sure you don't get frost bite), you're going to have to lightly wrap it. Do not wrap it so much that circulation is impeaded. If your finger starts to feel numb, lossen the wrap. Also, when you wrap it, start at the tip and wrap going to the base of the finger. This

insures that the blood is being pushed out of the finger and not traping it if you wraped it the other way.

 

Steve

[markov]

Though it might seem so, I doubt that the blood is the source of the swelling, nor will attempting to 'squeeze' the blood out help much. I concur with catbird that seeing a doc might be a good idea (lots of important little structures in there that, if broken & not fixed, might impair function in the future). Regarding what to do in the interim: Ice, Rest, Elevation, maybe some ibuprofen.

[catbirdseat]

The swelling can be from two sources: broken capillaries or from a lack of return flow through the viens. If the former is the case, elevate and ice and use leaches if you have them. If the latter it is a result of a clot. No one can diagnose over the internet. Again, go see the doc. Aspirin is better than Ibu for clots, but if the cause is leaking capillaries then that's not what you want. Moderate icing will not hurt regardless of what the problem is.

[skyclimb]

hey thanks a lot for the advise! Hopefully this damn thing will heal by the time i arrive at indian creek in about 6 days. If not, i am devising a bad ass hook/splint. Just call me captain hook foo.

Nick

[Bronco]

Soak it in cider.

[skyclimb]

Yeah, I have been doing that for a little bit now. Atleast soaking my head in some good cider. yeah buddy, that makes everything feel good.

[layton]

nick, whatever you do, don't use heat!

see a doctor and get an xray. make sure to try an mobilize the finger if it doesn't hurt too much. if only a few degrees (unless it's seriously broken). moving it, even slightly, will greatly reduce your recovery time and and help with drainage too.

but get an xray.