Have you just sprained or strained one or more of your fingers? Here is a comprehensive article about treatment and recovery time after a finger sprain injury.
As usual, I address the most common questions from patients. I do so based on my knowledge as a diagnostic radiographer, along with regular updates of my knowledge by consulting medical scientific publications.
Happy reading!😃
All references at the end of this article, let’s meet in the comments section🙏
Last updated: Dec 2024. Written by Juliet Semakula, diagnostic radiographer.
Disclaimer: no affiliate links
Summary: A finger sprain usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to recover while a thumb sprain can take 6 to 9 weeks to recover.
▶️Basics anatomy finger review
Our hands are made up of different bones, joint ligaments and muscles.
Most of the muscles that control and help stabilise the hand in the fingers comprises the metacarpals and phalanges bones and joints.
A joint is the space between these bones where movement happens, and they are held together by ligaments and crossed by tendons.
▶️What is the difference between a strain and a sprain?
A sprain
The entire joint of a finger is enclosed inside a membrane filled with lubricating synovial fluid, which helps to nourish the joint and provide extra cushioning against impact.
When you have a sprain injury to the ligaments or capsule of a joint in the finger. It involves tearing of the ligaments or joint capsule or both.
A strain
Our fingers have muscles that contract and pull on their tendon insertion into the bone and thus produce movement of a joint.
Injury to these tendons or the muscles themselves is called a strain.
However, causes and symptoms are similar . And treatment does not differ a lot, it will all depend on how severe the injury is.
▶️What normally causes finger sprains or strain.
finger sprains or strains sometimes are caused by:
🔵Pressure on your finger, pushing it towards your hand.
🔵Bending your finger too far backward (hyperextension) or the wrong way.
🔵 Catching or hitting a ball with your fingers during a sport or activity.
🔵 Falling on your hand.
🔵Smacking your fingers on a solid object.
You may stretch or tear your ligaments and tendons in between the finger joints.
These injuries are called sprains or strains because they injure the tissue surrounding and supporting the finger joint.
Sprains of the first metacarpal-phalangeal joint (MCPJ) are a common form of hand injury that mainly affects the ulnar collateral ligament.
X-ray image showing a fragment of bone torn off with the Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL)rupture.
This can result in the finger being pushed backwards or the ligament can tear off a small piece of bone when it is overstretched.
Sometimes a finger that remains locked in the bent position should raise the suspicion of a dislocation or rupture of the tendon or extensor muscle.
An example of a finger locked in flexion that should suggest a tendon rupture rather than a simple sprain or contusion: Image from Carruthers 2016
▶️How do you know if your finger is sprained and not a fracture?
The symptoms of a sprain and a broken finger are similar, however with a dislocation of a finger you will notice a deformity which will be visible with your naked eye.
Here are some of the symptoms you may experience with a sprain finger but these are not enough to confirm that you have had a sprain.
You will need to see a doctor if your symptoms persist for a proper examination.
🟢Pain that will be instant at the base of the finger and it will increase during hand activity.
🟢You may notice swelling in the web space at the base of injured finger
🟢Bruising around the injured finger which is common during acute stress sprain.
🟢You may find it difficult move or bend or performing your daily activities such as writing or holding a glass with your hand
🟢You may feel some weakness and in severe cases joint softness in the injured finger
Most of the time people do not consult a doctor or the emergency department after twisting their finger. As a result no x-ray is prescribed.
But when you decide to see a doctor, after assessment your doctor will be able to specify in your medical notes what kind of injury you have, and this will be classified according to the extent of the injury.
Only an x-ray can diagnose a fracture and differentiate a sprain from a fracture.
Also, in some cases ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is necessary.
▶️How to tell how bad a sprain is? Types
Types of finger sprain classification injury which affect metacarpophalangeal joint, proximal and distal interphalangeal joints etc will help you determine how serious your injury is.
Grade1️⃣ (mild) injuries – tiny tearing of the fibres in the ligament but there is no loss of ligament continuity.
Grade2️⃣ (moderate) injuries – it involves a partial torn ligament from the bone and some loss of finger function.
Grade3️⃣ (severe) injuries – completely ruptured the ligament or ligament separates from the bone. Surgery could be needed for ligament repair.
▶️How to treat a sprained finger.
Usually when you go to the doctor: You will be given instructions on how to treat your finger at home
The RICE standards which stand for:
A. R- rest
You will need to rest the injured finger, rest your hand for the first few days, and avoid overusing.
B. I-ice
You can apply ice or a cold pack on your finger and put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the first 3 days or until the swelling goes down
C. C-compression
The injured finger will be put in a splint or double taping. You can only Loosen the bandage if you notice numbness, tingling, increased pain, or swelling below the wrap.
Do not remove it until your doctor says it’s okay for a few days, and you will be advised to keep the finger in position while it heals
Sometimes you are not prescribed anything at all, but simply advised to be careful to avoid twisting your finger again.
Caution!⚠️ Leaving a sprained finger immobilised for too long can lead to increased stiffness, making it challenging to regain normal function.
D. E- elevation
It is important to raise the injured finger above heart level. Also remember to move the fingers to avoid stiffness and swelling. Try to bend and straighten the wrist several times a day.
Other treatments may include.
🟢Pain reliever medication that can be given to you by your doctor.
🟢Surgery will only be necessary to repair a fully torn ligament or tendon which is separated from the bone.
▶️What happens when you ignore a sprained finger?
The severity of the sprain plays a crucial role in determining the appropriate course of action.
It is important to seek medical help if you think your finger sprain is severe because sometimes immobilisation may not be sufficient
The ligaments on the sides of your fingers, known as collateral ligaments, provide stability and prevent excessive sideways movement.
It is important to understand which knuckle is sprained to allow immobilisation and appropriate rest time.
The collateral ligaments need a balance between rest and controlled movement to avoid stiffness.
▶️How long does a sprain finger take to heal?
Healing will depend on various factors:
🟧The type of tissue and severity of injury.
🟧Treatment undertaken.
🟧Any previous injuries
🟧Your age and general health.
We often speak of a finger sprain when we have twisted our finger, but when you don’t know whether you have sprained it or not.
To reassure you most mild finger sprains heal in about 1 to 4 weeks, it may take some time to rebuild strength, but you will be able to use your finger in a short while.
Whatever finger is affected (thumb, index, middle, little or ring finger) Here are some average times I have observed as a radiographer, very few studies found in scientific studies.
| Phase | Time frame |
| Less pain | A few days |
| Less swelling | A few days to a few weeks |
| You can re-use your hand and finger for everyday activities. | If you have not broken any bones or dislocated the joint, you’ll probably be able to move your finger again in about a week or immediately as pain allows. |
| You can drive a car | Right away |
| You can remove the splint or bandage | A few days to a few weeks, usually after a follow up, your doctor may advise you. But the thumb you will need to mobilise longer. |
| Completely healed | Mild sprains can take 1 to 4 weeks. A severe sprain can take several weeks or even months to recover fully. |
| Resuming sports | Ideally 6 -8 weeks, when the ligament starts to heal properly, but some people many resumes before that. |
Healing timeline after a finger sprain.
Here are some of the commonly asked questions after a finger sprain.
▶️What is the healing time of a thumb?
This diagram shows a sprained thumb of a finger. The ulnar collateral ligament is partially torn (source Forli et al 2022)
A sprained thumb occurs when the ligaments that support the thumb are stretched beyond their limits and usually an ulnar collateral ligament is involved.
Our thumb is made of joints that are more mobile so the length of recovery for a sprained thumb depends on the severity of your sprain.
If it is a mild sprain, it may take 4 to 6 weeks if you wear a splint or cast to immobilise and refrain from activities that irritate it.
A grade 3 sprain could take several months 3 to 6 before it’s fully healed. This is because severe sprains usually require surgery.
You will be required to wear a post-surgery splint or cast and do physical therapy rehabilitation is usually recommended for a thumb sprain because it is a more flexible joint which may need more attention.
However, it is very rare for physiotherapy sessions to be prescribed for a sprained finger because usually recovery is quick and easy.
▶️ What can be done to speed up finger sprain healing?
When you have twisted your finger, you are always looking for solutions to help heal your wound faster.
The truth is there is no miracle cure, treatment or solution to help a torn ligament heal faster.
The main thing you can do is to allow natural healing to take place and protect the injured finger so that it does not twist again. You can use the RICE standards to help with your healing.
You can also apply slight movement as pain allows to avoid finger stiffness and help to activate blood circulation to the injured finger.
▶️Should you bend or exercise a sprained finger?
Yes, it is important to move the fingers as well as bending and straightening the wrist several times a day.
This will reduce swelling and minimise joint stiffness. You can start gradually as pain allows.
You can also massage the sides of the finger and stretch it gradually.
Exercising an injured finger can help make it stronger and easier to move. You shouldn’t start these exercises until your doctor says it is safe.
We have come to the end of this article and I hope I have answered your common questions. Wishing you a quick recovery!
Sources:📚
Forli A, Bentejac A, Lateur G, Corcella D. Recent and chronic sprains of the First Metacarpo-Phalangeal Joint. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2022 Feb;108(1S):103156. doi: 10.1016/j.otsr.2021.103156. Epub 2021 Nov 27. PMID: 34848387.
Carruthers KH, Skie M, Jain M. Jam Injuries of the Finger: Diagnosis and Management of Injuries to the Interphalangeal Joints Across Multiple Sports and Levels of Experience. Sports Health. 2016 Sep;8(5):469-78. doi: 10.1177/1941738116658643. Epub 2016 Jul 15. PMID: 27421747; PMCID: PMC5010131.
Mohseni M, Sina RE, Graham C. Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury (Gamekeeper’s Thumb) [Updated 2024 Feb 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482383/