It’s best to see a doctor if you think your finger is dislocated, especially if you experience a lot of pain and swelling. It’s possible to experience both a dislocation and a broken bone at the same time, so getting a proper diagnosis is important.
If you can’t remove rings or other jewelry from your dislocated finger, a doctor may need to cut the jewelry off.
If you don’t have an ice pack or frozen gel pack, put 5–6 ice cubes in a damp washcloth and hold it against your injured finger.
If you don’t elevate your hand, blood may pool in your dislocated finger. This could cause blood vessels to tear or external bleeding to worsen.
If it’s nighttime or a weekend, go to an Urgent Care facility. You shouldn’t need to visit an Emergency Room for a dislocated finger unless it’s the only available option. Your doctor can realign your dislocated bone, and they will use local or oral anesthetic so it’s less painful.
Don’t worry—if your doctor suggests an X-ray, it doesn’t mean that your dislocation is particularly bad. Most likely, the doctor wants to see the position of the dislocation before they attempt to fix it.
Since both the surgery and putting the joint back into place can be painful, the doctor may give you a local anesthetic to numb the sensation in your finger.
Your doctor may give you “buddy tape” instead of a splint. Buddy tape wraps around your injured finger and 1 adjacent finger, and it keeps your finger nearly as stable as a splint would.
Purchase an ice pack or gel pack at a local pharmacy or drug store.
Also try propping your hand up on a few books as you sit at a desk at your school or work.
Following doctor’s orders and doing the therapy as directed will help your finger heal quickly and with minimal lasting pain or damage.
Your doctor may recommend NSAIDs or other drugs to combat pain and swelling. Before taking any medication, be sure to read the packaging and always follow the printed dosage instructions.
