Arms-Hands-Wrists
Jammed Finger / Finger Sprain

A finger sprain, or jammed finger, is stretch or tear in the parts of your finger that hold the bones together.

  • Swollen finger joint
  • Bruising
  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Difficulty bending the finger
  • Pain when bending the finger
  • Finger feels stiff
  • Jamming your finger into a ball or other surface
  • Bending your finger the wrong way
  • Falling onto your hand
  • Does it hurt to bend your finger?
  • Is the joint a different color than usual (like red, purple, or darker than usual)?
  • Does the joint look swollen?

Educational only — not a medical diagnosis.

  1. 1Rest and avoid activities where you could jam the finger again
  2. 2Ice the finger for 15 minutes (put a cloth or towel between the ice and your skin)
  3. 3Apply a compression bandage
  4. 4Take anti-inflammatory drugs/NSAIDs (please talk to a parent/guardian/doctor before taking any medication)
  5. 5Seek medical care if there is no improvement within a few days
  • Visible deformity
  • Numbess
  • Paleness
  • Complete inability to move the finger
  • Manage inflammation with ice/compression/NSAIDs/elevation (please talk to a parent/guardian/doctor before taking any medication)
  • Rest

For educational purposes only. Not a substitute for medical advice.

Tracks symptoms over time (not a diagnosis).