Is this your symptom?
- Injury to the finger or fingernail
Types of Finger Injuries
- Cuts, Scrapes (skinned knuckles) and Bruises are the most common injuries.
- Jammed Finger. The end of a straightened finger or thumb receives a blow (usually from a ball). Always check carefully that the end of the finger can be fully straightened. This type of injury can damage the joint.
- Crushed or Smashed Fingertip(from being shut in a door). The end of the finger may have a few cuts or a blood blister. The fingernail may be damaged. Fractures are not common, but can happen.
- Fingernail Injury. If the nailbed is cut, it needs sutures to prevent a permanently deformed fingernail.
- Subungual Hematoma (bruising/bleeding under the nail). Often caused by a crush injury from a door or a heavy object falling on the finger while it is on a firm surface. Pain may range from mild to severe with throbbing. The pressure often needs released to prevent loss of the fingernail and to relieve the pain. May also need repair of the nailbed, if it is cut.
- Fractures are broken bones.
- Dislocations happen when a bone is pulled out of its a joint socket.
Pain Scale
- Mild: you feel some pain. But, it does not keep you from your normal activities. Work, activities and sleep are not changed.
- Moderate: the pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you from sleep.
- Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.
When to Call for Finger Injury
Call 911 Now
Go to ER Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Call 911 Now
- Finger(s) has been crushed or amputated
- Major bleeding that can't be stopped
- You think you have a life-threatening emergency
Go to ER Now
- Bleeding that won't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
- Skin is split open or gaping and will need stitches
- Cut or scrape is very deep (can see bone or tendons)
- You think you have a serious injury
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Finger looks crooked or deformed
- Skin is cut and No past tetanus shots
- Nail is torn or torn off
- Base of nail has popped out from under the skin fold
- Severe pain
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Blood under the nail is causing more than mild pain
- Can't move finger normally; can't straighten or bend
- Looks infected (spreading redness)
- Large bruise or swelling
- Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot for more than 5 years
- Clean cut and no tetanus shot for more than 10 years
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Injury limits work, sports or other activities
- Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Bruised finger(s) from direct blow
- Minor finger injury
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
