Nail Throbber: Quick Tips To Soothe Your Pain

If you are experiencing throbbing in your fingernail, you may be suffering from a hangnail, nail psoriasis, or a nail injury. To reduce throbbing, keep your hand or foot above the level of your heart, take prescription pain relievers, or use ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce pain and swelling.

Ice packs reduce throbbing nail pain

If you have a throbbing finger nail, you can use an ice pack to reduce the pain. Ice can help stop bleeding and prevent a blood blister from forming under the nail. Apply ice wrapped in a hand towel or cloth to the injured finger for up to 20-minute intervals, several times daily. Avoid exposing the skin directly to ice. To avoid putting weight on the injury, rest the finger on top of a covered ice compress or pack. Raising the injured finger above the level of your heart slows the flood of blood to the site. This can help reduce inflammation and ease throbbing pain.

Elevate finger above heart to reduce throbbing

If you are experiencing throbbing pain in your finger nail, you can try elevating your finger above the level of your heart. This will slow the flow of blood to the site, reducing inflammation and easing throbbing pain.

You can also try applying ice to the injured finger. Cold from the ice can help stop bleeding and prevent a blood blister from forming under the nail. Very gently apply ice wrapped in a hand towel or cloth to the injured finger for up to 20-minute intervals, several times daily.

Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medications like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and aspirin can help reduce inflammation and associated pain.

If you have a broken bone in your finger, your provider may need to place a wire in your finger to keep the bone in place. You can also take prescription pain relievers as directed.

Over-the-counter pain medications reduce throbbing

If you have throbbing pain in your fingernail, you can try over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen (like Advil or Motrin), acetaminophen (like Tylenol), and aspirin. These can help reduce inflammation and associated pain.

You can also try cold therapy to reduce throbbing. Ice can help stop bleeding and prevent a blood blister from forming under the nail. Apply ice wrapped in a hand towel or cloth to the injured finger for up to 20-minute intervals, several times daily. Avoid exposing the skin directly to ice. To avoid putting weight on the injury, rest the finger on top of a covered ice compress or pack. Raising the injured finger above the level of your heart slows the flood of blood to the site, which can help reduce inflammation and ease throbbing pain.

If you have a hangnail, you can try cleaning and softening it with warm, soapy water. If you have a broken bone, you may need to place a wire in your finger to keep the bone in place.

If you have a more serious injury, like a crush injury or a smashed finger, you should seek medical attention right away. A doctor or health care provider will clean the nail and see if the nail bed is injured. They may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection or place a wire in your finger to keep the bone in place.

Warm soapy water softens hangnails

If you have a hangnail, you may feel throbbing pain in the area. Dr. Rodney says, "It can feel raw, tender, irritating, and sometimes painful". If left untreated, you may notice slight redness, swelling, and tenderness.

To treat a hangnail, first clean and soften the hangnail with warm, soapy water.

To do this, fill a bowl with warm water and add a small amount of liquid soap. Soak your finger in the water for 10-15 minutes. Gently push the hangnail back into your nail bed.

Avoid putting weight on the injury and rest the finger on top of a covered ice compress or pack. Raising the injured finger above the level of your heart slows the flood of blood to the site, which can help reduce inflammation and ease throbbing pain.

Medical professionals treat nail injuries

If you have a nail injury, a doctor or healthcare provider will clean the nail and assess whether the nail bed is injured. If the nail cannot be reattached, the doctor may replace it with a special type of material that stays on the nail bed as it heals. Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection. If you have a broken bone, the doctor may place a wire in your finger to keep the bone in place.

Ice is a key treatment for nail injuries. Apply ice wrapped in a hand towel or cloth to the injured finger for up to 20-minute intervals, several times daily. Avoid exposing the skin directly to ice. To avoid putting weight on the injury, rest the finger on top of a covered ice compress or pack. Raising the injured finger above the level of your heart slows the flow of blood to the site, which can help reduce inflammation and ease throbbing pain.

Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medications like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and aspirin can help reduce inflammation and associated pain.

If you have a hangnail, resist the urge to rip it off as this can hurt and leave you open to infection. First, clean and soften the hangnail with warm, soapy water.

If you have a nail injury, seek medical attention immediately. A doctor will determine the best course of action, which may include skin grafting or replantation of the amputated part.

Frequently asked questions