Nail Healing: How Long For A Jammed Finger?

A jammed finger can take up to six or eight weeks to heal, depending on the severity of the injury. Mild finger sprains can heal in one to two weeks, while more severe sprains may require three to six weeks to heal fully. During this time, it is important to rest and avoid activities that cause you to overuse your fingers. If you have severe pain that doesn’t go away after following the RICE method and taking an NSAID, contact your healthcare provider because you may have a broken or severely sprained finger.

Mild sprains heal in about a week or two

After your jammed finger heals, it may feel weaker than your other fingers. A healthcare provider will let you know when it’s safe for you to return to your sport and/or activity. Visit a healthcare provider if your symptoms of a jammed finger get worse 24 to 48 hours after your injury. If you have severe pain that doesn’t go away after following the RICE method and taking an NSAID, contact your provider because you may have a broken or severely sprained finger.

More severe sprains require at least three to six weeks to heal fully, but may remain swollen and tender for a significantly longer period of time, in some cases. During this time, make sure you’re resting and avoiding activities that cause you to overuse your fingers, but keep them moving. A healthcare provider may recommend formal hand therapy to help with this process.

You can’t always prevent jammed fingers, especially if you’re active or work a lot with your hands. Sometimes the use of buddy straps or supportive wraps may help prevent an injury. If you have balance problems or trouble walking, try using assistive devices, such as a cane or walker, to help reduce your risk of falling and landing on your hands.

Severe sprains heal in up to 6-8 weeks

• Rest: Let your finger rest, if possible. Stop doing the activity that injured it (such as playing basketball) while your finger heals.
• Ice: Ice the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, especially within the first 24 hours. Put ice in a towel or plastic bag rather than directly on your skin. Icing the injury can help relieve pain and swelling.
• Compression: Gently wrap an elastic compression bandage around the injured joint to support it and reduce swelling.

Bruises under the fingernail may remain visible for months

A jammed finger is a sprain and can be painful. Mild finger sprains heal in about a week or two, but more severe sprains require at least three to six weeks to heal fully. When a bruise develops under the fingernail, pressure can build up and become painful. If this pressure becomes severe, the fingernail may fall off. In most cases, though, your fingernail will remain in place, but you may notice discolouration around the site of the injury. The bruise may remain visible for several months until the affected portion of the nail grows out.

The recovery time for a jammed finger depends largely on the severity of the injury and location. Most jammed fingers start to feel much better within three to four days. More complicated or severe cases may take a few weeks or more to fully heal. When your finger heals completely, you can usually return to your sports and activities like normal. This can take up to two weeks for a mild sprain or up to six or eight weeks for a severe sprain. A healthcare provider will let you know when it’s safe for you to return to your sport and/or activity.

You can treat a mild jammed finger or sprain at home by using the RICE method. RICE is an acronym that stands for:

• Rest: Let your finger rest, if possible. Stop doing the activity that injured it while your finger heals.
• Ice: Ice the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, especially within the first 24 hours. Put ice in a towel or plastic bag rather than directly on your skin. Icing the injury can help relieve pain and swelling.
• Compression: Gently wrap an elastic compression bandage around the injured joint to support it and reduce swelling.

If you have severe pain that doesn’t go away after following the RICE method and taking an NSAID, contact your provider because you may have a broken or severely sprained finger. Visit a healthcare provider if your symptoms of a jammed finger get worse 24 to 48 hours after your injury.

Resting and avoiding overuse can help healing

If you have a jammed finger, resting and avoiding overuse can help the healing process. Resting means letting your finger rest, if possible, and stopping the activity that injured it while your finger heals. Ice can also be used to relieve pain and swelling and compression can be used to support the injured joint and reduce swelling.

Most mild finger sprains heal in about a week or two, but more severe sprains require at least three to six weeks to heal fully. During this time, make sure you’re resting and avoiding activities that cause you to overuse your fingers, but keep them moving. A healthcare provider may recommend formal hand therapy to help with this process.

You can’t always prevent jammed fingers, especially if you’re active or work a lot with your hands. Sometimes the use of buddy straps or supportive wraps may help prevent an injury. If you have balance problems or trouble walking, try using assistive devices, such as a cane or walker, to help reduce your risk of falling and landing on your hands.

If you have severe pain that doesn’t go away after following the RICE method and taking an NSAID, contact your provider because you may have a broken or severely sprained finger.

Ice can help relieve pain and swelling

Ice can be used to treat a mild jammed finger or sprain at home by using the RICE method. RICE is an acronym that stands for:

• Rest: Let your finger rest, if possible. Stop doing the activity that injured it while your finger heals.
• Ice: Ice the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, especially within the first 24 hours.
• Compression: Gently wrap an elastic compression bandage around the injured joint to support it and reduce swelling.

Ice can also be used to treat a smashed finger. Most smashed fingers start to feel much better within three to four days. More complicated or severe cases may take a few weeks or more to fully heal. When a bruise develops under the fingernail, pressure can build up and become painful. If this pressure becomes severe, the fingernail may fall off. In most cases, though, your fingernail will remain in place, but you may notice discoloration around the site of the injury. The bruise may remain visible for several months until the affected portion of the nail grows out.

Frequently asked questions