What's wrong with my thumb?

[FlyinGuitar08]

I know it's not as bad as the ACL tears and broken bones on here, but I'm starting to get worried about my thumb.

I hit it on some ice skiing in Jackson Hole 2 weeks ago, and it swelled a little the next day. Well, the swelling's gone now but it's as sore as the first day I hit it and I still can't bend it. I'm thinking there might be some tendon damage or something, so should I see a doctor? Or should I just wait a few more weeks and hope it gets better on its own?

[OSECS]

I know it's not as bad as the ACL tears and broken bones on here, but I'm starting to get worried about my thumb.

I hit it on some ice skiing in Jackson Hole 2 weeks ago, and it swelled a little the next day. Well, the swelling's gone now but it's as sore as the first day I hit it and I still can't bend it. I'm thinking there might be some tendon damage or something, so should I see a doctor? Or should I just wait a few more weeks and hope it gets better on its own?

Hitting it on ice shouldn't tear anything. You could have conceivably fractured the bone (which would explain immobility as well) This is a pretty common injury. I think I've had the same type of injury before. Smacking your hand between your ski pole and the slope. Yeah it does hurt for a while. I think it's deep muscle bruising that swells around the sheathing of a tendon or ligament and irritates it till the swelling goes away, usually a few weeks or more.
The outer swelling can be gone but the sheathing and ligament can be irritates sufficiently to cause some swelling you don't see.


Just a guess, good luck, a Dr visit may be warranted if the situation lasts too long.

[rdennhs]

having the SAME issue, SAME injury on ice.

[Neurodoc]

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/skier...article_em.htm

If you are having pain and impaired range of motion, yes you should see an orthopedic surgeon/hand surgeon. The principal concern is injury to the ulnar collateral ligament. Incomplete tears can usually be treated with immobilization. However, complete tears usually require surgery. The general consensus is that surgical repair is most successful when performed within the first few weeks of injury, so you should really get this checked out right away.

[FlyinGuitar08]

Thanks for the info

[haydukelives]

the ulnar collateral ligament has nothing to do with flexing the thumb, but if its torn the joint with open up towards the radial direction if you press on it with the index finger.

but you should get an xray .if a bone chip came off somewhere,it should be put back into position before it heals in the wrong place.

the above comment that falling on ice shouldnt hurt anything is moronic

[OSECS]

the above comment that falling on ice shouldnt hurt anything is moronic

Know what else is moronic ?? Not reading a comment correctly. It wasn't that you couldn't get hurt, it's that a compressive injury of this type usually doesn't tear anything. It usually fractures bone or bruises muscle and bone. Tearing typically occurs when a limb/joint is stressed out of position to an exaggerated state. You could conceivably tear skin , muscle or even a ligament but I doubt that would be the norm. Sorry I couldn't make my sight unseen/non doctor diagnosis more accurate.

[Neezer]

uh....is it slightly brown and smelly?

[Orthoski]

I would recommend that you go see a doctor and get some x-rays ASAP. If you did break it, a thumb fracture will start healing pretty quickly (within 3-4 weeks), and you're already a couple weeks out. If there is a fracture that is malreduced (ie, crooked), it will heal in the wrong position. And if you can't move your thumb after all these weeks, it may even extend into the joint and be blocking your motion - that's a much bigger problem once the fracture heals.

My two cents....

[huckbucket]

My "jammed" thumb from a fall in a bike race turned out to be broken. Two pins and 6 weeks later I was rollin'

Get it checked out or you could be faced with arthritis when you're 45 ... not fun.

[cloudpeak]

You probably should consult a hand specialist. When I broke my ring finger recently, everyone recommended that I see a hand orthopedist, and, FWIW, that advice resulted in a really good outcome for me. Having a fully functional hand is a good thing.

My $.02.

[FlyinGuitar08]

Well I went to my family doctor today, 3 weeks after the injury. He thinks it's just a torn ligament and said that it could take anywhere from 6 weeks to 4 months to fully heal. I'm getting an x-ray tomorrow to make sure the bones are okay.

[Jim S]

Hitting it on ice shouldn't tear anything.

Wrong.

Anyay, if you tore the ulnar collateral ligament of the MCP joint, it may stable or unstable (Stener lesion). Xrays will not show it; MRI will. But a good physical exam may make the MRI unnecessary.

Been there, done that. I didn't fuck around and saw one of the top local hand/wrist surgeons. I was in a brace (skied with it) and it healed up over a long time. But it healed.


+ vibes


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[spanghew]

Well I went to my family doctor today, 3 weeks after the injury. He thinks it's just a torn ligament and said that it could take anywhere from 6 weeks to 4 months to fully heal. I'm getting an x-ray tomorrow to make sure the bones are okay.

Years ago I got run over by a truck. tried to ditch my bike and scramble out of the way, but he ran over my legs . . . and my index finger, and somehow hyperextended my thumb. It didn't get better on its own: I couldn't bend the finger or the thumb. Went to a physical therapist, who had me stick my hand in hot wax and sit with it for a while . . . then he forced the fingers to bend for about 6 years, based on the pain, then put the hand in a splint so I couldn't bend it on my own.

I saw the guy twice a week for a month, I think: worse torture every time. But I can use both fingers now.

Neither finger was broken, just rendered useless through strain and general insult.

If your doctor doesn't know what to do, see a good PT. This guy had dirtbike magazines in his waiting room, so i figured I'd come to the right place.