Bruised Knuckle: Causes and How to Treat Them

Recover faster from bruised knuckle by following few proper home remedies

A badly bruised knuckle results from trauma to one or more fingers from a severe blow from a hammer, a car door, a desk drawer, basketball or any other moving object, then you are in the right place. Here, in this article, we are going to explore what is bruising of knuckles, what causes bruising of knuckles and also will take an in-depth look at the various home and medical treatments that will provide you the fast recovery.

A fall or twist of a finger can also result in bruised knuckle. It occurs because the connective tissues present in a finger like ligaments, cartilage, and joint capsule gets affected or damaged. Human fingers have three bones called phalanges except for the thumb. Interphalangeal joints are the joints where these bones remain fused to one another while the lowest positioned finger remains fused to the metatarsophalangeal joints.

All of these joints are comprised of strong connective tissues such as ligaments, cartilages and joint capsules. If too much stretching forces or compression is applied to any activity, it results in badly bruised finger joints; this is associated with the damage of cartilage or ligaments around the joint. A fatal finger bruising affects one or more of the MCP or IP joints.

Causes and Symptoms of a bruised knuckle

This condition is characterized by an onset of severe pain in the finger soon after the injury. The pain is usually felt on the front, back or both sides of the affected finger and varies on the severity of the damage. Other symptoms like discoloration, tenderness, swelling, and uneasiness in moving the affected joints are also associated with bruising of the finger. Pain is specific to the affected joint, but swelling involves adjacent fingers.

Causes and Symptoms of a bruised knuckle

In more severe case bruising occurs soon after an impact on the joint. There are many patients who experience numbness of the finger because of compression of the nerves due to swelling. The bruised finger or hand feels weak. A person with bruised fingers can’t perform daily activities that involve hand and fingers like writing, opening a door or a jar, catching a ball or handling heavy object, etc.

Best 9 Natural treatment for bruised knuckles

Now that we are aware of symptoms and causes of bruised knuckles. Here is little way to treat bruised knuckles naturally without using another method of treatment. This treatment aims at the reduction of the appearance of symptoms such as swelling, pain, and restoration of movement to any injured joint.

Your doctor after assessing the damage will advise you to have an X-ray done so that he can confirm the diagnosis and do away with a fracture. Then your doctor will decide the treatment that will suit you. Treatments include physiotherapy, splinting and taping, massage, and ultrasound therapy. Although surgical procedures, in this case, are not very common but are necessary when one or more ligaments get damaged. But in most of the cases, a bruised finger is not a serious injury and can be healed by following some of the above home remedies correctly.

Application of cold pack or ice

cold pack or ice

For reducing swelling apply ice on the bruised knuckles for 10 – 15 minutes frequently. Pat the affected areas gently on the rocks cubes in a small towel.

Saltwater

Saltwater

Soaking your hand in the warm salt water for 15 minutes regularly will give you relief from the pains and aches. It also will help to reduce the stiffness of your fingers and knuckles. Salt being an ancient home remedy is very useful for absorbing pain from the body. It reduces inflammation and soothes all kind of grief.

Restrain from cracking your finger joints

Stop breaking your finger joints

Stop breaking your finger joints always because it sometimes leads to damage of the bone cartilage.

Application of Aloe Vera on fingers

Aloe Vera helps soothing of the knuckle pain and finger stiffness.

A proper diet

Try to have healthy eating. If you have acute stiffness and suffering of knuckle joint, you should avoid eggs, processed food, red meat because they will worsen the pain, as they promote inflammation and doesn’t help your bone to heal. This processed food contains high salt and sugar level, which weakens the bone. Keep green vegetables and fruits in your diet because they contain nutrients such as calcium, magnesium that supports bone health.

Calcium phosphate is the nutrient by which bones are made of; magnesium deals with the proper metabolism of calcium by activating vitamin D and producing parathyroid hormone. Studies show that there are essential fatty acids that help to improve calcium absorption. Zinc, strontium, silicon, manganese are some of the essential nutrients that keep the bone healthy.

Physiotherapy

hand physio

Physiotherapy and massage of hand can reduce a lot of pain in this type of injuries. Massage of the area will help in blood flow.

Homeopathy

Rhys tux and Bryonia are some of the homeopathy drugs that are very effective for stiffness and pain of the knuckles. Bruises take a time span of two to four weeks, but it depends on the severity of the condition.

Apple cider vinegar compresses

Apple cider vinegar compresses

Mix a tablespoon of Apple cider vinegar with the same amount of water and dip a clean paper towel or muslin rag into the apple cider vinegar mixture and apply it to your bruised knuckles gently for about 15 minutes. This ingredient stimulates blood circulation and helps the body in the removal of clotted blood beneath the skin, and thus it speeds healing.

Turmeric

Turmeric being one of the most powerful home remedies for injury helps to reduce pain and also speed healing. This is completely natural and safe and contains ingredient such as curcumin, which acts as an anti-inflammatory.

If you have experienced any cruel twist in your finger joint, immediately apply ice for 24 to 48 hours, it will not only minimize the pain and swelling but also will give you relief and will fasten the healing process. Apply the ice for 15 minutes at a time but don’t use it directly on your skin. It should be implemented with a towel, which will create a barrier between your skin and the ice. Keep your hand in an elevated position and take rest.

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