Hurt Thumb

[cmasse]

When I fell in the shower, I hurt my thumb. It has been sore for a week now. The base of my thumb developed a bruise and a bump is felt at the thumb’s base on the palm side of my hand. I have iced it and took advil but that is not working. Do you think I might have sprained my thumb?

Cassie

[Heidi]

Yes, a possible sprain but i would also get an x-ray to rule out a fracture.

Is the bump hard or soft? Has there been much swelling around the thumb?

[cmasse]

Thank You for your reply. The bump is hard and is located on the side of my thumb between my wrist and hand and there is swelling and some bruising on my hand side in the thumb area.

Cassie

[Heidi]

yeah, definately go to your Doctor and request an X-ray

Good luck!

[cmasse]

Thank You for your reply. I am planning on making a doctor's appointment. As of right now, I am wrapping it, but it seems to put alot of pressure on my wrist and thumb and it hurts it. How do you wrap it in a way so it won't hurt the wrist or thumb?

[Heidi]

There are ways of taping the thumb, the most common used is a thumb spica technique which is shown here:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/hand_injury/sprained_thumb/taping.php

Alternatively you can purchase a thumb and wrist support here:

http://www.return2fitness.co.uk/Supports_And_Braces/Wrist_Supports

i would recommend the lp776 as it prevents much movement of the thumb because the thumb part is attached to the rest of the hand part. We can do next day delivery too!

[cmasse]

My thumb and hand are still sore. I went to the doctors and took x-rays, and then diagnosed me as a bad sprained hand when the x-rays showed nothing. The base of my thumb has a bruise and a bump is felt at the thumb’s base on the palm side of my hand. I keep icing it and taking advil but that is not working. Do you think I should go to another doctor? Do you think it is fractured? There is one area that is the most painful.

[Heidi]

Hi again!

I would normally expect a sprain to have more or less healed by more, providing it has been rested as much as possible.
The majority of the time fractures do show up on the x-ray so it is unlikely it is fractured, although very occasionally they can go unnoticed.

I would try to get a second opinion on your diagnosis however. Either from another Dr or from a physio or other injury specialist. Another possiblity other than a sprain would be a tendon tear or rupture. This would also not show up on the x-ray.

[cmasse]

I posted on this site months ago to get some advice on my injury and I want to update you on this injury. It all started back in May when I fell in the shower on the outstretched hand and injured my wrist, hand, and thumb and since then, it is still sore. It has been four months and it is still swollen and sore. It also still hurts in the scaphoid area. I got referred to a hand specialist and hopefully he can find out what is wrong. The x-ray showed a possible hairline fracture when I went to the doctors a couple months ago, so the Orthopedist can verify that. What I don't understand is why it is still sore and not healing?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Cassie

[smitty2315]

I have a similiar problem with my thumb. I injuried it during a football game when I fell to the ground and tried stopping myself. I also have a bump next to my knuckle on the inside toward my palm. I was told it was a torn ligament in my thumb and to go to physical therapy. I went for months and it never got better. I was referred to hand specialist, and even got a molded cast for my thumb and wrist. It still bothers me today, 3 years later. I was basically told tough luck. Hopefully your situation isn't the same thing.