A sprained thumb is a common injury in sports, such as volleyball, basketball, soccer, skiing, skating, tennis and table tennis. However, whether you sprained your thumb due to exercise or for other reasons, once diagnosed with a sprained thumb you should know how to bandage it, so that the healing process can begin. Once you've bandaged it, you'll need to take steps to help it heal properly, from compressing it properly to retraining its mobility.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Determining Whether You Need Medical Action
Step 1. Consult a doctor
If you are in a match, there is usually a team of medical professionals ready to help. Even if you think you just sprained your thumb, it's also possible to have a fracture or dislocation. In some cases, your doctor may need to take an X-ray or an MRI to determine how your thumb is recovering.
Step 2. Follow medical advice
If your thumb is fractured or dislocated, do what your doctor has designed for your treatment. If your thumb is just sprained, your doctor will usually advise you to buy a cast or pad for your sprained thumb. If your thumb needs a cast, your doctor will help do it.
Step 3. Ask for pain medication
If your sprained thumb is painful (which is normal), talk to a medical professional about the pain medication that will help you the most. Also ask how long you should take it.
Part 2 of 4: Bandaging a Sprained Thumb
Step 1. Gather your supplies
Since you now need to bandage your thumb, hold the injured hand with your palm facing up. You'll need adhesive, non-stretching exercise tape (which can be purchased at the pharmacy), and scissors. Place the end of the tape on the front of your wrist, using your non-dominant hand. Then, wrap the back of your hand and little finger with the other end of the tape. Pull the tape over your thumb using your dominant hand.
You can also try using a sports tape. However, this type of plaster may irritate the skin, making it more difficult to remove
Step 2. Pull the tape across your palm and wrap it around your wrist
Using scissors, cut off the end of the tape, and wrap the tape firmly against your wrist. Make sure that the tape does not come off easily. Do this by pressing it against your skin.
Step 3. Position the end of the tape over the first layer of tape on the front of your wrist
Wrap the band around the back of your hand and pull the tape around your palm and fingers. After doing this, when you look at your hand, you should see a strip of tape running diagonally through your palm to the back of your palm, and these two bands of tape around your hand.
Step 4. Wrap the wrist and repeat the first bandage
Wrap the bandage around the wrist one more time and make the same bandage on the back of the hand to the little finger, the other finger, and back to the hand again.
Step 5. Glue the end of the tape in a diagonal line through your hand
Wrap your thumb in tape and secure a diagonal strip of tape to the back of your hand. Cut the tape from the end of the roll and press it firmly against the back of your hand.
Step 6. Wrap the tape around your thumb, going from one diagonal line to another
Do not wrap it too tightly so as not to stop blood circulation. Move the tape slightly above your thumb, with each dressing overlapping the previous line of tape. The thicker you wrap your thumb, the firmer the support will be.
After wrapping your thumb, cross the tape over the back of your hand and then work it up to your wrist. Cut off the remaining plaster
Step 7. Check the blood circulation in the sprained thumb
You can do this by pressing your thumb nail for two seconds. Pay attention to your nails as soon as you release the pressure. If your fingernails turn pink again after a second or two, this means that your thumb has good blood circulation. If it takes more than two seconds for your nails to turn pink again, this means the tape may be too tight. Unfortunately if this second happens, the only way to fix it is to remove the tape and start over.
Numbness, tingling, or pressure in the hands may also indicate that the tape is too tight
Step 8. Tighten the tape around the wrist
Use a bandage to secure the end of the tape around your wrist.
Part 3 of 4: Healing a Sprained Thumb
Step 1. Follow the “RICE” rule to speed up the healing process
RICE stands for "Rest" (resting), "Ice" (es), "Compression" (compress), and "Elevation" (lift). Even though there was evidence to suggest that “RICE” only worked for those who believed in ancient times, many doctors still encourage their patients to follow these rules to help the healing process.
- Rest your thumb on a soft surface and don't try to use it, especially for physical activities that could result in more serious injury.
- Put ice on your thumb to help reduce pain and swelling. The ice pack can be an ice cube bag or a frozen vegetable bag such as peas. Be sure to wrap the ice pack in a cloth so it doesn't seep directly onto your skin. Hold the ice pack in the position touching your thumb for 20 minutes.
- Compress the thumb with a bandage, which is described in Method 1.
- Lift your thumb for five seconds, then return to the resting position. Repeat this process every hour or so.
Step 2. Avoid “HARM” (“heat”/heat, “alcohol”/alcohol, “running”/running, and “massage”/massage) for the initial 72 hours of healing
These four things can hinder the speed of the healing process. In some cases, these four things can even make the sprain worse.
Step 3. Take medication to reduce the pain of a sprained thumb
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be taken to reduce the pain that occurs due to a sprained thumb, but should not be taken for more than 48 hours. Please be aware that these medications may hinder your healing. This medication only reduces the inflammation (inflammation) caused by the sprain. Ibuprofen is one of the most commonly taken NSAID drugs to reduce sprain pain.
- The recommended dose is between 200 to 400 mg, taken every four to six hours. Eat first before you take "ibuprofen", to prevent stomach upset.
- You can also use an NSAID gel, which can be applied to the areas of your skin that experience the most pain. Gently rub the gel onto your skin, so that the ingredients are fully absorbed.
Step 4. Use “arnica” to prevent bruising
“Arnica” is an herbal remedy that can help reduce bruising and swelling caused by a sprained thumb. You can use an "arnica" supplement to relieve swelling, or you can apply it directly to the painful area.
Apply "arnica" cream (can be purchased at the nearest pharmacy) on your sprained thumb
Step 5. Perform exercises to increase the mobility of your thumb again
When your thumb is dislocated, its range of motion is usually limited. In order to recover his wiggle room, you'll need to do some thumb exercises. Some of these exercises include:
- Move your thumb away from the other fingers. Hold your thumb as far away from the other fingers as you can for five seconds, then return it to its normal position.
- Bend your thumb toward your palm. Hold your thumb as close to your palm as possible for five seconds. After five seconds, return your thumb to its normal position.
- Move your thumb away from the palm. This movement is the same as when you toss a coin to make a lottery.
- Take small objects such as marbles or pencils. Apply slight pressure to your thumb as you squeeze the object. Repeat for five minutes.
- Squeeze a small ball with one hand. Hold for five seconds. Repeat. Do it twice for a total of 15 minutes to help strengthen your grip.
Step 6. Adopt a healthy diet to promote healing
A healthy diet can help you to speed up the healing process. The main ones in the healing process of a sprained thumb are protein and calcium. Try not to use your thumb while eating, to prevent further injury. To balance your diet, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and Omega fatty acids.
Part 4 of 4: Identifying a Sprained Thumb
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of a sprained thumb
If you're not sure if you've sprained your thumb, it's helpful to know the symptoms. These symptoms include:
- Pain. It is a very stabbing, intermittent, and excruciating pain. If your thumb is broken or injured, the pain-receiving nerve signals the brain, and pain is experienced and felt.
- Swelling. The immune system will release inflammatory fluids to eliminate harmful disorders, including irritation, cell damage, or pathogenic infections, and start the healing process.
- bruises. Bruises occur when a blood vessel bursts due to impact or tremendous pressure on the skin. Blood comes out of the broken blood vessels, so that eventually the skin becomes red, black or purplish.
Step 2. Identify some of the common causes of sprained thumbs
You can get a sprained thumb from a variety of common causes, including:
- Repetitive activities that involve the thumb and great stress on the joint.
- Sports like basketball, volleyball, and other sports where the ball is likely to put a lot of pressure or impact on your thumb.
- Sports that involve physical contact, such as rugby and martial arts.
Step 3. Understand the reasons and benefits of wrapping the thumb
Wrapping the sprained thumb alone isn't enough to re-stabilize the sprained thumb, but you also need to compress it. Compression aids stimulate the flow of lymph fluid that carries essential nutrients to the damaged tissue around the injured area. Lymph fluid also removes waste from cells and body tissues, which is an important function in the process of tissue regeneration. Wrapping the thumb also speeds up the healing process and prevents the risk of further injury.
