A sprained pinky finger will feel like a mild to severe pain in the pinky finger and may also cause swelling, stiffness as well as potential bruising and the sprained pinky finger may be painful to move.
Depending on the severity of the pinky finger sprain you will likely experience some pain which can range from mild to severe and the area around the joint of the sprained pinky finger may also swell up and make your pinky finger appear larger and potentially even be tender to the touch.
Stiffness in the pinky finger or having a hard time straightening the pinky finger or bending the pinky finger can also be a sign of a sprained pinky finger.
You can sometimes tell if a finger is jarred or broken by the symptoms although it can in some cases be hard to tell if the finger is jarred or broken without seeing a doctor.
When your finger is broken there will often be severe and localized pain and the pain may be intense and persistent and even when the finger is at rest.
With a broken finger your finger may also look bent or crooked at an unusual angle and swelling and bruising with a broken finger are also common, however if the bruising and swelling is immediate or significant it may indicate a break or severe finger injury.
Hearing an audible snap or grinding sound at the time of injury to the finger is also a good indicator that the finger is broken.
Numbness and tinging and tender to the touch are also common in broken fingers.
The signs of a jarred finger or sprained finger include pain that is less severe than a broken finger and the pain is often sharp and localized but should subside with ice and rest.
Swelling and some bruising are also common with a jarred or sprained finger although the swelling and bruising is often less severe than with a broken finger.
And you should still be able to move the finger when it's just sprained or jarred but it may be painful.
If you suspect you have a broken finger you should seek medical attention right away and go to the emergency room.
When a finger injury is serious there will often be severe pain, noticeable deformity as well as significant swelling and an inability to move your injured finger.
Hearing a popping or cracking sound at the time of injury to the finger is also another sign that your finger injury is serious.
If you injure your finger and you have intense pain which does not go away with rest or over the counter pain medications, then it could be a sign that the finger injury is serious or you have a fractured finger.
If your finger is bent at an unusual angle, appears to be dislocated or has any visible misshapen appearance you should seek immediate medical attention and go to the ER.
If your finger shows any rapid or excessive swelling, especially if it's accompanied by any bruising it could indicate that you have a fractured finger or other soft tissue damage that can be serious.
Or if you cannot move the finger or if the movement of the finger is very limited or painful then it can also be a sign of fracture, tendon damage and dislocation.
If you hear a popping or cracking sound at the time of the injury to the finger it can also indicate that you have a dislocation or fracture of the finger.
Any numbness or tingling in the injured finger or hand can also indicate that you have nerve damage and requires immediate medical attention.
Or if you have any bleeding that is not controllable or does not stop after you apply pressure or if you see bone through the skin or if the bone is protruding you need to seek medical attention.
And if your finger is pale or bluish in color it can also indicate that you have poor circulation that requires medical attention.
Signs of infection of an injured finger are increased pain, redness, warmth or pus and if you notice any signs of infection of the injured finger you should seek medical attention.