I hurt my hand and now it is swollen: what should I do?

Swelling is fluid and inflammation collecting around injured tissues. A knock, fall, sprain, tendon injury, or broken bone can cause it. Pain over the wrist after a fall can occur with a distal radius fracture, while aching and stiffness in several hand joints may occur with rheumatoid arthritis. These possibilities cannot be separated reliably from swelling alone. Note where the pain began, whether a finger or wrist looks crooked, and whether you can make a gentle fist.

Remove rings, watches, and tight bands before swelling increases. Rest the hand, keep it raised above heart level when practical, and use a wrapped cold pack for short periods with a cloth between the pack and skin. Do not force a painful joint, massage a fresh injury, or try to straighten a deformity. A pharmacist or clinician can help you choose pain relief safely, particularly if you have kidney, stomach, bleeding, or pregnancy concerns.

Seek urgent care if the hand is pale, blue, cold, numb, badly misshapen, or rapidly becoming tighter, or if you cannot move the fingers. Prompt assessment is also needed after a strong impact, a bite, a deep cut, or fever with spreading redness. If swelling or pain is not settling with protection, arrange an examination; an X-ray or other test may be needed.

Ask: Could this be a fracture or tendon injury? Which movements should I avoid? Do I need imaging or a splint? How should I monitor circulation and sensation? When can I safely return to work, sport, or lifting?