What should you know about stiff finger after injury?

Even a seemingly minor injury can make a finger swell and cause nearby tissues to tighten. A sprain may affect a ligament, while a cut or forceful bend can affect a tendon. A fracture or joint injury may cause pain, altered alignment, or difficulty moving. Symptoms can overlap, so the injury mechanism and examination are useful clues.

Notice whether the finger catches, locks, bends to one side, or cannot fully straighten. Trigger Finger can cause catching, while Hand Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis may cause joint symptoms unrelated to the original event. Dupuytren's Contracture affects the palm and can restrict finger straightening over time.

In the early phase, protect the finger from another impact and follow any splinting instructions. Keep uninjured joints moving if comfortable. Once a clinician says movement is appropriate, practise gentle bending and straightening rather than repeatedly testing the painful limit. Elevation can help swelling, and a hand therapist can guide recovery when motion or function remains restricted.

Avoid forceful gripping, heavy lifting, and unsupervised splint changes until the injury has been assessed or healing is confirmed. Write down when the injury occurred and which movement is missing.

Arrange medical assessment if the finger remains stiff, painful, swollen, or weak, especially when daily tasks are affected. Seek urgent care if it is visibly crooked, numb, cold, pale, blue, or impossible to move, or if a wound shows spreading redness, discharge, or increasing warmth. A prompt review is also needed after a crush injury or deep cut.

Ask whether the injury needs an X-ray or tendon assessment, whether a splint is still useful, and when to begin active motion. Ask which signs mean you should return sooner and whether hand therapy would improve function.