What to do about a swollen knuckle
There are many different reasons you might have a swollen knuckle, so it’s important to consider all the relevant facts when you’re trying to determine the cause. If you punched or hit something with your hand recently, then it’s pretty clear that the cause of your swollen knuckle is an injury due to trauma. In most cases, your swollen knuckle will heal on its own with very little, if any, treatment. You may wish to use ice to numb the area if it is especially painful. If you have any abrasions on top of the swollen knuckle, be sure to clean those thoroughly and apply an antibiotic ointment. This will keep the abrasions or cuts from becoming infected.
You should see a doctor immediately if the swelling in your knuckle doesn’t go down within a day or so. This is because it’s possible to fracture your knuckle bone. This type of fracture is called a boxer’s fracture, and it occurs on the outside of your hand. This is a very serious type of break because it needs to be set properly in order to heal correctly. If you let a broken knuckle go for too long, it may heal incorrectly, and the doctor may have to break it again in order to set it properly.
One important thing to note about a broken knuckle is that it will hurt quite a bit. If you’re able to poke around your knuckle without much additional pain and tenderness, then it’s quite possible you hurt a tendon in the area. Either way, you should certainly see a doctor and get an X-ray of your hand to make sure nothing is broken or torn.
If you do not remember punching or hitting anything with your hand, then there are a whole host of other reasons you might have a swollen knuckle. One of the most common reasons is rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis is characterized by swollen, painful joints. It’s caused by inflammation in the joints, and often other joints are affected. Any joint in your body can be affected by rheumatoid arthritis, but usually the affected joints are symmetrical, which means if one knuckle is swollen, the other one probably will be too. Treatment will probably require a prescription from your doctor. You also might try an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium.
Another common cause of a swollen knuckle is cellulitis. This is an infection of the skin that’s caused by bacteria. Symptoms of cellulitis include swelling, redness, pain, and tenderness in the area. It’s very common for the infection to also spread to the fingers from the knuckles.
A swollen knuckle should usually go away within a day or two, but it is a sign of trouble if it does not. You should see a doctor if the swelling doesn’t go away with rest, ice, and heat. Sometimes it can be very difficult to know if you have actually broken your knuckle, so you should get it checked out.