Apply ice immediately after you sustain the injury for no longer than 20 minutes as needed.
Wrap a bag of frozen vegetables or an icepack in a thin towel and apply it gently to your finger to help reduce your swelling and pain. Make sure that you are also resting your finger. The faster after the injury you give this type of first aid, the better. Manage the swelling and pain by icing, compressing, and elevating the finger. X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source MRIs produce finer details and can also help your doctor differentiate between soft tissue injuries and hairline fractures in your finger.
Go to your nearest accident and emergency department if you think you have a finger fracture. However, minor swelling or the absence of immediate bruising may be indicative of a sprain instead of a fracture.You are likely to notice swelling and bruising 5-10 minutes after your first sensations of pain in your finger.The swelling may also spread to other fingers or down the palm of the hand. After you try to move your finger, swelling and bruising begin to become apparent. It may be hard to know if your finger is fractured at first, as you still may be able to move it.This happens when the capillaries around the injury swell or burst in response to the increased fluid pressure. Swelling is often followed by bruising.After fracture, your body activates the inflammatory response followed by swelling caused by fluid released into the surrounding tissues. This is part of your body’s natural response to injury. After sustaining a fracture to your finger, you will notice acute pain that is followed by swelling or bruising.