Things You'll Need:
- Cold or icy water to reduce swelling
- Over-the-counter pain relieving medicine
- Warm soapy water to clean wounds
- Triple antibiotic cream
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Step 1
Lift your hand above your head to keep blood from rushing to the area immediately after the injury. Squeeze the tip of your thumb gently for a few minutes. As soon as possible, soak your thumb in cold or icy water. Take a pain reliever to reduce pain and swelling. Acetaminophen will reduce pain, while ibuprofen will reduce both pain and swelling.
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Step 2
Wash cuts or lacerations with warm soapy water. Make sure you remove any dirt or debris. Treat open wounds with a triple antibiotic cream for at least the first day or two. However, if the laceration is quite large, you may need a few stitches.
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Step 3
Look for blood collecting underneath the nail. If this happens, it may or may not be painful. If it is, you can go to the doctor, who will poke a small hole in the nail to release the pressure. This will relieve much of your discomfort.
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Step 4
Know that your thumbnail may come off. If this happens, don't be alarmed. A new nail will begin to grow in soon.
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Step 5
Visit the doctor to evaluate a possible broken bone if your thumb doesn't show any improvement after 3 days. You may also suspect a possible fracture if you cannot move your thumb, the thumb appears to be misshapen or you have persistent pain that doesn't lessen.
