UKC

Hi all,

Climbing at the wall yesterday, when pulling hard on a crimp I heard a crack that came from my ring finger. It hurt quite a bit but definitely wasn't a bone. I was able to carry on climbing and completed the route, and did a couple of routes afterwards as well despite some discomfort.

Today my finger is a little swollen and sore. Normally I wouldn't worry and just let it heal, but the crack I heard makes me wonder if a tendon has been ripped clean off the bone. Does anyone have any experience about this? Should I go for an x-ray?

The discomfort is fine, it doesn't feel too bad, I can bend the finger and make a fist though the ring finger doesn't close as much as the others. It does hurt when I put pressure on the finger but it only really feels bruised.

Thanks for any input.

In reply to neilwiltshire:
Sounds like a pulley injury. If in doubt, seek medical advice. If the GP sounds like they are talking B/S ask to be referred to a hand specialist. Pulleys and ligaments can be heard to be damaged, from very slight displacement through to complete rupture. Slight damage will recover with care, complete ruptures require medical intervention.
Hope you followed the icing procedure.
Give it a week or so and try the finger gently, perhaps buddy taping, or support taping (won't help the cure, but will remind you it is damaged)and see how it goes.
I am not a medic, but have abused my hands since 1967, and mostly got away with it!

In reply to neilwiltshire:

I'd go see a physio or hand specialist type person.

In reply to neilwiltshire:

Ice and ibuprofen to reduce the swelling. As above, if it persists; go see a GP.

X-ray won't tell you much if it's not bone....

In reply to neilwiltshire:

See a specialist asap, most GPs don't have sufficient experience of climbing injuries, don't climb on it until then.
I've recovered successfully from 2 pulley injuries, but it helps to know exactly what injury you have first.

In reply to neilwiltshire:


http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=6193

In reply to neilwiltshire:

I had a similar accident with my finger back in May, pulling hard on a crimp and heard a cracking sound in my finger, completed the route but was painful to hyperextend (i.e. crimp) with my ring finger.

It's 4 months since it happened to me and my fingers a lot better now, have full range of movement and can crimp alright on it now. Although I still struggle with lots of hard crimping and my finger often feels stiff after a session. It's also left me with what is presumably a big lump of scar tissue over the pulley on my finger, it hurts sometimes if rubbed on sharp holds.

GP's seemed fairly useless with this sort of stuff (which is fair enough since its a pretty specific sports injury) if you're really worried i'd pay money to go and see a specialist.

In reply to neilwiltshire:

Have a look at:
http://www.climbinginjuries.com/fingers-pulleys/

In reply to neilwiltshire:

Thanks folks, sounds like I need to see someone. Feels a lot better than it did on Wednesday but the snap seems to be the key thing here.

Cheers.