How to make my pinkie stronger?

[tokes 0]

Yeah, sounds like a silly question but I'm dead serious. About 2 months ago already, I ran into my hands with my skates during an awkward fall. Cut into my joint and did a lot of tissue damage.

That was a couple weeks into it already, stitches out and you can see how swollen the finger is. Well, this is two months later and It still bugs the shit out of me. My doctor said take motrin when it hurts, but I can't take motrin every minute of every waking day. She recommended I go to physio but I have no money for physio. What the hell can I do to get some strength back in this finger? I can barely play hockey, I can't recieve a pass and I can barely even hold my pinkie tight on the stick. I can't make it straight either!

Here's a pic of how my pinkie sits in the "straight" position.

Normal Hand

Bad Hand - Notice how it's so swollen there isn't any loose skin around the knuckle at all!

Not only is this not allowing me to play hockey very well, but it's interfering with my day to day life. Lifting anything, grabbing thiings, etc, all hurts.

I'm open to any suggestions as to what I should do. It's been 2 months, this is rediculous to have a stupid finger still hurting so much. Maybe I need to go have it operated on?

[forbs02 20]

Go to a music store and buy a grip strengthener that they sell for guitar players. It allows for a person to isolate each finger. This is one example.

[thejackal 46]

some tennis shops may have it too

[RadioGaGa 162]

I "broke" the middle finger on my left hand. Jammed it really bad playing football. I say "broke" because I never did get it looked at by a doctor, I'm just assuming it was broken. It hurt like hell for a couple days...and once the swelling and bruise went away...it still hurt. Well past 2 months later.

It healed with a bend in it. I never stopped playing, and yeah, gripping the stick was hard sometimes.

It doesn't cause me any problems anymore, but... I'd recommend that you get your finger looked at. If you cut it deep enough their could be nerve/tendon damage.

[jon93 0]

fill a small bucket with rice. make a fist and dig into the rice once its down half way try and open your hand in the rice. if thats to easy try and find a heavier material.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

yeah... im thinking there could be tendon damage. though, on the bottom thats the flexor tendon, so its curious that you cant straighten it, given that the extensor tendon on the top is in tact. but im no doctor...

[Tyler B 0]

dont use those hand strengthener things. They can do more harm than good by causing RSI. I would just try and move it as much as possible. The pain that you have might be from you just not using your pinky as much. Ive had a similar thing happen when i broke my pinky in volleyball. Took about a week before i could move my finger without any pain AFTER i began to actually try and move it around and get it to normal. Which was about a week and a half to two weeks after the break was healed.

[chk hrd 164]

yeah... im thinking there could be tendon damage. though, on the bottom thats the flexor tendon, so its curious that you cant straighten it, given that the extensor tendon on the top is in tact. but im no doctor...

I would have them take another look at the finger. It could be something a minor as nicking the tendon sheath, getting an infection and getting tendonitis.

Instead of going back to the doctor who treated you (i'm guessing an E.R. doctor or G.P.) go see a hand specialist.