Mallet Finger

[Z3Dreamer]

Can't straighten the last part of my pinky. The fingernail portion. DW, who has a business degree, diagnosed this as "Mallet Finger." Have had it for a few weeks. Not much pain.

Anyone have this? Tell me about your recovery process. Yes, if it gets worse I will see some appropriate professional. If this was an emergency, I would have dialed 911.

 

[JoeWras]

Can't straighten the last part of my pinky. The fingernail portion. DW, who has a business degree, diagnosed this as "Mallet Finger." Have had it for a few weeks. Not much pain.

Anyone have this? Tell me about your recovery process. Yes, if it gets worse I will see some appropriate professional. If this was an emergency, I would have dialed 911.

My dad had Dupuytrens Contracture, and I'll probably get it some day too. His first symptom was as you describe. However, he probably had earlier symptoms. It never hurt and he eventually had surgery so he could function better.

This may not be your issue, but you can read about it here:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dupuytrens-contracture/symptoms-causes/syc-20371943

 

[Koolau]

One other possibility is a detached ligament at the last joint. Friend had this although he knew when it happened as it was painful. He required surgery to reattach it. YMMV

 

[CDRE]

Wear a Stax splint that you modify by adding a velcro strap around the rear of the splint. The strap helps assure gentle upward pressure on the end of the finger. After a few weeks/months of wearing the splint 24 hours a day, you can relax the hours and only wear it nightly. I wore mine nightly for a year and my finger returned to normal.

 

[calmloki]

Sister just had surgery that addressed her hammer toe. Think it involved cutting a tendon and installing screw(s) to keep the toe straight. Her foot issues were years in the making though.

 

[marko]

My dad had Dupuytrens Contracture, and I'll probably get it some day too. His first symptom was as you describe. However, he probably had earlier symptoms. It never hurt and he eventually had surgery so he could function better.

This may not be your issue, but you can read about it here:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dupuytrens-contracture/symptoms-causes/syc-20371943

My uncle had this on both hands. He eventually had both little fingers removed because he couldn't even hold a steering wheel.

BUT!

Rather than leave a stump, the vain old bugger demanded that they cut from between inside the third finger and the little fingers down to the wrist so that there was no sign of a removal. No stump. If you looked quickly you'd never notice. He essentially looked like a guy with three fingers.

 

[pacergal]

Is this a sudden issue (which would point to a recent injury) or something that has been happening gradually?
If sudden and with any pain, even mild, I would suggest a check in with your Doc.

 

[JoeWras]

My uncle had this on both hands. He eventually had both little fingers removed because he couldn't even hold a steering wheel.

BUT!

Rather than leave a stump, the vain old bugger demanded that they cut from between inside the third finger and the little fingers down to the wrist so that there was no sign of a removal. No stump. If you looked quickly you'd never notice. He essentially looked like a guy with three fingers.

In case it is Dupuytrens, I don't want OP to panic too much.

Dad got the surgery in the late 90s at the Mayo Clinic by a specialist who did surgery for this condition. They have learned a lot even since then. They were able to fix him up pretty good, without an amputation. It was a pretty complicated operation, and it worked.

 

[Z3Dreamer]

Is this a sudden issue (which would point to a recent injury) or something that has been happening gradually?
If sudden and with any pain, even mild, I would suggest a check in with your Doc.

Don't remember a specific event. Not worth seeing a doc, at this time. Looks like they don't do much for a minor bend. Except asking you to wear a splint.

 

[Koolau]

Don't remember a specific event. Not worth seeing a doc, at this time. Looks like they don't do much for a minor bend. Except asking you to wear a splint.

Yeah, CVS et. Al have tons of splints.