Distal Interphalyngeal Joint Injury

[steep4me]

Anybody ever stress/strain the last knuckle on their middle finger? I am looking for optimal treatment strategies and some idea of how long it may take to heal?

I overused it climbing in our new, 65 ft tall, overhanging (awesome) gym. However, I think the real problem was waterskiing, tubing, waverunnering, and mountainbiking during my "week off" of training. I believe I strained or hurt the ligament on top of my finger where it attaches to the last knuckle on my finger. There was no popping or anything. I just suddenly got a sharp pain going from the last knuckle, across the TOP of my finger towards the middle knuckle. The extensor tendon is fine and functional. I can move my finger in the full range of motion and it is not broken or fractured.

The pain is only activated if I bend the tip of my finger (which happens with almost every single human activity) or put heavy strain on the joint in any position.

I have been splinting, icing, heating, and did untrasound and tens unit on Monday. It was feeling a little better until the hand doc bent it and pressed on the joint, setting me back about 3 weeks in the healing process. After that, he told me not to bend it or press on it. Ice it, take advil etc.. same bullshit as always. Any experience with this type of injury?

[the lurkist]

find a Hand Therapist (either an Occupation Therapist of Physical Therapist with additional training specializing in hand rehab). Crucial...

[steep4me]

Thanks for replying--
Yeah, I have a PT hand specialist (of course, she didn't know what the ORL ligament was, but neither did the hand surgeon). She does the heating, tens unit, ultrasound with antiinflammatory cream. Says, rest it, bend it a few times per day, splint it the rest of the time. Wait. Wait. and Wait some more. I am wondering if I will have to miss Fall season entirely? It has been a month at this point.
Did you have this injury?
My main question is about how long does it take to heal?

[the lurkist]

sounds like you are looking a 6-8 wks off then gradual return to activity. Perhaps could be truncated with careful oversight by the right Hand Therapist.

[steep4me]

6-8 weeks would be not too bad, given that it has been 4 already. I don't know how much the hand therapist is helping. I don't have any exercises to do--just splinting most of the time; moving it once in a while to keep it from getting stiff. I guess it feels better the day after the tens and the ultra sound w/ anti inflammatory cream. I'll do that again next week. It's kind of pricey though. I've already spent about $250 with minimal results. (they charge $6 to park as well!). Even if you are incorrect about the 6-8 week time frame, cheers me up for now...so thanks!!!