Help with daughter

[PGB]

Okay, I really don't think this is the forum this is meant to be asked on, but I always get more answers on here than the others so I hope you guys will bear with me.  My 13 year old daught hurt her hand in gym today playing basketball.  I had to pick her up at school & take her to the doctor.  They did an x-ray and it wasn't broken or cracked or anything.  They said just jammed really bad.  Told us to ice it down 3 times a day for 10 minutes and to bend it and use it some after each icing.  To expect a lot of bruising and swelling in the joint (by the way, it is her right thumb). They also said she didn't have to wear anything on it.  Well, tonight she bumped that thumb on her other hand somehow and it hurt so bad she almost threw up.  She almost cried a gallon of tears too.  My question is, should I go buy her a finger splint before school tomorrow or not?  The doc kinda seemed to think it would heal faster without one because she would start using it and work the soreness out, I guess.  But if it hurt that bad to bump it on her other hand, I can only imagine what it will feel like to bump it on a door or desk or something at school tomorrow.  What do you guys think?  Splint or not?

[suckonabigtoe]

I would get a splint. In high school I jammed my thumb in my locker and the doctors told me not to put anything on it and ice it, but i got a splint for it just because it hurt so bad to move. As long as she still ice's it and moves it then a splint isnt going to slow down the healing process.

[xrayu2]

I would splint it just in case she has a "hairline" fx that went unnoticed.  My daughter had a buckle fx last Dec and she did well with a splint.  It helps hold in position without making it stiff.

[tinydancer112]

yes, finger splint. and when it's feels okay to move even when it hurts to move it a tiny bit. and ice! lots of it! i had my pinky broken and i didn't even know it broke, but iced it and put a splint on it. it's gonna be a little bigger than the other one after it's healed.

[JoAnnaRF]

I agree to splint it. I think it will actually heal faster because she won't be constantly banging it and re-injuring it. When she is home and sitting around, take the splint off and do the ice regularly but I totally agree a splint is in order at school and when being active.
Hope she is feeling better soon!
--J

[PGB]

Thanks to all!  I got up early & went to Wal-Mart & got a finger splint.  I think that will be best too.  Thanks again.