Have you ever experienced sore fingernails after a long day in the garden? In this post, we explore the reasons behind this common issue and offer practical solutions to prevent and alleviate the discomfort.
A crucial step in protecting your nails is keeping them clean. Learn how to clean under your nails after gardening with our useful tips.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Fingernail pain after gardening can be caused by a variety of factors, including repetitive motions, overuse, and injuries. |
| To prevent hand injuries while gardening, wear gloves, use ergonomic tools, and take frequent breaks. |
| Common hand injuries while gardening include cuts, blisters, sprains, and strains. |
| If you experience severe or persistent fingernail pain, it’s important to seek medical attention. |
| Physical therapy can help with gardening injuries by providing targeted exercises and stretches to improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion. |
And if you’re interested in other ways to maintain your garden while minimizing the impact on your hands, check out our guide on how to keep mowed grass out of flower beds.
Let’s dive into this blog post and keep your fingers feeling great as you tend to your garden!
Splinters
If you are gardening, then you might have experienced a splinter in your finger. A splinter is a sharp object that has lodged itself into your nail bed.
Splinters can be very painful and may cause infection if not removed properly. Fortunately, there are many ways to remove splinters at home and they include:
- Threading it out with a needle or tweezers (this should only be done by someone with experience)
- Applying antibiotic ointment directly on the area where the splinter is located and covering it with gauze (make sure not too tightly bound) until able to see a doctor for proper removal
- Using an adhesive tape over top of gauze or bandage for protection
“After a long day of gardening, it’s important to take care of your hands and nails. Learn how to clean under your nails effectively with our guide on how to clean under your nails after gardening, and keep your hands healthy and happy!”
Abrasions
Abrasions are another common gardening injury, and they’re usually caused by tools like shovels or spades. But you can also cause abrasions to your own skin if you don’t wear gloves while gardening.
To understand how an abrasion works, think about what happens when you squeeze a rubber ball: the air inside the ball gets squished out into a little point at the end of that ball.
This same effect happens in your fingernail when it’s rubbed against something rough, such as dirt or sandpaper. The result is a tiny little cut in your nail where all that pressure has been focused!
Strain From Overuse
You’ve probably heard of all the ways gardening can be good for you. It’s one of the most popular hobbies in America, so chances are you’ve done some weeding or planting yourself.
If you’re like me and spend hours every week working outside, then you may have noticed that your hands are sometimes sore by the end of a long day.
This could mean that you’re suffering from an overuse injury a painful condition caused by repetitive motions or frequent use of the same muscles too often. Here are some common examples:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome—the compression of nerves in your wrist causes numbness, tingling and weakness in your hand(s)
- Tennis elbow—soreness behind one (or both) elbows; sometimes due to repetitive lateral motions with a tool such as a shovel
- Golfer’s elbow—pain on outer side of forearm; caused by repetitive flexion/extension with a tool such as a shovel
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Bruises From Hitting A Finger On Something.
If you’re dealing with a bruise, there are a few things you can do. First, make sure your splint is in place and that the bandage is secure.
If the bandage needs to be changed, use clean materials and water to clean your hands before re-tying it.
Next, ice your bruised finger for at least 15 minutes every hour until you feel better. Use an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel so it doesn’t burn or freeze your skin when applied directly; this will help reduce swelling and pain while also limiting bruising.
Finally, take anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve).
It’s important not to keep gardening if any of these symptoms persist after three days—it could lead to more serious injuries like broken bones or nerve damage!
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Fingertip Interdigital Neuritis
If you’re experiencing pain in your fingertips and find them to be numb or tingling, it might be the result of Fingertip Interdigital Neuritis.
This condition occurs when the nerve between two fingers becomes compressed or squeezed, resulting in numbness and pain.
There are two types of Fingertip Interdigital Neuritis: acute (sudden onset) and chronic (longer lasting). Acute Fingertip Interdigital Neuritis is more common than chronic.
Both forms of this condition can be treated with medication or surgery depending on their severity, but if left untreated it may cause permanent nerve damage.
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Injuries Caused By Hard Labor
Gardening is hard work, and injuries can occur without realizing it. If you are not careful, you may end up with cuts and scrapes on your hands. You can also get injured by using the wrong tools for the job at hand or doing too much at once.
Injury from gardening often involves the sharp edges of a shovel or rake. These tools should be used carefully so that they do not hit any bones or nerves in your hands while digging holes or removing weeds around trees and bushes.
If you use these tools improperly, they can cause injuries such as lacerations to nerves in the palms of your hands which will make it hard for you to grip items firmly enough with all five fingers (thumb included).
Fingertip Amputation
A fingertip amputation is when the last joint of one or more fingers is cut off. This can happen for many reasons, including gardening, but it’s most commonly done during construction work because of nails and staples that are used in woodworking.
Fingertips can also be damaged by other means like knives, saws and machine presses.
If you notice your fingertip(s) have been injured somehow even if they’re still there you should see a doctor as soon as possible so they can give you proper treatment.
If the injury isn’t too severe and doesn’t affect your ability to move your hand normally after treatment, it’s possible that you’ll be able to get back on track with gardening right away!
Symptoms include pain; numbness; swelling; bleeding (which could occur internally); bruising around where the finger was cut off; blackened skin around where it was cut off (this can happen during healing stages).
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Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many ways that a finger could hurt after gardening. You should always be sure to check for injuries when you’re in the garden or outdoors so that you can properly treat them before they get worse!
Further Reading
Common Hand Injuries You Can Get While Working in the Garden: Learn about the most common hand injuries that can occur while gardening and how to prevent them.
Why Do My Nails Hurt?: If you’re experiencing nail pain, this article can help you understand the possible causes and when to seek medical attention.
Gardening Tips and Techniques: Get expert gardening advice from the team at Cioffredi & Associates Physical Therapy, including tips for preventing injuries and pain while gardening.
FAQs
What causes fingernail pain after gardening?
Fingernail pain after gardening can be caused by a variety of factors, including repetitive motions, overuse, and injuries. It’s important to take breaks and use proper technique to prevent pain and injury.
How can I prevent hand injuries while gardening?
To prevent hand injuries while gardening, wear gloves, use ergonomic tools, and take frequent breaks. It’s also important to use proper technique and avoid repetitive motions.
What are some common hand injuries that can occur while gardening?
Common hand injuries while gardening include cuts, blisters, sprains, and strains. These injuries can often be prevented with proper technique and safety measures.
When should I seek medical attention for fingernail pain?
If you experience severe or persistent fingernail pain, it’s important to seek medical attention. This can help ensure proper diagnosis and treatment of any underlying conditions or injuries.
How can physical therapy help with gardening injuries?
Physical therapy can help with gardening injuries by providing targeted exercises and stretches to improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion. A physical therapist can also provide guidance on proper technique and injury prevention.
For 15 years, Hellen James has worked in the gardening industry as an expert and landscape designer. During her career, she has worked for a variety of businesses that specialize in landscaping and gardening from small firms to large corporations.