Hello. I was at karate training last night and I punched my oponent. My left, index knuckle (the big one that joins the finger to the palm) made contact with my oponent s elbow. It was immediately painful. Within a few minutes it was swollen and tender to touch. This morning, it has developed bruising, is still swollen, tender to the touch and is slightly numb. I can make a fist, but it is painful to do so. Is it just a bruise from making contact, or could I have done some more serious damage?
With such presentations in my clinic, if I were your treating doctor I would first rule the possibility of fracture by taking the x-ray hand AP and oblique view and based on that treatment varies. If fracture was not there it should be either ligament injury or soft tissue injury. In both of these ill prescribe a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets for seven days twice a day and along with that crêpe bandage 4 inches one to be tied.  Hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions or follow-up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.  Wishing you good health.