If you’ve ever had a ring stuck on your finger, it can cause a bit of panic and frustration. For that reason, the Hand Therapists at Athletico are offering a couple of strategies to safely remove a ring from your finger before a more serious situation arises. These strategies can help prevent a trip to the jeweler to have your ring repaired if your precious jewelry were needed to be cut off.
Why Do Rings Get Stuck?
There are several reasons why a ring may become stuck on a finger. A ring could be too small, arthritis in joints can cause swelling, as can fluid retention, or warm weather could all be contributing factors. Over time, your fingers can also become larger on a ring if it is rarely removed, causing it to become stuck.
A traumatic injury such as a fracture, or any injury in the arm or hand, can often cause swelling in the hand or fingers. Not removing a ring in this situation could allow the ring to turn into a tourniquet. This can result in serious side effects including loss of sensation and blood flow and potential tendon damage, which could lead to permanent tissue damage and the need for amputation of the digit. If your finger is swollen because of an injury to the finger, it is best to have a medical professional assess your situation before attempting these techniques. Attempting to remove a ring in this situation could potentially cause more damage, should there be a displaced fracture or other injury that should not be disturbed.
Tips to Safely Remove a Ring
The American Society for Surgery of the Hand and other experts in emergency medicine suggest these method to safely remove a ring.1
- Reduce Swelling
- First, try to reduce the swelling. Place ice around the ring and finger and elevate the hand overhead for 5-10 minutes. The cold will cause blood vessels to constrict, decreasing the swelling. The elevation will allow gravity to assist, keeping some of the blood flow out of the finger. This strategy alone, may be enough to decrease the swelling to allow safe removal of the ring from a finger.
- Use a Lubricant
- Use a lubricant such as soap and water, oil, or Windex. Yes Windex! The surfactants help to reduce the surface tension between the ring and the skin, making the ring easier to maneuver off of the finger. Also, Windex will not gum up your ring like other lubricants such as oil or lotion could.
- Dental Floss
- Below are instructions from ASSH on how to use dental floss or a thin elastic cord to compress the swollen finger for safe removal.
1. Slip the thread, floss or thin elastic cording, under the stuck ring with the bulk of it toward the fingertip. You can use a needle and thread to rung the floss or string under the ring. Thin tweezers can also be used to pass thin elastic under the ring.
2. Beginning at the top of the ring, tightly wrap the finger with the thread/floss numerous times to compress the finger. Continue this until you are all the way up and over the knuckle.
3. With the end that was under the ring, begin to unwrap the thread or floss with the ring, by pulling towards the fingertip. This will allow the ring to slide over the knuckle as it continues to unwind.
If these strategies do not work, know that the ring can be cut off with a ring cutter by a jeweler, by a local EMT or fire department, or at the emergency room.
If you have any questions about hand or upper extremity pain or injuries, schedule an appointment with one of our occupational/hand therapists! Appointments are available in-clinic and virtually through our Telehealth platform.
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The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.
References:
1. ASSH. (n.d.). How To Get A Ring Off. ASSH.Org. https://www.assh.org/handcare/safety/how-to-get-a-ring-off
2. Scott Frothingham, June 2019. 6 Ways to Get a Ring Off a Swollen Finger. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-get-a-ring-off-a-swollen-finger
3. Rahimian et all, April 19. Cureus 11 (4): e4474. Resolution of Ring Tourniquet with a High-speed Dental Drill in a Remote Pacific Island.
4. Asher, Christian et al. (2019) Ring removal: an illustrated summary of the literature. Eur J Emerg Med
5. Patkar, Mihir. (2013) Remove a Stuck Ring From Your Finger With Windex. Http://lifehacker.com/remove-a-stuck-ring-from your-finger-with-windex-1461023241
About the Author:
Shelia Tenny is an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist. She is passionate about helping those with hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder pain, including arthritis, sprains, strains, fractures, tendon, and nerve injuries. Sheila has certifications in ergonomic assessments in the workplace and ASTYM, which uses specialized handheld tools to manipulate soft tissue to facilitate healing and tissue regeneration.
As an Occupational Therapist and a Certified Hand Therapist with a passion for addressing hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder issues, I have extensive experience in managing various conditions such as arthritis, sprains, strains, fractures, tendon, and nerve injuries. My expertise extends to offering ergonomic assessments in workplaces and utilizing specialized techniques like ASTYM for tissue manipulation and regeneration.
The article you provided discusses the issue of rings getting stuck on fingers and offers strategies to safely remove them, preventing potential complications. This topic resonates deeply within my field of expertise. Here's a breakdown of the concepts covered:
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Reasons for Rings Getting Stuck:
- Rings can become stuck due to factors like a ring being too small, swelling from arthritis or fluid retention, or warm weather causing finger enlargement.
- Traumatic injuries, fractures, or any hand/arm injury leading to swelling can exacerbate the issue, potentially causing severe complications.
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Potential Risks and Complications:
- The article highlights the dangers of leaving a stuck ring unattended, which can act as a tourniquet, cutting off blood flow and causing serious tissue damage or even the need for amputation in extreme cases.
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Safe Removal Strategies:
- Methods suggested by experts include:
- Reducing swelling by applying ice and elevating the hand.
- Using lubricants like soap and water, oil, or even Windex to reduce friction between the ring and the skin.
- Utilizing dental floss or a thin elastic cord to compress the swollen finger for easier ring removal.
- Methods suggested by experts include:
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When Professional Help is Needed:
- The article emphasizes seeking professional assistance if these strategies fail, indicating that a jeweler, EMT, fire department, or the emergency room can cut the ring off safely.
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References and Sources:
- The article provides various sources, including medical references, professional opinions from organizations like the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), and other credible health resources discussing methods for ring removal.
The references cited in the article serve to validate and support the information provided, demonstrating a basis in reputable sources within the medical and emergency medicine community.
In summary, the content offers practical advice on handling a common yet potentially serious issue, emphasizing safety and the importance of seeking professional assistance when necessary. The strategies outlined are supported by reputable organizations and experts within the field of hand therapy and emergency medicine.
