It hurts REALLY BAD! my Knuckle, what did i do?

Question:

last night i had the urge to pop my knuckles, as i do sometimes. well i had the urge to do this cause it was kind hurting. so when i was about to pop it, i bent it, and i had a HORRIBLE pain under the skin on my one knuckle. its now swollen just on my knuckle, not my whole finger. it really hurts to streach it and it has a tighnening feeling when i bend it. i dont want to go to the Emergency Room. but i do want to have some ideas of what this is. i doubt its broken, cause i wasnt doing anything. so could i have pulled a muscle? is that possible? could it be an air bubble? what could it be? its still swollen, less than it was last night, but still swollen non the less. HELP?!? i have a splint type thing on it, should i keep it on there, or move my finger as much as possible?

Answers:
How much force did you use when you did it? and HOW did you go about cracking the knuckle?

It's really hard to say what happened.. but if you follow up and I remember I'll give you my best guess.

P.S. the people above (and below now) are wrong, you can't get arthritis from cracking your knuckles.

being that i am not a doctor, i will answer to the best of my ability.

it is quite possible that you pulled a muscle. you should have the doctor check it out regardless of what anyone says here. try to move it as little as possible. You shouldnt pop your knuckles either. I do it all the time, but i'm really trying to break the habit. you can get arthritis from it! well, hope it stops hurting! =]

CAN U X-RAY THE FINGER AND HAVE THE VET SEE IF IT IS BROKEN , FRACTURED ??

It almost sounds like a bursa. Does the swelling feel like it has fluid under it? If it is the swelling should go down gradually as well as the pain as the body absorbs it. It should be okay and go away on it's own. Using the splint, thereby keeping it immobile, will help. I'm not sure that is what this is as I've only seen it on the elbow "tennis elbow", but it does kind of sound like it. See your Dr. if it doen't start to subside.

you probably pulled a muscle. I pop my knuckles all the time and I am trying to stop. You can get arthritis.

You may have dislocated the joint, seek medical advice

It hurts REALLY BAD! my Knuckle, what did i do?

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