Then it swelled up and hurt more . So bad that it hurt to sign a check or use the space bar ! After 5 days of this , I went to the doc . I was afraid I had hurt a ligament or fractured it w/o realizing it .
Question: Is it possible that the author tried to self medicate , or fix the problem himself before he went to the doctor ?
The answer to the above question:


Yes since he said he waited 5 days before seeing the doctor he probably used ice and pain relievers .