Try sitting down at a table and resting your elbow on it if you’re unable to hold your arm above your head for very long.
If you don’t have an ice pack, wrap a paper towel around a bag filled with ice cubes or a bag of frozen peas or corn. Another option is to hold the finger under very cold running water for about 30 to 60 seconds.
Pressing upwards on the ring may help to make it easier to get over the lower knuckle, which is the widest part of the finger. This technique is known as the caterpillar method.
If you are not able to get the ring over the top part of the knuckle, stop and try a different technique.
Don’t force the ring if it will not budge or you may hurt yourself. Try wrapping the finger next if the ring still won’t come off.
Ensure that you wrap the finger tightly with the string so that it compresses the flesh. This will make it possible to remove the ring.
The string or elastic will cause the ring to move in tiny increments towards the end of your finger, which is why this method often works better than trying to pull the ring off. [13] X Research source
Make sure to take off all of the string or elastic even if this method does not work for you. The string or elastic can cut off your circulation even more if left on.
Do not wait to seek emergency medical treatment for a ring that won’t come off. This can lead to more severe medical issues, such as infections and possibly even loss of the finger if the tissue dies. [16] X Research source
Your healthcare provider may want to treat any damaged tissue on your finger first, such as by bandaging a cut.
Be aware that tungsten carbide rings cannot be cut because the metal is too strong. Instead, healthcare professionals may employ a controlled crushing technique using locking pliers to remove the ring if other techniques do not work. [19] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
