Shit shit, my finger is really messed up.

Ginzue

Hey guys, I really need advice here. Heres the current run down:

-I burnt my middle finger on a exhaust manifold at my mech shop, the small burn had a wort attack it (my first one).

-After about 3 months of having it, I had it frozen off. The nurse told me "remember its very important to keep a band-aid on it!". Well being ignorant to medical stuff, I thought that meant keep a band-aid on it until it healed. I kept it moist (I should have stopped wearing a band-aid the first day) and it naturally got infected.

-The skin on the middle finger around the nail all got infected and fell off. I no longer have a little piece of nail skin, I went to the doc with the infection and got antibiotics (Keflex 500mg four times a day).

-3 Days later I noticed something worrying: I could see the END of my nail... and nothing was growing behind it. The doc said to wait it out and there was nothing I could do.

-Yesterday I finished my Keflex, and today I noticed my finger is red and sensitive again... like its infected, not sure though. I atom bombed that infection and its back?! It is to note that I have taken a lot of antibiotics (even though I don't like to) this year, for 2 other burns from working on cars, and from strep.

My finger has been aching like a tooth coming in as a kid, a dull ache, like the nail is unhappy. Currently I am terrified I will loose my nail forever... my Doctor said "you really don't notice people who are missing nails.". I'm still terrified, I like that thing. I am seeing a different doctor on Tuesday (the soonest I can).

I was wondering if anyone has had experience about something like this, and how likely am I to loose my poor nail? Also any medical advice aside from "wait it out", if there is any, would be wonderful.

Thanks so much,

-Uneasy Jack

Octoparrot

What was the time between Having the thing frozen off and the skin around your nail falling off? Typically it gets inflamed and the cuticle recedes.

I've had a few nail problems in my time and, provided there was a small window between that initial doctor visit for the wart and being given Keflex, it doesn't sound bad. Otherwise, bone infection becomes a problem.

I believe standard procedure is (if he just doesnt give you a 6 week extension on the antibiotic) to bore a small hole in the nailbed to relieve pressure, smear some ointment on it once a day and see how things are going in a week.

musanman

Octoparrot wrote: »

I believe standard procedure is (if he just doesnt give you a 6 week extension on the antibiotic) to bore a small hole in the nailbed to relieve pressure, smear some ointment on it once a day and see how things are going in a week.

I did this with my pocket knife, knowing if I didn't my finger was going to be even more fucked up. Underneath was a nasty mix of puss and blood. It was pretty nasty to look at, but relieved a lot of pressure and didn't really hurt. Seemed to heal pretty quickly, just the nail looked disastrous.

rvcontre78

Well burns can leave people more susceptable to Pseudomonas aureginosa. It's not common but it's more likely than with other types of wounds. If you've taken just Keflex that doesn't have that type of coverage. Mainly Gram+ and gram- and not really the rods. I mean it's possible that the infection wasn't killed by the Keflex. I would definitely go back and get an abx that has a different or just expanded coverage a fourth generation ceph or other.