Smashed finger...

[Catrin]

Isn't it amazing what a difference burning a hole in the nail can make? 12 years ago I smashed my finger in the car door and fractured the tip, it sounds exactly the same as yours. The doc burned a hole in my nail to relieve the pressure and wow. So much less pain. I heard you can do it yourself by heating up a needle or a nail in a candle flame! I'd just as soon pay a professional to do it, even if that was exactly what they did!

I thought about it, but the NP had said she didn't think it was necessary. It was also on my dominant hand...much better to pay the $25 co-pay and get it done right! There is less tenderness in the finger today, I think it will be 100% by the weekend - 2 weeks after I smashed it

[Catrin]

Update...I think there might be a little nerve damage in that finger tip. While the pain is more or less gone, I don't have all of the feeling back in the finger pad and when my fingers gets cold it HURTS, even with gloves on! Can't think of what else might cause that, though I will mention it to my Dr on Friday when I see him for a checkup on my shoulder. Makes me nervous to pull the trainer back out but I think that is just an excuse since I really just don't want to ride inside.

[Melalvai]

Give it time. I am learning that injuries can take a long time to fully heal.
I would be willing to put money on it that you will never smash your finger in the trainer again. I definitely understand being a little shy of going anywhere near it.

[Veronica]

I REALLY smashed my right middle finger just about a year ago. I closed it inside a folding wall in the classroom next to mine. I had a large gash on one side and lots of damage under the nail. It was kind of fun, giving my boss the finger while he bandaged me up. I never did go see the doctor. Thom sterilized a needle and put a few holes in the nail for me to relieve the pressure a couple of times. I just kept an eye out for infection. That would have sent me to the doctor. I lost the nail, ended up ripping it off while putting on my wet suit at tri. And I still have some nerve damage, not surprising since the finger was crushed. I am very careful when I close those walls now.

Veronica

[Catrin]

Youch Veronica! My finger hurt in sympathy reading it! Thankfully you had Thom around to do the work, I didn't have a choice but to go to the doctor. One thing is sure, I've become far more careful when doing things that could cause my finger to get re-smashed - like when putting up weight plates at the gym...

[Catrin]

My poor fingers are just going through the ringer this year! First a smashed finger on my dominant hand (still healing). Then, last night, I wound up with a 2nd degree > 1-inch burn on a finger (other hand) from a pan that had just come out of a 400 degree oven! Inside of the finger where, somehow, I caught the pan between two fingers. Still don't know why both of them aren't burned. Then there is the thumb that split because the skin got too dry...poor hands

Thankfully we have an employee clinic in my building, makes it easy to get first aid prescriptions without having to fork over a co-pay

[Melalvai]

Last month when I was dealing with my hurt back, I burned a finger while cooking. My friend said "You should just go to bed and stay there for a while" and my daughter replied "Knowing her, she'd fall out of bed." I have a dream that one day I wont' be so clumsy...