deep infection in finger

gpsings · 06-29-2013, 06:41 PM

My husband cut his knuckle pretty bad at work (he's a mechanic) and it was healing alright, it seemed, the cut sealed up and no signs of infection...then the other night he woke up in pain and his finger (which looked healed when he went to bed) was about as swollen as I have ever seen a finger get, and oozing pus.
He went to the workers clinic the next morning, and they took ex rays and said it didn't look broken, gave him an antibiotic and ibuprofen. It's not hot to touch, and it's SO swollen. Still oozing pus.
Is there something we can do to help the swelling go down so it won't hurt him so much? Would some type of bentonite clay pack help?

SilverMoon · 06-29-2013, 06:50 PM

Soaking in warm water with epsom salts which can help fight the infection. Make a poultice with comfrey leaves to draw the pus out. Bentonite clay applied is supposed to help; I'd mix the clay with colloidal silver for extra fighting power.
I think he needs to see a real doctor. Watch for red streaking from the wound toward his elbow. That means the infection is entering his blood stream and he needs an ER immediately.

Sparrow · 06-29-2013, 06:51 PM

When I had a hangnail go crazy infected after the abx, the doctor had me soak my hand in epsom salts (with warm water) it helped draw the infection out, and helped me with the pain too.

mamacat · 06-29-2013, 07:03 PM

Def the epsom salts and bentonite pack in between soaks

TestifyToLove · 06-30-2013, 05:39 PM

It sounds very much like the wound was not fully cleaned out when the injury occurred. Infection that is sealed inside the body like that requires a doctor to look at, preferably an orthopedic surgeon. As someone else said, any red streaks mean you need to go straight to the Emergency room. However, given this was a workman's comp issue, if you cannot get fast response I would recommend an ER anyway. It's a fast track path to see an Orthoped versus just a GP.

gpsings · 07-01-2013, 05:05 AM

He's been doing epson salt soaks and clay wraps for two days. Swelling doesn't seem better, but he's been able to sleep through the night, which is an improvement. He is going back to the workmans comp dr today, so I am praying they will take him more seriously. He's already taking antibx but It's been a week. No red streaks that I could see.....
I will tell him about the orthopedic. He didn't clean out the wound other than to rinse it in the sink.

Thank you all for good advice.

TestifyToLove · 07-01-2013, 11:16 AM

FWIW, in the future, if an open wound is not cleaned out with sterile salt water by a healthcare professional, you can pour hydrogen peroxide into the wound. The concern is bacteria that thrive without oxygen will grow and flourish once the wound is closed back up. Hydrogen peroxide will overwhelm those bacteria with oxygen that will destroy them so that they are dead before the wound closes and seals them in.

gpsings · 07-01-2013, 11:25 AM

Thank you. He had it packed with clay again overnight, and it was better this morning, he said, but still very angry. The dr said something about recommending PT for it, but he thought that was silly. He's joking around about how much workmans comp would pay him for a finger.

I would just be very very happy if it didn't get septic and turn serious.

Peridot · 07-02-2013, 10:50 AM

is it still hot?

It sounds like more going on than soft tissue infection. If it was only that the soaks should have helped more dramatically by now. how is the tissue around the wound? is it hard, shiny? is it spongey? smell it- what does it smell like? does the pain radiate?

I don't like this.

gpsings · 07-02-2013, 11:38 AM

No smell, not hot anymore. Tissue was tight and shiny, and it would hurt even if air hit it. He was waking up at night. :-( slowly, the soaks are helping a bit, but not dramatically. He's sleeping through the night and says the pain is down. I think its getting better, but its definitely a bad one.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk 2

Peridot · 07-02-2013, 11:55 AM

you are doing clay? or Epsom salts?

You could do one in the morning and the other in the evening.

gpsings · 07-02-2013, 01:24 PM

He's been soaking all evening when he gets home from work, and wearing a clay/ bandage through the night while sleeping. It has, slowly been going down.
Question; Why would the workman's comp. Dr recommend PT? He laughed it off...

TestifyToLove · 07-02-2013, 05:23 PM

PT would help an inflammatory response. However, inflammation would not have pus oozing out of the wound. Do you have the ability to see someone for a second opinion? I would seek a second opinion sooner rather than later, personally.

brown eyed girl · 07-02-2013, 06:27 PM

did they give him a tetanus shot?

gpsings · 07-02-2013, 07:03 PM

No tetanus shot. I am not comfortable with how slowly it's healing. I don't see any more pus, and its not hurting as much, but its still really swollen. He's still soaking in Epson salts and wrapping it with clay.
What does it mean if c. Silver is yellow? I wasn't comfortable using it.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk 2

06-29-2013, 06:41 PM	#1
gpsings Rose Garden ORANGE you glad I made a new avatar? :D Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,084	deep infection in finger My husband cut his knuckle pretty bad at work (he's a mechanic) and it was healing alright, it seemed, the cut sealed up and no signs of infection...then the other night he woke up in pain and his finger (which looked healed when he went to bed) was about as swollen as I have ever seen a finger get, and oozing pus. He went to the workers clinic the next morning, and they took ex rays and said it didn't look broken, gave him an antibiotic and ibuprofen. It's not hot to touch, and it's SO swollen. Still oozing pus. Is there something we can do to help the swelling go down so it won't hurt him so much? Would some type of bentonite clay pack help? __________________ Gretchen ENTP Wife of Kevin Blessed AP, Homeschooling mama to: Aneliese age 13, Breena age 10, and Caden age 7

06-29-2013, 06:50 PM	#2
SilverMoon Rose Garden It takes less time to do a thing right than to explain why you did it wrong. — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 17,122	Re: deep infection in finger Soaking in warm water with epsom salts which can help fight the infection. Make a poultice with comfrey leaves to draw the pus out. Bentonite clay applied is supposed to help; I'd mix the clay with colloidal silver for extra fighting power. I think he needs to see a real doctor. Watch for red streaking from the wound toward his elbow. That means the infection is entering his blood stream and he needs an ER immediately. __________________ Cynthia "Trust is rebuilt by focusing not on what the other person did or did not do but on critiquing one's own behavior, improving one's trustworthiness, and focusing attention not on words and promises but on actions, attitudes, and ways of being." — Kenneth Cloke and Joan Goldsmith The Art of Waking People Up for the many, many wise voices we've lost married 20 years Mom to: ds1 10/93 dd1 5/95 ds2 5/97 7/96 (twin of ds2) 11/96

06-29-2013, 06:51 PM	#3
Sparrow Rose Garden Immerse your soul in love. Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 17,611	Re: deep infection in finger When I had a hangnail go crazy infected after the abx, the doctor had me soak my hand in epsom salts (with warm water) it helped draw the infection out, and helped me with the pain too. __________________ Manda Mama to: Bear 16.75 Funny and Tender. Larger than life. ENFP Max 14 Affectionate and Spirited. Artist Chickadee 8! She's Sunshine and Song. Born in the caul We have a fur baby. A cat called Charlie

06-29-2013, 07:03 PM	#4
mamacat Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 26,473	Re: deep infection in finger Def the epsom salts and bentonite pack in between soaks __________________ ~Catherine~ Mama to 5: C W C J S And Grandma to 3: A ,K and baby C

06-30-2013, 05:39 PM	#5
TestifyToLove Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22,171	Re: deep infection in finger It sounds very much like the wound was not fully cleaned out when the injury occurred. Infection that is sealed inside the body like that requires a doctor to look at, preferably an orthopedic surgeon. As someone else said, any red streaks mean you need to go straight to the Emergency room. However, given this was a workman's comp issue, if you cannot get fast response I would recommend an ER anyway. It's a fast track path to see an Orthoped versus just a GP.

07-01-2013, 05:05 AM	#6
gpsings Rose Garden ORANGE you glad I made a new avatar? :D Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,084	Re: deep infection in finger He's been doing epson salt soaks and clay wraps for two days. Swelling doesn't seem better, but he's been able to sleep through the night, which is an improvement. He is going back to the workmans comp dr today, so I am praying they will take him more seriously. He's already taking antibx but It's been a week. No red streaks that I could see..... I will tell him about the orthopedic. He didn't clean out the wound other than to rinse it in the sink. Thank you all for good advice. __________________ Gretchen ENTP Wife of Kevin Blessed AP, Homeschooling mama to: Aneliese age 13, Breena age 10, and Caden age 7

07-01-2013, 11:16 AM	#7
TestifyToLove Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22,171	Re: deep infection in finger FWIW, in the future, if an open wound is not cleaned out with sterile salt water by a healthcare professional, you can pour hydrogen peroxide into the wound. The concern is bacteria that thrive without oxygen will grow and flourish once the wound is closed back up. Hydrogen peroxide will overwhelm those bacteria with oxygen that will destroy them so that they are dead before the wound closes and seals them in.

07-01-2013, 11:25 AM	#8
gpsings Rose Garden ORANGE you glad I made a new avatar? :D Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,084	Re: deep infection in finger Thank you. He had it packed with clay again overnight, and it was better this morning, he said, but still very angry. The dr said something about recommending PT for it, but he thought that was silly. He's joking around about how much workmans comp would pay him for a finger. I would just be very very happy if it didn't get septic and turn serious. __________________ Gretchen ENTP Wife of Kevin Blessed AP, Homeschooling mama to: Aneliese age 13, Breena age 10, and Caden age 7

07-02-2013, 10:50 AM	#9
Peridot Rose Garden I stand before you, DeFrocked!! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Qontinuum Posts: 11,537	Re: deep infection in finger is it still hot? It sounds like more going on than soft tissue infection. If it was only that the soaks should have helped more dramatically by now. how is the tissue around the wound? is it hard, shiny? is it spongey? smell it- what does it smell like? does the pain radiate? I don't like this. __________________ This is me- and them- ds 'Maximus'- 7.5 yrs, and ds 'Minimus'- 5 yrs. "A normal, imperfect, LUMPEN human being!!" Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. and yet, one day Love himself barged into the Temple with a bullwhip and declared enough was enough. I will testify to Love.

07-02-2013, 11:38 AM	#10
gpsings Rose Garden ORANGE you glad I made a new avatar? :D Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,084	No smell, not hot anymore. Tissue was tight and shiny, and it would hurt even if air hit it. He was waking up at night. :-( slowly, the soaks are helping a bit, but not dramatically. He's sleeping through the night and says the pain is down. I think its getting better, but its definitely a bad one. Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk 2 __________________ Gretchen ENTP Wife of Kevin Blessed AP, Homeschooling mama to: Aneliese age 13, Breena age 10, and Caden age 7

07-02-2013, 11:55 AM	#11
Peridot Rose Garden I stand before you, DeFrocked!! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Qontinuum Posts: 11,537	Re: deep infection in finger you are doing clay? or Epsom salts? You could do one in the morning and the other in the evening. __________________ This is me- and them- ds 'Maximus'- 7.5 yrs, and ds 'Minimus'- 5 yrs. "A normal, imperfect, LUMPEN human being!!" Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. and yet, one day Love himself barged into the Temple with a bullwhip and declared enough was enough. I will testify to Love.

07-02-2013, 01:24 PM	#12
gpsings Rose Garden ORANGE you glad I made a new avatar? :D Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,084	Re: deep infection in finger He's been soaking all evening when he gets home from work, and wearing a clay/ bandage through the night while sleeping. It has, slowly been going down. Question; Why would the workman's comp. Dr recommend PT? He laughed it off... __________________ Gretchen ENTP Wife of Kevin Blessed AP, Homeschooling mama to: Aneliese age 13, Breena age 10, and Caden age 7

07-02-2013, 05:23 PM	#13
TestifyToLove Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22,171	Re: deep infection in finger PT would help an inflammatory response. However, inflammation would not have pus oozing out of the wound. Do you have the ability to see someone for a second opinion? I would seek a second opinion sooner rather than later, personally.

07-02-2013, 06:27 PM	#14
brown eyed girl Rose Bouquet Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 986	Re: deep infection in finger did they give him a tetanus shot? __________________ ISFJ married to INTJ Nine kids are 20 college boy, 20 "adopted" son, 18 busker boy who lives 1000 mi away, 16b, 14g, 14g (foster child), 12b, 9g and 7g. Live in a big old Victorian in an inner city area. Homeschooling, with 3 grads. We also have a housemate w/ 3g, Airbnb guests and Couchsurfers--1-4 extras most of the time. Do you remember when we used to sing? Sha la la la la la la la la la la de da

07-02-2013, 07:03 PM	#15
gpsings Rose Garden ORANGE you glad I made a new avatar? :D Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,084	No tetanus shot. I am not comfortable with how slowly it's healing. I don't see any more pus, and its not hurting as much, but its still really swollen. He's still soaking in Epson salts and wrapping it with clay. What does it mean if c. Silver is yellow? I wasn't comfortable using it. Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk 2 __________________ Gretchen ENTP Wife of Kevin Blessed AP, Homeschooling mama to: Aneliese age 13, Breena age 10, and Caden age 7

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