Doctor or not hmmmmmm?

[LewisM]

Slicing cheese today with my scalpel sharp damascus chef knife and for the first time in many decades, slipped...

Long story short, DEEP cut to the left rude finger traversing right under the nail. Nail lifts up. I have bandaged it tightly now and it is not even hurting or throbbing (it did bleed copiously). Thankfully the knife is surgical-sharp so no blunt force trauma etc - very clean cut.

I know the cut will heal, but will the nail sit down again? Considered super glueing it, but resisted the urge :lol: I really don't want to go to the doctor for such a trivial affair, unless the nail has to come off.

[bojan]

It's not trivial.

Go to see the doctor.

[Atmos]

Best to see the doctor, don’t imagine it’ll have to come off but it might come off of its own accord in time.

[glend]

Infection is likely, nothing is clean in most kitchens. Go to someplace that can actually treat you.

[LewisM]

I poured isopropyl on and put in antiseptic cream before bandaging. She’ll be right. Always cut it off if need be :lol:

[RB]

Bunnings > Liquid Nails > Coat of Tak Green > done.

It’s not Rocket Science...

:einstein:

[Sunfish]

Painful. Makes me wince thinking about it.

With fingers and hands it always pays to consider medical advice. Sometimes insisting on talking to a hand surgeon will save more work being required later. I have seen a few of those building site cuts . Admittedly more with power tools than sharp knives.

Sounds like you did the right thing washing and pulling it together but get it checked soon so the medico can compare how it looks now.

[Paul Haese]

Lewis,

when my guys cut them selves on building sites I always say the same thing. Doctor now, get a tetanus shot and check if stitches are needed. Doing this will eliminate serious infection and tetanus which will spread incredibly quickly in the hand area.

Having said that I have used insulation tape on a cut that went all the way to the bone before. Healed nicely albeit over several months. A stupid act but possible with a good immune system.

See the Doc.;)

[xelasnave]

Unfortunately it is probably to late and I expect that you will die a horrible death as the infection takes over.
Perhaps so your demise can be recorded ..go to the doctor who will no doubt record how your passed away.
Lewis firstly I knew it was a mistaken letting you have sharp knives...but I said nothing...now my reasonable fears have materialised I find that I must comment...look mate go to the doctor..not for you but for him..no doubt higher things are at stake..lease payments on his Mercedes ... I used to avoid the doctor ..so stupid..sure make sure they know what they are talking about..so it becomes fun..see if you can educate yourself better than the doctor..I love that..but doctor what do you think about such and such a paper that suggests such and such a treatment...look Lewis get around you reluctance in any manner you can but please ..see a doctor.
Alex

[LewisM]

If I go, I'm leaving Andrew my Takky stuff. Not Tak, takky stuff - like once chewed bubble gum.

Col can have all my eyepiece caps.

Alex can have my collection of used Guatemalan postage stamps

[xelasnave]

I have rethought this perhaps don't go to the doctor..after all do you know him..and in passing if sadly you passed from us..where can I pick up the stamp collection.
Alex

[JA]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFtyh-5LPxw

Best
JA

[DarkArts]

Doctor! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z75qvDtbxjQ)

[Pepper]

Like Paul said above. Bit of dunny paper and some electrical tape. The black stuff

[bigjoe]

Lewis if it goes TAK GREEN thats a good thing ..right??
It could all fall off!
Bigjoe

[Peter Ward]

Maaate...Seriously?

This is Oz, not the USA, hence seeing the Doc can be free of charge....hence a no brainer.

BTW did you know Tetanus can cause muscle spasms strong enough to snap bones? Have it looked at, plus maybe a couple of shots if the Doc says it would be prudent.

[ChrisV]

Doctor!
deep cut = infection, tetanus, nerve injury ...
Doctors really aren't that bad.

[GrahamL]

Doctors do good things and often bulk bill for stupid stuff we do:thumbsup:

On another note alex those Apollo 11 stamps from from your possible collection look nice and are worth a few dollars.

[LewisM]

Finding a bulk billing doctor in Canberra is no trivial matter - rarer than an honest politician here (no, seriously).

Opened up the bandaging today - sealed up perfectly (testament to how sharp I keep my knives) and it seems the blade cleaved and cut the nail without actually cutting the nail bed (hence relative lack of pain). No oozing, plenty of vasculation to the site, so I rinsed well in warm saline and applied betadine liberally, allowing to air dry then applying breathable dressings.

Wife always said I was an insensitive bassturd, so if I lose sensation in my bird finger, it will be more than apt :P :lol:

[Atmos]

No sense no feeling aye Lewis ;)

[LewisM]

No pain, no brain.

[Hans Tucker]

Come to the western suburbs of Melbourne, most if not all the clinics here are Bulk Billing. Can't attest to the quality of doctors in some of these clinics.

[acropolite]

Lewis go to the doctor and watch the outcome very carefully.
I got a simple cut on my knee, barely hurt. My doctor set me on a course of antibiotics. 10 days later it became more tender and I had some odd rash running up to my groin. A visit to the local hospital saw me x-rayed, almost admitted, 7 days of intravenous antibiotics, then a week course of oral antibiotics, 4 days in to the second course of antibiotics the rash flared again, luckily 4 more days of IV antibiotics and a further 2 weeks of oral antibiotics beat it.
If that doesn’t worry you I had a friend who also cut his knee, he had finished a course of antibiotics to kill a similar bug, stopped the antibiotics, the bug killed him.
There are no points for being tough.

[astroron]

Talking of quality of doctors?
About just over 3 weeks ago I had a sharp pain originate on my hip bone and which over the weekend traveled down my leg, causing a numbness on the left hand side of my foot,which is still there.
I was in severe pain and had difficulty walking.
I went to the doctors on the Monday and because of a very small round rash on the bottom of my leg he diagnosed Shingles.
To say the least I was amazed seeing as I didn't think Ihad any classic symptoms of said disease.
He gave me a prescription for some pills and codine for the pain.
As I was heading to Canada on the following Wednesday I asked him if I should cancel as I was not sure that the disease was what he said and the pain was very uncomfortable.
No problem, go on your holiday,Mind you I was supposed to be doing some walking up in the mountains around Jasper Alberta, which I did mention.
After four painful days in Vancouver and with very little to no improvement
I cancelled my trip and flew back home,returning last Tuesday.
The pain has receded somewhat but the numbness in my foot has not and I still have a limp.
I hope the numbness just like the pain will recede and I will be back to normal soon.
Two things I have learnt out of this experience,you know your body better than the doctor,and if in doubt take the safer option.
Lewis,it shows you know your own body. ;)
I will not be returning to that doctor again
Cheers:thumbsup:

[LewisM]

Not dead so far, much to the malign chagrin of a select few :lol:

(I swear the photo is not indicative of anything other than a picture of the offending finger. Any offense is entirely the interpretation of the viewer)

[astroron]

Really? who would have thought:whistle::rofl:;)
Cheers:thumbsup:

[LewisM]

Or this is proof of the afterlife

[astroron]

I won't know till I get there.

[JohnF]

Good to go to another doctor in-order to get a second opinion.

Never be affair to get another opinion -- I was a Pathology Technician, so am aware of some things medical.

[LewisM]

I have a B. Sc (Microbiology major / Medical Microbiology minor) - I have a little knowledge of infection and treatment regimes to counter infection :) (no I did not bleach the wound site, but I did flood it with pure ethanol followed by poviodine :lol:)

Drastic and not ideal, but effective

[multiweb]

Skipped the course on using a scalpel? :lol:

[LewisM]

Au contraire mon ami - hence the nice clean surgical cut :P

[JohnF]

My first Pathology Job in 1979 -- I was a Pathology Technician, I visited the Home of a Microbiologist from our Lab, where we were to have a Coffee. He opened the fridge to get the milk. Everything was covered with mould.

If you were a Microbiologist like him, no wonder you have your problems, but I guess that you are not like him.

[LewisM]

Nope, no problems. Never did mention I had any, so not sure where that one surmised from? Still alive, full sensation returned to finger. Wound completely fused closed. Nail progressed enough to be visibly separated from the wound cut. Still change the dressing daily and clean in alcohol, saline and iodine.

Living "sterile" is begging for problems with immune system - exposure helps the body adapt and build resistance. I also vehemently REFUSE to take any medicine for colds, flu and other minor ailments. Like one very wise doctor once said - "a week with medicine, 7 days without"

[xelasnave]

You are supposed to drink the alcohol.
Alex

[LewisM]

94% pure ethanol does evil things to your liver and eyesight

[xelasnave]

That is 47% alcohol or is it 188% :P...Is that the bad one? If not add a third of water...put away all your knives and have a glass or two... and you will know how my legs perform most days..strangley a big drink is the only thing I take for the pain management..not often but sometimes it gets beyond tolerance..I avoid pain killers as I fear adiction would be a reality.
Do you know how to get it to 100% I read how and it's not by further distillation...
Alex

[JeniSkunk]

Addiction to serious pain killers is all too easy to have happen.
I know that from first hand experience. Not nice at all.

[leee]

LewisM. I too have a degree is Microbiology, and - Alcohol on a wound is NOT a good idea. Check the Web.

[LewisM]

Yup, that is why I said "drastic and not ideal" above :) It is what I had readily available close by without the issue of dragging out a medicine box with one good hand while pouring blood all over the floor with the other (I was home, alone). Ya do what ya gotta do :)