Hot swollen finger....

[headfairy]

I cut my finger last Thursday, it was painful for ages but it had started to heal. The last couple of days it's split the opposite way (ie the cut was along the length of my finger, it's now split across the finger) and it's hot and slightly swollen, and really really painful. Is it infected? At what point do I chop it off? :o

Seriously though, I've had tcp and savlon type things on it and it's not helped. What else can I do?

I think you should get that seen, you probably need antibiotics, it could get quite nasty if the infection spreads.

It's quite dry, not oozy or anything. Won't a doctor poo poo me and send me out of his office to make way for someone who's fallen on the ice?

Would agree, if its hot & topical stuff like savlon haven't helped you do probably need antibiotics. Would call NHS Direct/Out of Hours care. They will also be able to warn you of what to look out for if gets worse, think its feeling shaky/dizzy/feverish.

I had infected finger at the weekend once, red/hot/swollen, and showed a pharmacist in a supermarket for advice. They called NHS Direct for me and arranged appointment to see out-of-hours GP to get antibiotics.

Is there a thin red line from wound up your finger/hand/arm?

Is it a "throbbing" pain?

If so, small injuries asap

the doctor definitely wouldn't poo poo you!

No red line quint, but there's a throbbing pain when I straighten it, well I say pain, it's not too bad, more like I can feel my pulse and it's a bit tight/uncomfortable. The split seems to have widened today and the original cut is now raised. I'm going to have to trudge out in the snow tomorrow to see a pharmacist aren't I?

Sounds like cellulitis to me, I think you need to see a Dr rather than a pharmacist.

Hmmm I've had lots of problems with boils that were caused by stapholoccocus aurea (sp) infections when I'm run down (a left over of a nasty bout of glandular fever when I was 17) so reading about cellulitis, it's a possibility I suppose. Is it something that needs checking this weekend or can I wait until Monday to see the normal doc?

Well, I am not medically trained but I would get it checked this weekend, or at least phone NHS Direct for advice.

try putting it in hot salt water. it'll help draw any infection out and won't harm it. But I'd still get someone to have a look at it this weekend

oooh nice one pottering, will definitely try that. Anything to mitigate actually having to walk through a blizzard to have a doctor tell me there's nothing wrong with it!

Yes, soak in warm salt water, but there is something wrong with it and it does need to be seen by a doctor.

Agreed, you don't want it to spread to your hand or arm

how is it now??

well we were totally snowed in over the weekend, it's taken me 2 and half hours to get to work so I haven't been able to get in to a doctor. I did soak it in warm salty water but it's still swollen, but its' very localised the swelling, literally just around the cut. The original cut has healed now but where it's split in the opposite direction is still open. There's no sign of it spreading though.