Warning - disgusting photo

[imaterriblestoopid]

Apologies for photo but need advice.

Have been battling a disgusting infected cuticle for two weeks. Tried treating myself for a week with antiseptic cream and salt baths to no avail. It continued seeping pus so was prescribed ABs 4 days ago and no idea if they've been working or not as there's still some pus and it has now grown some sort of fleshy growth with the pus coming from underneath. I feel like this growth needs to be cauterised or something and have no idea even what it is!! Everything online comes up with paronychia but this isn't just that. Should I go to minor injuries?

I don't want to frighten you but this could be a whitlow. You need expert advice fast.
Most whitlows are innocuous but , as my previous neighbour would testify, some can spread infection to the joint. Two surgeries later , with a threat of amputation, she recovered, but it took a while.

Don't treat it on your own. Seek professional advice.

@girlmom21 yeah you going to be there just in case it gets worse and needs to be amputated? It's not a paper cut.

It's not an emergency either. Your suggestion is mad.

Yes

@girlmom21 err no darling yes it is.

It's really not. It's a minor infection. People going to A&E for shit like this are the problem.

I had an infection that looked relatively minor once. I ended up in hospital and was on an antibiotic drip for three days, and nearly lost a finger. Which is why something like this needs to be taken seriously if it isn't responding to current treatment.

It's not so easy getting a GP appointment these days, and pharmacists can only do so much.

But it's still not worthy of A and E, it's Monday tomorrow so the OP can contact her GP or see a pharmacist.

I won't be going to A&E but I absolutely can see why people resort to it when worried
and in pain. Minor injuries won't see me and it's impossible to get hold of my GP. Last week I rang at 8am on the dot, waited on hold for 40 minutes and was then hung up on and got a text saying they're overwhelmed. 111 is getting a nurse to call back but still no one has looked at it.

Antibiotics are definitely working - less pus but the fleshy growth is still so painful and I still don't understand what it is. It's just flapping next to the cuticle? It needs to be removed right? It's not going to go anywhere on its own surely? It's huge!

You're growing a new thumb OP! Seriously though, I'd go to the minor injuries unit and sit there until someone sees you. You're right to not go to A&E, it definitely isn't life threatening but it does need looking at

Will try my best with the GP tomorrow and failing that will definitely have to camp out at minor injuries. So desperate to have this sorted for Christmas 😭

Looks like Retronychia to me which normally affects toes but can affect fingers.

The skin makes those fleshy lumps when there is an irritant in it. Look up videos of ingrown toenails. Maybe use granulation on the search bar.

It's not particularly scary, just needs looking at to remove whatever the underlying problem is. It may go down now the ABs have helped.

How much pain can you tolerate?

Because honestly I'd sterilise a sewing needle in boiling water, pierce it 2/3 times and push out the puss.

And then...I'd dunk it into neat TCP and let it soak.

I mean you may need someone to peel you off the ceiling, but neat TCP clears up everything I find 😳

But I'm not a Dr or anything, and I also avoid a and e like the plague. I once didn't pass urine for 24hours and was in agony as my bladder was full and I had horrific kidney pain, so I literally put a catheter in at home that I ordered off Amazon. A load of grit came out so I must have had like kidney stones or something that blocked things up. I've been fine since 🤷🏻‍♀️

That looks more red than the photo yesterday, I'm wondering it the AB's aren't working for whatever infection you have there. I'd be calling the GP first thing

Yes looks like retronychia to me too. What antibiotics did they give you and how long was the course?
It probably needs draining at this point. The granuloma should clear with pressure dressing and maybe some topical steroids once the pus is gone.

It's redder but I think that's because it's drying out and less pus?

Thank you! It's flucloxacillin for a week and have done 6 days now.

Thank you that's really helpful

Honestly there's barely any pus there now, it's just a painful fleshy lump!

That makes sense. No idea what the irritant could be 🤷‍♀️

I'm sure it's a granuloma now but I just know GP won't see me tomorrow 😭

And you know that,how? Ring first thing,say you want an emergency appt,ring 111 if you can't get an appt. Keep bathing it in salt water in the meantime.

Granulomas look gross but are actually quite satisfying to treat 😂
classic first step is pressure, a firmly placed plaster on it will do that, and may even encourage the rest of the pus out as the skin softens. Twice a day wash the granuloma with saline and re-dress.
A newer protocol I'm trying which has exciting preliminary results is to apply regular cooking salt for 10-30 mins twice a day. Put Vaseline on any areas that aren't granuloma to protect them first. Sounds absolutely bonkers but 100% success rate in small study so far.

The fleshy growth looks similar to one I had over a year ago. It was diagnosed as a granuloma and I can honestly say it's one of the most excruciatingly painful things I've ever experienced. It had it's own blood supply and pulse.

You need antibiotics straight away.