Suggestions please for "poison" finger

[Chocol8]

My Mum used to call them this, but don't know if that is the right term.

My little finger is very swollen and EXTREMELY painful. I put it in cold salty water and that has helped for as long as it's in there, but hurts like hell when I take it out.

This is the 3rd "poison" finger I have had in 2 weeks - any suggestions please?

is it infected- is it a witlow? is so hot salty water every night until its ready to pop- soft and green and then pop it with a sterile needle

Thanks Pixiefish - I don't know if it is a witlow, but it is bloody painful. I literally can't bend my finger. The one I had last week was so swollen that my fingerprint totally disappeared.

I don't want to take painkillers for it really but it is agony!

A friend of mine had an infected finger from a splinter, popped it with a needle and his arm swelled up and he was told that he could have died when he ended up at the hospital...so I am rather reticent to use a needle - I will stick to the warm salty water though, thanks.

Ooooh, poor you. Did you have a hangnail or something that's got infected? I had a whitlow once 15 years ago and can still remember the pain of it - really sympathise! Is it just red or does it look pus-y (lovely subject!)

Agree with pixiefish - soak in hot water. Also I would dress it and use an antiseptic cream on it. If it's not better in a couple of days you might need to get it lanced.

your friend probably got infection from the splinter. if it's what i think it is there's normally pus that collects inside- perhaps you'd better get antibiotics. also if uve hd 3 it sounds like ur run down

Moom - these Christmas names just get better!

Pixie, yes am run down with a cold/painful chest/snotty nose etc, and possible M.E. Do you think the finger thing is connected?

My granny had a poisoned finger and she refused to go the dr about it. She tried putting it in Hot salty water but it didn't do any good so she went to the Chemist and they gave her Magnesium sulphate paste to draw out the poison and dressings to put on it. But they told her that if it didn't get better after 2 or 3 days to go to the dr's as she'd maybe need antibiotics. In the end she did have to go the Dr's for antibiotics.

If this is your 3rd poison finger in 2 weeks maybe you should see a dr just to get it checked out/

Thanks Linnet - I have just called NHS Direct because it is SO painful, not sure I will get to sleep and when I did with the last 2 bad fingers, I woke up in pain every time I turned over.

Yes, the pharmacist said that she used to use Magnesium sulphate paste on a dressing. I will go and get some tomorrow, just incase it happens again, thank you.

Chocol8- these things attack when you are rundown- that's what i find anyway and then they flippin drag you down further- it's a vicious circle. personally i'd go to see the doc asap to get antibiotics to sort it once and for all. Good luck

Poor chochl8. These are so painful. I get them now and again. Love the name poisoned finger though. Once one was so bad, and swollen under the nail I had to go to the hospital and have it lanced. the nurse, the cow, just got a needle and pushed it through which hurt in itself, but did ease the throbbing, as the pus had somewhere to go. They didn't give anti-b's though.

I find putting a plaster round quite tightly can ease the throbbing.

Thanks girls - I took your advice and tried the salt water route and then called NHS Direct when I couldn't take the pain anymore - once at 10.45 and again at about 4.30am. I slept for about 2 hours in fits and starts because the pain was horrendous.

A doctor called me back at 5.30 to say he would not be sending anyone out (7 year old son in bed) and he would make an appointment with my doc at 8.30 this morning. So along we trot to find the docs shut. In the end, after a call to complain, I took myself to the A&E who kept me waiting - without painkillers - for nearly 2 hours.

The nurse said it was a witlow and she would lance it. I was hoping she would prick it to let out the pus but she cut it with a scalpel under the nail and squeezed so hard that I was left in a snivelling heap of pain, blood (lots) and pus. Yum.

I have been told to go back if it fills with pus again (which she thinks it will do) but am on painkillers every 4 hours but no antibiotics. Thanks for your help (and for what it's worth, I will never call NHS Direct again!).

Chocol8 you poor thing! Glad you got something done about it though. And, actually, that's exactly what happened to me with mine - waiting for ages in casualty, crying over sore finger that looks almost totally normal, vicious slice with scalpel, fountain of blood and pus! - I just didn't want to say anything yesterday Mine was fine, didn't get reinfected but, ummm, my fingernail did fall off...

I used to get them all the time when I was a child. They really are horrible. Do you chew your nails? That's why i used to get mine

I once had an infection under the nail and was in so much pain. It woke me in the middle of the night. Dh was away and I was in so much agony I actually put a strilieds needle under my finger nail to let out the pus! The relief was increadable. If you keep getting them I'd see the doc.

Only if I can shove it up his

Now, now, that will just make the infection worse

Mind you, the heat might ease the pain a bit.......

I would try that if I thought it would work!

Had a good nights sleep surprisingly, but when I woke up...thump thump thump pulsed my finger. I covered it up with a dressing as I was going out to dinner and didn't want to put people off their meal, but now all I have is a puss filled berry red finger with the occasional bit of bloody pus oozing out...yum! Still can't bend it as the underneath is so swollen...ahh, pass the painkillers! May have to get handy with a scalpel tonight - can't bear another day like this...besides which, I can't wash my hair with it like this!

If you haven't been given some good painkillers can I make a recomendation, Neurofen plus, ibuprofen and codeine, which you can get in the pharmacists. You shouldn't use it if you are asthmatic or prone to constipation but they are very good painkillers and you don't need a prescription. I found that bathing the finger in hot water (as hot as you can cope) and then squeezing out the pus to releve the pressure helped. Magnesium sulpate paste can 'draw out' the pus but isn't a good idea unless the skin is intact.

Ooh, must be a mindreader Happymerryberries - I just did that! I couldn't make it too hot, infact mildly warm as my finger is supersensitive and actually feels raw now. Was wondering about Magnesium paste but after that viscious nurse yesterday, the skin is certainly NOT in tact anymore - infact it's a real mess.

I was told to take Nurofen, and found some in my medical box luckily. I will certainly look out for the Nurofen + etc as these sound like they would be good for period pain too! Thanks for the (finger) tip! x

Think I may have to go back to the docs - I still can't bend my finger and although the swelling has gone down alot, it looks such a mess.

It is still very sensitive and I think it may be filling with pus again....arghh! Do you think antibiotics clear the last of the infection up without it having to be cut again?