Finger amputation need a hand hold.

[jmh740]

My cat bit me in August when I was trying to medicate her. Ive been on antibiotics since 28.8 but it was still badly infected. On Tuesday they told me the bone was infected and the surgeon wouldnt know how much unti he opened it up. I went into surgery for it to be cleaned out (for the 4th time) on Thursday. They hand is well bandaged and it looks like they have amputated between the first and second knuckle.
It was a real sock and I'm struggling to cope with the pain. Does anyone know what the future looks like for me?

How long will it take to heal?
What will I still be able to do?
What wont I be able to do?
Any tips and hints to aid recovery?

Im having the dressing changed tomorrow and a bit nervous to see it.

Something along the way has gone quite catastrophically wrong for a cat bite to result in amputation 8 weeks later in the UK

Surely they would have told you if they’d amputated?

No advice, OP but offering sympathy and a hand hold. What an awful shock for you

I can't tell you anything about healing, but one of my closest friends has a finger missing, firstly I didn't even notice for the first 18 months I knew her until she made reference to it, thinking I'd just been too polite to say anything and we worked together in an environment akin to teaching/training where we were both writing on whiteboards, flip charts etc daily. There doesn't seem to be anything she can't do, but I guess that might depend which finger, hers is her ring finger, I would imagine an index finger may cause more issues with grip

It looks like? Surely they would have to tell you before they operated or worst case after the op?!

Where did you have this done, what information did they give you and when are you having the dressing changed? Were you told amputation was a possibility at pre op? It is a shock but you should absolutely have been informed of this and gone through in length the next steps.

Have they not told you that they amputated?? Surely they didn't just send you home with no information?

Which finger is it?
Is it on your dominant/writing hand?

Which finger is it?

They must have told you that amputation was a possibility before surgery?

Sorry about what you’re going through, OP, but your title did make me laugh-it reminded me of The Handbook for the Limbless.

Didn’t you ask anyone at the time?

which finger?

What does your discharge letter say ?
Is it amputated or mot?
You will manage
Maybe a prosthetic if you need

it looks like they have amputated between the first and second knuckle

Has it been amputated or not? Surely you saw the surgeon post op/daily rounds or you could ask the nurse looking after you? They can also advise on the healing process and timelines.
Which finger?
Your dominate hand or other?
Are they planning physio?
IF its been amputated and you get phantom pains, they can give you meds such as gabapentin, but it all needs to heal first.

Many people who lose an entire finger or partial, most bystanders don't even notice until its pointed out. Its actually quite common to lose part of a finger.

What did you sign for on the operation consent form ?

Apparently the index finger in your non-dominant hand is the 'best' (or least disruptive) to lose.

The discharge notes say tip, each person i asked on Tuesday when I asked could I lose my finger said 'that's up to the surgeon' when he came to see me Thursday before the op he said the x ray showed the bone was dead but he wouldnt know how far the infection was until he opened it up. I was discharged at 9pm notes say amputation of tip but I think its more than the tip, also difficult to say how much is finger and how much is dressing.
Surgeon offered to do it under a local so he could tell me what he needed to do but I said I would rather have a GA and trust him to do what needed to be done.
Ive not returned to work after the 6 week holidays.
Its my left index finger luckily I'm right handed.

Im having the dressing changed tomorrow and very nervous.
This is so painful.

I’m sorry you have been left in the dark as to how much of your finger has been amputated. Make sure you take some painkillers before you go for the dressing change and ask them about further pain relief though they will probably refer you to your GP.

Massive hug for you OP 🫂 ❤️
What an awful thing to happen and I do think, once you feel able, you should ask some questions about the antibiotics provided and why reviews didn't pick up on worsening condition until it came to this, just to get a clear picture of the steps they took to protect your health.
Thankfully it is not your dominant hand, and I'm sure it won't hold you back once it has healed, but there will be a period of adjustment and do try to be gentle with yourself and give yourself grace to feel and to grieve this shock and change.

It was all a bit of a blurr to be honest I've been going for weekly dressing changes. Been admitted twice for IV antibiotics. Had it opened up and cleaned out under local 3 times. When I went for the dressing change and xray last week the ANP said she wanted to speak to a surgeon and she thought it would be either continue with oral antibiotics, admitted again for oral antibiotics or surgery she said she would ring me after 4pm this was around lunch time. After the appointment i nipped to the loo in the clinic when I came out she was waiting outside the loo for me and said the op is booked for Thursday be at the day clinic at 7am. When I asked if I could lose the finger she said 'he will have a look what needs to be done when he opens it up.

Are you keeping the cat after this???? Sorry this happened. Awful.

Are you a vulnerable person? SEN? Do you have anyone supporting or advocating for you?

OP, this is so far outside the realm of normal. To not be sure if you have had your finger amputated or not

He said “the bone was dead”?

Looks like the tip
Ask when you get dressing change

I’m h you or soup. Cat bites are awful, a woman at work nearly lost her arm due to a care bite. They were fighting the infection with everything.