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.

I hope the pains a bit better today, remember you can have the pain reviewed.

My son had a serious motorbike accident in 2012. The plan was to rebuild his hand and arm but he was told that amputation was a possibilityif they couldnt achieve that. He and had to sign paperwork to agree to that before they started. A finger is obviously a very different operation but the possibility of amputation was presumably the same. Are you sure you didn't sign a form ( yellow I think) that you agreed to them doing whatever was necessary.

Were you in Blackburn hospital?
Notoriously bad!!

OP, all the best today. I've been thinking about you and how distressing this is for you. Please try to ignore the posters who are, for some reason, using their anonymity to be snarky or unpleasant to you. I'm sure they wouldn't mock someone to their face like that.

As many others here have said, you will adapt once your wound has healed, you'll have to accommodate it to an extent, but I think you'll automatically 'train' your middle finger to be your functional index finger for things like typing, knitting, etc. (I knit and I'm told I do it weirdly - apparently I do it Continental-style and hold the yarn over my left index finger. You could learn how to knit English-style if you're used to holding the yarn with your left finger, or bring in your left middle finger instead.)

I really hope your wound heals fast and that this is finally an end to this horrible saga of infection you've been through. If you're in more pain than a couple of paracetamol can deal with (as I'd imagine you may be) then be pushy about this at today's appointment! If they didn't discharge you with anything stronger, ask about that.

Thanks to everyone who has reported concerns about some of the posts on this thread, we are going through it now. And heavens, what a shock OP, we're sending our best for a good recovery and a successful adjustment to your new normal. 🌷

I’m sorry this has happened to you OP and I wish you all the best with your recovery. I can imagine it’s been quite a shock.

For those questioning the validity of this, I had three surgeries across three days and was then in hospital for three weeks after. My nail varnish remained on throughout, in fact, my nurses commented on how nice my nails looked!

Burrito!

Hazmat suit.

Luckily everything my cats have had to take can be put in a Churro bite, which they love.

I’ve been to a hospital appointment today. Lots of posters up saying they’re now using AI to do clinical notes summaries. Will free up clinician time. So can only imagine incorrect documentation will increase.

She could at least say sorry.
Sometimes I wonder why we love them so...😺

I had a telephone appointment earlier this year and they asked if they can use AI. I said no. I guess the option isn’t always there now.

Haven't read the whole thread but I don't know why some people are confused about it being a real possibility.

Cats are quite safe pets, most are quite aware and patient of vulnerable people and their first mode of defense is usually scratching if the feel they need to defend themselves.

Scratching has limited risk as its usually shallow and 'scratch fever' isn't deadly to healthy people, only the eyes are risk spot and Ive been clawed though the eyelid before (from the meanest most uncat like cat I ever met) without long term issue.

Problem is their second defense mode if they can't scratch and do panic is biting and cat bites can be catastrophic. Unlike a dog bite which often requires surgery or reconstruction a cat bite does very little obvious immediate damage, most people just thing 'ow, you little bugger' and whack on a plaster to the small hole and carry on, but that small hole is like a hypodermic of bacteria deep into the body.

Totally believable injuries from a cat bite.

Anyone who thinks the hospital would have 'explained things' also is very privileged to not have to deal with hospitals very often or have been privileged to only ever deal with an excellent hospital.

Our hospital 'forgot' to tell my mam she had stage 4 cancer, she went in for suspected pneumonia and we only found out from reading her discharge notes. There is now (too late for my mam) currently two massive investigations going on at our hospital. One for multiple cancer failings (including hundreds of cases going back decades of young women who were denied testing based on age and for women who where tested but were never told they had cancer or offered treatment) and a new one just opened triggered by high child deaths rates.

Yes!

Hi OP, sorry not read the full thread, but I’ve worked in hand therapy in the past.
Agree with PP who noted that there is nothing specific in the discharge summary re. how much has been amputated.

Usually they would state quite clearly ‘distally to the PIP joint’ for example.

Your index and middle fingers are mostly for fine motor tasks, using the thumb in opposition for picking small items up, pinching etc. The ring and little fingers are for stability eg when holding a toothbrush or hammer.

Make sure you get a referral to hand therapy where you’ll see an occupational therapist who can advise you about scar management, desensitisation and hand function.

I’ve seen many hand injuries and surgeries and 99% of people recover very well and adapt to using their hand like a pro!

Not just the tip and I almost passed out due to the pain when she tried to redress it, but at least I know what I'm dealing with now.

The only way with mine is to break the tablets up and mix them in with very smelly food (Gourmet Mon Petit pouches seem to work).

I've tried putting the tablets into their mouths, stroking their throats as all the guidance says and all that happens is they seem to have taken it but two hours later I find the tablet on the floor - they hold onto it and spit it out!

Fortunately and touch wood neither of mine are on long term medication.

You poor thing what a shock! And yes I definitely would not be expecting so much to be gone based on the notes.

I know there have been loads of these anecdotes on this thread but just to add one I also worked with someone for years before noticing they had a missing finger.

I’m so sorry you’ve been through this and hope the pain settles down for you. At least now you know what you’re dealing with and can start processing it 🌺

Oh, OP, that is more than the tip as you feared. It looks as though the joint is still there but you have lost everything above the joint. At least you know now.

I'm sorry, OP. It still looks swollen, that should reduce. Definitely get a referral to occupational therapy.

Oh gosh your instinct was right that it was more than the tip. I do think the hospital medical staff should have talked to you about that before sending you home with that misleading letter. You would have known then, rather than spending last night feeling so unsure.
Like others have just said, at least you know now. However, it must still be a shock for you and I really hope you are being given some support from someone in a medical team about how you will adapt to this. x

I don't think your shorter finger will be noticeable to people in daily life unless they are looking intently at your hand for some reason, but you can get prosthetic finger-ends which might be something to consider once your finger is fully healed, not so much for the sake of your appearance to others, but for yourself so your hand looks more like it used to.

Is it worth exploring access to occupational therapy but also disability allowance? And worth having a chat to your manager (if you work) as you'll likely need to make some reasonable adjustments as and when you go back to work. What a shock

That's more that the tip - but at least you now know and the infection is gone.

I'm so sorry this happened - we have cats and while I know breaking the skin with a bite can be bad I'd never have thought this bad.

I think the letter was misleading and you have been very unlucky - I think anyone would be shocked and upset and I hope you feel better soon.