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.

It's still very early days, and I'm sure it's incredibly painful and it looks very swollen.

Im shocked (but sadly not surprised) at how you have been treated. How hard would it have been for someone to confirm what procedure you have had? Instead you are stressing and worrying about this when you should be resting and recovering.

I agree with PPs that in time this will heal up and no one will notice at all. As a knitter and crocheter you will work around this I am sure, but concentrate on healing up and looking after yourself first.

You aren't a very nice person.

Fucking hell. What’s wrong with you?

My friend is missing his ring finger after an accident at work, he says the worse thing is pouring peanuts in to his hand and they fall through the gap

Why are you so aggressive in your posts?

That’s awful Op. I’m so sorry, hopefully someone should provide clarity on what exactly has happened.

.

Oh look at you, so hard & clearly would be utterly indifferent about part of your body being amputated. Seriously, bugger off

Sad lives I imagine.

Get well soon OP

And yet if I say I am wary of cats people will tell me I am over reacting!

This has totally put me off agreeing to feed my neighbours cat again. Last time I fed their cat it was a shy kitten that ran away from all humans, but looking at their recent social media posts it’s not so shy now.

Have you seen the picture I posted? Does that look like just a bit of the tip to you? Its below the first knuckle of the finger next to it and is well wrapped up so hard to tell when the finger ends and dressing begins.

Have you ever heard the saying if you cant say anything nice dont say anything at all.

My mother in-law had a finger amputated after a ring got stuck on her finger they had to take the whole finger off plus the knuckle joint for that finger she healed well but says she can still feel the finger it healed quickly so am sure you be fine may just feel weird soz on phone so cant type right hope you recover quickly

I've named changed for this, but honestly, over the course of my career I've seen many cat bites that have led to horrendous infections including sepsis and the loss of a whole arm (almost loss of life).
It's not as simple as just chucking a few antibiotics at people, people really don't understand how filthy cat bites are.
Human bites are the same! Dog bites much less so.
You will be referred to dressing clinic to ensure the wound is healing and to hand therapy for rehab. This may involve scar management techniques, desensitisation of the scar area, exercises, and trying to return grip strength and function.
It will take several months and you will get emotional support along the way.
I'm sorry the way this has all been handled and poorly communicated to you, but as someone who has seen how much worse things could have turned out, I'd be counting my lucky stars that I hadn't got sepsis.
The surgeon probably saved your life.

Did they not ask you to remove your nail varnish before the operation?

Do you know if your FIL was interacting with the cat or it just randomly bit him?

There's plenty of bollocks discharge notes written. It's not outside the realms of possibility. She's literally said the finger is smaller than her little finger.

Op I'm horrified for you that you were shown so little care and didn't even have it properly explained to you.

I can see what you mean from the picture but that would mean the medical records are wrong, as they state it is an amputation to the tip not e.g. to the DIP joint or PIP joint. Records can be inaccurate, but shouldn't be, so hopefully tomorrow when the dressing is removed the situation will be better than you are fearing

@Mykobo i don’t - but it honestly wasn’t a big wound. They are just really good at giving incredibly nasty infections.

The photo is at a bit of a funny angle so it's hard to see where it reaches on the finger next to it.
Your description makes it sound like it may be most of the nail.
I don't have any knowledge on the matter but I wouldn't imagine it would make that much difference to what you can do with your hand.

Confused about the timescale as you say you have been having weekly dressing changes. Also agree Bout nail polish, I thought they made you remove it for general anaesthesia.

Hysterical? How rude and unkind.
OP is just feeling a little shocked by the procedure and is in pain. Have a bit of empathy

Good god, what is WRONG with some of the posters on this thread? If you want to start a fight, why not pick a rough pub and try there. Or are you only this antagonistic to people online who are going through the wringer right now?

I hope you receive more sympathy from others than you've offered to the OP when something distressing happens to you.

I dont

She's had an infected wound since August, why do you THINK she's needed weekly dressing changes??