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.

So little care? The OP has had repeated medical treatment that's saved her life. Crummy communication at the finish notwithstanding.

I’m sorry you’ve been through such a tough time.

It would be entirely reasonable for you to ask the nurse changing your dressing for an explanation as to how much has been amputated as ‘finger tip’ is not formal medical terminology and will mean different things to different people.

If they can’t can’t answer then they can contact the consultant’s secretary directly (as can you via switch board) and ask for a phone call/ appt to discuss what they have actually done and what the ongoing plan is.

If there is a significant infection in the bone it is often better to take more away in one go to give a margin clear of infection as opposed to slowly keep biting bits away which allows the infection to keep spreading down the finger and would ultimately result in more bone loss.

I thought she meant since the operation.

It's already been said but cat bites are very nasty. I was in hospital for an allergic reaction, chap in next bay had been mauled on the arm by his neighbours cat that had got in via his cat flap and within 48 hours he had to have intravenous antibiotics as the whole arm had swollen up. You'll manage with a finger missing, a friend ripped hers off in a freak accident, she just compensated for the loss and I hope you recover soon.

I knew when I pressed post that my poor sentence had let the message down
What I meant was 'that you've had so little care in the communication of what has happened to you' - sent home while she still felt out of it. So little after care. That's crazy to me ! Of course I don't mean she had poor care in the life saving surgery, and apologies it came across that way.

How incredibly rude you are, and to suggest the OP has SEN issues because she doesn’t know how much of her finger has been amputated….yes because she was unconscious when it was happening and it’s been bandaged up since. Not rocket science is it.

If it makes you feel any better, OP, I worked with someone who only had one arm for three years, and didn’t notice. He literally sat in the next desk to me as well. I have a friend who only has two fingers on her left hand (and a thumb). I didn’t notice that either.

What? I am scaring myself reading this thread. I was hoping cats only bit if you were bothering them.

Are you saying it went through the cat flap, entered his house and just pounced on him unprovoked? Or was he trying to remove it from the house and it bit while he picked it up?

The general anaesthetic may be making you feel more worse than usual too. It’s a lot for you to process. I noticed you had painted nails, I’ve seen people on social media who have a prosthetic finger tip made so they can still have the full set of nails. It’s not obvious until they take the tip off!

I’m looking at my own hand @jmh740and I can see that they could amputate the tip (above the first knuckle) and it would look similar to your picture because my index finger is the same length as the ring finger, with the middle being much longer and the little finger significantly shorter. It depends on your length of finger make-up etc. I hope it works out for the best!

Cat bites are often quite nasty infections.

Hey @jmh740 - going to try and attach a pic of my hand….if you amputated between 1st and second knuckle of my index it would be below my pinkie, I hope this reassures you a bit…. So sorry you’re in so much pain, you need to ask for better meds. My Mum was bitten on the shin by her cat as she stepped over it - nearly 20 years later it looks like a shark bit her (they had to remove so much infected flesh) and it took months to heal…. People don’t realise how dangerous it is, you’re right - cats, squirrels & humans are the most dangerous! You can get a prosthetic but the pain is the most immediate thing to manage. Sending unmumsnet hugs!
on a side note my Mum had the cat pts - it did it once with no provocation, not worth risking anyone else.

OP explains the surgeon said he would only know when he operated. Offered a LA to talk it through as it happened as he operated OP elected to have a GA and trust the surgeon. Her hope was it wouldn't be amputated but the possibility was stated.

I am so greatful for the NHS my husband has MS and a heart condition, hasnt been able to work for 5 years. I was diagnosed type 2 diabetic in 2005, my niece lives in America I am so grateful for the NHS we wouldn't survive over there.
I just feel overwhelmed by everything that's happened, I thought amputation was a very slight chance. Ive been on antibiotics and having weekly sometimes twice weekly dressing changes since 28th August, which is exactly what I expected to happen at my appointment on Tuesday. Less than 48 hours after amputation was first mentioned I was in surgery. Thank you to all of the people who have understood and offered kind words and understanding.
Not sure what to think of the others attacking me for feeling a bit overwhelmed and vulnerable, but I think it says more about them than me!

No. Cats mouths contain very nasty bugs like pasteurella and their teeth inject the bacteria deep into the tissues. Never treat a cat bite like a normal wound.

I’m so sorry that you’re going through this OP. I’ve reported that mean post.

@CelticSilver Imagine calling someone hysterical because they’ve unexpectedly had their finger amputated and have posted a very calm post worrying about how much. You’ve let yourself down there.

@jmh740 I got my finger caught in a stick blender many years ago. Saw a renowned hand surgeon called Simon Kay ( did the UKs first double hand transplant!) and he himself is missing a finger from a bike accident- so please don’t fret

Yes its pasteurella muticodia infection. Id never heard of it before.

I would have thought that missing the tip of one finger is something you will adapt to quite fast so it shouldn't have a significant impact on your life. We have built in redundancy in our hands from the times that losing fingers was more common.

The pain will almost certainly clear with a little bit more time - but I would definitely ask to see if you can get something stronger.

Dd was born without her left hand.

One finger partially amputated may mean your professional piano career is off the cards, however once you've healed, anything else will be physically fine. Give yourself time to recover mentally though as that will be harder.

I think, whatever the extent of the amputation, you will feel better when you know for sure what has been done. Certainty is always better than fear of the unknown. Sending you strength and positive thoughts for when you have the dressing changed tomorrow

This is straigh after the operation on Thursday. Bit clearer than the other one.

I'm a vet nurse. It's a perpetual risk. At a previous practice we had a Cats Protection volunteer who lost her thumb for this reason. Dog bites do more mechanical damage but they rarely have the bacteria that cats have in their mouths.

It can happen. Mate of mine (cat's protection lady) was bitten on the leg. Cellulitis developed and her leg was twice the size it was - despite antibiotics. Had to go to hospital a few times for IV antibiotics as oral ones weren't touching it, as well as the wound cleaned daily. Went on for weeks and touch and go if she could keep her leg.

Antibiotic resistance is a thing too as well as swelling making it hard for the antibiotics to get around to do their thing.