Stuck end of knife in finger last night while cutting bread; bled alot; bandaid applied?

Question

today finger is swollen; can't bend;warm to touch; should I be worried about serious infection? treatment suggestions welcome

Answer 1

sounds like you've possibly got an infection

clean the cut out well with warm water and soap. if the cut is not extremely deep or open then you can apply a thin layer of neosporin to it and apply rolled gauze and tape to it.

you need to see a doctor about the infection-he can prescribe oral antibiotics and a tetanus booster to help protect you from the germs you picked up from the knife. pls try to be seen asap-infection can spread quickly.

take ibuprofen for pain and swelling. tylenol works ok for pain but the ibuprofen has an anti-inflammatory in it to reduce the swelling. take 200-400mg every 6 hours . max dose for ibuprofen is 1200mg every 24 hours. tylenol-take 200-350mg every 4h. max dose is 1000mg every 24. the two can be rotated through if it helps-take motrin and then you can take the tylenol in 4 hours if getting minimal or no relief from motrin.

report to the emergency room if:
the finger begins to swell more
the infection looks like it's spreading (redness extending up your hand or arm from the wound area)
you develop a fever

these are signs that the infection has spread-possibly into your blood and iv antibiotics will be needed immediately

Answer 2

overnight not much can happen unless the knife had bad becteria on it. I suggest washing it with warm water and soap then applying hydrogen peroxide and leave it open to air for a while then put another bandaid back on. tomorrow if it looks any worse go see the doctor imeediately. These things can get ba. All they will do is prescribe anti-biotics. If you are really concerned and the office is closed you can always contact the doctor personally and have them call in a perscription to a local pharmacy or grocery store.

Answer 3

Hopefully you were able to control or stop the bleeding. With the problems of warmth, swelling and unable to bend I would see a doctor. If nothing else just to update your tetanus booster. Who knows where that knife has been!! You may need antibiotic treatment

Answer 4

You may be developing an infection, or you might have damaged the muscle or tendon in your finger. You should see your doctor as soon as possible, and in the mean time, keep it clean (wash, use hydrogen peroxide and an antibacterial ointment) and ice it. You may also want to take an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or aspirin (not tylenol), and it would be a good idea to elevate your hand regularly.
Good luck and see your doc!!

Answer 5

Treatment suggestion: Go to the doctor, apply abundant alcohol or oxygenated water in the injury and get a true bandage, don't use a bandaid.

Answer 6

Yeah you need to clean it really good with anti- bacterial soap. If you see a red line going up your arm go directly to the hospital, because that means the infection is in your blood, and you need meds ASAP

Answer 7

When was your last tetanus shot? I would go to your doctor. He/She may want to start you on an antibiotic as a safety measure. He/She may also want you to have a tetanus shot, if it has been more than 10 years since your last.

Answer 8

I would have a doctor look at it, maybe you damaged a tendon, or nerve in your finger, or it could be getting infected

Answer 9

You should put an antibiotic under the bandaid. like neosporin. Keep it clean.

Answer 10

YOU SHOULD AWAYS BE WORRIED ABOUT INFECTION, BUT YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO LOOK IN TO GETTING A TENTUS SHOT. IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED ONE IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR, AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, MAYBE GET SOME ANTIBIOTICS, IF NECESSARY.