My thumb isn't working yet!?

Question

I cut my thumb a month ago - on the palm side directly inbetween where it leaves my hand and the middle thumb joint. In the ER they examined it and said the tendon appeared intact and strenght was good - i was given five stitches and sent home. A month later I am still only able to bend my thumb about 45 degrees, and the space where it was injured is really puffy. My thumb just seems bigger than the other. It doesn't flex when i relax my hand.

I'm just wondering how long it is going to take for my thumb to return to normal? And if I should wait, or see a specialist about it now (which i'm trying to avoid). Advice from medical professionals would be appreciated. Thanks.

My thumb has continually gotten stronger since i injured it.... so it is "healing", but the bending hasn't gotten much better. I was able to flex the full 90 degrees in the ER when the doctor asked me to, but not since.

Thanks.

Answer 1

It sounds like you have injured a tendon(i know the possibilities has been ruled out.......but it might have been missed).
I also wonder whether the wound has healed yet. If you have restricted the movement of the thumb due to pain the muscles might have weakened. they would propbably recover with some physiotherapy.
i think you should contact a specialist asap.
dont hesitate becoz your thumb is a vital finger and loosing its function is like loosing your hand.
take care

Answer 2

You really need to see a specialist. Further testing needs to be done as they said the tendon "appeared" to be intact but they did not say it was intact. Since you continue to have difficulty after this much time, you seem to have an orthopedic condition. You may possibly have developed a trigger thumb and this can be corrected with an incision and excision outpatient wise.

Answer 3

ohh did it hurt

Answer 4

ouch..