BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!

Subject: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 02:53 PM

Today I managed to slam my right index finger in a heavy fire door. I do wish I hadn't. I've had it in ice for 5 hours. Half the nail has turned black and on the same black half there is a small hole in the nail where something on the edge of the door must has bored through the nail to the flesh. Needless to say, it hurts. I don't know how much chance there is of losing my nail but, of course, I want to prevent this happening if this is a possibility. I have now stopped packing it with ice. Does anyone, please please please, have any wisdom on what I should do, or have I done everything I can with the ice?

Yours in hope,
Ian cookieless

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 02:56 PM

hydrogen peroxide...and a doctor...in that order..

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 02:58 PM

a doctor 'may' be inconvenient, but so is an infection or loss of a nail.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 02:58 PM

Not much chance of saving the nail if it's turning black. sorry to be pessimistic but!
G

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 03:01 PM

Bill D's advice is excellent. I won't be boorish enough to ask if it hurt.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 03:10 PM

What Bill said. Based on my own experience a new one will grow up and behind it and the old one will drop off easily if you leave it alone. I do think you should get a doctor to look at it.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Becca72
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 03:15 PM

All of the above. See a doctor especially because there was a puncture. An infection would be very very nasty.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: KB in Iowa
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 03:16 PM

While on a Boy Scout outing many years ago my nail was crushed by an old water pump. It turned very dark purple/black and the doctor actually drilled a hole in the nail to relieve the pressure. I had to ice it for some days until finally the nail came off. There was a very thin new nail underneath. Once the old nail fell off the new nail started growing in at regular thickness. For quite a few years afterward I noticed a difference in that nail, it was much smoother than any of the others. That is no longer true.

I was only 11 or 12 years old so your experience may be different. I know I don't heal like I used to. Good luck.

BTW, it hurt like hell.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 03:22 PM

OAnother reason you may wish to see a doctor and maybe get the finger x-rayed is to determine if the bone (phalange) on that finger has been crushed/broken.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 03:27 PM

That's true, too. I had mine smashed, just the tip, but it did break a small bone and the new nail grew in looking somewhat different in shape.

As far as pain goes, be sure to keep it elevated to reduce the blood pooling in it, also you might try an anti-inflamatory for pain and to reduce the swelling.

A doctor is still a GOOD idea.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 03:36 PM

Keep the ice on it for a bit, otherwise, what Bill said.

The nail turns black because there is blood under it. If there's too much blood, it will push the nail off the nail bed. Ice would help reduce the bleeding and the swelling. A doctor might want to make a hole in the nail to allow the pressure from the blood to escape. I've never had that done and it sounds very painful, but everyone I've known who had it done said they were glad they did it and their finger felt much better after.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: KB in Iowa
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 03:41 PM

It did hurt when I had the hole drilled but it felt much better soon after. The build up of blood under the nail made it very painful.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 03:52 PM

Tetanus is a real possibility. See a doctor.
M

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: SharonA
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 04:10 PM

Ian cookieless, you type really well for a guy with a smooshed index finger!

A puncture wound is nothing to muck about with. Go see a doctor as soon as possible, for all of the reasons listed above. While you're waiting for the doc to see you, try to immobilize the finger with a makeshift splint in case a bone is broken or some tendons are damaged.

The loss of your nail is the least of the possible complications; it'll grow back.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 04:26 PM

Doctors? Infections? Don't be so nesh! When I were a lad we used to slam doors on our fingers for fun. Pull the nail off with a pair of pliers. Stick yer finger in a bottle of whisky for five minutes and then drink the whisky. Never did me any harm.

:D

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 04:27 PM

If you can't remember when you had your last tetanus shot then you're probably due for one anyway. You will probably need the finger xrayed to see if you need to splint it. My 15-year-old son is coming up on the last two weeks (of six) of wearing a plastic splint on a finger he jammed when playing a game with a hard ball. Broke a corner of the bone next to the joint and a tendon pulls it if it isn't confined in one flat out position to let the bone heal. You're in the unfortunate position of dealing with at least three different issues simultaneously and you would be wise to let a doctor take a look at it.

Good luck!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: skipy
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 04:39 PM

DOCTOR NOW!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 05:11 PM

Make sure you have some painkillers (e.g., Tylenol) on hand for the middle of the night ...

Losing the nail is no big deal; another grows in. In fact, contemplation of its progress may provide you many hours of innocent amusement.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Donuel
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 05:49 PM

Don't worry about the nail. When they grow back they are often better than ever.

But a Doc could very well save you time or tragedy.

I power stapeled my little finger 2 weeks ago. Its now fine but a bit sore when I make a fist.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 05:52 PM

OK, now I HAVE to ask: Did it hurt?

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: M.Ted
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 08:05 PM

If you are homeopathically inclined, take some Hypericum orally(you can get it at a heath food store or some such place) and put some arnica on the bruised and painful places, unless the skin is broken, in which case you can put calendula gel/ ointment on it--

Lots of people dismiss homeopathy as quackery, but in the fifteen or so years ago, I smashed my finger, same as you, slapped some arnica on it, took a bit of hypericum and put the ice back in the freezer.   If it was a placebo, it was a better placebo than aspirin with codeine.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 08:32 PM

Maybe Jan is actually seeing a doctor now, or maybe he is starting another provocative thread.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 08:38 PM

Concerning the doctor who drilled a hole in the nail, it works.

I once was in the same situation. I was sitting at the kitchen table with ice on the finger and watching the nail turn black. Also on the table was a small (1/8 inch) drill bit I had bought previously that day. I took the drill bit between my thumb and index finger and set it over the darkest part of the nail. I turned the drill bit between my fingers and applied very gentle pressure against the nail. That way there was almost no pressure on the nail when the bit pierced through. I stopped the second blood appeared. I drained the area and then applied hydrogen peroxide and a Bandaid. I saved the nail and the pain disappeared immediately. A new drill bit is sharpest and cut with little or no pressure.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 08:40 PM

Maybe Jan can't type . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 09:11 PM

Who's 'Jan'? If Ian is in the UK, he may very well be asleep. If he's not, the finger may just hurt too much to want to mess about on the computer, even if he does have 9 perfectly good fingers. I hope everything worked out OK.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 09:19 PM

Jan is Ian spelled with a 'J'.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 09:29 PM

My big toe nail has turned black numerous times,but it is still there.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: GUEST,Pamela in Ithaca
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:21 PM

I did this just a couple of months ago -
and I didn't lose the nail... but it looked like
I was wearing purple nail polish on that finger until
quite recently.

As for treatment - ice and elevation made a difference
for me. What with the puncture, I do hope you took
it to a DR, just to make sure that you keep infection off.
A friend did his fingers in a garage door around the same time
and he did crush the bones - so an xray is a good idea.
I got lucky.

And yes, it hurt like hell. Hurting that made me feel
sick to my stomach - so I sympathize and hope that all
will be better before too long.

Some comfort food and a warm bath (keeping injured diget
out of the water) wouldn't hurt. You deserve a little papmering.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:28 PM

My toenail turned black because I dropped a hammer on my toe and as you would guess...THAT HURTS!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:31 PM

Lik, uh, right away, huh?

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:33 PM

No it took about ten seconds and then...

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:34 PM

Ten seconds to fall and you let it hit your toe? Are you CRAZY?

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:38 PM

No, it took ten seconds to feel the pain

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:41 PM

Well figuring that the hammer strikes the toe and then the pain sensation is transmitted to the brain and then you react, by my calculations you are at least 746 feet tall.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:42 PM

I'm just kidding!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:49 PM

Oh . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:56 PM

That's ok I was just saying It was so hot outside everything was hurting so bad and I was tired it took a while to register.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:57 PM

What kinda hammer? (And what are you doing up this late?)

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 11:59 PM

A claw hammer.It's a reward.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:01 AM

For what? You been behaving extra well lately?

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:02 AM

For doing chores.And yes.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:06 AM

Sounds cool then. Done any reading of late?

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:07 AM

Yes I just got done reading a book by Gary Paulsen.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:14 AM

Well, he's written about 100 books, so you had lots to choose from.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:14 AM

It was a good book!

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:17 AM

What was the title?

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:17 AM

It was called,"Tucket's Travels."

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: maeve
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:17 AM

Hey, cookster and Peace. Gary called me once to say "Thank you for a letter I sent him. He's one of my favorite authors (especially The Monument.)

Ummm...Maybe we should move our thread drift off this hurt finger thread?

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:18 AM

ooops sorry.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:18 AM

Yeah, maeve. Sorry about that.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:19 AM

Hey Peace I'll PM you.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:21 AM

OK.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:45 AM

When I was 16 I caught my finger in a car door - or rather, the car door caught my finger. Talk about hurt.

It was late at night- in those days 11:00 for me was OOT - so it was with great reluctance that I tapped on my parents' bedroom door and whispered to my mother what I had done.

She said, Soak it in ice water.

So I did, and within the hour it hurt so bad I couldn't stand it.

I went back to the bedroom door and with a groan my mother got up.

She held a thin needle in the flame of a kitchen match and took me and my finger under the ceiling light. She inserted the needle under my nail - and I said, I think I'm going to be sick.

She took a look at me and said, You are about to faint. Sit down.

So I did and she slid the needle under the nail. When it pierced the bubble, blood gushed out copiously. It instantly felt better and was only sore from then on.

I lost the nail though.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 01:09 AM

Had a friend who responded to an industrial accident. Fellow had got his finger under about 200 pounds of steel. The steel had dropped onto his finger. His finger tip burst beneath the weight. The guy passed out from pain. Hell, I'd a passed out looking at it.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Amergin
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 01:23 AM

A bosun I once knew had his finger on the coaming of a hatch to the wheelhouse of the tug....he forgot to dog the hatch open and the wind came and shut that hatch....right on his thumb....it popped the tip right off...

Recently my dad was working on a machine part on a lathe and the part came loose and smashed his middle finger to bits...he lost some bone but they were able to save the majority of it....

then a week later I was pissed and filling my brother's zippo lighter....this was at a mate's party...and well I spilled some fliud on my fingers cause I couldn't keep my hands still...and when I lit the lighter to burn off the excess fuel...my hand caught afire...I had second degree burns on my two middle fingers....I told my dad the next day he goes yep...he did the same thing once....and he was sober.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 01:28 AM

No fun at all doin' that sober . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: SharonA
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 02:15 AM

In those days 11:00 for me was OOT

What is OOT?

I used to work for a small-town newspaper that still used "hot type" (metal slugs with raised, reversed letter that were inked and pressed onto paper to transfer the ink) for some side jobs. They used a table saw to cut the slugs to size. One of my co-workers was missing part of his thumb because he'd sent it through the table saw along with a slug.

When I was in art school I was required to take a woodworking-arts class. One of my classmates did the same thing -- cut his finger with the table saw -- fortunately not all the way through. But that poor boy was in some serious pain before he finally was able to stand up and go to the hospital.

When I had a live-in boyfriend, he came home from the local bar one night after I was asleep, woke me up and said I had to drive him to the hospital. He had stopped at a neighbor's on the way home and the neighbor insisted that he pet the guy's German Shepherd, who was not in the mood for affection and bit my boyfriend's hand. Before I could get dressed, my boyfriend had sunk to the floor in a half-faint from the pain (and probably from the alcohol he'd consumed!). A couple of fingers were affected, and part of a tendon had to be removed from one of them. No fun!

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 07:32 AM

Wow! Thanks all for so many responses. Yes, it DID hurt and it still does. I spoke to NHS Direct who told me it will almost certainly fall off and there's nothing I can do to stop it but that a new one will grow (as many of you have said, thanks). My worry was that my father lost a toe nail with a hammer and the nail never did grow back. I haven't seen a doc but now will, as so many think I should - and you're right, of course.

(I am using my second finger to type for those who wonder. This finger probably gets more use than the average person - whoever that is - because I am a lutenist.)

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 08:55 AM

OOT is the way Canadians pronounce "out" - according to Americans. It's not troo, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 09:12 AM

Ian-

Welcome back and my apologies for doubting your existence.

My favorite nail story was watching one turn a ghastly green yellow, then black, after some nitric acid dripped on it. Don't try this at home. I still aced the lab exam.

And after shedding the nail, it grew back!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 09:25 AM

I hope you feel better!!

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: GUEST,jOhn
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 11:41 AM

When you get better, take all the doors off your house, then it wont happen again.

but not the front door, or the bad people will just walk in and nick your stuff, telly etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: GUEST,jOhn
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 11:49 AM

Wehn closing the front door your could try wearing protective gloves,
chain mail or kevlar.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 11:50 AM

Or a gauntlet.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:05 PM

Let's make that OTT- Over the Top.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:08 PM

What and Why?

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:14 PM

Great to hear from you, Ian. Let us know when we can start razzing you, OK? No plea for help and sympathy goes unpunished. It's almost a rule.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 09:01 AM

Spent 2 hours in A&E last night. Was told that, because the loose metal on the door frame had already punctured my nail, they didn't need to to relieve pressure from the blood building up under the nail. WHEW.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 10:15 AM

lucky you, now all you have to do is wait for a new nail to grow.

Is the finger broken?

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: heric
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 12:30 PM

>Wehn closing the front door your could try wearing protective gloves,
chain mail or kevlar. <

Yes I wish you had gotten to us sooner. Lesson learned?

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: Peace
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 12:34 PM

There ARE automatic openers available for the clums--for people who have difficulties with doors. The opener is much like a TV remote. Of course, Ian won't be able to click it with THAT finger for a while, but his thumb would work efficiently I suspect.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 01:40 PM

You could get a stop for a garage door...When you break the beam the dooor reverses.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 01:52 PM

No, my finger isn't broken. It hurts less now, but is still very swollen. The left side of the nail, which was black, has now faded, but the black has moved to cover the white bottom part (I don't know the proper name for this part of the nail); and the puncture hole has now turned black. Playing any instrument is out of the question at the mo. In response to a previous post, this was not my front door but a heavy fire door at work, which I hastily tried to shut in a sudden downpour when it rained into the room. In future, the room can bloody flood! The tricky thing was that the usual bar across a fire door wasn't there, but just a tiny metal latch, difficult to get hold of, and far to one side of the door, hence my accident. My doors at home have actual handles, and outside doors need keys. Much less hazardous, I think you'll agree.

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: cookster
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 02:06 PM

I hope it gets better Ian!!

Subject: RE: BS: Help! Finger slammed in door!
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 02:07 PM

Charlie, I think I am going to regret asking this, but still, we're all friends here, I hope, and my curiosity and amazement is getting the better of me. I know you have apologised "for doubting [my] existence", but I can't understand where this comes from. How can a request for help for my bashed finger be seen as provocative?!