The Finger

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 | Christine at 12/21/2011 07:46:00 PM |

When I first injured my finger two weeks ago, I initially thought it was going to be "fixed-up" with antiseptic and a bandage.  Never did I realize that the next few weeks would be devoted to an exposed (& fractured) bone watch or even  that I would have "microsurgery" that same night.  I also was unaware of all the scary things that can happen to you if even a little bit of bone is open.  Yeah... I could have gone on my whole life without knowing this stuff.  Words like "amputation" are those that you never think will apply to you.

But here we are...  two weeks of this and I've been really lucky.  "Wow-this-is-really-annoying" is far better than some of the alternatives.  I've had so many people sending positive thoughts and prayers... and they are obviously working!

If you want to see what happened, first make sure you have really strong stomach before you click the link.  It's pretty gory.   Okay...

You've been warned. 

Click here to see the avulsion injury to my finger.  (That's the fancy official name.)

... I have taken the liberty of putting them together in a little time collage. (Sorry. I can't help it. Using images for explanations is part of what I do for a living.)    

::Passing you the barf bucket:: .... You're welcome.

Today, Dr M removed the stitches. Thank god!  I was really fighting the urge to take them out myself at this point!   (heh heh ... get it?  "At. this. point."  heh heh...)

Then the nurse used a distraction technique and when I looked at her, Dr.M yanked OUT the metal piece that had been holding the nail bed open.  Inside, I was like Buddy the Elf getting his blood test.  On the outside, however, I just sucked in my breath, held my hand, and whispered (with as much dignity as I could muster at that moment).., "I.  didn't.  know.  you.  were.  going.  to.  do.  that." and Dr M answered, "Yes.  I know.  That was my plan."   Evil, I tell ya.  (Good thing we like him so much.)

Good news: 

The outer parts and the pad of my finger are healthy.  Having that metal insert (that looked and sounded more like a torture device) for two weeks, actually worked!  There is a tiny little nail growing.  Yay.

Bad news:

There is still a very small section of exposed bone. (It looked like Jell-O to me at Day 11, but now resembles grape jelly.) Also, the nerves are still all damaged.  The sensation is my fingertip is all wacky and weird still. 

Then Dr. M said, "We've held off, but I think we are still looking at having to repair this in the O/R. (skin graft)  Let's look at again in a week."

... Stay tuned.