Make it bendy again!
January 6, 2010 7:41 PM Subscribe
Restoring flexibility to a burned digit.
I burned the crap out of the top of my left thumb-knuckle on NYE. Bit of booze, lighting sparklers off sparklers, you know how it works.
I've been using this paw-paw ointment stuff my SO swears by, and that's all good, no infection or anything. The problem is that I can now only bend the thumb about twenty degrees. I presume that this will fix itself eventually, but I'm wondering if anyone can help me speed up the process. Do I just have to wait until I grow new skin?
I burned the crap out of the top of my left thumb-knuckle on NYE. Bit of booze, lighting sparklers off sparklers, you know how it works.
I've been using this paw-paw ointment stuff my SO swears by, and that's all good, no infection or anything. The problem is that I can now only bend the thumb about twenty degrees. I presume that this will fix itself eventually, but I'm wondering if anyone can help me speed up the process. Do I just have to wait until I grow new skin?
Best answer: Paw paw ointment is great for stat topical application. But what you want now is something to help the scarred skin refresh itself. Rosehip oil is a very good natural product for this. It can be a bit pricey, but you can also use it for other skin nourishment and repair treatments.
posted by Kerasia at 8:30 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by Kerasia at 8:30 PM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: *hangs head*
No, I haven't taken it to the doctor. It's just a burn, and until today it was more simply sore than debilitating.
posted by pompomtom at 8:34 PM on January 6, 2010
No, I haven't taken it to the doctor. It's just a burn, and until today it was more simply sore than debilitating.
posted by pompomtom at 8:34 PM on January 6, 2010
Best answer: Once scar tissue forms, you're stuck forever.
Go see a doctor.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:36 PM on January 6, 2010
Go see a doctor.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:36 PM on January 6, 2010
Best answer: Chocolate Pickle is right and here is why. There are various degrees of damage when you experience "just a burn." "I burned the crap out of..." is probably one of the worst. Seriously, you can have minor damage, but that usually means no broken skin. Blistered or broken skin means deep tissue damage. The top of the thumb joint doesn't have very much meat to protect the joint. The heat from the burn can (and probably did) do damage to the cartilage overlying the joint. It definitely set up some inflammation resulting in swelling of the joint. Because there is not much tissue there, the swelling itself doesn't show, but it is impeding joint movement. This may go away in a matter of a few days or stay with you for life.
What I and my fellow Mefites can see of your wound (which is nothing) it looks like you need to see a doctor in order to have expert assessment of the wound. Do it tomorrow. Really.
posted by Old Geezer at 8:50 PM on January 6, 2010
What I and my fellow Mefites can see of your wound (which is nothing) it looks like you need to see a doctor in order to have expert assessment of the wound. Do it tomorrow. Really.
posted by Old Geezer at 8:50 PM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: For what it's worth, this was yesterday
posted by pompomtom at 8:53 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by pompomtom at 8:53 PM on January 6, 2010
GO SEE A DOCTOR.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:05 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:05 PM on January 6, 2010
After seeing that picture, you are about five days past the time when you should have seen a doctor! Go tomorrow and don't take "...we can't work you in..." for an answer,
posted by Old Geezer at 9:13 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by Old Geezer at 9:13 PM on January 6, 2010
Egads ... is there a reason you haven't seen a doctor yet, that perhaps could be contested here? Looking at that picture, and reading your description, I just have to think that "see a doctor YESTERDAY" would be the advice most obvious and useful in this situation ...
posted by DingoMutt at 9:14 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by DingoMutt at 9:14 PM on January 6, 2010
Chiming in with the others to say go see a doctor as soon as possible! That's a pretty serious looking burn, and workable thumbs are generally a pretty useful thing to have.
posted by vytae at 9:19 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by vytae at 9:19 PM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: OK all, doctor's appointment is booked.
posted by pompomtom at 9:49 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by pompomtom at 9:49 PM on January 6, 2010
" I presume that this will fix itself eventually"
I wouldn't count on this. I had a cycling accident years ago and couldn't bend my fingers for the longest time. Had lots of therapy on them. Still can't straighten a couple all the way. But if not for the therapy I did have, they'd be much worse.
See a doctor.
posted by Taurid at 9:53 PM on January 6, 2010
I wouldn't count on this. I had a cycling accident years ago and couldn't bend my fingers for the longest time. Had lots of therapy on them. Still can't straighten a couple all the way. But if not for the therapy I did have, they'd be much worse.
See a doctor.
posted by Taurid at 9:53 PM on January 6, 2010
I'll be interested to hear what your doctor says, particularly after seeing that photo. Please post a follow-up, and best of luck!
posted by mumkin at 10:20 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by mumkin at 10:20 PM on January 6, 2010
Best answer: From my own experience, the doctor will say,
"There's nothing I can do about it now. You should have been here five days ago."
Hopefully your experience will be better than mine.
If not, this is what I did:
1) get yourself to the pharmacy (Walgreen's CVS Rite Aid or whatever)
2) get yourself a roll of waterproof tape and some cotton (Pro-tip: in the womens' makeup section there are some cotton pads for removing makeup. Get those pads instead of cotton balls. These leave fewer strands of stray cotton in the wound).
3) get yourself some Witch Hazel. (it's an astringent much like alcohol, without all the burning pain.)
4) get yourself a tube of triple anti-biotic ointment
5) nurse your wound two or three times a day until it heals.
Best of luck!
posted by at the crossroads at 1:02 AM on January 7, 2010
"There's nothing I can do about it now. You should have been here five days ago."
Hopefully your experience will be better than mine.
If not, this is what I did:
1) get yourself to the pharmacy (Walgreen's CVS Rite Aid or whatever)
2) get yourself a roll of waterproof tape and some cotton (Pro-tip: in the womens' makeup section there are some cotton pads for removing makeup. Get those pads instead of cotton balls. These leave fewer strands of stray cotton in the wound).
3) get yourself some Witch Hazel. (it's an astringent much like alcohol, without all the burning pain.)
4) get yourself a tube of triple anti-biotic ointment
5) nurse your wound two or three times a day until it heals.
Best of luck!
posted by at the crossroads at 1:02 AM on January 7, 2010
Response by poster: OK all, seen the doc. He said "Don't do that again. Also, keep it clean and dry, and don't bend it." and gave me a prescription for some antibiotic ointment.
posted by pompomtom at 9:24 PM on January 7, 2010
posted by pompomtom at 9:24 PM on January 7, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:22 PM on January 6, 2010