monkeygirl Posted July 4, 2003 Posted July 4, 2003 One of my friends stepped on the ring finger of my right hand a few months ago, and bruised the fingernail pretty bad (in addition to possibly fracturing my finger, not sure). Anyway, the finernail has now decided to split horizontally, halfway down the nail. The split is almost completely across the nail now, although the nail seems to be staying on...at least until it's completely severed, that is. This has never happened to me or anyone in my family...what should I do? Do I wrap it in a band-aid until I can see a doctor about it? I'd have to wait until monday afternoon/evening to be seen by my doctor, because of the holiday weekend...even then I don't know if I can get an appointment. I don't think it really qualifies as an emergency, so I won't go to the hospital. I think I'll wrap it in a band-aid for now, but I'll have to be careful so as not to get any glue on the fingernail...otherwise when I try to take it off, the nail will come with the band-aid Any advice would be appreciated, thanks 1st dan & Asst. Instructor TKD 2000-2003No matter the tune...if you can rock it, rock it hard.
Tibby Posted July 4, 2003 Posted July 4, 2003 Ouch! Go see a doctor. Sometimes those nail problems require surgery. In the mean time, soak in in Epsom salt and warm water. It make sting, but it is much less painful then getting in infection. Just pour some of the Epsom Salt into a bowl, then the warm water, and soak it for 20 minutes a day. And get some Neosporin, put it on, and wrap it with some bandages right afterward.
granmasterchen Posted July 5, 2003 Posted July 5, 2003 i once smashed my finger in a garage door, with similar nail problems, it stayed the way it was for awhile, got black in some spots (from the blood on the inside of the nail) and after awhile it finally fell off, but then started to frow back normally, i am sure that you will be fine, you may want to cover it to prevent any other damage, but good luck with it That which does not destroy me will only make me stronger
SaiFightsMS Posted July 6, 2003 Posted July 6, 2003 This may sound a bit odd but one way the amount of dried blood under a bruised nail is reduced is by heating the end of a bent paper clip and applying it to the top of the nail. The resulting hole allows excess matter to escape. No kidding; doctors will even do this.
monkeygirl Posted July 7, 2003 Author Posted July 7, 2003 Thanks for your replies! Currently, I'm typing with a band-aid on the end of my finger...it's started to rip off a little more. I don't think there's any risk of infection because there's already another layer of fingernail underneath, and no kind of open sore. The finger itself doesn't hurt, the only pain involved is the pressure of the fingernail that's still attached. 1st dan & Asst. Instructor TKD 2000-2003No matter the tune...if you can rock it, rock it hard.
Tibby Posted July 7, 2003 Posted July 7, 2003 Where is the pressure centered? Sounds like it might be turning into an ingrown nail.
monkeygirl Posted July 8, 2003 Author Posted July 8, 2003 The rest of the fingernail ripped off, and it looks like I have one whopper of an ingrown nail ahead of me. I have an appointment with a doctor tomorrow morning; this isn't something I can just ignore and hope it gets better. *snaps fingers* It's not that I really mind going to the doctor ... I like doctors ... it's just that for the past two years it seems like I've been seeing them practically nonstop! 1st dan & Asst. Instructor TKD 2000-2003No matter the tune...if you can rock it, rock it hard.
Guest Posted July 30, 2003 Posted July 30, 2003 I smashed a finger w/ a bowling pin (don't ask) and the next day the pressure built up enough for me to go see a doctor. They took a little soldering iron-type-tool and burned a hole through my fingernail to release the blood that was building up. After that, it eventually fell off (creepy but i just had to show everyone!) and a new one grew back.
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