Shoutbox

sysmalakian: Birthday month starts now!
362 days ago

diceophonic: Vampiro Classics 2024 reissue
343 days ago

SabedLeepski: Sunburn Surf Fest for some scorching hot surf music: https://sunb...
300 days ago

skeeter: I know a Polish sound guy.
228 days ago

skeeter: I know a Czech one too!
228 days ago

PatGall: Surfybear metal settings
148 days ago

Pyronauts: Happy Tanks-Kicking!
126 days ago

midwestsurfguy: Merry Christmas!
94 days ago

sysmalakian: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
88 days ago

SabedLeepski: Surfin‘ Europe, for surf (related) gigs and events in Europe Big Razz https://sunb...
49 days ago

Please login or register to shout.

Current Polls

No polls at this time. Check out our past polls.

Current Contests

No contests at this time. Check out our past contests.

Donations

Help us meet our monthly goal:

100%

100%

Donate Now

Cake March Birthdays Cake
SG101 Banner

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Musician »

Permalink Nasty cut index finger fretting hand

New Topic
Page 1 of 1

As some here know I've spent over three decades in a bus garage as a mechanic (now working foreman) and over the years suffered many injuries some of which required getting stitches due to the type of work/nature of injury and have had carpal tunnel surgery to repair nerve damage in my left hand after being struck by a car as a pedestrian in addition to broken bones/fractures and spinal injections/nerve severing/lower back surgery.

The other night (approx 10:30pm) I sliced open the index finger of my left (fretting) hand, the cut is deep (not to the bone), nearly straight down on the tip, partly offset opposite the nail and the width of the finger, it's quite nasty. Needless to say I was pissed when I realized what I did as it was totally avoidable, I should've been using scissors rather than a razor-sharp lockback knife to open a bag of Hershey's Kisses before sitting down to play guitar.

A trip to the Emergency Room was considered but with the flu rampant, waiting time, and co-pay I wasn't enthused about the prospects of a bill or worse getting sick (the coughing and sneezing would kill my already blown-out back) so I decided to take care of this one my own.

Note:

Even with local anesthesia fingertip stitches are PAINFUL, this cut would've required 3-4 of them. I had fingertip stitches before (1985), the local anesthesia hurt worse than the two stitches so after the four shots for the index finger which didn't fully numb the fingertip and two stitches I had them stitch the other three fingertips, two stitches per finger without the anesthesia (2 stitches per fingertip require 4 shots of local anesthesia for each finger).

This time I went another route, once the cut was cleaned using anti-bacterial soap and water then alcohol, coated with antibiotic cream, and bandaged I went out and hit the CVS picking up their generic/store brand CVS Health Liquid Bandage (with brush). The cut was a "clean" one, no jagged edges, so a half hour to forty-five minutes after cutting myself and returning from CVS I set to work. I carefully peeled off the band-aids (the cut had stopped bleeding), I gingerly wiped the fingertip clean with sterile gauze and alcohol (the two cut parts of fingertip flesh stayed together) then liberally painted the cut with three coats of the liquid bandage letting the liquid bandage dry between coats, finally I applied two Band-Aids, one over the top front to back and another around the finger.

The finger throbbed the first night (which is common) but now two days in the fingertip is still a tiny bit sensitive with little throbbing but no swelling indicating infection (I took one Advil & one Tylenol twice which helped with the throbbing). I carefully changed the band-aids today, all looks good, no redness/inflammation, the glue has worked as intended I just have to keep it clean and dry, coat with antibiotic cream when changing the bandages and I should be ok. (Most would need a Tetanus shot with an injury like this, I don't, I had one last year when having the latest set of spinal injections and ten sections of nerves severed in my lower back)

This injury really pissed me off because as I said it was avoidable. I was set to work on "My Sharona" by The Knack but was in a rush and wanted some milk and chocolate before playing the guitar. The wound looks "clean" so there shouldn't be any jagged edges to snag a string once healed if there is I can trim any dead skin with a sharp pair of small scissors. Hopefully a week or two is all I'll be down but damn I miss playing the guitar already.

Last edited: Jan 26, 2018 18:27:22

I've never fucked up the non-nail side of the finger before, just a couple bad ones to the nail or the side of the finger or a thumb or tendon/sprain/ligament/skin scraped to the tendon damage.

I'll do something once a year. This year was a break knife on top of my finger. Last year was slipping down a hill through a walkway which took a very large amount of skin off my fingers and did some ligament gunk. Also, infection so I had to reopen several times.

The worst was cutting through my nail and out the other side (not all the way, but towards the edge of the finger). I was trimming something with a straight edge ruler and a box knife. Whole mat under me slipped. Had a gig the next week, lots of blood at that gig... I wasn't able to use that finger for the gig, on my fretting hand. I was mostly able to transpose where my fingers went on the fly or play different shapes. But just flexing and moving my fingers/hand made it bleed. Bad cut...

You are already doing the one thing I'd recommend to you, the anti bacterial cream.

Actually... In a day or two, get that cut really dry when you have time and just let it dry out. Don't move the finger or use it/do anything strenous. But no glue, no cream, just dry. Dump isopropyl alcohol/rubbing alcohol on it first. Dry is good!

JakeDobner wrote:

I've never fucked up the non-nail side of the finger before, just a couple bad ones to the nail or the side of the finger or a thumb or tendon/sprain/ligament/skin scraped to the tendon damage.

I'll do something once a year. This year was a break knife on top of my finger. Last year was slipping down a hill through a walkway which took a very large amount of skin off my fingers and did some ligament gunk. Also, infection so I had to reopen several times.

The worst was cutting through my nail and out the other side (not all the way, but towards the edge of the finger). I was trimming something with a straight edge ruler and a box knife. Whole mat under me slipped. Had a gig the next week, lots of blood at that gig... I wasn't able to use that finger for the gig, on my fretting hand. I was mostly able to transpose where my fingers went on the fly or play different shapes. But just flexing and moving my fingers/hand made it bleed. Bad cut...

You are already doing the one thing I'd recommend to you, the anti bacterial cream.

Actually... In a day or two, get that cut really dry when you have time and just let it dry out. Don't move the finger or use it/do anything strenous. But no glue, no cream, just dry. Dump isopropyl alcohol/rubbing alcohol on it first. Dry is good!

Thanks. I let it air (dry) out today before re-bandaging it, no "smell" or discoloration (that's "good") I know what an infected finger smells and looks like, I had to have my thumb lanced and drained once before, it was nearly twice it's normal size (don't need THAT again).

This cut is deep enough that it would take a while to heal without the glue or stitches, I've been through that years ago but didn't want the long wait as it heals from the inside out so went with the liquid bandage this time. This is my first experience with it, the liquid bandage, usually it's staples or stitches for me. When I was hit by the car in 2006 or was 2008 (can't remember which) they stapled the head laceration (back of head on the right) closed (7 staples).

I can only remember once before where I was lucky enough to able to get away without stitches on a deep finger cut/laceration, the two pieces healed quickly and perfectly with just band-aids (it was the position of that wound that helped it heal properly and quickly).

I've read a number of medical stories in the past few years that referenced this liquid bandage and know a couple of friends who had it applied on cuts/lacerations by Emergency Room staff and figured I would give it a try, it seems to be doing the job (it does smell like nail polish when you open the bottle and until it dries).

Loosing fingernails, stitches, broken fingers, burns, it's all part of working certain blue-collar jobs even if you're careful, you can't wear gloves all the time, my hands & fingers are all scarred up but at least I have all of them, some guys aren't so lucky.

I will say this, anyone who hasn't tried the liquid bandage should check it out, it appears from reports it's starting to replace stitches in some instances.

Like you, I also know what staples feel like when they come out... they feel like staples being yanked out of your skin.

Yeah, liquid bandage is kind of the best. It stings, but shockingly doesn't sting bad on the real bad cuts.

And I have to say... I don't know what an infection smells like thank god! I know what it feels and looks like, but never smell. Good lord that's frightening! I generally reopen at the sight of infection and clean.

The finger should heal faster with microwave heated hot packs by increasing blood circulation, as long as you don't burn it.

Nexcare liquid bandage by 3M works beautifully and doesn't sting. It contains Tea Tree Oil, which prevents bacteria from growing without toxicity to us. In comparison, "New Skin" stings hard and doesn't do much.

I smelled plenty of bad stuff in med school and internship.

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

Last edited: Jan 26, 2018 21:47:56

Squid wrote:

The finger should heal faster with microwave heated hot packs by increasing blood circulation, as long as you don't burn it.

Nexcare liquid bandage by 3M works beautifully and doesn't sting. It contains Tea Tree Oil, which prevents bacteria from growing without toxicity to us. In comparison, "New Skin" stings hard and doesn't do much.

I smelled plenty of bad stuff in med school and internship.

Thanks for info on heat as for the liquid bandage I'll check it out and get a bottle.

When it comes to liquid bandages which is best or preferred the "brush-on" type or the spray?

I cut to the bone my pinky and the ring finger next to it on my fretting hand once. I was using a freshly sharpened folding pocket knife to make a hole in plastic.
The knife slipped, and cut down the inside between fingers edge of my pinky opening it to the bone.
The blade then proceeded over the top of the ring finger over from the knuckle to the finger nail. You could spread the skin and see the bone on both fingers.
I went to regent care and they super glued them up.
They seem to work well now. You have to look very close to even see a scar.
But it sucked not playing for awhile.
I have snagged a finger tip callus once. That hurt, but healed quickly.

blackheartsfan wrote:

When it comes to liquid bandages which is best or preferred the "brush-on" type or the spray?

The Nexcare 3M is a brush on type. Without seeing the wound I suppose it is better than any spray-on type. In my personal experience the brush-on is better for wounds and skin cracks, and the spray-on for abrasions.

Another idea to warm your finger--and perhaps better than hot packs--is wearing a glove. You don't want your finger warm enough to sweat, so a plain cotton glove from the dollar store may be best. You can cut off the glove's fingers that you don't need, or just their fingertips. You can wear the glove while you're sleeping, as well as when it is not too much of a hindrance during the day. Wash the glove occasionally.

When I use a knife I routinely put on gloves of some kind, typically garden gloves give a good grip. Wearing gloves I haven't cut myself yet.

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

Last edited: Jan 27, 2018 10:49:44

I shouldn't have read this, I'm a pro piano player on top of playing guitar and worry about my hands non stop as it is.

Let's avoid confusion between liquid bandage and wound glue. Liquid bandage is for skin healing. It is applied on just the skin. Its goal is keeping bacteria out and insulating broken skin from touch. Wound glue is applied by surgeons and emergency specialists into the wound to close it, as well as on the skin.

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

Squid wrote:

Let's avoid confusion between liquid bandage and wound glue. Liquid bandage is for skin healing. It is applied on just the skin. Its goal is keeping bacteria out and insulating broken skin from touch. Wound glue is applied by surgeons and emergency specialists into the wound to close it, as well as on the skin.

Thank you again for the info AND the clarification on products and their uses, I've read all your posts carefully and now know there is a difference between the two and how to speed the healing.

I used the liquid brush-on bandage I didn't think the spray would suffice and only applied it to the outside of the cut not "inside" the wound.

Gloves are nearby I'm in NW N.J. and have a few pairs of different gloves for various temps from thin to thick some with no insulation others with light and some heavily insulated in addition to two pairs of clean plain white cotton shop gloves that haven't been used yet.

As for wearing gloves when using a knife I typically use heavy leather work gloves when working on something or outside using a knife/boxcutter/sheetrock-utility knife. The knife I injured myself with has a 1/2 smooth 1/2 serrated blade but it didn't slip in my hand, halfway through the cutting of the bag the serrated part snagged on the seam of the Hershey's Kisses bag, when I exerted extra pressure it zipped along and I cut the finger on the hand holding the bag.

I should've used SCISSORS to open the bag, they were in the next room, like with a majority of injuries I could've prevented it, I WON'T make THAT mistake again.

One of my reasons for posting about this is so someone else can avoid the mistake I made and if they don't at least maybe they can avoid a trip to the Emergency Room.

Last edited: Jan 27, 2018 17:54:33

Thanks for sharing the tale. Wisdom is the reflection back on the "duh" moment. I like blades (of varying types/uses) and your story reinforces what should be used for what, e.g., scissors for string pack or fig newtons, cheap but reeeeeally sharp Chinese folder for opening goodies from the UPS guy. When I break down boxes or something is when I pull out the utility knife, but I always have to take a moment to put myself in "little kid w/job in a warehouse, watch what the hell you're doing" mode because I hate gloves except in the winter when a simple joint crack can turn into a literal pain.

Squid, thanks for weighing in on the liquid duct tape stuff. Thumbs Up

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Update:

Finger is healing well, tip where cut is located is still tender, no sign of redness/inflammation/infection. Picked up the guitar two nights ago and used all fingers save for the left index (injured one/fretting hand), definitely strengthening the pinky running through scales. All this as my back issue of Guitar World purchased off Ebay arrived with Smashmouth's "Walking On The Sun" sheet music/tab transcription.

Last edited: Feb 02, 2018 21:12:45

Glad it's healing. Play on! Cool

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

blackheartsfan wrote:

Update:

Finger is healing well, tip where cut is located is still tender, no sign of redness/inflammation/infection. Picked up the guitar two nights ago and used all fingers save for the left index (injured one/fretting hand), definitely strengthening the pinky running through scales. All this as my back issue of Guitar World purchased off Ebay arrived with Smashmouth's "Walking On The Sun" sheet music/tab transcription.

Well I'm glad to hear your finger is healing. And there's nothing wrong with a strong pinky finger either!
In the future try pulling at the seams of the bag with just your hands. It works for me. But I prefer BBQ chips over chocolate.

Thanks all, nearly three (3) weeks in my index finger is almost fully healed. I trimmed the small section of dead skin a few days ago now it looks like a blister at the fingertip. I can confirm using the liquid bandage and antibiotic cream did help considerably as this has to be one of the fastest healing finger lacerations/cuts I've ever had and it was a deep one to begin with.

The fingertip is still a bit sensitive if I inadvertently strike it on a hard surface but that is to be expected and it's getting less so every day. Fretting non-wound string results in a sharp "stinging" sensation but I've been playing on and off using the remaining fingers and practicing bar chords. All-in-all another learning experience (one I should've learned decades ago), use the right tool for the job and avoid injury.

Last edited: Feb 10, 2018 17:02:37

-

Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 13:01:41

Tqi wrote:

Small suggestion from the 'metal world'.

You just have a cut. Tony Iommi cut his off and played on the stumps. Headbang

So, look into what he did if you want to play more while it's still sensitive - get a thimble.

I mean, I usually just fill the cut with krazy glue and keep playing, but if I'm completely honest - my medical history isn't one that should be aspirational.

...

ROTFL

Like Iommi I've spent my life (30+ years) in a shop, for me it's buses and diesel engines, this was just a scratch compared to other injuries I've suffered including mashed, fractured, fingers stitched from fingertip to knuckle. I have all my fingers though there's been a few close calls over the decades.

I'm back playing, an occasional "sting" in the fingertip reminds me of what I did, to see the scar you have to look really close as it was a "tight" wound and the fingerprint ridges make it nearly impossible to detect.

Last edited: Mar 21, 2018 00:50:39

Page 1 of 1
Top