Does this look infected to you?

[Justin Case]

You should request the blood work and cultures... at this point in time I would insist on knowing EXACTLY what this is . sorry its still bothering you YCC.

[nell67]

I agree with JIC () YCC,better to see another doc and get it taken care of,than possibly lose your thumb,you do after all use your hands to make a living for you and your family,and it would truly suck if you had to try to do that with out your thumb,or worse if the infections spreads.

Prayers for a speedy recovery.

[Rick]

Was there a lapse between the time you finished your antibiotics and the second flare up? If yes, then the first round of antibiotics might not have been long enough, hence the second round.

Did you ask your doctor his thoughts about why it flared up? If not, you should have and you can still call his office and talk to his nurse.

Did he prescribe a different antibiotic? There's no rule in nature that I know of that says you can only be infected with one bug at a time.

Are you protecting the injury with gloves or even a band-aid? Even though the wound appears to be healing you have to remember that the bad guys are in the .02 micron range so it doesn't take much of a hole in your skin to give them access. If the wound gets wet the surface will soften and it being on a knuckle the constant flexing might have broken open (even at the microscopic level) to allow another infection to gain a foothold.

Lot's of possibilities so talk to the doctor/nurse and ask them your questions. They won't mind and if they do then you need to change doctors. Personally, I would not be concerned about a second opinion with an infection as long as I was getting answers to my questions. That's my cut at it. (get it? cut?)

[your_comforting_company]

That's the problem (well a couple actually).. It would have to be a microscopic break in the skin. the tiny nick that this started as, is healed, gone. Only the remnants of the affected tissues remain. The doctor doesn't have any answers, other than what you just said.. perhaps the first round wasn't long enough; no obvious reason to flare back up. Still haven't done any cultures or tests, still don't know what it is, and yesterday as it swelled, it was hot with fever. still hot this morning, but I've only just started back on meds yesterday afternoon.
There was a lapse between finishing meds, and flare-up. Started meds, previous thursday, and finished 8 days later. 2 days passed between last meds; completely functional and well, and hurts like hell and won't move.. really just a couple hours overnight, sunday night. He gave me a refill of the meds I already had. They were definately working, as the previous pictures showed.
It's not out of curiosity at this point that I want to know what it is.. apparently it's bad. I normally heal very quickly, whether from illness or injury. This is getting scary now. I'm formulating at this point the consequences of my actions.. go or wait..
All the bleach and remedies mentioned earlier put together won't treat the INSIDE of my thumb, which has no open wound anymore. Anyone who takes this kind of infection lightly is really full of sh..
I'm really thinking hard about going for a second opinion.. gonna call around and see if I can locate someone more knowledgable about the bacterial side of things before I dole out hard-earned cash for more unanswered questions.
Do I wait to see if the meds start working again (It's only been 24 hours since starting second round) or ask another doc.. ? I don't know.
I do know that this time it is NOT a topical infection.. this is like it's in the cartilage in my knuckle. No broken skin, or surface trauma, no sores... nothing like that. this time it's INSIDE... really like arthritis, but the whole thumb is swelling.

[Justin Case]

Maybe a shot of Penn or equal is in order ? I wouldn't mess with it, a little knife cut should not have gotten infected in the first place as you cleaned well when it happened, I would be concerned about something getting into my bloodstream,

I would consider going to the ER at this point,, They Love to do tests

[Rick]

Why would you go to the ER when it's clearly an infection and he's on meds that are affective against it? That seems like a waste of his money and the hospital's resources. If the meds are going to work he'll begin to see relief in 24 hours, maybe less, after taking the first pill. If it continues to get worse then you contact your doctor.

No one is going to culture it. It's too time consuming and too expensive. By the time the cultures are back you'll already know if the antibiotics are working or not.

[Justin Case]

If you cannot afford to see a doctor, The ER is an option,, I agree with him that he should find out what it is, clearly the Doc he has been seeing doesnt know,, It may be staph, or it may be this, or it may be that,, sounds to me like the Doc is just shoving pills down his throat on hunches.

[your_comforting_company]

well... the second opinion was the same.. give the antibiotics more time. The second doc agreed that by the time the culture got back it would either be really bad, or healed.
It's a waiting game now, and a test of my nerves.. should have taken a culture a week ago when it first started.
The doc saw me for free today, since I explained my situation and only asked for a consultation. Amazing that he would see me for free, but I guess the word "consultation" makes a difference (for future reference). He agreed that the antibiotics are correct and what he would prescribe also.

[Justin Case]

Thats Good,, I hope it heals quickly

[rwc1969]

It could be that you're bugs have built up an immunity to the anti-biotics. Typically, if the first dose doesn't work or it flares up again they prescribe a more aggressive antibiotic and/ or administer some sort of steroids, etc.

If the first dose didn't work it's likely the second dose won't either. This opinion is just based on my own personal experience with myself and others I know.

One thing I'd suggest is not keeping it covered. It does need to breathe to heal. Keeping it covered will keep it moist, which encourages infection, and impede the healing process.

I know how you feel about getting knocked down and having to get back up just to be knocked down again YCC, it's my life story. I feel for ya!

[Rick]

The good news is you are a long way from loosing your thumb. If the antibiotics aren't working in 24 hours you'll know it. I'm sure your doctor gave you a time frame to contact him if it isn't getting better. Warm compresses on the thumb for 10-15 minutes four times a day will promote blood flow and help with any discomfort. Just use a washcloth and hot tap water as warm as you can stand. Not too hot. You don't need a burn on top of the infection. If a red streak develops running up the thumb and/or hand then you need to contact the doctor.

[Batch]

If you cannot afford to see a doctor, The ER is an option

ER costs are well above a primary care physician or even an urgent care physician. I would like to know how going to the ER would be a better option for someone who can't afford the cheaper options?

[Justin Case]

ER costs are well above a primary care physician or even an urgent care physician. I would like to know how going to the ER would be a better option for someone who can't afford the cheaper options?

I think they help get you some assistance if you have no money,,, and If you have no Money they will still treat you where a private doctor wont,, Thats all I meant.

[nell67]

ER costs are well above a primary care physician or even an urgent care physician. I would like to know how going to the ER would be a better option for someone who can't afford the cheaper options?

Around here,urgent care bills are nearly 2x the bill for an er visit,and one of them won't treat patients with medicare or medicaid!

[your_comforting_company]

In case you thought the only things that could kill you, were things you could see or hear...
http://www.wctv.tv/breaking/home/Man...zwI_e.facebook

[BENESSE]

That one should give you something to think about.

[Seniorman]

Your Comforting Company, your thumb infection was two years ago. What was the result of the doctor's analysis and the meds prescribed?? I hope you still have your thumb.

S.M.

[your_comforting_company]

Final analysis, while there was no extensive lab work, the doc considered it's resistance to the prescribed meds, the symptoms and appearance. He declared it Methycillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) or "flesh eating disease".
After many weeks, and several different antibiotics, I still have my thumb.
A carpenter, that I sometimes do sub work for, was doing some tile work in a bathroom, crawling around on his knees, and got the same thing. He had to go every-other-day to the hospital and get injections in his knee.
MRSA is serious and if you have anything that looks/feels infected, you should seek medical attention immediately. MRSA takes lives.
Never assume that just because you can't see it, it can't kill you. I realize the news article above is very obscure, I just really wanted folks to understand that even a previously uncontaminated source, could become contaminated.

... and please, just call me ycc.

[Solar Geek]

We had a house built this year. 3 of the workers got MRSA (only 1 at our site) during the build process of 6 mos! This is not a far fetched disease. My neighbor at our last house got it from his allowing his dogs to go out to do their thing at the same location for years and then come in and sit on the same couch he did. He had it in 2 places on his back. I suggested this issue, they told their doctor and he totally agreed and said do not let dogs come in with bacteria/ecoli/germs on their feet and sit on your furniture!
The construction guys got it on their hand, face and inner thigh. NONE went to the doc soon enough, and were off work for days. You would think, after the 1st guy got it and talked about it, they would have run to the doc.

[1stimestar]

As I was reading this, after I read about the infection popping back up, I said to myself that it was MRSA. It's some nasty stuff to get rid of. My aunt has been fighting it for 3 years!