Swelling / Bruise

[ALCapshaw2]

I was working in the yard this afternoon and recall hitting my left first knuckle on something. An hour (maybe two) later, I niticed the nuckle was swollen and puffy, about 1.25 inches in diameter.

I am on Coumadin (mechanical AVR) and my INR was 2.6 yesterday.

Does this need immediate medical attention or should I just 'watch it'?

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Nancy]

Did you try icing it? Those knuckle things can be so painful and they turn blue. For me they usually resolve in a few hours, but then I'm not on Coumadin. I always put ice on them to keep the bleeding down.

 

[Ross]

So your out being dangerous to yourself now are ya?

You didn't say how loud you screamed or cussed, so I don't know if you broke something or not. Did you break the skin open at all?

I'd probably do as Nancy said, but if it's getting worse, I wouldn't hesitate to get it looked at.

 

[Rich]

Hi Al,
First off I want you to know I would like to be working in my yard but there is about 14 inches of frozen snow out there.
I'm jealous
I wacked my head in my workshop a few weeks ago.
Wasn't watching where I was and really hit my head hard on the end of some steel angles that make up part of my table saw.
Had two big lumps on my head and some minor bleeding but it went away after a week or so.
Sure was sore during that time.
Keep it iced and hopefully it will go away without incident.

Rich

 

[bvdr]

Hi Al,

Sorry about your finger. Ice it down and keep it elevated. As the swelling starts to go down the brusing will probably really spread. As long as you are getting blood supply to the tip of your finger (pinch it and watch to make sure the color returns to the area within a few seconds) and that you are able to feel the end of your finger then you might watch it for a while longer to make sure it doesn't keep getting larger.

I'm afraid it will be sore for you for quite some time.

If it gets worse, go get it checked out.

(just my personal opinion)

 

[Karlynn]

Nothing more to add to the advice given from our wonderful Nurse Betty (no relation to the movie).

I'll have to admit, my first thought was "Serves him right for living in an area where he can be working outside!" But then the little devil got knocked off my shoulder.

Ice ice ice. And if you need any, there's several of us that can send you down some.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Thanks for the replies and advice Nancy, Ross, Rich, and Betty.

I put a cold 'gel pack' on it for a while (D*MN, those things are as COLD as Winter in OHIO), followed by cool tap water in a plastic bag, followed by a pressure bandage (recommended by a nurse from The Heart Center who returned my call). Swelling seems to be going down (and spreading) just as Betty suggested. Fortunately, there was no External Bleeding.

I 'think' I know how it happened. Another Heart Patient and i were trimming trees and carrying the cut ends across the yard when one thin branch was 'compressed' and slapped me across the back of the hand like a 'switch' from days of olde. I remember a 'stinging' sensation and making the 'switch' analogy in my mind, and then forgot about it until I saw the swelling at dinner.

Rich: It was 40 degrees (maybe) and SUNNY today, just a delightful day to be working in the yard (I LOVE Winter's in Alabama). It's supposed to turn cold and rainy for the next two days. Oh well, we need the rain. There's an unwritten Law in Alabama that says that Winter may only stay for 6 weeks and then must go back home (up North ).

'AL' (a Yankee Transplant)

 

[Raverlaw]

I'm constantly banging my hands up while working in the garage or around the yard (55 degrees and sunny here today - but I'm stuck in my office). My cardiologist says I will have to wear work gloves after the surgery to protect my hands from bruising and bleeding. I've never liked to wear gloves but can see why it's a good idea and will have to get used to it.

Keep an eye on it Al; the swellling should be going down by now and of course you know what to do if it hasn't.

 

[tommy]

I've been working/playing about a month on a home remodeling project. I call it the "Give a Mouse a Cookie Project" because what looked like a small project created additional "opportunities" as it progessed. I have small cuts and abrasions all over my already dry fingers.

We decided to enlarge a closet opening and organize the closet for my son in the "Jack and Jill" bathroom. Actually with two boys, I guess its a "Jack and Jack" bathroom or - "Jack and Jack Johnny". I digress.

Tearing out part of a wall caused the floor to be replaced. That also meant tearing out the baseboards and replacing them after the floor was in. Since we had wanted to replace the comode "someday", we decided to add that to the project now since the old one had been removed anyway for the floor.

Then my son reminded me that the shower faucet was dripping. While repairing the faucet I noticed the caulking really need to be re-done. Oh yes, and the shower curtain needed to be "refreshed" as well.

Its functional and almost done. I wash my hands often while I work (I'm in the bathroom anyway) to keep the cuts clean.

 

[Granbonny]

Dog bites

Dog bites

O.K..First, I have a great little dog (Papillon).....Night before last..at 1:30 a.m...he woke me up..whining..I got up, turned on the light and he was curled up on carpet at bottom of bed...I went to lift him and he bit me on my left hand..on top of a vein..I woke Hubby..He got up and sat in chair and looked at him..Kallie just looked at me..so I thought I would pick him up again..and he bit me again..same hand I was bleeding and had to go to bathroom and wash my hands..and my heart was really beating fast..because I thought the dog was dying.. I went back in and got down close..and noticed his tags were hung in thread in carpet. So everytime I was trying to lift him..I was choking him Hubby cut loose, Kallie went back to sleep and I have 5 dog bites on left hand. Just scabs now Bonnie

 

[Karlynn]

Bonnie,
My sister has 2 Papillons. They are like living with dolphins they are such smart dogs.

You might want to run a call past your doc to make sure he's satisfied you are covered for infection, etc.

 

[Granbonny]

Karlynn

Karlynn

Thank goodness. I only have one..He knows every word in the english language we have to spell words like going..because he will run to front door. Everyone..everyday..will say..SHE is so beautiful and I say HE He will be 3 in April and has traveled all over with us in motorhome. No, my hands are fine. At my age, I just have thin skin Bonnie

 

[Karlynn]

How funny. My sister's Pap's are motorhome travelers too! My bro-in-law swears their male (Geronimo) knows how to spell. Sometimes I think he does!