28F Experiencing Swelling in Finger Tip After Cut Recovery
In April, I accidentally sliced my left middle finger while chopping an onion. Although the injury was minor, I ended up damaging a blood vessel, resulting in two stitches that I received at an urgent care facility. The first image shows my finger at the time of the injury, while the subsequent photos depict how the nail currently appears. The healing process seemed to go well at first; however, by late May, I began to notice that the tip of my finger became tender and noticeably swollen. That evening, it started to throb and became quite painful, although elevating my hand helped ease the discomfort significantly. When I woke up the next day, the pain had subsided, yet the swelling remained. I also discovered that applying pressure to the nail released a small amount of cloudy discharge. Other than the swelling and slight redness, my finger felt fairly normal after that episode. In mid-June, I underwent treatment with cephalexin for a different problem related to my toe. During this time, I experienced a similar episode with my finger; however, the swelling appeared to be improving afterwards. Just last week, the familiar symptoms returned—swelling increased overnight, and I woke up with discharge again after another night of keeping my hand elevated. I decided to visit urgent care, and the doctor prescribed a week’s course of Bactrim for what they suspected might be paronychia. An aerobic culture was taken of the discharge, but it only indicated "Mixed Skin Flora" without any specific infection identified. As I near the end of my antibiotic course, the finger seems to be showing signs of improvement—though swelling persists, I haven't experienced any more discharge or intense throbbing pain recently, and the redness has diminished. However, the nail appears to be lifting away from the nail bed at the cut site and feels loose, which suggests that a new nail may be forming underneath. My main concern is whether I should continue monitoring the situation and wait for the swelling to subside on its own, or if I should seek further medical advice immediately. Would it be unreasonable to request an additional week of Bactrim?
Answers (1)
7/1/2025, 6:10:50 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you've been through quite a challenging recovery process with your finger injury. Your symptoms, including intermittent swelling, tenderness, and discharge, suggest that you're dealing with a likely case of paronychia, which is an infection or inflammation around the nail. While there have been signs of improvement with the antibiotic treatment, ongoing concerns about the swelling and the nail's appearance merit careful monitoring.
Explanation:
Paronychia can occur after an injury to the nail region, especially if there is any break in the skin. It can be caused by bacteria or fungi, with symptoms typically including redness, swelling, pain, and sometimes discharge. The fact that the swelling and pain have improved and that you're not experiencing discharge anymore is encouraging, but the appearance of the nail and persistent swelling are worth paying attention to.
Next Steps:
-
Monitor Symptoms: Continue to keep a close eye on your finger for any changes. Look for the following signs:
- Increasing swelling or redness
- New discharge or pain
- Signs of fever or systemic illness
-
Home Care: To aid healing, maintain good hygiene around the nail and finger:
- Soak your finger in warm, soapy water several times a day to help reduce swelling and promote drainage if needed.
- After soaking, dry the area gently and apply a clean bandage to protect it.
- Elevate your hand when possible to reduce swelling.
-
Nail Care: With the nail appearing loose, avoid manipulating it too much. If the nail starts to separate significantly or if you notice any pus accumulation, this could indicate a need for further medical evaluation.
-
Follow Up on Antibiotic Use: Since you are nearing the end of your antibiotic course and showing signs of improvement, requesting an additional week of Bactrim might not be immediately necessary. However, if you feel your symptoms are not improving or worsening as you finish the antibiotic treatment, consider reaching out for further medical advice.
-
Plan for a Follow-Up Appointment: If swelling persists or worsens after finishing the antibiotics or if you have any new concerning symptoms, consider scheduling a follow-up appointment for an in-depth evaluation.
It's essential to remain attentive to your body's signals during your recovery. You're doing a great job at managing your symptoms, and listening to them will guide your next steps effectively. If you have any more questions or concerns, feel free to ask!
Related Questions
Experiencing Leg Swelling After Discontinuing Amlodipine
Earlier this year, I began taking amlodipine at a dosage of 5mg, which resulted in noticeable swelling in my ankles and feet. To complicate matters, I sustained an injury to my left foot, exacerbating the swelling further. During my recovery process, I decided to gradually reduce my intake of amlodipine, and I observed an improvement in the swelling. It has now been about three weeks, possibly a month, since I ceased taking the medication, yet I still experience occasional swelling in my legs. It tends to subside by nightfall, but during the daytime, the swelling returns. Additionally, I've noticed that I'm waking up multiple times at night to urinate, which I believe is linked to the fluid retention. Based on my weight before sleeping and upon waking, I estimate that I eliminate approximately four pounds of fluid overnight. This situation leaves me wondering if stopping the medication has had a negative impact on my health or if any lasting damage has occurred. I'm worried about these symptoms but am unable to afford frequent consultations with a healthcare professional.
Unexplained Symptoms Despite Normal Lab Results – Seeking Input
Hello everyone! I’m a 26-year-old woman experiencing an increase in troubling symptoms over the past few years, particularly intensifying in the last 12 to 18 months. It’s incredibly frustrating because every lab test continues to return within normal limits, yet I feel terrible. I’ve been unable to work for the past three months and feel as though my concerns are dismissed. Many say it's psychological or even suggest I’m dramatizing my diet (currently limited to about 1600 kcal daily). For context, my family has a history of thyroid issues: both my aunt and grandmother have thyroid nodules; my aunt is asymptomatic, while my grandmother had symptoms related to hypothyroidism and had her thyroid removed. Additionally, my brother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes following a COVID infection. I’ve contracted COVID three times myself. In the past, I experienced a significant weight fluctuation—losing 30 kg in five months after a mysterious illness that lasted three weeks, which resulted in a fever, loss of voice, throat pain, and sinusitis, compounded by the stress of a toxic relationship and finishing college. **Key Symptoms I’m Facing:** - Extreme fatigue, notable weakness, and brain fog (I sometimes forget even my phone number or address). - Bloating, swelling, sensitivity to cold, and experiencing cold hands and feet even in temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius. - Rapid weight gain from 80 kg to 112 kg within a year, despite maintaining a calorie deficit and regular exercise, which I previously didn’t need to do to stay at a healthy weight. - Hair loss, particularly around my temples, alongside thinning eyebrows, as well as reduced body hair and brittle nails. - Persistent low mood, clinical depression, and frequent crying. - Menstrual cycles ranging up to 103 days. - Orthostatic issues characterized by dizziness and vision disturbances upon standing up. - Joint and body pain, especially in knees and fingers. I’ve undergone assessments for conditions such as iron deficiency, B12 levels, and potential kidney or liver issues, but nothing definitive has surfaced. There’s a lingering suspicion that I might have hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), yet the hypermobility and discomfort have been longstanding, while these additional symptoms are relatively new. Earlier this year, I took 25 µg of levothyroxine from late January until the end of April after persuading my physician to trial it (when my TSH was 3.7). I noticed an improvement; my hair started to regrow in areas mentioned, I lost 2 kg down to 108 kg, and I experienced some increased alertness. I also began taking 30 mg of Elvanse in early April, which allowed me to tackle tasks, but I was still too weak to return to exercise, so I aimed for at least 8000 steps daily. Currently, I remain on Elvanse, yet its effectiveness has diminished since stopping levothyroxine. After four weeks without it, my weight started to climb again, and I felt my symptoms worsen significantly. **Most Recent Blood Test Results:** **Thyroid Panel:** - TSH: 3.40 mU/l (Reference: 0.35-4.94) - Free T3: 3.09 ng/l (Reference: 1.43-3.90) - Free T4: 9.1 ng/l (Reference: 7.0-14.8) - TPO Antibodies: 14 U/ml (Reference: <34) - TRAK / TSH Receptor Antibodies: 0.85 U/l (Reference: <1.22) **Complete Blood Count / Hematology:** - Hemoglobin: 13.2-13.8 g/dl - Hematocrit: 39.4-40% - MCV: 85-86 fl - MCH: 28-29 pg - RDW: 12.5% - WBC: ~6.0–6.5 - Platelets: 269–293 - Neutrophils: 3.7 G/l - Lymphocytes: 1.7 G/l **Iron Status:** - Iron: 23.9 µmol/l (Reference: 5.8-34.5) - Transferrin Saturation: 32% - Ferritin: Yet to be tested. **B12 & Folate Levels:** - Vitamin B12: 364 ng/l (Reference: 197-771) - MMA: 20 µg/l (Reference: 9-32) - Holotranscobalamin: 108 pmol/l (Reference: >50) - Folic Acid: 5.3 µg/l (Reference: >4.0) - Vitamin D: 25-OH D: 57 nmol/l (Reference: 75-125) – deemed insufficient, I plan to start taking a high dose of Vitamin D3/K3. **Other Parameters:** - CRP: 2 mg/l - Glucose (fasting): 94 mg/dl - Creatinine: 0.82 mg/dl - GFR: 99 ml/min - Liver/kidney enzymes: All within normal limits - EBV IgG levels high (425 and 168) indicating a past infection - Fasting Insulin: 3.6 mU/l - HOMA-IR: 0.85 **Other Hormones (Day 3 of Cycle):** - LH: 8.0 IU/l - FSH: 8.2 IU/l - Prolactin: 352 mIU/l (Reference: 109-557) - Estradiol: 31 pg/ml; low for luteal phase - Progesterone: 0.33 ng/ml - Testosterone: 0.7 ng/ml (Reference: <0.9) - SHBG: 59.5 nmol/l - Androstenedione: 1.75 µg/l (Reference: 0.4-3.4) - DHEAS: 2.28 mg/l (Reference: <4.3) Last May, I underwent a thyroid ultrasound showing a TIRADS 3 nodule on my left lobe, measuring 9x9x7 mm, and the total volume of my thyroid was assessed at 8.7 ml. Although a follow-up ultrasound was performed, no measurements were recorded, but the evaluation was that everything appeared normal, with estimations of each lobe's volume ranging from 2-4 ml. For reference, I stand at 183 cm (6 feet) tall and reside in Germany. I am utterly drained from being disregarded. Something does not feel right, and I desire my life back. I would greatly value any shared experiences, suggestions, or thoughts from the community as I await an appointment with an endocrinologist and seek a therapist—all while being monitored for depression and ADHD (diagnosed at 8, medication discontinued post-school, and recently resumed by my psychiatrist). I’m happy to provide additional information if needed; I’ll respond to comments as quickly as I can.
Concerns About Throat Bumps: Should I Consult My GP Again?
Greetings, everyone. Recently, I discovered the presence of a sore throat and upon examination, I noticed some red bumps at the back of my throat. Concerned, I sent a photo to my general practitioner, who suggested that these may be retention cysts due to obstructed mucus glands, advising me to keep an eye on them for the next few days. Currently, my only symptoms include a light cough and a slight soreness in my throat. After a follow-up check the next day, I noticed that the bumps appear to be changing color, possibly shifting to white. I'm unsure if this change is due to the lighting, as the pictures were taken at different times—one at night and another during the day. I’m seeking opinions on whether it’s still advisable to monitor the situation over the coming days since I’m not experiencing any additional symptoms. I do have a medical history that includes anxiety and reflux. 28-year-old male
Struggling with Prolonged Sinusitis
Currently, I’m facing a significant challenge with sinusitis that has persisted for the past 15 days (40-year-old female from Australia, weighing 80 kg). The initial six days were particularly tough; I relied heavily on nasal irrigation twice daily, utilized nasal sprays, took allergy medications, and even used a humidifier while sleeping. After a few days of slight improvement, my symptoms worsened yet again when I returned to my workplace. Although there are moments at home when I feel somewhat relieved, the discomfort intensifies while I'm in the office. I experimented with pausing the nasal rinses for a few days, suspecting they might be exacerbating the issue, but I've resumed them now. Unfortunately, nothing seems to provide any real relief—both the nasal flushes and sprays fail to clear my sinuses; instead, I often end up feeling more congested and uncomfortable afterward. While the sinus-related pain is not excruciating, it is still quite bothersome, and even ibuprofen does little to alleviate it. Typically, I experience these sinus issues several times each year, but they rarely extend beyond 7 to 8 days. I’m contemplating whether it’s possible to recover without the use of antibiotics, which my doctor seldom prescribes, and usually, I’m feeling better by this time. I’ve been trying to secure an appointment with my doctor, but sadly, she’s unavailable until late July! Other doctors seem to have packed schedules as well, making it difficult to find an earlier consultation. My symptoms do not include yellow or discolored mucus, as it remains clear, and I don’t have a fever. However, I do experience headaches and pain in my nose, eyebrows, face, and even some tooth discomfort. Additionally, one of my ears feels blocked. I'm uncertain about the best course of action to find some relief. Is it worthwhile to schedule an appointment for four days from now, which is the earliest I can get? I worry they might advise me to continue my current routine, as they often do. I sincerely hope to see improvement before then. Moreover, I need to obtain a referral to an ENT specialist to explore options that may prevent future occurrences of this issue.
Persistent Moisture Down There
Let me provide some background... I’ve lived the single life for 26 years, but this past May, I began communicating with a guy. Although I’ve taken the pill previously, I’m currently not using any hormonal birth control. After my recent trip to London, I came back and noticed something unusual: I’ve been consistently feeling wet down there—enough to completely soak my underwear. It’s not related to discharge at all. Prior to this, I was as dry as the desert. Now, even when I'm apart from him, I continue to experience this moisture. When we first got intimate after my return from London, his first comment was about how wet I was. It’s quite embarrassing because this change happened so abruptly, and I can’t pinpoint anything I’ve done differently. Is it possible that I’m just perpetually aroused? What’s the situation here? I should mention that there’s no odor, unusual discharge, or discomfort, which reassures me that it’s not an infection or STI. Our physical encounters have been limited to fondling, with no penetrative intercourse. I really need some advice!