Opinions: Badly cut finger?

teknical

teknical

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
30
I'm not too sure what to do, but I'm concerned at the moment. A few days ago I cut my index finger around 4mm past the last joint (or around half the distance from the last joint in my finger, to the tip). The cut runs perpendicular to my finger. I thought it wasn't that bad, as I've had worse cuts, but now it's:
1. Cold
2. Feeling numb in the joint *behind* the cut, along w/ everything after the cut in the tip of my finger

These symptoms started earlier today, around 3 days after the cut.

Trip to the ER, or am I concerned over nothing?
 
Tek,
Go to the doctor. There's only 2 or 3 doctors actually members at BF and even they cant really diagnose without seeing it.
 
Go to the doctor
I cut my finger in about the same spot about a 2 years ago. Had to get stitches, and even though they didn't think there was any nerve damage (neither did I) it went numb, unless my hands got cold in which case it would hurt like hell for hours. It got back to normal a few months after it had healed over. You really don't want to mess around with that kind of trouble for the rest of your life, better to play it safe and have it looked at.
 
I'm not a doctor! Take my opinion with a truck load of salt except for the following opinion: Go see the doctor fast!
You likely have damaged a nerve somewhere so that you can't actually feel the finger past that point. I have made a flap on the top of my right thumb and I can say sensation in the part that was partially severed was reduced...
Seeing the doctor doesn't hurt anything, he might be able to do something about it.
 
Sounds like you cut a nerve and a bit of a blood vessel to boot. Cutting a nerve causes the numbness and the coldness happens because the regular flow of blood to the tip of your finger has been interrupted.
You need to go see a doctor post haste my friend. There will possibly be a surgery if it's not too late to re-attatch whatever you've cut. Since it is so close to the tip of your finger they may just stitch you up, give you anti-biotics and a list of to-do's and what-if's.

The important thing is, you need to see a doctor for this.

Best of luck,
Mike U.
 
Guys, thanks for the concern, the quick answers were much appreciated.

I just got returned from the unfortunately closed immediate care facility that's close by my house. The next place is a major trauma center a ways away who'll tell me to go home :)

Nothing more I can do about this tonight, but I'll certainly go see my doc tomorrow.

I've heard some scuttlebutt about cut-resistant gloves made out of spectra...something or kevlar. Any recommendations? (other than metal gauntlets ;))
 
We have the Kevlar models at my job. Management thought they were great till I decided to make a point. I took one of their over-priced cut proof gloves put it on a desk, took out my Spyderco Cricket and slashed a 4" long gash across the palm of the glove in one quick stroke. My point to them was it is cut resistant not cut proof. I hear they are looking at other models now.:)
Remember that Kevlar is just resistant and not absolute protection against a blade's edge.;)

Good luck at the doctor's office tommorrow.
 
This one's a no-brainer.

It could be getting inflammed, possibly infected. You need to at least see a doctor for some antibiotics, or a tetanus shot.
 
Kevlar is not very good for cuts at all.

Let's ask Dr. Science. Remember, he's not a real doctor.

Kevlar fibers strongly resist stretching and breaking when stretched. A bullet is blunt and tries to force its way through a piece of cloth by stretching the fibers until they break. Kevlar is, thus, quite bullet resistant.

Kevlar is very, very common in fiber optic cables. The actual fiber itself is remarkably flexible. But, it is made of glass and if you pull on it, it will shatter and break. Even if it doesn't break, it can crack internally which is equally devestating to an optical cable. Fiber optic cables very often incorporate kevlar in their jackets. Kevlar strongly resists stretching. So, if you pull on the cable, the jacket will not stretch and you will not end up pulling on the glass fiber itself.

By the way, contrary to what you see in the movies, bullets do not bounce harmlessly off of kevlar garments. People shot while wearing kevlar garments just about about always suffer sever bruising from the impact. They often have soft-tissue damage. Cracked and even broken ribs sometimes result. Even internal injury can happen. Being shot while wearing a kevlar garment is not unlike being punched by a skilled boxer. There is a very strong impact.

What kevlar garments very often do is stop the bullet from penetrating and causing substantial internal dammage and substantial bleeding. A kevlar garment can often reduce a speeding bullet to a strong punch.

You see, when the bullet hits a fabric, it tries to stretch the fibers until they break and then the bullet continues through. But Kevlar fibers strongly resist stretching and breaking due to over-stretching. So, if the kevlar is unwilling to stretch and break, then the bullet is unable to penetrate.

Kevlar fibers are, however, not overly resistant to being cut by a blade attacking them perpendicularly. Kevlar fabric can be cut with a good pair of scissors. Technicians installing fiber optic cables routinely cut the Kevlar with scissors or a knife.

Kevlar fabric can be sewn conventionally. It seems remarkable that a fabric that can stop the proverbial speeding bullet will not stop a sewing needle. But a sewing needle does not really penetrate the fabric as much as it just slipps through the spaces between the threads. Kevlar fabric is a woven material woven from Kevlar fibers. Just like any fabric, there are spaces, albeit small spaces, between the fibers where a needle can slip through.

Many knives also have very fine, needle-like tips. They can stab right through kevlar fabric. Yes, the fabric that can stop a bullet can be defeated by a pocket knife.

So, there you go. Everything you ever wanted to know about Kevlar.
 
Hey man, sounds like you have cut the blood supply to the tip of your finger (hence the cold feeling) As far as the numbness, if the tip of the finger has gone without fresh blood supply for too long, it will necrose (that means die). This could also explain the numbness on the proximal side of the cut (the side closest to your body). I feel if it was a cut nerve, the numbness and tingling would have been more rapid onset instead of being a couple days. As Full Tang Clan mentioned, it could also be infected. Unfortunately, if you have waited a few days for treatment, this severely limits what the doctor can do for you. If I'm not mistaken, he will not be able to sew it up now, as the cut tissue has already begun healing itself. You are probably going to have to let it close up on it's own. As far as the circulation is concerned, there is usually enough collateral circulation from the capillaries to sustain tissue, but this all depends on what vessel you cut. You really need to get checked out and given antibiotics. Hope your tetanus is up to date, because you only have like 72 hours (if my memory serves me well) to get the shot if it isn't.

Mike
 
Generally, if there is an infection, it will feel "hot" to the touch, not to mention being very painful and swollen, yet your finger is becoming cold and numb. You might have partially have separated a nerve, but I also am thinking a separated vessel, for exactly the reasons stated by Mike.

Keep us posted!
 
I don't believe I'm at-risk for tetanus, as I cut myself on a freshly sharpened knife while I was flushing it w/ 70% isopropyl alcohol. Though it isn't showing clear signs of infection (pus, inflammation, pain) I'll ask about that tomorrow.

Gollnick, thanks for the info on kevlar. While it's somewhat counter-intuitive that the material can stop a bullet while also being able to be pierced by a needle or cut by a blade, as you've pointed out, it makes sense when you think about it. I hear that prosectors (the pathologist that's doing the cutting) use a chain mail glove on their non-knife hand to prevent accidental self-incisions during blind cutting. Fine chain mail inner w/ non-slip clarino outer could be a truely cut-resistant glove...
 
oh, how do you know the cold feeling on the fingers? did you use your other fingers to touch and and felt that it's cold? or does the finger "tell" you that it's feeling cold?
I'd see the doc tomorrow, first thing in the morning.
As for fine chainmail, that would probably stop all slashing and most stabbing, unless of course the stabbing implement is some kind of slender round blade with a sharp tip (like some push daggers).
 
I desagree with some of the eariler post's that say kevlar won't stop cuts. I work to the department of correction and wear a Stab vest made of kevlar, needless to say over a year ago I was stabbed in the right lung with a "ice pick" the vest saved my life. The blade was about 8 inches long and i only got a bruse on my ego. I have yet to witness a demonstration where a blade can penetrate a good stab vest.
 
I'd definitely go to the doctor if I were you. By not going right away, you seriously limited what he can do to help. I cut a big gash down my left thumb (14 stitches - ouch!) and the tip still goes numb sometimes. I'm not worried about it now, but when it was fresh I couldn't feel my thumb at all or sometimes it felt cold and it freaked me out pretty bad. I thought I had lost all sensation in it for good... but it came back.

Anyway, best of luck at the Dr. and remember to go in earlier next time.
 
The temperature of my finger was found by touching it to my lip, in comparison to other fingers. I decided to stay up and do a lot of typing / left-clicking, and at the moment, my fingertip is as warm as my other fingers. I figured it would stimulate blood flow.

About the cut/stab resistant gear: I was only originally asking for a cut/slash-resistant glove to be used in a non-hostile environment. Stabbing would largely not come into play.

Raden, do you have any other info on that vest and its construction? Can it also be used for protection from bullets, as well?

In my thinking, were I were to design a "fabric" that's both cut and stab resistant, I'd use small plates equally spaced and bonded to a durable fabric. Multiple layers would prevent any holes. The gaps between the metal "tiles" would allow movement, though the other layers would block total penetration. In effect, it could be like a conformable solid piece of metal. Exterior of kevlar, cordura, clarino, etc for "grip" or more metal tile / fabric for durability.

Time for bed, will post back tomorrow.
 
Originally posted by Raden
I desagree with some of the eariler post's that say kevlar won't stop cuts. I work to the department of correction and wear a Stab vest made of kevlar, needless to say over a year ago I was stabbed in the right lung with a "ice pick" the vest saved my life. The blade was about 8 inches long and i only got a bruse on my ego. I have yet to witness a demonstration where a blade can penetrate a good stab vest.
Click to expand...

If you will check, you'll find that Gollnick is correct about Kevlar. Your vest will have something else besides the Kevlar that provides the stab resistance. The Kevlar in your vest is to stop the bullets. If the icepick had a truly sharp point, it would merely slide between the thread spaces of the kevlar. Kevlar can easily be cut. It's main strenght is in it's ability to strech without tearing. This is how a bullet is stopped.

Mike
 
The material in the stab-resistant garment is probably plastic-impregnated kevlar. Basically, it's kevlar that has had a plastic resin forced into it under pressure. The kevlar provides the physical strength and the plastic stops the knife. It's a much bulkier and less pliable material than kevlar. The manufacturers also make this material with a much tighter weave than the kevlar used in bullet-resistant garments. That makes it stiffer, less pliable, and heavier. And when they make stab-resistant garments, they put in many more layers of material than the bullet-resistant garment needs. So, stab-resistant garments end up being bulky and uncomfortable. But, as Mr. Raden points out, they can be a life-saver.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top