Med question: Numb in finger after bad cut

[49erinnc]

Sliced open my index finger Sunday night along the inner, lower side of it. Was a really bad cut resulting in a lot of blood loss due to hitting a vessel. Wound up with a few stitches and a splint.

Took the splint off earlier so I could clean my wound and noticed that the entire underside of that finger, starting from where the cut is and going to the tip is completely numb. Not really tingly like when feeling is coming back after your foot has fallen asleep. Just numb. Pretty much the area I described and the whole tip. But I have feeling on the top of that same finger opposite the area that is numb on the underside.

Is this normal at this point following an injury like that? Will the numbness gradually go away or should I contact my doctor? If it helps, that whole finger has normal color (not blue at all) and is warm. It's just really numb above the cut.


Thread from 2007.
admin allisolm

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

perhaps you severed a nerve? Why are you asking ATOT instead of a doctor again?

- JaAG

 

[Ika]

call up your doctor, dude.

 

[apex32]

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
perhaps you severed a nerve? Why are you asking ATOT instead of a doctor again?

- JaAG

Hopefully this isn't the case but it is very possible. Call the doctor asap

 

[MedicBob]

GO see your PCP, Primary Care. Don't go back to the ED.

 

[Mark R]

The nerve running down the finger runs just next to the little artery, on the side of the finger. If the cut was deep enough to hit the vessel and cause a lot of bleeding, chances are it may have hit the nerve as well. There are 2 nerves, one on each side of the finger - each supplying half of the finger.

What exactly happened depends on when the numbness actually happened. If it wasn't there immediately, and has developed since - it may just be due to swelling of the tissues. You doctor should have examined the sensation in your finger before doing the stitches.

Even if the nerve has been severed, it can grow back - although this is slow. Speak to your doctor, they will be able to examine the wound and will know better about what has injured and what wasn't. Being able to see the wound and examine the finger is really essential to give any kind of useful advice.

 

[apex32]

Originally posted by: Mark R
The nerve running down the finger runs just next to the little artery, on the side of the finger. If the cut was deep enough to hit the vessel and cause a lot of bleeding, chances are it may have hit the nerve as well. There are 2 nerves, one on each side of the finger - each supplying half of the finger.

What exactly happened depends on when the numbness actually happened. If it wasn't there immediately, and has developed since - it may just be due to swelling of the tissues. You doctor should have examined the sensation in your finger before doing the stitches.

Even if the nerve has been severed, it can grow back - although this is slow. Speak to your doctor, they will be able to examine the wound and will know better about what has injured and what wasn't. Being able to see the wound and examine the finger is really essential to give any kind of useful advice.

He seems to know more than the rest of us.

 

[Umberger]

doctor...

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
perhaps you severed a nerve? Why are you asking ATOT instead of a doctor again?

- JaAG

Because believe it or not, there are actually a few people here who do more than just provide useless information when people need help. I know from previous experience, that we have several people here in the medical field. And even if they can't offer immediate help, they can offer comfort with their answers which is primarily what I was seeking at this point.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Comfortably Numb. Sorry, couldn't resist. Go see your PCP.

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: Mark R
The nerve running down the finger runs just next to the little artery, on the side of the finger. If the cut was deep enough to hit the vessel and cause a lot of bleeding, chances are it may have hit the nerve as well. There are 2 nerves, one on each side of the finger - each supplying half of the finger.

What exactly happened depends on when the numbness actually happened. If it wasn't there immediately, and has developed since - it may just be due to swelling of the tissues. You doctor should have examined the sensation in your finger before doing the stitches.

Even if the nerve has been severed, it can grow back - although this is slow. Speak to your doctor, they will be able to examine the wound and will know better about what has injured and what wasn't. Being able to see the wound and examine the finger is really essential to give any kind of useful advice.

Thanks for the info. Everything happened so fast that night that I can't remember if he checked for sensation before numbing my finger with a needle. I know he checked after doing that.

My finger is definitely swollen pretty bad and I have also been wearing a pretty tight splint on that finger. Hopefully, one of those (or both) are behind the numbness and it's nothing more severe. I had planned on contacting my PCP but just wanted to ask here first in hopes of having my mind put at ease some.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Originally posted by: 49erinnc
Sliced open my index finger Sunday night along the inner, lower side of it. Was a really bad cut resulting in a lot of blood loss due to hitting a vessel. Wound up with a few stitches and a splint.

Took the splint off earlier so I could clean my wound and noticed that the entire underside of that finger, starting from where the cut is and going to the tip is completely numb. Not really tingly like when feeling is coming back after your foot has fallen asleep. Just numb. Pretty much the area I described and the whole tip. But I have feeling on the top of that same finger opposite the area that is numb on the underside.

Is this normal at this point following an injury like that? Will the numbness gradually go away or should I contact my doctor? If it helps, that whole finger has normal color (not blue at all) and is warm. It's just really numb above the cut.

You will have to get used to the numb feeling. I have mine that way since 2001.

 

[killface]

Taste your pee. If it tastes funny, your finger will probably fall off.
Taste your pee. It's the only way to be sure.

 

[JohnReed2]

I just had the EXACT same thing happen. Bottom (underside) of index finger, cut across the last joint before the fingernail, lots of bleeding, numb to the tip. The knife was sharp and I did not feel any pain during or just after the cut. Did this heal naturally or did it require surgery?
Please email me johnmichaelreedfas@gmail.com with subject line "FINGER".

 

[IronWing]

I believe that at this point, the finger has been necrotized.

 

[JoeyM]

Don't follow up with your PCP. Call a hand surgeon (usually an orthopedic or plastic surgeon). Keep splint on until follow up (you can take it off to change bandage then reapply). If you cut the tiny nerve in your finger, I doubt there's really anything more that can be done. Wait and see.