Possible Tendon Problem

[jonnyscot]

Hi, looking for advice from anyone in the know who may have had similar prob,,,,, about a year back I recieved a small but deep cut on the point of my ring finger as a result of walking past a piece of Razor wire at work when it hooked my finger, very small cut and at first a sput of blood poured out but it quickly stopped, I went immediately to wash it and returned to work with a plaster on the finger, about 1 or 2 days later i reported it to the medic at work as the point of the finger was feeling a bit numb, and I was feeling this numbness with a little pain up my arm, he gave me some painkillers and anti inflamitory I think they were,, however during the next couple weeks it became more painful to the point I was having difficulty sleeping, after the first 5-6 weeks the pain gradually started to recede, although there still has been the numbness in my finger,,,

as I am not a person who goes to visit the dr on a regular basis (i think I have seen my family dr maybe 3 times in 10 years) I normally just let things take their course,, however now, around 1 year later the numbness is still in the point of my finger and I have been starting to feel some of the pain coming back around my elbow area,, I am assuming the problem is related to tendon trouble as I am/have been for a while feeling muscle spasms/twitches at the shoulder which I believe are related.

I expect any advice would be to go visit my DR,, but just looking for some input as I imagine it would be tendon trouble and wondering whether these are relatively easily fixed although I am sure I have not helped the situation by leaving it for so long, but from such a small cut its difficult to forsee the result of not doing much about it other than visiting the medic at the time.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[FBN]

It is unlikely that any tendon was cut as that would have been apparent immediately and will not have been associated with loss of sensation, unless, of course the digital nerve was injured or cut as well. You did not describe the site of the cut but it was probably at the under/inside of the finger. You can google digital nerve and get the anatomical location..The more likely scenario is that the digital nerve was cut on one side of the finger and has now developed a neuroma which is an unorganised regeneration of the nerve where it was cut. This results in a very sensitive nerve ending as it is basically open; ie out and exposed of the nerve sheath. Any irritation here will result in a sensation like an electrical shock radiating up the arm along the main nerve.After one year, it may be possible to surgically remove the neuroma or suture the nerve again; the latter less likely. This is micro-surgery...

[jonnyscot]

It is unlikely that any tendon was cut as that would have been apparent immediately and will not have been associated with loss of sensation, unless, of course the digital nerve was injured or cut as well. You did not describe the site of the cut but it was probably at the under/inside of the finger. You can google digital nerve and get the anatomical location..The more likely scenario is that the digital nerve was cut on one side of the finger and has now developed a neuroma which is an unorganised regeneration of the nerve where it was cut. This results in a very sensitive nerve ending as it is basically open; ie out and exposed of the nerve sheath. Any irritation here will result in a sensation like an electrical shock radiating up the arm along the main nerve.After one year, it may be possible to surgically remove the neuroma or suture the nerve again; the latter less likely. This is micro-surgery...

Hi FBN, thanks for the reply, the location of the cut was right at the point of the ring finger of the left hand at the central area of the point, not a big cut, but deep I imagine, as there was a quick spurt of blood at the time it happened , although the it quickly slowed to a weep of blood, I know the wire was very sharp as it was razor wire,, there is hardly any pain in the finger area, only the slight numbness feeling from about halfway down the finger, to the point, where the pain is is around the mid arm area around the elbow, sometimes feeling painful lifting my arm without doing anything strenuous,

Thanks for your reply anyway

[Sheryl]

I agree with FBN that nerve damage is the most likely factor.

Suggest you consult Dr. Panupan at Phyathai2 on Sunday mornings, Chaophya Hospitakl Thursday evenings (in either case call to confirm he'll be there)

He is the foremost hand specialist in Thialand and heads up the Siriraj microsurgery team.

[jonnyscot]

Hi, thanks for the follow up Sheryl, I suppose since I have waited a year already, a couple months more should be ok I imagine, as I am currently out of country working followed by a day home in in LOS then off to UK for our holidays before returning to LOS all in all a couple of months from now,,

thanks again