Stitches out - What's my timeline?

[Paul_Guraedy]

A while back I was talking to my Doc about woodcarving and mentioned that, so far, I had not had any severe cuts and pointed out that the cuts were made by real sharp instruments.....like scalpels. He said that, as far as cuts go, that was a good thing; but, that infection was always a risk, even in the superclean environment of an operating room.

The greatest hazard from a wound is usually not the initial damage...it is infection.

In talking about woodcarving injuries he told me that deep cuts and any of much depth and length should be evaluated for stitching. Deep wounds take the longest to heal and offer the greatest risk of infection. Stitches offer two real positives: 1. Decreased potential for infection. 2. Faster recovery.

[againstthegrain]

Becky,

It sounds like you are getting better and better each day. You'll be back to carving in no time.

I, like Bob, wash my cuts with antibacterial soap and water immediately, apply polysporin and a flexible bandaid and remove it after my shower the next day, leaving it open to air. (Unless it is across the knuckle and then I apply the old "butterfly" bandaid to hold things together until the skin starts to heal well). In your case, this time, I don't think that would have worked and it sounds like you did the right thing by getting it stitched up. Do you have any numbness above or below the cut? If you do, the periodic pain that you describe may be the nerve healing. I have heard that it can take a while for the nerve to repair itself. I'm glad the finger didn't get cut COMPLETELY off, because I believe the name "Nine Fingers" is already taken on the message board.

Can you carve with both hands or are you strictly a right-handed carver? I carve left-handed when my right one gets tired, but unless you are used to this, I wouldn't try it right now! No sense risking another finger laceration. Be patient!

Dianna

[Claude]

Originally Posted by BeckyLil

Hi Ho - you would use super glue instead of getting stitches? Seriously? Yikes!

Becky:
When I had my quad-bypass surgery a couple of years ago, they split my chest open from collarbone to bottom of breastbone. Wired the breastbone back together, then glued my skin back together with the medical version of superglue. No stitches! No staples! Just glue... Worked great!

Claude

[Claude]

Originally Posted by videblig

â èòîãå: áëàãîäàðþ. à82÷

Does anyone have a web browser or computer that can display the Russian Cyrillic alphabet? This member has a Russian email address and I suspect he may be trying to send Cyrillic characters.

Claude

[Sharon of the Dell]

I didn't read everything here so maybe someone already mentioned this- Epson salts in as hot as you can stand it water. Old time remedy, but works really good most of the time. Feels soothing too.

[Sharon of the Dell]

Well I am dumb, thought this was a new post! guess i should look at the dates! Duuuh!