Thread: Tips on dealing with a smashed thumb?

Smashed/pinched my thumb pretty good last Thursday. It doesn't hurt as much now but the nail is mostly purple underneath, I still lack sensation on the tip of the thumb and the skin on the end looks sort of dead. The whole thing feels like the end of my thumb is made of plastic and when I bend it at the first joint, I feel pressure under the nail. It feels weird to bump the nail but not super painful.

Am I going to lose the nail, and if so, what should I be doing with it in the mean time?

Is there anything I can do to not lose the nail?

Originally Posted by Shorty_J

Smashed/pinched my thumb pretty good last Thursday. It doesn't hurt as much now but the nail is mostly purple underneath, I still lack sensation on the tip of the thumb and the skin on the end looks sort of dead. The hold thing feels like the end of my thumb is made of plastic and when I bend it at the first joint, I feel pressure under the nail. It feels weir to bump the nail but not super painful.

Am I going to lose the nail, and if so, what should I be doing with it in the mean time?

Is there anything I can do to not lose the nail?

You are going to lose the nail and it will feel a lot better when it doesn't hurt so much. But here's a picture of my nail from last week - I'm just waiting for it to fall off:


So really, the only help I have is to suck it up, princess.

I've smashed the nail on my middle finger three times.

The best relief in the world: spinning a small drill bit between your fingers to carefully poke through the nail. Get ready to duck. It feels so good to lose that pressure under the nail.

I've debated drilling it out, and I suppose some of the "dead" sensation could just be pressure build-up... but I went to the doctor last week and had it x-rayed, and when he found it wasn't broken he said there isn't a place for him to release the pressure for me and to just leave it. Now I'm thinking that wasn't the best advice.

I read somewhere that taping it down for long enough, I might not lose it?

Originally Posted by Shorty_J

I read somewhere that taping it down for long enough, I might not lose it?

Why would you want to save it?

I don't know, I guess.

The sooner you drill it, the better your thumb will feel. Plus it is nicer to get the blood out while it is liquid before it turns to thick goo.

In the building trades, that's one of the first 'paying your dues' things to happen. Next is falling off a roof.

personally i always went with unintentional jump off roof instead of fallingg
and always drill to relieve pressure lost quite a few nails over the years
google brant moles finger incident last preseason
while being great at boot ski interface dildos is evil

If its as bad as you suggest it is you will really want to release the pressure underneath the nail. Best way possible ive found is heating up a safety pin to sterilize it and then melting through the high center of the nail. Just be careful not to push to hard when it is almost through the nail as it can hurt quite a bit if you over shoot. This will allow the pressure to free itself as well as allow the nail to stay on your finger for a bit longer or until it wants to fall off.

Originally Posted by skifishbum

while being great at boot ski interface dildos is evil

No shit. That was the first time I lost mine, in the dildo-clamp. Fingertip was lookin pretty flat after I managed to yank it out.

let the blood out of there, feels a hole lot better

By the time I was asking the question it was long past being able to relieve the pressure... live and learn for next time.

And getting it caught in the FKS dildo is exactly what did it!

Sounds like we have the makings of a class action suit here.

Originally Posted by old goat

Sounds like we have the makings of a class action suit here.

Indeed. I'm unemployed, so that sounds great.

So the nail WANTS to come off, but it's still barely attached. Any way to SOFTLY remove it just to get it over with?

Originally Posted by Shorty_J

So the nail WANTS to come off, but it's still barely attached. Any way to SOFTLY remove it just to get it over with?

Mine came off at our Xmas eve party. It had been wanting to for a day or so, then it just popped off so I recommend patience. It was really gross. Maybe I'll post a picture.

Try soaking it in warm water.

Shorty
I have had several bad ones like this over the years. Mechanic on trucks and equipment long enough you get your finger smashed eventually. Drilling for blood thru the nail works but it smarts. Best way I found is a red hot paper clip. Fast and painless. Smells bad but relieves the pressure.
thanks
jesse