Cleaning a jagged piece of porcelain may have resulted in you accidentally slicing through the bottom of your forefinger. Your initial reaction may have been to wrap the wound and apply pressure to it, but now that the blood has stopped flowing, pain may have set in. If you are fairly certain that stitches are not required and would like to address your medical needs from the comfort of your home, you will need to pick up some medical supplies.
An Infection Is Your First Priority
If the sight of the wound isn't too worrisome and you are mainly concerned about the wound becoming infected, sterile dressings, antibacterial ointment or spray, and metal clips or an adhesive closure will be needed. You may not be ready to apply a restrictive bandage around the wound, especially if the soreness is limiting your ability to move your finger. For the time being, purchase a roll of gauze, a cloth bandage or wrap, and essentials that are needed to secure the dressing and relieve pain.
Look for an antibacterial ointment or spray that is unscented and that is designed to kill a high percentage of germs. To keep an infection out of the realm of possibilities, you should keep your finger wrapped during the hours that you are awake and limit your exposure to dirty surfaces, which may contain loose particles that could become embedded in your wound.
Avoid Using Your Finger
Rest, plenty of hydration, and limited usage will all aid in a speedy recovery and proper healing. If you perform a lot of cleaning and various household tasks, put off as much as you can until your finger has healed. It can be frustrating to see a mess inside of your home, but try to remind yourself that your health is more important and that you could possibly be shaving off some healing time by giving your finger a rest.
Dressings Should Be Changed Often
Your finger will be covered with a dressing for a week or two, but this doesn't mean that you should avoid allowing your skin to breathe. At night, wash your finger well and apply more of the antibacterial ointment or spray. Dispose of the used dressing and leave your finger uncovered for a while. When you are ready to put on a new dressing, use the medical supplies that you purchased and carefully wrap a piece of gauze around your finger before securing a cloth bandage over it.
Share27 August 2020
When my mother fell at home and broke her hip, we all thought that we were going to have no choice to put her in a nursing home when she got out of the hospital. My mother had always asked us kids to avoid putting her in any kind of home, but we didn’t know what else we could do. None of us were capable of giving her the kind of rehabilitation and care that she needed. Then her doctor suggested that we find out if her insurance covered in-home care. I didn’t even know that that was an option. I was pleased to discover that in-home care was covered by her plan. Now she gets great care from nurses and nurse assistants that come right to her in her home, where she wants to be. It’s a great option, and I’m so glad we have it.
