infected finger, any ideas?

[sdrjeolsen]

I got a sliver under my fingernail several days ago. It has become infected and sore around one side of my nail. I have been soaking it in Epsom salt water last night and today, and tore it open with a needle to let the junk out tonight. I tried with a needle, but cant get to the sliver because it is under the nail too far. It is a really tiny sliver from what I can tell. I really don't want to have to go to the Dr, just hate the time and $ waste. Besides soaking it, any suggestions? Thanks!

[Darlene]

No fun Denise. The only other thought I have besides what you've already done & going to the docs is to get some triple antibiotic ointment(love that stuff) slathered on/in there and keep the area as clean as possible. I'm hoping the soaking will bring it to the surface for you.

[ilovechocolate]

No real advice, just sympathy.

Does your insurance have a Nurse Call or other phone number you can use to talk to a medical person about this?

[pita1213]

if it's got puss there that you had to let drain out, i'd go to the doc. it's already infected and you don't want it to get worse and lead to blood poisoning. while that's extreme, it can happen even from a small sliver.

[emily_hope]

No advice really. Just wanted to offer my sympathies. I know that it must be painful for you.

[sdrjeolsen]

Thanks everyone. It is less painful this morning and the redness is going down. I do have a nurse on call from dh's work that I can call. I haven't found them to be overly helpful in the past, but I will def. call if it doesn't clear up by Mon. or Tues. I think I have some antibiotic ointment that I can slather on...great idea.

[McD]

My mom told me that there is a drawing salve called prid that works well for splinters and things. Wesley had a really nasty splinter that starter to get infected on his leg. He wouldn't let me touch it so I put peroxide on it twice daily, then neosporin and a band0aid and he would soak it in the bathtub. It cleared up within a day.

[many houseapes]

what my grandma & mom use to do whenever someone had something under the skin & they couldn't get it out, was to make a paste of baking soda,flour & water...put it on the area and wrap a clean piece of cloth around it. within 24-48 hours, the splinter would be drawn up to the surface enough to pull it out.....but w/ your splinter being under the nail, this idea may be a little tricky. I think you did the right thing when you 'lanced" the area to let it drain. I agree w/ the others...keep it clean & apply antibiotic ointment

[ktsmama]

How about using a little peroxide? It might help "boil" it out.

[baxjul]

Soak it in some peroxide and try to "boil" it out. Also a paste of baking soda and water will act like a drawing salve.

[thriftybargainmom]

Soak it in peroxide........

[simplify]

i like tea tree oil from the healthfood store.