feelbad

with having that cast on(very restricted space with no real room for swelling or enlarging of an area?), any swelling which is just something that comes along for the ride with any level of trauma to our bodies, could possibly be causing too much constriction or compression upon the ulnar nerve there? what jenny told you to do with the elevation is really huge to keep swelling down to the smallest amount, just make certain it is raised up, ALWAYS as much as possible ABOVE your heart? even when sleeping too. is there any way at all that you can actually visualize the tip of that finger just to see if the color is normal and if it is hot or cold to the touch?

how did that finger feel within about an hour or so of him popping that bone back and placeing that cast? was there ANY tingling or numbness then? sometimes when they pop any bone back into place,espescially when it also involves some level of any joint,it can create a problen with a nerve being compromised.

i would see how today goes doing the elevation and if things get worse or just not any better at all, contact the doc who placed that cast,they may have to actually cut down the side and open it up and just simply tape it but making more room in there to accomodate what just could be temporary swelling. this is not uncommon when they cast an area that has suffered trauma. its just the swelling that happens.

just exactly what is casted, as in how much of your hand is covered right now? i know when i blew the ligaments out off my right middle finger, the ortho who i had(stupid stupid man to boot) actually casted like my entire freaking hand with only my thumb exposed? it went about midway between my wrist and the elbow. i had to start cutting out larger areas just to get 'some' actual movement to even do things. i used my gardening pruning sheers. worked really well on fiberglass, who knew?

if you have any area where you can actually see that pinkie, it would really be so much more helpful as far as seeing just what and how much of that ulnar nerve and the swelling is really affecting that area( i am in no way telling you to cut anything open here,K? that needs to be done by a doc). if that cast EVER just 'feels' way to tight, make a call and a visit to the doc who placed it or if he is not available, just go to the local ER. they WILL know what to do there for you to assure there is no impairment with your circulation. this could be a nerve thing or a circulation thing. but if you cannot actually visualize the finger mostly involved, it would really be impossible to tell unless they do what i mentioned above and cut down that side to look and then just tape it all back together. it works pretty well. this way they can at least be able to check on it and just see it for the first time since that cast was placed.

but i would call your docs office today if this is still the same or worse just so they KNOW what is going on, then its in your docs hands and it least he is aware of this. hopefully just keeping this elevated above your heart will help ease the swelling. if they did not actually give you a sling of some kind,i would highly recommend using one at least for the next few days or anytime you detect possible swelling. the sling can be adjusted to wear so at least that hand area sits above your heart or is much higher at the injuered end,you know what i mean?
this really helped me with my swelling from the stupid finger nightmare.

hopefully this is not a huge issue, just some swelling problems that will subside. but it does need some attention and to be watched/monitored. please keep us posted I.S., marcia

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3-22-01,herniated C-6-7
11-20-01,placement of hardware for failed fusion
9-22-03,removal of cavernous hemangioma that was inside spinal cord. Neuro damage to L hand L leg and R leg.