Numb Finger - Pain Management Message Board

nec41 · 05-16-2005, 11:21 AM

About 2 days ago i cut my finger on a broken dish, and i must have cut a nerve or something because i can only feel on on side of the finger and not the other. How long will it be like that, and it is the index finger.

Fabrashamx · 05-16-2005, 11:50 AM

Hi ! Ow that sounds painful! My advice? Get to a doctor, like NOW, the cut may seem superficial, but anytime you're dealing with numbness you need a doctor to take a look. If you have a regular doctor, I would call right away and if not, head for the E.R.~And I wouldnt worry that they will think you're silly for coming in for a cut that may not even require stitches, I have permanent nerve damage in my right arm and hand and I can tell you it's nothing to mess around with. Good luck!

nec41 · 05-16-2005, 12:31 PM

Got this from [url]http://www.spinalcord.org/html/factsheets/smethod.php[/url]
Let me know if this is true, because i only lost feeling on the top right half of my finger?
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) includes all of the nerves in the body except for the brain, spinal cord, eye, and optic nerve and is able to heal itself after an injury. For example, if you have a bad cut on your finger you may temporarily lose some sensation if a nerve has been damaged. However, nerve endings in your finger eventually will grow back and re-establish their appropriate connections, as is the case with nerves in the PNS.

Fabrashamx · 05-17-2005, 03:03 AM

I think thats probably absolutley true, but it's your hand and if it were me, i would still want a doctor to take a look at it. I lost the tip of a finger as a toddler, they sewed it back on, but to this day (I'm 42) it is still numb at the tip. Better safe than sorry! Good luck to you~Fabby

PS~Mods may close this thread, Not sure if this is much of a pain management issue, Maybe you could ask on another board if you need more or better advice.

CancerDad · 05-18-2005, 10:51 PM

Hi nec41:
Yes, this should be the case. However, the nerve grows very slowly... keep that in mind. I had a doc tell me 1mm/day. I don't know if that's actually accurate, but they do grow back. Also, they may not grow back down the same tract. If this happens though, the nerve will go kind of crazy and just grow out in finger like projections until hopefully reattached. You could call your doctor. Unless you did something about it already, I'm assuming the cut was really deep and would have required stiches if you cut a nerve (sounds like it was), I think it's too late for them to close it up at this point anyway.

So, Best of luck for a speedy recovery. And watch those slippery plates! Better yet, get your spouse or sig other to do them!!!
CancerDad