Dr Skunkey.com Medical Question

SoWal Expert

Mar 14, '07 · 5:33 PM1,541

So, back in the early 1990's I sliced the side of my birdie finger with a serated bread knife while trimming some limbs of a tree. (don't need any comments from the peanut gallery :nono1: -- the lesson was learned) Immediately, I felt a jolt of electricity rush up my arm and into my entire body

-- not pleasant. Anywho, I received a few stiches, but when I touched that finger to anything for the next month or so, I received that same electrical jolt

. After the cut healed, I still occasionally could touch that finger just right, and the jolt would come again.

Over the last few years, I have not been jolted, but on occasion, will get a smaller electrical soreness on that spot of my finger to the tip. Today, while doing my regular workout with weights, I noticed some of that not so pleasant feeling of electrical numbness from that cut to the tip of my finger. I continued my workout, but it seem to be more affected as I continued to lift. It has mellowed out a little bit, but I still have a little feeling of that electrical numbness on that tip of my finger. The cut was at the base of my distal phalanges (if my memory from 9th grade Biology serves me correctly). What do you suppose happend that made this problem reoccur? I don't recall bumping it against anything -- just began to notice it while rubbing my hands together on a set break.

Replies

SoWal Insider

Mar 14, '07 · 5:38 PM#2

Sounds like you hit a nerve. I think they have memory.
Dr. Mango's best educated guess. Take some B Complex and call me in the morning and my bill is in the mail.

Edited Mar 14, '07 · 5:39 PM

SoWal Insider

Mar 14, '07 · 5:45 PM#3

Neuroma

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Mar 14, '07 · 5:59 PM#4

Sounds like you hit a nerve. I think they have memory.
Dr. Mango's best educated guess. Take some B Complex and call me in the morning and my bill is in the mail.

About .1 seconds after I cut my finger, I knew that I hit a nerve. ;-) What do you mean that they have memory? Could I have been subconsciously thinking back to when I cut my finger, and that started the whole thing again? Or, could I have possible done something to tear that nerve again today? As I stated, I don't recall hitting it on anything, but I was straining a bit with the weights, but I always do. :idontno:

SoWal Insider

Mar 14, '07 · 6:10 PM#5

Is that the same hand you cut a few months ago? :idontno:

Neuropathy:

The causes of nerve pathology include:

Mechanical from injury, pressure, overworking a part of the body
Vascular (blockage of a vessel or hemorrhage into nerve tissue)
Infectious as in shingles, diptheria, polio, tetanus, or leprosy
Toxic from heavy metals like arsenic, mercury and lead; chemical poisoning from organo-phosphates, drugs or alcohol; vaccination as in Guillain Barr? syndrome
Metabolic from acidosis, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes.

If you have't gone to see a doctor since SJ, you should get your butt in.

Edited Mar 14, '07 · 6:18 PM

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Mar 14, '07 · 6:35 PM#6

Is that the same hand you cut a few months ago?

Neuropathy:

The causes of nerve pathology include:

Mechanical from injury, pressure, overworking a part of the body
Vascular (blockage of a vessel or hemorrhage into nerve tissue)
Infectious as in shingles, diptheria, polio, tetanus, or leprosy
Toxic from heavy metals like arsenic, mercury and lead; chemical poisoning from organo-phosphates, drugs or alcohol; vaccination as in Guillain Barr? syndrome
Metabolic from acidosis, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes.

If you have't gone to see a doctor since SJ, you should get your butt in.

The stab wound was in the arm, not the hand, but yes, the same side. It was bruised for three or four days, but has healed very nicely with only a tiny scar.

Go to the doctor? I thought that is what this thread was -- an online q/a with the doctor. :idontno:

picky

Mar 14, '07 · 6:52 PM#7

Well, look at it this way, SJ. Next time you're with a girl who sets your heart afire, you can look at her soulfully and say with all truth, "There's a certain electricity between us. I feel it." :lol:

SoWal Insider

Mar 14, '07 · 7:51 PM#8

hypersensitivity to a damaged sensory nerve. I will be in town Friday....you can buy me an adult beverage!

Edited Mar 14, '07 · 7:51 PM

SoWal Expert

Mar 14, '07 · 7:57 PM#9

You trimmed a tree with a serrated bread knife??? :idontno:

I gotta get past this part first before I read about any diagnosis.;-)

I know, peanut gallery. But I have been a good girl all day, so I need to let off a little SoWal steam.

Plus you are just too easy to tease. :lol:

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Mar 14, '07 · 8:18 PM#10

You trimmed a tree with a serrated bread knife??? I gotta get past this part first before I read about any diagnosis.;-)

Well, I was wearing thick leather gloves, but they were no match for that blade. I am just thankful that the knife had to go through the leather before reaching my finger.

Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname

Mar 14, '07 · 8:23 PM#11

Leave the sharp objects alone.

;-)

beats on hood

Mar 14, '07 · 8:38 PM#12

Smiley J, the key to the diagnosis is, "What were you smoking at the time?"
:lolabove:

:funn:

:rofl:

Actually it's not funny. Hope U B OK SJ.

SoWal Expert

Mar 14, '07 · 8:49 PM#13

You trimmed a tree with a serrated bread knife??? I gotta get past this part first before I read about any diagnosis.;-)

I know, peanut gallery. But I have been a good girl all day, so I need to let off a little SoWal steam. Plus you are just too easy to tease.

The name Tim the Toolman Taylor comes to mind.

picky

Mar 14, '07 · 9:08 PM#14

Well, I was wearing thick leather gloves, but they were no match for that blade. I am just thankful that the knife had to go through the leather before reaching my finger.

Actually, serrated knives have a lot to answer for. Bagel injuries are one of the top leading reasons for emergency room visits. You just got a little more creative than most.

Beach Fanatic

Mar 14, '07 · 9:17 PM#15

if you want to deaden a nerve ...a jumbo may be in order...of course the rest of your body will be deadened as well...

"Oh...plastic cup wench!?!?!...where are you?!?!?"

SoWal Insider

Mar 14, '07 · 9:55 PM#16

Actually, serrated knives have a lot to answer for. Bagel injuries are one of the top leading reasons for emergency room visits. You just got a little more creative than most.

One of my bff was slicing a bagel one morning and about cut a finger off! She did some serious damage and was in a wrap/cast thing forever!

Beach Fanatic

Mar 14, '07 · 9:58 PM#17

How's the tree?

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Mar 14, '07 · 10:06 PM#18

How's the tree?

That tree died shortly after my Iguana ate all of the leaves. He loved that tree.

Beach Fanatic

Mar 14, '07 · 10:07 PM#19

That tree died shortly after my Iguana ate all of the leaves. He loved that tree.

It never had a chance!!!

Skunky

Mar 15, '07 · 9:04 AM#20

When are you going to quit sharp objects? I think Beachbummet nailed the diagnosis, you are continuing to irritate a sensory nerve. My guess is that when your connective tissue grew back after the wound to your 'birdie finger':funn: , there was probably some scarring, so there is a compressed space in your finger. When you flex and extend your fingers, you probably have some of that scar tissue kissing a nerve in there.

Beach Fanatic

Mar 15, '07 · 10:47 AM#21

Actually, serrated knives have a lot to answer for. Bagel injuries are one of the top leading reasons for emergency room visits. You just got a little more creative than most.

Bagels and limes for margaritas!! :floor:

Beach Fanatic

Mar 15, '07 · 11:49 AM#22

Well, look at it this way, SJ. Next time you're with a girl who sets your heart afire, you can look at her soulfully and say with all truth, "There's a certain electricity between us. I feel it."

He has to make sure he touches her with that finger though. :floor:

SoWal Guide

Mar 15, '07 · 11:50 AM#23

if you want to deaden a nerve ...a jumbo may be in order...of course the rest of your body will be deadened as well... "Oh...plastic cup wench!?!?!...where are you?!?!?"

good point Hop. the "jumbo" is the universal answer to life's problems. ;-)

Beach Fanatic

Mar 15, '07 · 12:26 PM#24

I am not a doctor (although I played one in my childhood years) but your symptoms remind me of a problem I had in my youth. Seems that whenever I urinated outside at my grandparents farm, I too would get and electrical jolt that would go to you know where. It seems the fence I was urinating on was electrical. After being told that it was indeed an electrical fence...I had a delimma. To pee or not to pee on the fence? After weighing the options...I continued peeing on the fence until age 14 (the fence was removed). I miss that fence.

I know the preceeding story has little to do with your situation Joe but I felt I had to tell it. To this day, I never say "I have to tinkle" but say "I have to tingle". On the positve side of your situation SJ...if you still have that electrical sensation in your body, you can save the planet by not using a wall outlet to plug in your Christmas tree lights. I'll leave it to you where to plug it in. THIS HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCMENT FROM TripleB.

Beach Fanatic

Mar 15, '07 · 1:29 PM#25

I am not a doctor (although I played one in my childhood years) but your symptoms remind me of a problem I had in my youth. Seems that whenever I urinated outside at my grandparents farm, I too would get and electrical jolt that would go to you know where. It seems the fence I was urinating on was electrical. After being told that it was indeed an electrical fence...I had a delimma. To pee or not to pee on the fence? After weighing the options...I continued peeing on the fence until age 14 (the fence was removed). I miss that fence.

I know the preceeding story has little to do with your situation Joe but I felt I had to tell it. To this day, I never say "I have to tinkle" but say "I have to tingle". On the positve side of your situation SJ...if you still have that electrical sensation in your body, you can save the planet by not using a wall outlet to plug in your Christmas tree lights. I'll leave it to you where to plug it in. THIS HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCMENT FROM TripleB.

You just made that up!!!