Getting increasingly worried, need some advice

Dave McCool · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Karma :

Basically, while playing football the other day, I got kicked in the hand (playing in goal) and my middle finger got hurt.

Wasn't too worried at the time, something similar had happened to my index finger on the other hand a few months back, the pain went within a couple of days, and all was good (nearly got full movement back...).

However, I wear a signet ring on my middle finger, and that finger has now swelled up quite severely. I can still move the ring a couple of mm, and it's not yet uncomfortable, but the finger still seems to be swelling (still reasonably sore too), as it's definitely larger today than it was yesterday.

There's absolutely no way the ring will come off, and as above, I'm starting to get a wee bit worried. In situations like this I get fairly claustrophobic; can't deal with the thought that it might be stuck, the more I think about it the more panicky I get.

Not really sure what to do, not registered with a doctor at Uni, and the doctor back home is a complete lottery as to whether you get an appointment or not, and that's if you decide to queue outside for 2 hours before the bastard place opens, otherwise there's literally no chance.

Basically, any advice would be welcome, not really sure what to do, but quite worried that it might have to be cut off.

Oh, and just to get the dirty gag in there first - Yes, my finger is stuck in my ring, and yes, I might have to go to the doctors' to get it out, satisfied? Very Happy

Cheers in advance people.
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McGee - "When I go to the mall and see all the high school girls, I have to have DO NOT TOUCH THE GIRLS written on my hand. Every time I go to grope I see it and stop."
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PsychoHippy · Jammy Git Joined: 02 Jul 2002 Karma :

The only advise I can give you to get the ring off is ice and lots of it. Ice will help to reduce the swelling and (hopefully) allow you to get the ring off, you may also want to use a little soap to help it slip.

If you aren't registered with a Doc at Uni then you could try to find a local NHS Direct centre and try to get an appointment there. Or you could just go to the local A&E and get them to have a look.
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nrml76 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Karma :

If the swelling is not too bad and the ring not so tight that it is cutting off blood supply to your finger, it might be best just to take some ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation and take it off in a few days or weeks when it settles down.

Try immersing your hand in soapy water and keep trying gently for a few hours. It almost always works.

Try winding a piece of string tightly over your finger for a few minutes. This sometimes reduces the swelling slightly. It creates a screw thread pattern on your skin, over which you can remove the ring.

Your local A&E will have a ring cutter. It doesn't damage the skin, but it will ruin the ring. It takes less than 10 min to cut it off.
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flat spot · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Aug 2003 Karma :

Ibuprofen gel should reduce the swelling overnight. Good stuff. So good in fact you can't take the tablets at the same time. Unless of coarse you want to OD on ibuprofen.

J0Al1 · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Nov 2006 Karma :

I'd phone the fire brigade if I were you.

BlackSheep · Trackday Trickster Joined: 22 Sep 2004 Karma :

Same thing happened to my wifes wedding ring , so i cut it off with a dremel and it only cost £20 to have it repaired at a local jewellers
a ring aint worth losing a finger .
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Gpz 900R · Nova Slayer Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Karma :

Try here mate,and the end of the day mate you can't mess about with your health.

https://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

Chriss · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2005 Karma :

Zimbo · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Karma :

Yup, if it gets too bad, cut it off.

Paivi · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Karma :

scorps · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Karma :

I thought we'd have heard if his finger was okay or he ended up with it dropping off or something by now
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Dave McCool · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Karma :

Right, cheers for the help boys and girls, and sorry for the late reply, been a bit busy this weekend.

Took the soap and water advice on saturday morning, and half an hour of struggling later it came off nicely.

Panic averted.

Finger still sodding hurts, pretty sure it's fractured, got it strapped up now though, so it should be all good.

Cheers again!

Karma

____________________
McGee - "When I go to the mall and see all the high school girls, I have to have DO NOT TOUCH THE GIRLS written on my hand. Every time I go to grope I see it and stop."
K7 GSXR750