Infected cuticle / paronychia ? OWWW. Pain

[Anonymous]

My fingernail hurt a bit before bed, and now it is THROBBING. No visible signs of redness or swelling or pus. It just hurts incredibly and the pain is vibrating.

Ahhh. Anyone have experience with this? I just soaked it in warm
Water and tried to add hydrogen peroxide, but couldn't really feel it.

Maybe I will go to the emergency clinic (not hospital, one of those urgent cares) after work tomorrow. Holy hell. Anyone have tips or experience this? Good grief. I cannot believe there is this much pain with no visual changes. Anything I can do to take care of it at home ?

[Anonymous]

I have about 3 years ago. Went to doc and he punctured it to get pus out and I soaked it in Epsom salt water. Gave me an antibiotic ointment, Mupropion (sp). Soak in Epsom salt water and see if it gets better. If not, go to doc.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. OP here. Been awake for an hour and a half now. Soaked it in hot water which helped but still can't fall back asleep. Up for work in 2 hours anyway.... Don't know how I'm going to get through work :/

[Anonymous]

Bacitracin and a tight bandaid.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. A friend recommended neosporin. Would that be better? Will Purcahse on the way to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. A friend recommended neosporin. Would that be better? Will Purcahse on the way to work.

Either/or

[Anonymous]

OP, take 3 Advil to help with the pain/throbbing and use the neosporin. If it gets red or hot etc - go to urgent care. Hope you feel better soon!

[Anonymous]

I had something like that and went to the Minute Clinic, got some antibiotic pills, and it cleared up in a few days. I have the feeling it would have cleared up on its own in about the same time. I think they usually do.

[Anonymous]

I just had one of these -- gross, pus, everything. I was so tempted to put a sterile needle in it but the nurse-practitioner at CVS Minute Clinic advised against it and also recommended against antibiotics unless it didn't resolve in a few more days. I feel your pain -- it really is horrible. Keep up with the hot water soaks with plenty of salt, do hot compresses (as hot as you can stand it without burning yourself), triple antibiotic ointment, and an NSAID like ibuprofen or naproxen. I think the strong hot saltwater soaks were the most effective in helping to resolve the infection and the ibuprofen was the most helpful with the pain. I don't think the ointment did much honestly as I couldn't find an actual break in the skin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just had one of these -- gross, pus, everything. I was so tempted to put a sterile needle in it but the nurse-practitioner at CVS Minute Clinic advised against it and also recommended against antibiotics unless it didn't resolve in a few more days. I feel your pain -- it really is horrible. Keep up with the hot water soaks with plenty of salt, do hot compresses (as hot as you can stand it without burning yourself), triple antibiotic ointment, and an NSAID like ibuprofen or naproxen. I think the strong hot saltwater soaks were the most effective in helping to resolve the infection and the ibuprofen was the most helpful with the pain. I don't think the ointment did much honestly as I couldn't find an actual break in the skin.

It can spread all the way down your hand and up your arm. If it doesn't get better soon you need to contact a doctor.
I recently had a finger infection (other side, fingertip) and after realizing that my immune system wasn't taking care of it (gave it 3 days, throbbing didn't stop) doctor prescribed strong antibiotics and said I still might have to go to the ER to have it cut open and drained.
If you feel it traveling down your finger or see red streaks I'd go right to the ER - it can make you very sick.

If the infection is encapsulated (like with a boil?) sometimes antibiotics don't work and it has to be punctured and drained.
Had to do that with one of my kids - it got really bad.

Soaking it is to open it up and let the infection out - in a less painful way than lancing it (if it works)

[Anonymous]

I would, and have, lanced it. It's really not such a big deal- sterilize a needle and make a hole. Push the puss out. Soak in epsom salt water. Apply first aid cream and a bandaid. Take advil.

[Anonymous]

I took 2 Aleve this - at 430, 7 hours ago- so no throbbing, only hurts when I touch it.

Unsure of what to do now. All the home remedies, and wait on urgent care unless it gets worse ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took 2 Aleve this - at 430, 7 hours ago- so no throbbing, only hurts when I touch it.

Unsure of what to do now. All the home remedies, and wait on urgent care unless it gets worse ?

Draw a line around the pink with a sharpie. If the pink starts to extend beyond the line, you will know it's getting worse. Then go to urgent care.

I'd still lance it if I were you. (At the part nearest the nail).

[Anonymous]

I've had this before. I try to pull it away from the nailbed a bit to get the puss out. Then I put on neosporin and a bandaid. Take 2 Advil for pain.

[Anonymous]

OP here again. It has no physical appearance (yet). Just really sensitive. Oy