Digital Ulcers

[Ronald]

I have a strange ulcer on my left index finger.  It started about 30 days ago getting sore, now its black under the nail and swollen. Has anyone ever taken antibiotics before for ulcers?  I ask because since the circulation is poor how does the medicine get in there?

[Joelf]

Hi Ronald,

 

Sorry that your digital ulcers are such a painful problem for you.

 

Thankfully, I've never suffered with them, but I would imagine that if they do become infected, antibiotics would probably help. However, I have no medical training, so really the best person to advise you is your doctor/scleroderma expert.

 

Kind regards,

[Margaret]

Morning Ronald, I don't have scleroderma but do get awful, swollen sores next to the nails.  An antibiotic ointment and bandaid (for protection)

seems to help with the pain and infection. Some takes day or a week to heal.

 

Take care, everyone.

Margaret

[Ronald]

Hi Margaret,

My finger has been a problem since June 2019, an ulcer that won't heal.  A couple weeks ago it started to get worse, then swelled up and got infected, it was throbbing all the time and the entire finger was red and swollen. Been on oral antibiotics since 24 March, it has not got worse, but has not got that better, it did start to drain last night (bloody discharge, maybe pus?) I stopped antibiotics Monday, hope it's better.  I don't like taking antibiotics. 

 

My doctor told me take them or lose the finger.  Not much of a choice.

[dimarzio]

Hi Ronald, 

 

Sorry that you are still having so much pain and problems.

 

I guess that you may get to the point that you feel that the finger is worth less than the pain.  I hope you don't, but people live quite happily with a lot less than 10 fingers.

 

Medical grade Manuka Honey might be worth a try if nothing else is working.  

 

Good luck, whichever way things go.

[Ronald]

22 hours ago, dimarzio said:

Hi Ronald, 

 

Sorry that you are still having so much pain and problems.

 

I guess that you may get to the point that you feel that the finger is worth less than the pain.  I hope you don't, but people live quite happily with a lot less than 10 fingers.

 

Medical grade Manuka Honey might be worth a try if nothing else is working.  

 

Good luck, whichever way things go.

The infection is deep inside the finger, it started to drain on the 26 and 29 (clear liquid and blood), but still swollen and painful, I think they need to keep me on antibiotics for a few more days.

[Ronald]

Well, my doctor is stumped, she has no idea what's going on, extended my antibiotics 3 more days, doing 10 minute salt water soaks, fluid leaking from wound after soaks.  I think it's time for a specialist. Blood circulation very poor in that finger. This all started in 1984.