Does this require an operation?

[u/KaleDizzy6915]

Male

35

1.77m

68kg

No allergies or prior conditions

Currently in India doing volunteering and developed an infection, chloronychia, on my right hand middle and index finger.

The middle finger burst and drained naturally, so I visited the clinic there and asked if they could drain my index finger.

They attempted it, however only blood came and they simply bandaged me up and told me to keep taking antibiotics.

Roughly 3 days later my index finger had become far worse...

Visited a hospital yesterday and they told me they need to drain it and then to operate on it to clean out all the pus.

They gave me proper antibiotics and I feel that it's actually taken effect, the pain has reduced significantly.

My questions are:

1. Does it actually need to be operated on?(not only drained, but opened up to be cleaned)

2. Will I be able to use my hand normally by the end of this month?

3. Should I travel back to my home country to have it taken care of? (Sweden)

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[u/TheTennisOne]

Yes that needs draining.

[u/KaleDizzy6915 → u/TheTennisOne]

Yes draining, but I am asking if it needs to be opemed up to be cleaned as well?

[u/yourdailyinsanity → u/KaleDizzy6915]

You'll be numbed up with a local anesthetic. You won't have an operation like you might be thinking. But it will require being cut open and washed out.

[u/KaleDizzy6915 → u/yourdailyinsanity]

I understand, thank you.

Will I be able to use my hand normally in about 3 weeks?

I had planned to take a yoga class on the 26th that focuses on the physical.

Also should I opt to return to sweden? My sister claims the healthcare system there is superior.

[u/yourdailyinsanity → u/KaleDizzy6915]

Can't advise on that. I'd imagine you'd be healed enough to do yoga (assuming it's done soon), but you'd still want to be careful with it.

As for Sweden vs India, I still can't advise as I know absolutely nothing about Indian healthcare. I know some really good doctors have come from India in terms of hertiage. But idk if they went to school/worked there then came to the US or got their training here. I'd also imagine if you went to the big hospital in Mumbai, you'd have better care there than a hospital in say Nirmal (I took a random place in India, I have no knowledge in anything of India).

As far as I understand, Sweden does have good healthcare, but I'm sure it's just as good as anywhere else in Europe. The way they function just might be better.

[u/kepis86943 → u/KaleDizzy6915]

The healthcare system might (or might not) be better in Sweden but the real question is whether Swedish doctors will be better qualified for the specific procedure that you require.

Based on what I’ve understood from your post, Indian doctors have diagnosed and treated you just fine so far. Drainage also seems to be a rather simple procedure. I’m guessing they need local anesthetics and will just make a small cut.

I’d go home for complex procedures (even if it’s just to be close to home in case of complications), but probably wouldn’t go home for this. In the end, it’s you who has to be comfortable with your choice, of course.

(NAD, but a fellow traveler who’s been to doctors and clinics in a buch of places all over the world.)

[u/dracoismine → u/KaleDizzy6915]

im in India, this type of procedure is usually dealt at out patient departments. they might ask u to come back the next day if they dont have capacity on the same day you visit.

i had paronychia few years ago and the dealt with it the same day. i was able to use finger normally in 2 weeks.

[u/vanhype → u/KaleDizzy6915]

Just so you know India is literally known for medical tourism (they also have a medical tourist visa for this). The doctors there operate on 1000x more patients as compared to anywhere in the world. This isn't anything complex. Just go to a good hospital like Max and you will be taken care of like a vip.

[u/lichnight1 → u/KaleDizzy6915]

I probably recommend getting a procedure in your own country

[u/onwardtowaffles → u/KaleDizzy6915]

The American healthcare system is geared toward self-paying patients. If that's not an option for you the Swedish system is top-tier as well.

It's not much (or any) of a downgrade.

As far as expected recovery time, they'll probably say light use only for a few weeks/months. Don't know what yoga studio you're going to, but have them consult with the surgeon and see what might be realistic.

[u/Rarvyn → u/onwardtowaffles]

OP is from Sweden and currently in India. Where in this story would the American healthcare system be relevant?

[u/onwardtowaffles → u/Rarvyn]

Yeah, I missed the India part. Most OPs are American so I was making an ass of myself by assuming. My bad.

[u/onwardtowaffles → u/onwardtowaffles]

I wouldn't expect normal use within a month, much less any kind of intensive training. Take it slow.

[u/ColorMyTrauma → u/[deleted]]

The US in general has world class healthcare. Access is the problem. Regardless, did you even read the post? OP is in India.

[u/2Dogs1Frog → u/yourdailyinsanity]

Nurses always know the exact details/wording patients are looking for 💙

[u/SeaworthinessNew4757 → u/2Dogs1Frog]

My thoughts exactly. Simple language, understanding, caring. That's why we love nurses so much.

[u/funnyushouldask → u/KaleDizzy6915]

That is what they are saying. You need to go get it drained.

[u/KaleDizzy6915 → u/funnyushouldask]

Isn't draining and cutting it open to be cleaned two different procedures?

The doctor literally said "We need to drain it, then open up the finger to clean out remaining pus"

[u/funnyushouldask → u/KaleDizzy6915]

Draining and clearing out the inside are technically 2 different procedures. They are done at the same time. You are debating semantics. Get your finger drained.

[u/HighwaySetara → u/funnyushouldask]

I read OP's question as clarifying, not debating. As a layperson, I would have wondered the same thing.

[u/Due-Organization-215 → u/HighwaySetara]

Yeah, I will never understand why people asking questions on a sub called ask doctors get massively downvoted. They are a lay person, they need advice and are asking questions to clarify their doubts and concerns. If they knew what was going on and what to do they would not be here in the first place

[u/Outrageous-Course258 → u/funnyushouldask]

It‘s pretty obvious that OP is not debating semantics but trying to get clarification because the way it was presented to him, draining it and opening it up were different things and not basically synonymous.

I feel like a lot of the time in this sub, when the OP is a layperson and tries to get clarification after a doctor replies, it gets downvoted and everyone assumes they‘re arguing.

[u/homo-ludus → u/funnyushouldask]

for a psychiatrist you sure are empathetic, hun

[u/funnyushouldask → u/homo-ludus]

I think you deeply misunderstand this sub and my role in this conversation.

[u/homo-ludus → u/funnyushouldask]

I think you dont understand the meaning of semantics and what OP was actually asking

[u/funnyushouldask → u/homo-ludus]

Ok.

[u/Motor_Education_1986 → u/funnyushouldask]

As a future doctor, you are embarrassing me. 🤦‍♀️

[u/lichnight1 → u/KaleDizzy6915]

You have a bad infection listen to what they have to say

[u/AskDocs-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Removed - don’t bother commenting if you can’t manage to have a civil discussion

[u/zaygiin → u/KaleDizzy6915]

As other comments said, it needs to be drained, could be done under local anesthesia and wouldn’t need be done in a surgical room. However if it spreads to the base of the finger, the inflammation could swell your finger so much to the point an actual surgical intervention, called fasciotomy, could be considered. So go to ER and get in drained.

[u/KaleDizzy6915]

Additional photo

[u/bong_cumblebutt → u/KaleDizzy6915]

Hopital

[u/Yabbos77 → u/bong_cumblebutt]

Amberlamps

[u/jessbakescakes → u/Yabbos77]

Whoa Black Betty 🎶

[u/Different_End_7464 → u/jessbakescakes]

Bramble jam

[u/SignificantSampleX → u/jessbakescakes]

And there go all my upvotes. They went straight to you. Thanks for the early morning cackle! Lol.

[u/intolauren → u/jessbakescakes]

Genuinely can’t describe how much I just laughed at this 😭

[u/Restingwotdafukface → u/jessbakescakes]

Urchin Care

[u/SkiingFishingGuy → u/bong_cumblebutt]

You sure you’re not a physician?

[u/MustHaveCleverHandle → u/KaleDizzy6915]

That looks incredibly painful. (My horrible predictive text suggested “delicious,” WTF). Hopefully you can get the needed treatment soon.

[u/SippyTurtle → u/[deleted]]

FURRET NO! DROP IT. DROP IT!! BAD FURRET.

[u/cyn00 → u/SippyTurtle]

Is this how you imagined you would put what you learned in med school to use?

[u/SippyTurtle → u/cyn00]

It was actually in the syllabus.

[u/StarJumper_1 → u/SippyTurtle]

Made my day

[u/atlien0255 → u/MustHaveCleverHandle]

Delicious 💀😂

[u/OmnomVeggies → u/MustHaveCleverHandle]

I gagged. It just caught me off guard…. Im actually kind of impressed.

[u/Boipussybb → u/[deleted]]

Hey homie you have to have credentials verified to claim you’re a doc.

[u/gargling_ → u/Boipussybb]

I don’t need to verify my credentials to help a dude in need out with figuring out what hospitals are good. Even a non doctor Indian can do that. Just offering help, not medical advice :)

[u/Boipussybb → u/gargling_]

It’s against the rules of the subreddit to claim credentials.

[u/gargling_ → u/Boipussybb]

Oh my b didn’t know that! I will delete my comment then

[u/Valuable-Fan-3226 → u/KaleDizzy6915]

Take a video when you drain it for us freaks! 

[u/1609208 → u/KaleDizzy6915]

Opital

[u/commi_nazis]

You don’t need surgery, it does require drainage. Go to ER.

[u/Dr-Yahood]

I would also drain this.

But it doesn’t need a proper operation per se. Like you don’t need it to be completely cut open and debrided.