(Pic Now) Lawnmower accident...Should I go to the ER/Urgent Care?

[butwhymalemodels]

Burnt the crap out of two of my fingers about two hours ago on the exhaust of my lawnmower. As the pain has intensified, the water I've been soaking them in has gotten colder and colder.

Currently, They're dunked in a plastic bag filled with ice and melted ice (really cold water). If I remove them from the water, they're still warm to the touch. WARM!

Will ice slow/stop the damage still being done to my fingertips, or should I seek medical attention? Tonight is going to be a LONG night.

BTW, Mr. Skeptical, I'm typing with just my LH!

[hooksetter1]

I'd say go to Urgent Care. Actually just spent 3 hrs there with the wife, she cut her hand open on the glass pane of a picture frame. I'd go in, better safe than sorry in my book. Hope the best for you!

[Incredible_Bulk]

Any blistering?

[veilside180sx]

It's your body...your money...your call. It's probably not a bad idea though.

What does the burn look like?

[Hogmaster]

You have 8 others, what's the big deal?

At urgent care, they will likely put some salve on it, maybe give you a pain killer and send you home. There isn't a whole lot else to do unless the burns are 3rd degree (oozing). Then infection is a concern.

Sorry.

[butwhymalemodels]

I'll try and get some photos up when my wife gets home with the camera. Definitely blistered, but for the amount of pain, I'm pretty disappointed that they look so normal!

Only one thing has ever come close to this pain...my first broken heart. OK, actually once I broke my foot and my mom (bless her heart) thought that one of the muscles had knotted up. She tried to massage out the knot, but really she was just grinding bona against bone.

[duckboy]

About burns

1st, red and sore
2nd red, really sore and blisters
3rd degree = charring and not so much pain at the 3rd degree areas..

I bet you have 2nd degree burns... They hurt like crazy...

[cooky]

Get some aquagel. I'm not sure they'll do much for you at urgent care except make you wait.

[bassettmama]

You should go to the urgent care, especially if there is any blistering, or darkness. Good luck, burns hert like the dickens

[ampersat]

3rd degree = charring and not so much pain at the 3rd degree areas..

As long as the skin is intact, there's little emergency care can do for you other than bill your insurance.

[butwhymalemodels]

You know those warning labels on stuff? Things like "Wet Paint" or "Mind the Gap" or "Extremely Hot?" Pay attention to those.

[WiskeyJaR]

BAG BALM!!!
Burnt my arm on a motorcycle exhaust, had second degree burn. Was bright red with severe blisters and skin actually peeling. Covered the burn in Bag Balm every day for 2 weeks. Can hardly see the scar now.

[DanS]

I hate getting burnt. I'd almost rather cut a fingertip off than burn the snot out of it.

If you grabbed the exhaust, and recoiled away, chances are the ER trip will serve you no good unless you think you want to wait however long for a shot of painkillers. There's not much they can do for a burn that leaves the skin intact.

If keeping it in icewater is keeping the pain in check, then that's what they'll tell you to do anyway.

What works for me is to load up a gallon ziploc with ice and water, tighten it up around the wrist, and try to doze off. Seriously. If you can nod off and keep the hand soaking, you'll probably wake up to fingers that aren't throbbing any more.

[butwhymalemodels]

Not peeling. Not even red. Guess I'm kind of a weenie.

[JustCallMeDave]

We'd rather that non-doctoral ifishers not dispense out medical advice, as their is a liability issue there.

If you do not have an advise line to call through your health care profider, seek medical attention immediately. Let them make the decision of what to do.

[STGRule]

At least call.

[RogueFishr]

Originally Posted by JustCallMeDave

We'd rather that non-doctoral ifishers not dispense out medical advice, as their is a liability issue there.

RF

[sschwab]

Call if you'd feel better, but they always tell you to go to ER for liability reasons.

Been there with the 2nd degree burn. It was a generator exhaust and I grabbed it to keep it from falling over, so got the palm side of the hand, including all fingers.

Hurts bad for a couple days, then blisters, peels, and heals. The process should take a couple weeks.

Ice doesn't help after the first few minutes, as the damage is already done. Pain killers help a little. A few beers helps a little. It's hard with the throbbing pain, but you'll fall asleep eventually.

Infection is your only real enemy, and it's not gonna happen unless you broke the skin already. It shouldn't happen if you don't peel the blistered skin until the new skin is completely dry underneath.

Sorry for your pain.

[JustSteve]

partial thickness burns aka: 2nd degree may not blister for 24 hours after the event. Or they may never blister..they may just slough skin off.

If you have painful sensation throughout the whole damaged area, then I would be fairly confident that you did not do a full thickness burn aka: 3rd degree

surface burns aka: 1st degree can be painful but should pass pretty quick

ice and cold water do nothing after the mechanical burning process stops. Other words, once all the tissue is below 130 degrees or so (other words, about immediately after intial dunking) ice and cold do nothing but constrict blood flow which in worse case scenerios could cause more damage. Since your pain sensor is out of whack, it's possible to actually do frost bite if you keep it on ice. Keeping your burned area submerged in water does it no favors. Body fluids leave the tissue thus allowing the tissue to become more damaged...ever sit in a bath too long or wash the dishes? Did your fingers and toes turn into wrinkled little mutants? That's fine for health tissue but it does no favors to burns

if the burns are severe, there will be scarring which could constrict your range of motion to your digits in the future. However, what are are describing doesn't sound like it. If the skin integrity is broken, watch for infection. Most times all open wounds need are to be cleaned with warm water and soap. Signs of infection will include drainage that is not clear, increased redness, increased pain. You may develop a low grade fever as well but I wouldn't expect that for a small hand infection.

As for liability concerns...the person asking the question has not paid us money for advice or direction. It is no different than asking a buddy face to face.

Steve

[Incredible_Bulk]

Whatever you do, don't put any kind of vaseline or anything on it. Actually traps the heat in and makes the burn worse over time. I vote for no on the ER, but it's just me. If there's minor blisters, just be careful for possible infection and avoid using it. No bandaids or wraps. Keep it dry and cool.

Bulk

[butwhymalemodels]

3.5 hours after the accident. 3 hours in an ice bath. Wish it looked as bad as it hurts...

[butwhymalemodels]

Actually, little to no pain while submerged in ice water. Instant pain when withdrawn.

[veilside180sx]

Appears to be a second degree...keep it in ice water.

I used a rubbermaid of water and ice next to the couch to sleep for my last one. I remember that one hurt a LOT more than I ever remembered them growing up.

[Hogmaster]

You're a hand model!

[Chug]

OCHIEs!!!

2nd dreee burn ( blisters of the skin).. Keep it on ice.. keep it clean.. Those blisters shall grow with fluids.

If infection starts.. Then medical trip,.

we's got Medical folks on, can give better detail care.

Been there done that.. HURTS!! just looking at it.

[Mrdorkfish]

Ouch. When the skin comes off and there is exposed meat.....neosporin and band-aid. try to keep it as clean and dry as you can.

OH ! And keep your hand away from heat of any kind.

Lou

[DanS]

Just remember. Ice water does nothing.............except stop the throbbing pain.

[12244]

layer that every 10 min with aloe, fresh aloe if possible, no green dies. Some of the spray type has lidocaine. Ouch!

[butwhymalemodels]

Pulled my fingers out of the ice bath ten minutes ago. The third and fourth fingers are still cooking. Still hot!

I didn't even know that my pointer finger was burned until now, because the other two were doin the hurtin.

[Sea Jypzee]

Without trying to give actual medical advice, a couple of things to note:

1: The burning feeling when you remove it from the ice water is because of the exposure to air actually. You can probably wet some sterile gauze with cold water and wrap your digits in that and get the same effect as dunking it in water, without having as much danger of skin damage as keeping it dunked in water for long term.

2: Tylenol/Motrin can frequently help with the pain once you get the actual air off of the wound.

3: The suggestions above from JustSteve are all reasonable.

[Chrome Bumper]

Ouch!

[Oregon_Lass]

Dude, the time it took you to write that post and take that pic (ouch), could have been time spent in the ER (drug seeking behavior might come into play, just kidding) A shot of Brandy, a nice back rub from your woman (assuming you have one, just kidding) and some aloe, and you're good to go... note to self: don't touch the exhaust when it's hot.

[DogZilla15]

Finger/hand injuries are the most painful as there are so many nerve endings involved.

The longer you can keep the skin from cracking or peeling the better as there'll be less chance of infection. No alcohol or peroxide as these will dry the skin. Bag balm for a couple of days and then switch to Neo-Sporin to keep moist. Don't wrap tightly. Looks like you'll be home from work a few days.....Darn.....

[Hook-Line-N-Sinker]

That does it, I'm never mowing the lawn again .

That sucks. I hope it heals quickly for you.

[Ryan Pultz]

Na ER is not needed just a few beers and ice water rp

[12244]

Aloe and a few shots of fermented Agave. Repeat.

[Freakwater]

Originally Posted by Ryan Pultz

Na ER is not needed just a few beers and ice water rp

Thank you Dr. Pultz!

Don't take medical advice from fishermen. Those are your finger tips. If you can afford to go to a real doctor, go.

Freakwater

[Critr Gitr]

burnt my fingers pouring some lead recently .. found that lathering the burnt fingers with white toothpaste - non menthol actual relieved the heat - without it so painful I couldn't sleep - wore a latex glove filled with the toothpaste - in the AM much better and suprisingly enough no peeling and very little blister later.. I belive it helped tremendously..

[fishboys]

Originally Posted by KevinsDriftboat

Aloe and a few shots of fermented Agave. Repeat.

Mitch nailed it.

[Good-Times]

OUCH, Looks like a Smirnoff burn to me

[GraphiteZen]

I have suffered burns. I fell backwards onto a glass front fireplace when I was running around naked as a 4 years old (I hated that mole anyways), and pulled a cup of hot coffee down into my babysuit while crawling, I was curious.. I still have that scar on my arm. I tell the ladies I got shot

Don't put any kind of gell on it, be it vasoline or bag balm or whatever for it will trap heat. You really shouldn't keep it submerged in water either... Aside from the burns I have dscribes I have suffered several others that were not fun. Have your wife go to the store and get few bags of ice. Get a big bowl and fill it with ice and water. Then get a bunch of rags in the ice water and rotate them as they get warm from the room temperature. Your fingers need to breath and they actually need to get fluid under the blister packs to promote healing. Whatever you do don't pop them. Looks to me you have 2nd degree.

Once I went to turn off the kind of Mr. Heater that screws into a propane tank, only from the front side. As I reached down, I hit that 90 degree bend right at the back of the face of the heater and peeled back all the skin on the bottom of my wrist, all the way across my arm and about three inches down. That sucked.

Oh and also there will come a time when the dead skin will have to come off, and the raw skin will be exposed. Enjoy. You can prevent scarring by getting vitamin E capsules and squeezing them onto the burns 3 or 4 times a day and cover. Worked great on my butt cheeks. Unless that is you plan on being a criminal sometime in the future and wouldn't mind losing a few fingerprints....

[Ryan Pultz]

Originally Posted by Freakwater

Thank you Dr. Pultz!

Don't take medical advice from fishermen. Those are your finger tips. If you can afford to go to a real doctor, go.

Freakwater

anytime sir where do I send my bill rp

[Cat n Tat's Dusky]

Originally Posted by butwhymalemodels

You know those warning labels on stuff? Things like "Wet Paint" or "Mind the Gap" or "Extremely Hot?" Pay attention to those.

YA THINK !!!! LOL !!

[CATCH AND EAT]

Are you a blond male model?

[12244]

I used to think he had the lamest moniker, until I saw his real lifetime catch at home, speaking on Fox news. He can call himself whatever he wants, maybe someday I will meet some of his wifes friends at a BBQ, WOW. One lucky fisherman.

Originally Posted by CATCH AND EAT

Are you a blond male model?

[butwhymalemodels]

Originally Posted by Hogmaster

You're a hand model!

I'm a finger jockey. We're not like those face and body boys.

Did you see me in the Bulova watch catalog?

[Hogmaster]

WOW!

This MUST mean something!

Look at the email I just received!!!

Folio Addition on June 12
It is up 45pct on wednesday only
Tiker: c y h a
Inc: Cybr Hand Technologies
CloseAt: 0.055
5D Est: 0.19
Current status: Strong B_U_Y

[King Kong]

Ice.....with your bourbon of course!!!

[Paddlefish]

Originally Posted by JustCallMeDave

We'd rather that non-doctoral ifishers not dispense out medical advice, as their is a liability issue there.

If you do not have an advise line to call through your health care profider, seek medical attention immediately. Let them make the decision of what to do.

Jeez, Dave, lighten up and think about it! Try to find one MD with as much ER experience as Hogmaster!

[kilchisfisher]

You might want to try Waterjel. We used it when I used to work on wildlires. We had a guy burn himself on a pump muffler. Looked a lot like your burns. It helped him. Ended the pain immediately and it didn't come back as long as he kept it moist. Seemed to work in his case.

[JustSteve]

just wanted to add my disclaimer...

one of my many jobs working as a hospital corpsman for the Navy, I was a surgical technician working for a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon with a specialty in hand

My last job was a firefighter/paramedic and suffered a few burns of my own, varying from first degree to full thickness (3rd degree)

My current job is just a plain paramedic..still trying to get hired by a local fire department.

I am not a doctor, however, wound care was my primary job for more than a few years.

Steve

ps....free medical care is worth what you pay for it

[fishkisser]

Blah Blah Blah ...Just Cowboy Up ya big sissy ...

[GraphiteZen]

Originally Posted by fishkisser

Blah Blah Blah ...Just Cowboy Up ya big sissy ...

Yeah we'll see what you have to say the next time you crack a shin across your trailer hitch

[crazyinoregon]

just close your eyes and go to your happy place. after that imagine that the burning sensation that you feel is from a fifty pound springer pulling drag and your thumb just got smoked.

[GraphiteZen]

To tell you the truth, whenever I get hurt I concentrate on making it hurt more and the pain always subsides.
Just my

[IDWITHELD]

Ouch!!!!!!!!!