Olly Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 After a painful night I have just googled this and self-diagnosed. I've been camping for the weekend, and I woke up yesterday morning with a sore and throbbing finger. I seem to have got an infection under the corner of the nail. It was agonizingly painful yesterday, made taking the tent down a lot of fun (not) Unluckily for me the moment when I squashed it between two tent-poles was when there were several children present, so I wasn't even able to relieve my feelings by swearing! Everything I've read says soak it in hot water, in fact I'd been doing that and it's relieved the tenderness a bit. I've never had one before - anyone else got suggestions for treatment? It wasn't a great weekend all in all as I developed an awful cold on Saturday and spent a lot of Sunday lying down in my tent. I love camping, but not when you're ill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Poor you, not a good weekend then I have had a whitlow - many years ago now. I did soak it in hot water but also the lady next door, who had been a nurse, used to lance it with a sterilised needle. Do you have a minor injuries unit? - or perhaps make a doctors appt.if it remains painful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 26, 2009 Author Share Posted May 26, 2009 Well I had such a rubbish weekend (healthwise - the weather was great and we had lots of fun camping) that I would love to take today off to recover, unfortunately I'm so busy at work I daren't do that. I know there's a drop in GP centre at my local hospital, if it's still really bad this afternoon I might go there. It's not throbbing in time to my heart any more, as it was yesterday, so I hope it's on the mend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Poor you Olly, I haven't any advice re the whitlow, just wanted to send sympathetic thoughts for your spoiled weekend and "get well soon" ones for the cold A grotty way to spend a bank holiday, especially under "canvas" I too love to camp, but not when poorly or in yukky weather ! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Horrible arent they. magnesium sulphate paste from chemists is good for drawing out poison. Put a dressing over the top. WIC at hosp may be your best bet. Weather wise this weekend exceelent for camping - now back to work and its bucketing it down. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Agony aren't they.....and always on you writing hand! You might find that it will begin to ooze in a day or so and the relief will be fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I had one of these once. An old wives cure is soak some white bread in a cup of hot as you can bear water. Stick your finger in it and leave it there for some while. It really eases the pain. Hope you get better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aga n Chickens Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 When my brother was younger he suffered with a whitlow on his big toe and Mum used to use 'Lion' ointment. This was a thick ointment that was warmed and placed on the whitlow then a plaster stuck on top. I haven't seen the Lion brand for ages but I still remember the smell, sweet like strong honey. I'm wondering if there is a natural remedy using warm honey to draw out the poison I hope you are soon feeling better. Kind regards, Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Never without a pot of magnesium sulphate - brilliant stuff. Germolene is good too as it has a mild anaesthetic to ease the soreness. But if it doesn't sort itself out you should pop into see the nurse at the doc's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 poor you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I pop a needle in them to release the pus and the pressure pain is instantly relieved. You don't feel the needle at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Sorry to hear that Olly, took the shine off your weekend by the sounds of it I've had them occasionally too - usually injury induced. Mag sulph paste or Lion Ointment (as mentioned) are both great for getting rid of them. I used to sterilise a needle and lance them myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 You have all educated me - I have never heard of a Whitlow before Hope it clears up soon Olly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I see you have had loads of suggestions and advice already, but can I just add that my mum used to swear by a hot potato poultice to draw poison out of anything, good for getting stubborn splinters out too. Just grate some potato, boil it up, and put on offending area then cover with a bandage leave on all night. Whatever treatment you use I hope you are soon out of pain. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 26, 2009 Author Share Posted May 26, 2009 Well, the things you learn on this forum! I'd never heard of magnesium sulphate paste, but the assistant in Boots didn't blink when I asked for it, I won't be able to apply it till I get home tonight but hopefully that will help to 'draw' it a bit - thanks for the tips about bread and potato, too. It's definitely not as bad as yesterday, so I hope it's wearing off. It's on my left hand, but as I touch-type I use that finger a lot - it's taking me twice as long to write things. Thanks for all the suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Ooh, Lion ointment. I haven't seen that for years - it was our cure-all when we were little. Just the mention of the smell takes me back... I hope your finger feels fixed soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aga n Chickens Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 I agree about the smell of Lion ointment Helen. It takes me back to the NCB induced 'power cut' days of the 70's, sat round the coal fire in the kitchen with a pot of ointment warming in the hearth to treat my brother's toe There was something soothing about the scent of it as soon as you took the lid off. The remembered smells of Lion ointment and newly creosoted fences takes me back to my pre teens ....... if only you could bottle it Does anyone know if Lion ointment is still available ? Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 I agree about the smell of Lion ointment Helen. It takes me back to the NCB induced 'power cut' days of the 70's, sat round the coal fire in the kitchen with a pot of ointment warming in the hearth to treat my brother's toe There was something soothing about the scent of it as soon as you took the lid off. The remembered smells of Lion ointment and newly creosoted fences takes me back to my pre teens ....... if only you could bottle it Does anyone know if Lion ointment is still available ? Christine We must be the same age! Anyone else love the smell of Germolene? Now, what weere we talking about...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 I agree about the smell of Lion ointment Helen. It takes me back to the NCB induced 'power cut' days of the 70's, sat round the coal fire in the kitchen with a pot of ointment warming in the hearth to treat my brother's toe There was something soothing about the scent of it as soon as you took the lid off. The remembered smells of Lion ointment and newly creosoted fences takes me back to my pre teens ....... if only you could bottle it Does anyone know if Lion ointment is still available ? Christine We must be the same age! Anyone else love the smell of Germolene? Now, what weere we talking about...? Ah, Germolene.... lovely. The old kind in a tin, not the stuff in a tube. My Dad puts it (in the absence of Lion ointment) on all minor injuries. If the DSs hurt themselves and they see him coming, they run away shouting 'No, Grandad, not Germolene!' Gone all nostalgic now for candlelight and powercuts.... and Arctic roll.... and Bazooka Joe bubblegum.... and Spangles STOP ME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aga n Chickens Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Did you ever have 3d Lucky Bags and 1d Arrow Bars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 I did - I think they had little joke things in the lucky bags? I remember getting a pack of 3 plastic flies and I left one on my mum's ironing board. Dad bashed it with a newspaper and only when the wings broke off did he realise it was a joke. He wasn't wearing his specs at the time. Love Germoline - I tend to use that for mossie bites. I used to like the little tin it came in - especially when it was new and so creamy smooth. Not heard of lion stuff though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
