Life By Lindsey Rae

On Friday, my finger was more swollen than it was the 2 days prior. So, I decided that I probably needed to do something with it, since it was just getting worse. It was getting quite puffy.
I had actually sent an email to my doctor's office to ask about it...I mostly just wanted to know if I would have a better chance of keeping the nail if I had them take care of it for me. Jerrod knew they could do something, because he had once had a missionary companion who hurt his toe and they had to go to the doctor for it. He said the doctor has a tool that, I guess, heats up and they quickly poke the nail and it releases the pressure. His other suggestion to me was to "take the DeWalt to it." However, the later seemed like an even more frightening idea.
Anyhow, my doctors nurse is pretty good at getting back to me usually, but for whatever reason, did not very quickly this time.

I couldn't easily work in the yard while my finger was swollen, so decided I would go ahead and try Jerrod's first method. It's quite surprising I even considered it, since I'm a bit squeamish about these sort of things.
We ended up getting a paper clip and unwrapping it. They we heated it up under a lighter flame for a few moments and then Jerrod tried to stick it in my nail. It didn't work the first time, because we didn't get it hot enough. So, we tried it again...and I started getting more and more nervous the more times he did it....I thought for sure it would have to hurt.
The next time Jerrod got the metal hot enough that it glowed red and stuck it in. It was enough to burn through and it make a hole that released all that swelling an pressure almost immediately. We drained out the blood from the bruise and all the purple and blue disappeared right away. This surprised me, because the last time I bruised a nail...my toenail, it took more than 6 month to to away.
Now, I do have a burn hole in my nail, but it's not half blue anymore and it doesn't hurt as bad and is not swollen. Hopefully it won't get infected. I am very carefully keeping it protected.

I can't believe that I, of all people, allowed a burned paperclip into my injured finger. It worked good. The nurse did end up calling me back about 2 days after the fact and I told her what I did...admitted it may not have been the best idea, but told her it was OK. She said to just watch it for infection. My Doctor said releasing the pressure wouldn't really help the nail. But, at least it now feels better.