When Joe was 11 he cut the end of his index finger off on his bicycle chain.  After about a year and two surgeries, he was doing just fine.   Last week he began complaining that the finger hurt and that he couldn't bend it all the way any more.  I looked at it and it was swollen to about the width of a finger and a half.  It also had some discoloration.   He says that he cannot remember doing anything to re-injure it.

So... I take him to the Pediatrician and they say to keep an eye on it.  If it gets worse go to the ER.  Well, of course it gets more discolored so we head off to the ER for X-rays.   All that they show is swelling.

I have never dealt with an injury such as this.  Any suggestions on what to do next?   Should we go back to the hand specialist or is this just what happens after an injury like this? 

Joe is usually not a complainer and does not want to  draw attention to that finger.  For him to complain about it is really unusual.

Thanks for any advice you can give!

Jeannie

Ok, I'm confused as to the timing, has it been four years since the injury and surgery?  I would definately talk to the specialist who did the surgery as soon as possible.

In that case it can't be a "direct" result of the injury or the surgery.
I'd go to the specialist.

Oliver

Thanks all!   I made an appt. with an ortho hand specialist for next week. 

It seems as though the finger is not growing as it is supposed to.  It actually seems shorter in relation to his other fingers than it used to.   Much wider too.  I hope that they can do something about it for him.  It already looks strange enough with it missing it's entire tip.  He lost the nail and all when he cut it off.   It is more noticeable with it being so swollen and fat looking.

He just hates for anyone to pay attention to it so I know that it must really hurt.  I'll let you all know when I find something out.  In the mean time I'll have to deal with him being upset because he's going to miss Basketball to go to the appt.  B-Ball is EVERYTHING you know!

Jeannie