posted
Tuesday afternoon I was trimming a hedge with a chainsaw, and, to make a long story short, I set my hand on the motor/exhaust thinger after prolonged usage. At the time, my hand just stunk real bad and sorta hurt. I could still use my hand, so I kept working for another 2 hours or so. The next day a blister had formed, about the size of a nickle. Thursday, the blister got bigger. Yesterday, I'm not sure whether it got bigger or not, though I think it did, but it was yesterday I noticed my hand was swelling slightly. Now, the blister is the size of a fifty cent piece, is starting to get red around the edges, my hand is still slighlty swollen, and I haven't fully extended or really used my hand at all since it happened. This has taken me forever to type, only using one hand.
So, my question is, what do I do? Some say pop it, some say don't. It hurts like the dickens and I'm worried it will heal and I won't have full use of my hand. Any advice wonderful Hatrack?
EDIT: I just measured the blister: It's a hair under 1 1/2 inches in diamater (its almost perfectly circular) and a hair under 1/2 inch tall. I've had blisters on my palm before, but never this big, and never from a burn. And I've had burns before, but never on my palm, and never resulting in so big a blister. Posts: 2827 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Go to a school nurse, or if possible a doctor or something. I had a blister about that size on my foot once and it got infected, yucky experience, though it was cleared up with antibiotics and not wearing shoes for a month.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
The last time I had a blister that large (it was also perfectly round and on my hand), it was because I had a massive staph infection.
I'd say keep it clean as best you can and get some gauze and wrap it to keep it from getting icky. Also, wrapping it might help it hurt less; *SUPER GROSS ALERT* my blister hurt REALLY bad when I moved my hand and the fluid sloshed around, so even though the gauze caused a bit of pain, it felt a LOT better in the long run.
posted
The good news is - if the burn hurts it's not serious. I know that sounds weird, but if it hurts that means the superficial nerve endings are all intact and that is a good thing, because the burn hasn't penetrated too far.
Most thermal burns with blisters the size you're talking about can be treated at home without a problem unless they become infected. The advice that I've always been given by my husband the firefighter/paramedic is do not pop the blister, allow it to pop on its own. Rinse the area in lukewarm water to keep it clean. It being on your palm is problematic because you may pop it without meaning to, so perhaps a non-stick dressing over it would be a good idea.
If you notice pus, red streaks, or other signs of infection get to a doctor ASAP.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
I'm pretty sure they heal faster and with less pain if you don't pop them, but something that big might well pop on its own. A couple of years ago, someone experimented with using a liquid bandage on a blister--he had two matching blisters, so he had a control. I can't remember who it was--KarlEd, maybe? Anyway, I'm sure CT will remember the result of the experiment . . . hopefully she can say whether that's a good idea or not.
Posts: 13680 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
I remember it being someone who had gotten the blisters doing Akido or something like that. Bok and Noemon stick in my brain, but I don't think either is right.
posted
But do you treat burn blisters and friction blisters the same? I'm not sure, I'm asking.
My daughter got blisters during gymnastics, on the uneven bars, and the coaches told me to pop them with a sterile needle and then leave the skin on as a covering until they healed and calluses formed.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
They will definitely heal much faster unpopped. So try not to pop them. If they pop on their own, keep them covered, ideally with one of those Advanced Healing type Bandaids that simulate blisters themselves. If they're too big for those, then put Neosporin on them and keep them covered with gauze and bandage tape.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
When I was in sixth grade, I accidentaly set my hand in a puddle of hot glue fresh from the glue gun. I got a blister about that size. I wrapped it up in gauze. It was there for about a week, and kept hurting. Then one night, I went to staple something, and it popped. It was gone by the next morning.
I would say wait until it's ready to pop on its own. But whatever you do, don't peel the skin off.
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posted
The experiment was Noemon, and he tried with and without the Advanced Healing Bandaids. The results came out very much in favor of the Bandaids, I believe. I've also found them to be excellent at speeding healing.
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posted
If it fills with pus, I would pop it with a sterile needle, drain it, and cover it (leaving the skin on if possible). I had to do that for soldiers on road marches in the Army all the time. I usually only drained them if the area was still getting use, like on a foot during a road march.
Otherwise leave it alone. Also, if the swelling of the had doesn't subside soon, within another day or two, seek medical attention (or if any rapid change in pain or apperance occurs).
posted
I just got back from a party where one of the main topics of conversation was this dangable blister. Almost everyone there said to pop it, but then, almost everyone there also said they had never seen a blister that size (some thought it was fake), and almost everyone there was under 20. So I'm inclined to gowith the voices of experience and leave it. That is what ya'll are saying, right?
So what are signs of infection? My hand has gotten more swollen through the course of the day, and some redness is starting to develop around the edges. Not splotchy or anything, I'm inclined to think its just because the skin is stretching. But then, I haven't the slightest clue. Also, what's inside this puppy? Is there one substance in all blisters, or are some different? And if there is difference, how do I know which I have the displeasure of entertaining? And I'll second Belle in asking the difference between burn blisters and ... other blisters. The kind of blisters I get when using the shovel for too long. Is there a difference and should they be treated different?
I dipped my finger in some hot cooking oil last year (I say I french-fried it), and that was definitely a third-degree burn, skin dangling and the like. And I survived that, not too big of a deal. So I'll be able to weather this, regardless of uncomfortability or pain. I'd just prefer to go with the least amount of both.
Oh, and almost forgot: Should I worry about it healing in such asto limit mobility in my hand? As it is, my hand has barely changed positions for four days.
Posts: 2827 | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote: dipped my finger in some hot cooking oil last year (I say I french-fried it), and that was definitely a third-degree burn, skin dangling and the like.
posted
If it's developing additional redness and swelling, you need to get it looked at by a professional. It might well be fine, but that is the sort of thing that needs a hands-on evaluation. And given your concerns about mobility, that's just another reason to go.
Blister exudate has been studied extensively, but the most basic answer is that it is leakage from the surrounding damaged tissue. Kind of like seeping out from broken capillaries that are still intact enough to trap the red blood cells -- so, for instance, you'd get something very similar from spinning a blood sample down in a centrifuge and just taking the clear stuff that separates out on top. But it has extra bacteria-fighting substances and triggers for the immune system, so it's really good stuff to keep around.
posted
My 20 Month old son just got a huge blister like that. My wife took him to visit a friend who owns a bed and breakfast and they had a candle warmer that was turned on at T's level.
He reached down to grab it and it burnt his palm and three fingers REALLY BAD. That palm was turning white and he had a Huge blister on the palm and on three of his fingers.
I met them at the insta-care. The doctor put on gobs of silver sufadiazine cream and wrapped his hand in gauze. We changed the gauze and put on fresh cream 24 hours later. 24 hours after that he took off the gauze (in middle of the night).
When we woke up, the blisters had all popped, the redness was gone, and he did not seem irritated by his hand.
There still was a nasty scar on his palm--looked like a cut. We put on antibiotic cream (neosporin sp?) and it never turned red. It has been a few more days and he has healed just fine.
My advice is to not pop it, wrap it, get some cream that a pharmacist recommends, and let it heal on it's own.
This seems to match what the webmd sight says.
Posts: 2445 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Yes but isn't there something morbidly fascinating about watching stuff ooze out of your skin? For some reason I always want to pop blisters just to see the goo come out. Even though I know better.
Posts: 3141 | Registered: Apr 2000
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posted
Jenny, yes, I definately know what you're talking about . Generally I pop blisters when I get them. But this sucker is huge, and hurts. It's kind of intimidating actually. I took a picture of it wednesday, and then another today, and it's doubled in size. And my fingers have taken on a decidedly bluish tinge.
I've taken to telling people I got it fighting a dragon. Also, one of my friends took it upon himself to name this ... monstrosity. It is now known as "Eggy".
Today at church, almost evryone said "Pop it!", but I told them "I've talked to some people who actually know what they are talking about, and they say don't, so forget ya'll". . Tomorrow I'm going to the doctors office, so we'll see what he has to say about Eggy.
Posts: 2827 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
I'm telling you, wrapping it up will help with the pain.
Also, I never got to pop most of the many blisters that formed all over my body with the steph infection. They got yellow and crusty and for a while, I had a red scar everywhere that there used to be a blister. One of my shrinks thought I'd deliberatley burned the back of my hand because the scar was perfectly round, and "Round is not a natrual shape." For a while, I refused to show my legs in public. Then they started to fade, and they'd only show up when it was cold. Now you can't see them at all. You can vaguely see the outline of the one on the back of my hand if it's cold and if you look really hard.
It's good you're seeing a doctor. I really wouldn't worry about losing mobility in your hand; of course it's weird to move it now...you have a huge blister on it!
posted
You may want to go see a professional if it is still growing. It is my experience that blisters get smaller with time (after the initial rapid expansion).
Posts: 2445 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Do you have a digital camera? If so, you can get a free photo account at photobucket or the like and then provide a link to the photos here.
Assuming that that question was directed at us.
If you don't have a digital camera, then you'd have to get the pics developed, scan them in, then upload them and link them.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
A blister that keeps growing like Eggy is doing shouldn't be ignored. See a medical professional.
On the subject of friction blisters, I get them somewhat often, and my tried-and-true method is thus.
1. Sterilize a needle by holding it in a lighter flame for 20 seconds, then rub it with rubbing alcohol (I honestly don't know if either of these actually sterilize the needle, but I do them anyway.)
2. Pop the blister, but leave the skin on.
3. Rub lots of triple-antibiotic ointment on it and cover with a bandaid.
4. Change the band-aid at least 3 times a day, re-doing the ointment each time (this is probably more or my OCD when it comes to band-aids.)
For burn blisters, I haven't had one, but I'd probably let it ride out un-popped.
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. Generally I pop blisters when I get them. But this sucker is huge, and hurts. It's kind of intimidating actually. I took a picture of it wednesday, and then another today, and it's doubled in size. And my fingers have taken on a decidedly bluish tinge. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
They got yellow and crusty and for a while, I had a red scar everywhere that there used to be a blister. One of my shrinks thought I'd deliberatley burned the back of my hand because the scar was perfectly round, and "Round is not a natrual shape." For a while, I refused to show my legs in public. Then they started to fade, and they'd only show up when it was cold. Now you can't see them at all. You can vaguely see the outline of the one on the back of my hand if it's cold and if you look really hard.
