I was bitten on the pointer finger knuckle by my cat back in October. Friendly cat, but we disagreed on how long a bath should be. He bit down hard once and then clamped down again in the same spot. It bled for an hour and I peroxided it and used neosporine and epsom salts. My hand swelled but there was never and drainage.
I am afraid of going to the Doctor so I put it off because it seemed to be getting better. By early December it was still sore and once in a while warm.
I finally made an appointment and went to the Doctor. He looked touched it and perscribed 500 mg of Cephalexin 3 times a day for ten days. That didn't seem to help too much, so I called his office and since he was out talked to the Nurse of a neighboring doctor. She advised that since he gave a total of three fills on the perscription to do another ten days. I did. It seems to have improved but not completely. I called at the end of the second ten days (the 23rd) and the Doctor said, "well, you waited to come in. It might always be that way". When I asked if I needed a stronger antibiotic he said "no, you've had enough". I don'r know much about this, but from what I have read cephalexin seems kind of mild for a possible bone infection.
Also, and this may seem very silly to some of you. When I shine a flashlight behind this knuckle it is a little darker than the same one on my other hand. It is a lot lighter than it was before the antibiotics but still darker, kind of a diffused light. The outward appearance is better than it was, but still not matching of the other or "good" knuckle.
Any experience or advice?
Thanks!