The Effects of MRSA to the Bone

One of the disseminated MRSA affected parts of my body was my index finger. It started in February while I was still in HKL. The HKL Ortho doctor had aspirated a liquid confirmed to be MRSA infected but the swelling did not subside. I was told that nothing more could be done but the exercise the finger as it couldn't be straightened anymore.


When I was in Ampang Hospital the swelling got worse and it started to be painful. When the Ortho doctor there checked and an x-ray was done he told me the bad news - my left index finger had to be amputated. Oh no! Not another limb!But in order to prevent the infection from eating up more of my bones, the finger had somehow to be removed. The bone of my index finger had become hallow and thank God for the prolonged Vancomycin (antibiotics) I had been taking since February for the MRSA had slowed down the infection there.


There is however a lump on my elbow that could somehow be an effect of MRSA. Another x-ray was done and that goodness it was not badly affected. I was afraid if it was, I had to lose the whole arm. Well, I can tolerate having a bilateral Below Knee Amputation but not losing an arm as I am depending much on the arm to move about (at least to shift me from one place to another on the bed)


So I went for a Ray's Amputation of the left index finger at Ampang Hospital somewhere in mid April 2010. Gladly the finger was buried, like my feet, beside my mom's grave. I am sad yes but at the same time I am glad that the infection on the bone was discovered early so that I had to lose no more than a finger. I'll learn to adapt having no index finger somehow.