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Amputated fingertips sometimes grow back (2013)

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Re: Amputated fingertips sometimes grow back (2013)

#41

Post by l2p »

lqet wrote: post #5

I chopped off around 3-4mm off the tip of my left index finger as a kid with a lawn trimmer. 20 years later, I punched a nice groove around 3mm deep into the tip of another finger tip while trying to get tea out of a tea tube [0] (don't buy these things). It took weeks, but both times, the tips grew back perfectly round and smooth, even the fingerprints are back. The regrown tips felt a bit numb for 1-2 months, but t…

Regarding how the body "knows" how to form missing pieces, might be worth checking out Michael Levin's research regarding bio-electricity. Most interesting finding to me is that once modified, the animal bodies continue to produce different parts as if there is some electrical "memory" in the cells.

Here is an overview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XheAMrS8Q1c, though there are much longer lectures and papers which I would recommend if you are interested.

Re: Amputated fingertips sometimes grow back (2013)

#43

Post by jl2718 »

I chopped off the tip of my index finger about 20 years ago and then got it sewn back on. Another dude I was working with did the same and didn’t get it sewn back on. Four years later, his was good as new, and mine was healed but I couldn’t press on it without a lot of pain. I had to give up playing the guitar, and still can’t press on the strings. Typing is a little bit weird because I can’t feel the keys, and I end up in slightly wrong positions because you’re supposed to be able to feel the little nubs on the home row.

Re: Amputated fingertips sometimes grow back (2013)

#44

Post by throaway46546 »

markc wrote: post #31
alexose wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an accident-prone home chef myself, I highly recommend a pair of kevlar "cut gloves" for anything involving a mandolin, peeler, or grater. They're just a few bucks and can save you a lot of tears.

Seconded. I also lost a fingertip to a mandoline when slicing potatoes. On Xmas eve, just as guests were arriving. And oh boy did it bleed! My fingertip took over 3 years to regain full feeling, and it's still slightly flattened compared to the rest of my fingers. (I made the front page of reddit with an animation of the regrowth!) Since then I bought cut gloves because I'm now semi-phobic about using the damn thing…

Link to the animation?

Re: Amputated fingertips sometimes grow back (2013)

#46

Post by lifeplusplus »

l2p wrote: post #41
lqet wrote: post #5

I chopped off around 3-4mm off the tip of my left index finger as a kid with a lawn trimmer. 20 years later, I punched a nice groove around 3mm deep into the tip of another finger tip while trying to get tea out of a tea tube [0] (don't buy these things). It took weeks, but both times, the tips grew back perfectly round and smooth, even the fingerprints are back. The regrown tips felt a bit numb for 1-2 months, but t…

Regarding how the body "knows" how to form missing pieces, might be worth checking out Michael Levin's research regarding bio-electricity. Most interesting finding to me is that once modified, the animal bodies continue to produce different parts as if there is some electrical "memory" in the cells. Here is an overview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XheAMrS8Q1c , though there are much longer lectures and pape…

even more crazy : https://phys.org/news/2013-07-flat-worms-retain-memories-dec...

Re: Amputated fingertips sometimes grow back (2013)

#47

Post by nikanj »

mromanuk wrote: post #15
gedy wrote: post #8

Almost exactly a year ago I cut a 45 degree chunk off my thumb (box cutter working with drywall...). Straight cut, thumb looked like "Gumby". A year later you'd never be able to tell, rounded again with fingerprints as well. Quite amazing given I'm middle aged.

Similar to my own story, cut 3/4mm from the side of my thumb. Panicked and tried to reattach it, but later I read about the regeneration so, I removed the tip (ripped it) and just moved to wait and see. A few weeks passed and I saw how every layer of skin, grew back. Leaving a hole at the center first, and progressively all of it., was filled. I have pictures of it. You can’t tell know, pretty impressive I was 42 ATM

Do you mind sharing those pictures?

Re: Amputated fingertips sometimes grow back (2013)

#48

Post by [deleted] »

galangalalgol wrote: post #9
lqet wrote: post #5

I chopped off around 3-4mm off the tip of my left index finger as a kid with a lawn trimmer. 20 years later, I punched a nice groove around 3mm deep into the tip of another finger tip while trying to get tea out of a tea tube [0] (don't buy these things). It took weeks, but both times, the tips grew back perfectly round and smooth, even the fingerprints are back. The regrown tips felt a bit numb for 1-2 months, but t…

I caught my finges in the chain of a swing as a child and tore about half the pad of my pinkies away to a similar depth, one narrow strip was still attached so I held it on with bandaids after washing it. It grew back together but now there is an offset or fault line in my print.

[deleted]

Re: Amputated fingertips sometimes grow back (2013)

#49

Post by Agentlien »

c141charlie wrote: post #11

True statement. I lost a finger tip in a mandolin making potatoes lyonnaise. It mostly grew back. However, it has never felt the same. It's like the nerve endings in the finger tip throw unhandled exceptions. Some say properly cooked french food is worth it. i agree.

> I lost a finger tip in a mandolin making potatoes lyonnaise.

I had to look this up because I only knew of mandolin the instrument and not mandolin the cutting tool. It did give me a very interesting mental image, though.

Re: Amputated fingertips sometimes grow back (2013)

#50

Post by wombatmobile »

> The signal made by the nail stem cells — called Wnt, for all you bio buffs — can orchestrate growth all over the body. It even coordinates the formation of limbs and some organs during fetal development.

Lizards do it with Wnt

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28233575/

Presumably it's only a matter of time before the penis enlargement industry discovers Wnt.

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