billy i can so relate. my right hand has been through the ringer. injured in car wreck, they put it in a cast for 16 weeks which shrivelled up the muscles. i was holding a horse for someone to get on her. she jerked her head and sprained my wrist. then cts r>l, but no surgery. when my mom died sil slammed my index finger in car door. about 3 finger infections since 2007. that's weird about the infections as i too don't know what the cause is.