I'm a 37 year old male otherwise healthy non-diabetic.
I sliced my index fingertip open with a clean/new exacto knife blade out of the packaging 5 months ago. The blade entered into the tip parallel with the nail plate and penetrated deeply. Tetanus was up to date. I cleaned it out with peroxide but did not seek medical attention for stitches instead I steristripped it shut with also some amerigel ointment. Healing was uneventful no infection or pus whatsoever some numbness at the tip took about 2 weeks to close fully. First two months there was little to no pain. After that I felt like sensation of touch was fully restored but now 5 months later deep aching constant 3/10 pain and the scar seen in the image looks puffy to me. I do have a history of hypertrophic scars elsewhere but I am worried about possible felon in the fingertip or osteomyelitis development. I recently lost my job due to coronavirus related business downturn and my medical insurance but plan to pick up a new plan very soon.
Question: Is this emergent? Would seeing a derm or plastic surgeon help or be a waste of time and money? Would injection therapy help? Should I just stick to daily self massage and give it more time? Given it's size and location how much longer should I give it to remodel into something less painful? I'm lost on what to do and the pain seems to be getting worse.
Finger a month ago: https://imgur.com/a/82rXdeM
Finger today: https://imgur.com/a/puh7Kzh
Today natural light different angle puffiness: https://imgur.com/a/uwLfrs2