Finger infection - still painful after Bactrim?

[olivematuka]

Hi - This isn't exactly an infectious disease (or is it), but I had no idea where else to place this question in the forum.
I developed a VERY sudden and severe swelling of my thumb on Xmas eve, the digit was hot, red and the pain nearly intolerable. I went to the ER where she froze my hand and proceeded to prick my finger in various places to see if pus would come out. None did, so she told me that although they typically lance the finger for drainage, there was no evidence of pus so wouldn't do it, and only gave me a script for Bactrim.   It is not a fingernail infection, but rather most likely a 'felon', and the means by which it happened was a 2-week old, not-quite-healed cut.
I am now on day 5 of a 7 day run of the antibiotic, and although my thumb is better than it was, it's still hot, throbby, slightly swollen and tender.  I am taking advil for the discomfort, which I didn't think I'd have to do at this stage.
I would like to get a 2nd opinion on the drainage issue, but am wondering if any infection/pus that could be in there will clear up with JUST the antibiotics? I just didn't expect to still have this much pain with only 2 days of Bactrims to go and am worried that when I stop taking them, things will revert to what is was since the pus was never drained properly?
Is it normal to still have some swelling and tenderness after 5 days of taking Bactrim?
Any insight would be appreciated, thanks!

[olivematuka]

Thanks, mkh; it's much appreciated. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't being totally neurotic about something, but this just doesn't feel right, so am off to the clinic.  Thanks again.

[mkh9]

I would go back to your regular doctor not the ER and tell them you have taken bactrim for 5 days and show them the finger and tell them it hasn't changed.

It may be that whatever is causing the infection is deep inside and still needs to be incised or that it is the wrong antibiotic (bacteria is resistant to the antibiotic). Do you have herpes? If so it could be Herpes Whitlow and if it is viral the antibiotic wouldn't work on it. So you really need to have it looked at by a regular doctor not one that has no time. Maybe it is ok but it is best to make sure in this case.
mkh9