Megan Cullen took matters into her own hands.
Or, more literally, she took matters off her own hand.
Before we get into this, it’s only fair that we warn you the content of this article is not for the light-hearted or weak-stomached.
Ms. Cullen, 25, from Bantry in Cork, cut off her right index finger last week after experiencing eight years of chronic regional pain syndrome — nerve damage — in the area after getting it caught in a car door when she was 18 years old.
She had previously tried to cut the finger off in 2015 using an axe after surgery and painkillers had made the situation worse, but had failed to do so.
Speaking to Neil Prendeville on RedFM today, Cullen told listeners that she had now succeeded in removing the finger — though she refused to go into specifics, in order to discourage anyone at home from doing anything similar.
She did reveal that she covered the implement she used in Dettol before taking the decision, and as soon as she was done she screamed for her mam and called an ambulance.
“I threw my finger away so they couldn’t grab it and try and sew it back on,” Cullen said.
“Even in the CUH they said they don’t know how I did such a clean cut. I have no pain, I actually have no pain. Ever since I’ve been brilliant… I refused painkillers… It’s great.”
“I felt like running around, doing a marathon. It’s the first time in eight years that I have no pain. I feel like I’m in a bubble of brilliantness.”
You can listen to Megan’s full chat with Neil Prendeville here.
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