Must be the time for injuries

[ozhunter]

Not really a WW safety story, but a similar result.

Last Thursday night while out Kangaroo shooting, my left index finger got in the way of my knife.

As soon as I did it my finger curled up a little and had a very strange sensation.

11.30 at night, 15 minutes from the road, an hour and ten minutes from the hospital, by myself, couldn't get the bleeding to stop.........hell yeah, I panicked....for a couple of minutes anyway. Managed to get my sh@t together. Cut down the roos i had on and drove myself to hospital.

The hospital is another story, suffice to say I ended up at another hospital 60k's away next morning so I could get it fixed.

The sawbones said I cut all but 5% of the tendon, 6 to 8 weeks minimum out of action. Coming up to Christmas, just what I needed.

Telling myself that it could have been worse.

No pics, but have a honking great cast on my arm, can't use my left hand at all.

Self pity rant over....It could have been a lot worse, I could have completely severed the tendon. Scary how easily one can be panicked, even if it was only for a minute or two. No real pain to speak of. Doc says everything closed up nicely, wound was clean (dirty clean, not straight cut clean).

But it's bucketing down rain, which means no shooting or farm work. But the lathe sits idle, softly whimpering and looking at me with big sad eyes...not long now old fella.

and typing with one finger, so BACK OFF if I made spelling error

[Evan Pavlidis]

Nasty hope all works out well for you and be able to have full use again. In the meantime let the body do the work to heal itself and take it easy. It's going to be hard from being active to inactive overnight.

I've been on the mend now for 5 months and still cannot use my right hand effectively; lost my right index finger and just started to do very light work on and off for not more than 3 hours day, sometimes every second day; it's just too exhausting.

Keep us posted how you progress mate and if you need advice give us a hoy.
I'm sure you will be having hand therapy to manage your condition.

Cheers, Evan

[ozhunter]

Evan

Thanks for that. The most surprising thing has been the lack of pain. I expected it to be quite painful given the doc said they where going to open the cut up and clean it out before they stitched it up. I suppose because the tendon wasn't completely severed and no bone was damaged, it is really just a big cut.

He mentioned he would be referring me to a hand specialist after the stitches come out. From what I can gather they can be brutal. Time will tell.

Being inactive is starting to make me a bit antsy, but I promised SWMBO I wouldn't rush the process because she is worried I'll just say bugger it and start using the hand before it's ready.

oz

[Big Shed]

Sorry to hear of your accident mate, we never what's around the corner for us do we?

Perhaps there is a lesson in there as well. better to go shooting with a mate, you never know what will happen out there.

Hope the hand heals quickly, if you need something finished by Christmas in the meantime, give me a yell.

[ozhunter]

Thank you Fred

I had made a conscious decision not to swamp the family with pens for gifts, so I have only one that is set to be gift. I haven't forgotten the package I was going to send, just been delayed. I will give you a shout in the next couple of days.

Unfortunately Kangaroo shooting a couple of nights a week, and fitting everything else in around it, is only viable if there is only one direction the money is going. I do shoot with my brother, but his shifts at the mine and farm work don't allow him to do too much.

Cheers

Adam

[Evan Pavlidis]

Evan

Thanks for that. The most surprising thing has been the lack of pain. I expected it to be quite painful given the doc said they where going to open the cut up and clean it out before they stitched it up. I suppose because the tendon wasn't completely severed and no bone was damaged, it is really just a big cut.

He mentioned he would be referring me to a hand specialist after the stitches come out. From what I can gather they can be brutal. Time will tell.

Being inactive is starting to make me a bit antsy, but I promised SWMBO I wouldn't rush the process because she is worried I'll just say bugger it and start using the hand before it's ready.

oz

Adam, as far as stitches being brutal I was told the surgeon used the degradable type and after 3 weeks 7 of them were still there and the therapist said she has to take them out otherwise I would have problems with the healing.
She pulled the first one out with tweezers and I hit the roof something shocking; she tried the 2nd and I couldn't bear the pain where there was nerve re-generation and I went home.
Pulled them out myself over a week at my own pace.
Therapists are extremely good and we need them to help us manage our situation. Yes they will touch, massage and squeeze and it will hurt. They have to do it to know where and how it hurts and what type of treatment is required.

Being antsy for being inactive is part of the package unfortunately. You'll need to find something else to do, leave the hand alone, have positive thoughts and be a participant instead of a spectator. I've been there mate and the days are extremely long. It's early days for you and the body needs rest to heal. These types of injuries cannot be hurried to heal; just time and time and more time. Keep your chin up, you'll get there.


This is the situation I'm in.


Cheers Evan

[ozhunter]

Went back to the doctor today.

They cut the old cast off . Really funny feeling in my finger after the cast was removed, subsided after a bit though.

Took the eight external stitches out, without even a whimper from me.

He's real happy with the way it is healing, no redness etc (means he doesn't have to deal with another case of Golden Staph. A mate of mine tore his achilles apart and came within days of losing his leg from Staph, in the same hospital I was in).

Gave more insight into what I actually did. The cut is right across the top of my left index finger and goes over both sides of the finger.

The way he tells it, you have a tendon down either side of your finger and 2 muscles coming along the finger from underside to top, on both sides. I Cut both muscles on the inside and he said the inside tendon may as well have been cut.

"So, what now doc?" says I. Says he "Oh, put this on please sister"...another !@#@@## cast. This time for 4 weeks.

Man this sux. Unable to do anything of any value for another 4 weeks, maybe a bit more.Christmas is gonna suck this year, but.....he thinks I will make a full recovery if I do as I'm told, and that is what matters in the bigger picture.

The sad bit is my typing is about the same speed with one hand as it was with two

[Evan Pavlidis]

G'day Adam,

good to hear you had no probs with stitches. Having a cast for another 4 weeks really doesn't make much difference than not having it, because you wouldn't be able to use your hand.
I know it's frustrating not being in the shed, but in the long run you're better off resting, otherwise you may do more harm than good in your condition because the forearm muscles become weakened and tire easily. Unfortunately these types of injury leave one with no option but to wait and wait and wait.
Hang in there mate, some things cannot be rushed, you'll get there.

Cheers, Evan

[munruben]

WOW! only just caught up with this thread, Sorry to hear about your accident, it looks nasty. Like you say, "it could be a lot worse" so thankful for that. These things are so easily done no matter how careful we are. At least you will be able to get some sympathy at home over the Christmas and everyone will be making a fuss of you. (maybe eh?) Hope it heals quickly and you are fighting fit in no time. Good luck.

[ozhunter]

Thanks for the replies folks.

Went to the hand specialist yesterday. She is very pleased with how it is healing. Put a plastic splint on my hand that allows the first knuckle from the end to move. Have to do exercises with the knuckles. In 2 weeks or so, the splint will be altered to allow the next knuckle to bend and more exercises.

If all goes well, the splint will be off early January. 2 to 3 weeks after that to regain full movement of all the joints and another 3 weeks or so after that to regain strength.

Hop things go that well.

[Evan Pavlidis]

Good news Adam ; your therapist is now your best friend. Hope your hand isn't swollen.

Cheers, Evan

[Claw Hama]

Just caught this thread too, oh bother (#@^%) what a pain. Like you say though its odd how they don't hurt much. I almost lost the end of my left thumb a few months back and other than the initial shock and blood loss there was very little pain. I couldn't loose the time so I just tapped it up and kept working, the thumb tip is still numb but guess it will get better with time.
Stay sain in have a good Christmas anyway, be patient and get back full use.

OZ, what rifle are you using? the .02 has me woundering.

[Claw Hama]

Evan, yours looked decidely nasty but the up side, you can do all those great picking your nose stunts

[ozhunter]

Claw, I use a lot of rifles, my favourite is a .458 Winchester Magnum that I used in Zimbabwe last year. The .02 thing is referring to the old saying "my 2 cents worth" As far as sanity is concerned - don't have any. Lost all that dealing with an insurance company and workers comp a few years ago

Evan, hardly any swelling. The back of my hand was a bit swollen when the physio took the cast off. I am surprised at the emphasis that is placed on scar reduction. I have to go see the physio again tomorrow specifically for scar management.

All I'm worried about is being able to work again, don't care about the scar. Fingers crossed (on one hand anyway) for the doctors appointment on Jan 5.

[Claw Hama]

Getting my cents and calibres mixed up, wouldn't be the first time. 457mag is prob a little over size for the roos or too expensive anyway.