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Location: N.J. | I could have lost the finger altogether rather than just shattering the bone at the tip and fracturing it. Just a little reminder to all to BE CAREFUL when using hedge trimmers. I NEVER use them except for this one time. The bush was just driving me crazy and I got tired of looking at it all overgrown. Damn landscapers always seem to ignore just this one bush too.Few stitches later and now I'm out of commission for weeks :( .1st finger on the left hand...How does one go an entire day without playing a guitar?! :( :mad: :o |
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Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | wow...sorry to hear about this! Thankful it's not worse!
Get you a shorty capo and transpose everything you know to E, then you can play tih two finger! |
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May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | A long time ago I broke the wrist on my right (strumming) hand. It was in a plaster cast from my elbo up to my knuckles. I actually cut a small groove with a steak knife into the cast and super-glued a pick into the slot in an attempt to play guitar. It did'nt work very well. Just thought you'd appreciate that other's have been there as well. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Having recently received a deep stab wound to the hand that could have been much worse, I know how you feel. I sucks not playing... but nice to know you will just down the road... |
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Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Time to take up the drums!
:D
When the lord closes a guitar case,
he opens a set of brushes... |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Slide, FutherMucker . . . . S-L-I-D-E ! ! !
(and stay outta th'yard.) |
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Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I broke my right index finger playing softball (beware of those grounders that take a bad hop); the end bone had to be pinned back together, and the resulting pin stuck out for six weeks. A more delicate version of "Pirates of the Caribbean." Not able to play at all--not strum, not pick. Not fun at all. (And no softball, either--a double whammie.)
I'm glad it wasn't worse for you, too, Sleepy Eyes--my husband lost enough of the end of his right index finger in a jointer to put an end to his banjo-pickin' days.
If you don't mind, I will pray that the time passes quickly for you and that you heal as good as new. Best wishes, Karen.
--------
"C.L. Jackson"
G-111-4, CE868-LX-4, Viper 1271 Natural, Steinberger Spirit 5-string bass, Galiano mandolin, Vega 5-string banjo, fiddle of uncertain antecedents. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | StephenT and I have both had to rehab our left wrists this past winter and spring. Mine is 99.9% healed. StephenT continues to whine a little, but he, too, is on the mend. Best of luck to you. |
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Location: NJ | I had a pocket knife fold up on my thumb a few years ago. I am SOOOOOOO careful now |
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Posts: 4413
| I reckon he was carving the bush into either a Les Paul or an Adamas. And he was probably using a chainsaw. C'mon Phil - time for the truth....
(Glad it wasn't worse and that it's only a temporary thing. Cliff's right - try a slide). |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Al, been there done that and feel your pain!!!!!
Actually my injury is not to the wrist but to the ulner nerve which has affected the feeling in my pinkie and ring finger plus palm of my left hand.
Cure is wait and wait and wait....anywhere from a week to a year. I am pushing the 6 month mark and it is about 65-70% back. |
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Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Phil,
How'd you get yer finger in th.... Oh Nevermind. :p
Glad you did'nt get hurt worse. Listen to your Dr., keep it clean and dry, take your drugs, and try to relax... your just to excitable. Seriously? A bush was driving you crazy?? :D :p |
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Posts: 4413
| If the bush is still driving you crazy forget the trimmer and wax it. Full Brazilian. And you get to enjoy hearing it scream. |
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Posts: 972
Location: PDX | Man that sucks! The loss of any hand function is a recurring nightmare for me, seriously. And i don't even play that well.
Glad to hear it will mend in time, and that the damage is not permanent.
Good luck and speedy recovery.
_____
gh1 |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | Here's how bad it COULD'VE been:
Saw a 70's legend in my local store a few years ago. Said the guy had a m/c accident. Really messed him up and he couldn't play. Selling for $300...I thought it was too much.
A year later I saw it all cleaned up with a new price of $200. This time the guy cut off 4 fingers on his left hand in a table saw!
I bought the guitar. |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | In late 1970, sitting on the taxiway in an RF-4B, waiting to take the duty runway with another RF...C130 pancakes into the runway and is now burning. Nothing we could do, all died even though valient efforts of the crash crews.
Later, one of the pilot's golf equipment is being sold by the pro to assist the widow...most expensive putter I ever bought (best offer).
Fortunately, I came close to crash and burn many occassions, but it wasn't my time. Didn't go crazy - heck, I was crazy then and now, so I guess no change. Just feel like my hands are falling off after a lot of computer work...competitive golf or guitar - all relative, no sweat! Accumulate now, play seriously later. 57 years young! |
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Location: south east Michigan | Just the thought of some sort of serious damage to the left hand fingers creeps me out. |
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January 2006
Posts: 1128
Location: NW Washington State | My user name doesn't only refer to my playing ability. I've lost some of my grip due to a combination of repetitive stress from computer use and a touch of arthritis. A couple of years ago it got to the point where I'd drop the pick frequently and my left hand felt vaguely uncomfortable after a few minutes of playing- so I didn't play much.
A Country Artist is a good cure. I snagged a good eBay deal at Christmas time. Very easy on the left hand and I don't drop the pick since I'm not using one. Unfortunately my playing ability is about the same as it always was.
Other parts of the cure include reconfiguring the computer desk, selecting the best mouse and keyboard, and taking glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM supplements. Works for me.
-Steve W. |
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Posts: 149
Location: gods country..west virginia | never had any hand injury but i do know the feeling of not being able to play anymore,because of a wreck in highschool i lost 2yrs of my life, hope you have a good recovery |
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Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | I did a 30 mile bike ride on the 4th and part of my left hand is still asleep. I'm about ready to call my doctor and see if I can get into see a PT for help. Sorry to hear of your accident. |
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Location: Rego Park, NY, | Phil,
Sorry to hear about your injury.Hope all goes well with the recovery. |
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January 2006
Posts: 208
Location: Illinois | There's alwasy bottle neckin' 'til the digit heals!
Make sure the Dr. knows you're a picker. He may recommend some rehabilitation exercises to get the healed, but near frozen in position finger frettin' again when the splint comes off.
Next time you're in to see the Dr., tell him you're a guit tar picker and wondered if you'd be able to play "Black Sapphire" when it's healed. If he says yes, you can then say, "Great, I always wanted to play that tune." :D
Just remember, Django Reinhardt might never have even picked up a guitar if he hadn't lost the use of digits 3 and 4 in a fire. :cool: |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I've had 2 very near misses with hand injuries, both to my right hand. I took a tendon out on my pinkie, and that finger doesn't work properly now. Fortunately it's the only finger I don't need to play. About 20 years ago I got an electric shock at a gig which very nearly killed me and resulted in serious burns at the base of my 3rd and 4th fingers. That has healed fully now but I was out of action for months. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | One time, . . . at Band Camp . . . |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Originally posted by cliff:
One time, . . . at Band Camp . . . LOL! I just saw that movie for the first time a few weeks ago. I wonder how many times I've missed this reference. :D |
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April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | Tune each of your guitars to a different open tuning, then just bar (barre?) everything. SWEET!
I crushed the CRAP out of my right index finger over a year ago. Fractured the tip of the bone, and there was 'stuff' squishing out of several places. Nasty! Asked the Doctor if she was gonna cut it off, she said she would try to put it back. Big mistake(more on that in a minute). She had to make several attempts at stitching, because there was no integrity to the skin. It was mush, and the suture pulled right through it like wet tissue paper. Out of commission for several months, and it still aint quite right. A regular chord is fine, but when I roll the finger (when stretching to reach a higher fret with a different finger, or bend, or attempt a lame lead etc.) I feel a pain and the 'bump' which is the stuff she shoved back under the skin. I'm guessing it just turned to scar tissue, and I'm wondering if it will be there forever. Any Doc's out there know if it's permanent? |
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Posts: 231
Location: N.J. | Thanks for all the words of encouragement!! Turns out the doc was a guitarist before he got into med school so perhaps thats a good sign.I was just especially annoyed cause it happened on Sat. and my bday was Sun.and I was still in alot of pain when we went to dinner.On a lighter side, I can play America's "Horse with No Name" unaffected so all hope is not lost :) . The only slide I know is Freebird, played with an empty beer bottle over then neck.Besides,after hearing Templeman play slide I think thats enough for me anyways {lol}.The kicker is that damn bush looks WORSE now than before I went at it!! |
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November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | We had a bush like that. right under the bedroom window. Looked like crap and always smelled like cat piss when it rained. I had a neighbor come over with his bobcat, hook a chain to it and rip it out forever. Looks great now. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | It's always disheartening when you have to look at a stupid, annoying, utterly useless Bush day in and day out, and try as you may, you just can't get rid of it.
I feel your pain, Phil.
I hope y'feel better soon.
(Now that our guitar-playing ability has been "equalized", c'mon up North for a "Horse With No Name" marathon) ;) |
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Location: SoCal | Cute Cliff... I'm not takin' the bait... |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Damn. And I had my popcorn and five gallon soda ready... |
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Posts: 19
Location: Maine | How about going to open tuning and taking up slide? Lots of pinky exercises? ~ ; >
How your digit gets better quickly. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | The Riggers motto is "stay out of the bite"!
That's "bight" to some and literally it means don't put any part of yourself between trouble and more trouble.
While I've happily retained 10 and 10 so far I recently started playing with a Shubb partial capo. These work on Ovation 12's and Widenecks where the Kyser doesn't.
Two fingers and the truth is all you'll need! |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Sometimes one finger. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I broke both bones in my left lower arm at the elbow from falling off a ladder. I wasn't playing much guitar then, so it wasn't too memorable. A few years later a friend died falling off a ladder under very similar circumstances. We are lucky to be alive.
I also broke the same bones at the wrist playing indoor soccer. That involved a couple months in a cast and then a surgery to rebreak the bones that weren't healing and several more months of PT. At the last session I asked the PT if I'd ever play guitar again and she said I should have told her because it would have been great therapy. I have most of the range of motion and feeling back, but I'll still use it as an excuse for my poor left hand technique when necessary. |
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Posts: 4075
Location: Utah | Originally posted by brainslag:Any Doc's out there know if it's permanent? I am not a doc, but I have had some issues with a surgical procedure that was very poorly done (and was the wrong procedure). Anyhow, what you need to do is get outside of your existing medical provider circle if they aren't helping you out. You know far better than any doc what is going on inside your body, so if the doc isn't going where you want, keep looking. There is a doc out there who will help you if you keep looking long enough.
My guess is that a good hand surgeon can help you out, but many will probably not want to go in. A minor inconvenience is not sufficient cause for them to risk surgery unless they have a definitive diagnosis. Many docs don't want to get outside of their normal half-dozen conditions they treat.
What I'm trying to say without much success is that you may have to be persistent to find the right doc. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I was planing down some timber last year when the chip extractor got clogged up. I had ear muffs on and I thought I'd shut the chip extractor off and I shoved my hand in the exhaust to clear the chips out.
It wasn't off, and a fraction of a second later, my fingernail on my left middle finger was off! Copped a lot of tissue damage as well as chipping the bone.
Took a good 8 weeks before I could put any pressure on it (ie pushing down steel strings) Downgraded to 10 gauge strings for a few weeks. The wierdest feeling was, until the fingernail grew back, the tip of my finger was wobbly.
My fingernail still hasn't properly grown back and the finger tip is still numb.
It was my own stupid fault. If someone said 'you're lucky', I'd think "yeah, lucky I was a crap guitarist to start with".
For those of you with a modicum? of talent, look after those digits! And don't take up woodwork! |
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Posts: 171
Location: Indiana | This thread is giving my ghost pains and flashbacks.... :eek: good luck on a speedy recovery! |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | I removed a 70" by 34" piece of transom glass today, which was installed in 1965. I was working it just fine until...
pinnnnnk! :eek:
The shattering glass always falls towards the ladder. Not a scatch, just a lot of phew-w-w! |
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June 2005
Posts: 231
Location: N.J. | Ya know.... Its been 3 weeks since this happened already. I know it could have been worse and believe I am thankful it wasnt.BIG TIME! BUT,only being able to use 3 fingers feels like I am breathing with only 3/4 lung capacity :mad: :( . I'm getting by with capos and open tunings but all in all its just not 100% and its driving me crazy.One positive thing is my 2nd finger is getting alot stronger and my stretch is improving. Again, I AM FULLY AWARE of how lucky I was, but maaaannnn.....I am losing it here!!! :( :( |
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Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Shubb Partial Capo and some musical experimentation are in order... |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | A good friend and fellow guitarist neatly nibbled off a fingertip last winter trying to clear a clogged snowblower.
Back in high school, I managed to break the last bone in my middle finger on my left hand. What that tought me was that finger injuries HURT! Tons of nerves in them I guess. My whole hand throbbed for two days. The bone didn't grow back straight, so that's why my playing sucks today (good to have an excuse).
Hope your finger mends quick! Good luck! |
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January 2006
Posts: 208
Location: Illinois | Sorry to hear about your accident. But, when life feeds you lemons, make lemonade. Currently, you have a built-in 'Bottle Neck'. :D |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I almost chopped off from the first knuckle to the tip of my right index finger ala Jerry Garcia when I was attempting to move a fan. I still have the lump where all the skin and other stuff was bunched up. That was 5 years ago. Every year the scar tissue gets smaller and smaller. I hardly notice it now.
And yes, I'm so careful now with sharp objects. |
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I guess it could have been worse.