WWA Info Exchange

Hey Folks,

Forgive me, I'd like to offer some unsolicited advice.
If, while you're working, you hear a little voice telling you that this isn't going well, ...stop and listen to it.

Thursday, I managed to sever the extensor tendon of my right thumb while trying to split some green wood with a too light, very sharp axe. My surgeon says that a clean cut is the best scenario for a successful repair; we'll see on Tuesday.

Wish me luck,
Tom

Rx: Gosling's dark rum: Apply internally, repeat as needed.

_________________
"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi

Ouch!!
How did that happen? Are you left handed?
I'm right handed and holding an ax in it, it would be VERY difficult to cut my right thumb.

_________________
Dont badmouth no strangers, they just friends you aint met yet.

An ounce of responsibility is worth a pound of State and Federal laws.

I spent most of my money on woodworking
tools and beer, the rest I just wasted.

Ouch is an under statement.

Tendons take a looooong to heal. Follow the doctors orders to the letter.

And self medicate as needed.

_________________
Jeff

If man made it, I can fix it.
If God made it we can pray for it.

Lessons I have learned:
NEVER MAKE ANYTHING OUT OF TEAK
Always remove the zero clearance insert before you tilt the blade DAMHIKT

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Tom.

_________________
Nullum Gratuitum Prandium

Cheers - Dennis

At the very least, he is left handed for a while.
It's a good thing you can self medicate ambidextrously.
Sorry Tom.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Well at least your are taking your pain meds!!!!!!!! . I am not sure which tendon is the extensor. But I will do my best not sever any of them. Hope your surgery goes well and healing is quick.

Good Luck TMS! Been under the knife of a hand surgeon twice and had good results, hopeit's the same for you!

Ron

_________________
"To all those who work come moments of beauty unseen by the rest of the world." Norman Maclean

Heal quickly Tom, but don't worry your not alone. The little voices of "hang on maybe that's not such a swell idea" are often ignored. DAMHIKT......
Is that the bar across the road that you resurfaced?

eric

My sympathy, Tom! I sure hope you aren't discouraged but most of all...I hope you heal quickly & completely. Keep us posted, please

Don

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the encouragement.

I'm told that the surgery went well. For my part, I was awake nearly as fast as I was out. The procedure took about 45min, so I'm told.

Recovery is 5 days in the splint, then four weeks before they remove the stainless steel pin in the joint, put there to immobilize it (another surgery). Then, about four weeks of rehab.

I had the choice of a full wrist cast, or the joint pin. The advantage of the pin is that I'll have partial use of the thumb during recovery, the downside is the second surgery to remove it.

So far, no pain. But I'm still a bit numb from the nerve block. The initial injury didn't start hurting until two days after the accident. I am well fortified for any event.

Cheers,
Tom

Ps. Okay, so the nerve block is gone (around midnight) and the pain is manageable with prescription opioids The unexpected thing, is that the only pain is at the tip of my thumb, where the pin ends, right at the surface of the skin. Think of an 18 ga finishing nail shoved under your thumb nail.

_________________
"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi

Tom,

Glad you got through the surgery ok.

Self medicate as needed, but be mindful of the interaction with the opioids.

_________________
Jeff

If man made it, I can fix it.
If God made it we can pray for it.

Lessons I have learned:
NEVER MAKE ANYTHING OUT OF TEAK
Always remove the zero clearance insert before you tilt the blade DAMHIKT

I like your approach to medication.

I started using an inhaler a while back. The pharmacist recommended using an alcohol based mouth wash to prevent thrush, or something. I asked would whisky work. She smiled and said, "Why not".

_________________
Nullum Gratuitum Prandium

Cheers - Dennis

Hey Guys,

As Jeff said, opioids and alcohol don't mix. So i'm getting all the stupid without any of the enjoyment.

If I had known ahead of time how painful this pin would be, I would have opted for the cast.

Cheers,
Tom

_________________
"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi

Note to self, no pins.

_________________
Jeff

If man made it, I can fix it.
If God made it we can pray for it.

Lessons I have learned:
NEVER MAKE ANYTHING OUT OF TEAK
Always remove the zero clearance insert before you tilt the blade DAMHIKT

Tom
thanks for the reminder to listen and act upon the still small voice.
Sorry for your pain and sorrier still that alcohol and opioids do not work well together.
Any time bone is involved there is lots of pain. By the time it's time for the
pin to come out there probably will not be much pain.
And the PT to follow will really help.

Good luck
Duan

_________________
Duan Packard
Kerrville, Texas

dum vivimus, vivamus

"Think of an 18 ga finishing nail shoved under your thumb nail. "
I'd rather not

_________________
Mango
The land some where in the middle
20 47 00N -156 26 00W

Hey Guys,

Stitches out today, but still a long way to go.



Cheers,
Tom

_________________
"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi

I need to sit down with you and self medicate due to sympathy pain. Where is that local bar of yours located?

_________________
Mango
The land some where in the middle
20 47 00N -156 26 00W

The makes me hurt just looking at it.

_________________
Jeff

If man made it, I can fix it.
If God made it we can pray for it.

Lessons I have learned:
NEVER MAKE ANYTHING OUT OF TEAK
Always remove the zero clearance insert before you tilt the blade DAMHIKT

Holy not to be said in this forum!

_________________
Nullum Gratuitum Prandium

Cheers - Dennis