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PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 10:14 pm 
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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.
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Last edited by tms on Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Woodworking on hold
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:22 am 
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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.

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 Post subject: Re: Woodworking on hold
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 10:53 am 
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Ouch is an under statement. :shock:

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

And self medicate as needed. :D

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Always remove the zero clearance insert before you tilt the blade DAMHIKT


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 Post subject: Re: Woodworking on hold
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 11:19 am 
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Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Tom.

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 Post subject: Re: Woodworking on hold
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 2:46 pm 
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Rapid Roger wrote:
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.



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

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 Post subject: Re: Woodworking on hold
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 3:27 pm 
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Well at least your are taking your pain meds!!!!!!!! :D . 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.


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 Post subject: Re: Woodworking on hold
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:45 pm 
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Good Luck TMS! Been under the knife of a hand surgeon twice and had good results, hopeit's the same for you!

Ron

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 Post subject: Re: Woodworking on hold
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 11:45 pm 
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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


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 Post subject: Re: Woodworking on hold
PostPosted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 8:15 pm 
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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


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 Post subject: Re: Woodworking on hold
PostPosted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:43 pm 
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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. :wink:

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. :mad:

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PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 7:46 am 
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Tom,

Glad you got through the surgery ok.

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

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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


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PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 12:32 pm 
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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".

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PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 3:29 pm 
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Hey Guys,

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

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

Cheers,
Tom

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PostPosted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 5:04 pm 
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Note to self, no pins. :wink:

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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


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PostPosted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 6:39 pm 
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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

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 2:33 am 
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"Think of an 18 ga finishing nail shoved under your thumb nail. :mad:"
I'd rather not

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:45 pm 
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Hey Guys,

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

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Cheers,
Tom

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 10:54 am 
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I need to sit down with you and self medicate due to sympathy pain. Where is that local bar of yours located?

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 4:55 pm 
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The makes me hurt just looking at it. :shock:

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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


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PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 5:09 pm 
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Holy not to be said in this forum!

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Cheers - Dennis


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