Frustrated :-)

[bladeracer]

I dislocated my right thumb on the seventeenth putting the engine in the car

Bent the thumb backwards at the second knuckle, but it popped straight back in. I dislocated this thumb in 1989 crashing a motorcycle, but that time it went down and stayed down, they had to cut my glove off to pop it back in. I did the left thumb in 2005 but it popped back into place. I wrapped it with a tea towel so I could still ride. Both times it came good after a few days careful rest, this time is taking longer. The first hour after doing it, even just pushing the mouse across the desk was folding the thumb way back. As long as I grip things deep in the vee, behind the knuckle I can use the hand reasonably well, though it won't take any shock at all. It requires serious concentration to use the hand without putting any force out near the end of the thumb so I decided to take a break from doing anything useful, to reduce the screaming and moaning

I had hoped to maybe spend my free time putting lots of lead downrange, but I don't want to risk retarding its healing. There was a beautiful young fox roaming around the house at 1030 today. I followed him as he made a large circuit around the house and sheds. It's very windy here today so he didn't get my scent at all before he dashed across the road between quarry trucks and headed down to the creek. Rose's mum saw him yesterday at the same time so I might have to take a rifle down to the house tomorrow.

Today is five days that I haven't managed to bang or bend the thumb (especially nasty when I'm asleep) and it's starting to feel good. But it still bends backwards significantly further than it should, well past 180-degrees (my left thumb just barely reaches 180). Although hitting the thumb even gently still makes me scream like a girl, there's no bone pain at all to indicate a break. But I ran a 9" circular saw through the thumb and wrist bones in 1990, and it's quite likely the thumb metacarpal has died - the lunate was discovered to have died about fifteen years ago. I cut all the abductors and extensors across the back of the wrist except the little finger abductor. Dr Peter Hales saved them all except the two thumb extensor tendons (which retract the first and second joints). The thumb abductor does work, but the damage to the bones leaves very little up/down movement and no lateral movement at all, so I can only retract the thumb by using my left hand or pushing it against something I want to grip. As my thumb also does not rotate I can't actually hook my thumb around anything, so I can't use a shovel unless it has a T-handle, or an axe, or do stand-up wheelies on bikes. My concern is that I've ruptured the volar plate (that prevents the joint from hyper-extending), which will mean seeing the doctor and having a CT scan.

I also tore a muscle in my side a couple weeks before that which resulted in a large hematoma that is still giving me a fair bit of pain, it might be worth having a scan of that at the same time just to be sure it's dispersing okay.

Just thought I'd share my moaning as Rose is getting sick of it

I hope everybody else is doing well!

[ThatNewGuy]

Afternoon Bladeracer,

Been a rough week for you it seems... It's been a rough time for a lot of people it seems this past week as well.

Hope your hand and week get better as days go by.

-Newguy

[Oldbloke]

I feel for you. As we get older injuries take longer to heal.

I'm trying to get a medical issue resolved ATM too.

Have you thought about seeing a Dr? Perhaps an xray. There could be more to it.

And I would never hire you. Your an accident waiting to happen.

[womble]

Thumbs definitely should not bend 180 degrees. This is not normal.
You either need a new protractor, or a doctor.

[Wm.Traynor]

bladeracer,
You have just got to learn to do easier things. Sorry mate. It's the ugly truth. I have to make things easier on myself too, which is not helped by the clothes drier falling off the wall during lunch today. A big hole in my left hand (yeah; my left hand too!), where a carcinoma used to be will be an impediment but when my wife finishes washing up after cooking cakes she can pitch in I reckon.
So cut down on the hard yakka where you can. It will be good for you I'm sure

[bladeracer]

I'm sure lots of people are having a far tougher time than I am, unfortunately.

I discounted seeing the doc both times as I didn't want to end up splinted or plastered and not be able to complete some things I'm trying to sort.
But my later decision to stop doing anything to let it heal does mean such fixes shouldn't be a big deal now anyway.

I wore a kidney belt 24/7 for a few weeks to support the hematoma, but I can't do anything with the hand. I tried strapping it up in various ways but I think the pre-existing "modifications" are a problem, after just a few minutes of trying to strap the thumb in any fixed position the hand starts throbbing and aching intolerably. If I could've strapped it to protect it I should have been able to continue throwing spanners around the workshop, or even better, spend some time lying in a paddock flinging lead

I have ordered a commercial thumb splint that I hope will be usable, when it finally shows up.

Stay safe people

[Member-Deleted]

In my professional opinion, I think you should discuss this with a professional, that way you can put your mind at ease a little after recieving answers. Those things you wanted to do can wait, I don't know what they are but would be able to wait if you lost your hand, they can wait until you heal. and yes, the thumbs up is pun of sorts.

[cz515]

Hi Blade.

I would tend to agree with the other experts on this thread considering the current outcome its best to see a good doctor/specialist.

i suppose it's a guy thing we see a problem we want to fix it, so please don't get upset at our advice. Also its a guy thing, not to admit we need a doctor, we are strong we can fix stuff and what's a little bit of pain, it doesn't matter, we are strong men.

But the facts of life is as you are getting older your body starts to wear down. Esp your joints or bones need to set in the right spot if not long term pain and mobility issues will result. The body is very simple if its hurting its telling you something is not right.

So please go see a doctor, get an xray/ct scan to see what's wrong and what can be done to fix it.

[bladeracer]

I don't think it's a guy thing
It's just experience, a lifetime of crashing motorcycles on the road and track, dozens and dozens of broken bones, three severe concussions, work and play injuries, and some very serious illnesses that would've killed me if I hadn't made it to an ICU when I did. I have a handle on what is happening in my body, and if I need medical attention, I'm straight there. But I don't go wasting medical resources for some pain, or fractures that don't need stabilising. I broke my right wrist twice before I put the saw through it, and the permanent injuries never slowed me down over the next thirty years

I will see my doctor if it doesn't continue improving, rest assured

[bladeracer]

In my professional opinion, I think you should discuss this with a professional, that way you can put your mind at ease a little after recieving answers. Those things you wanted to do can wait, I don't know what they are but would be able to wait if you lost your hand, they can wait until you heal. and yes, the thumbs up is pun of sorts.

I haven't been able to give thumbs up with my right hand for over thirty-years, unless I use my left hand to push my right thumb up

[Oldbloke]

If I have an electrical problem I call an electrician.
If I have a gas problem I call a plumber.
If I have a medical problem and it persists I call my Dr.

Simples.

[Member-Deleted]

In my professional opinion, I think you should discuss this with a professional, that way you can put your mind at ease a little after recieving answers. Those things you wanted to do can wait, I don't know what they are but would be able to wait if you lost your hand, they can wait until you heal. and yes, the thumbs up is pun of sorts.

I haven't been able to give thumbs up with my right hand for over thirty-years, unless I use my left hand to push my right thumb up

I suppose you avoid shotguns and handguns that need hammers cocked in that case? Along with black powder rifles.

[bladeracer]

If I have an electrical problem I call an electrician.
If I have a gas problem I call a plumber.
If I have a medical problem and it persists I call my Dr.

Simples.

If I have a problem I fix it myself, there are very few things I'm happy to let others do for me.

[bladeracer]

In my professional opinion, I think you should discuss this with a professional, that way you can put your mind at ease a little after recieving answers. Those things you wanted to do can wait, I don't know what they are but would be able to wait if you lost your hand, they can wait until you heal. and yes, the thumbs up is pun of sorts.

I haven't been able to give thumbs up with my right hand for over thirty-years, unless I use my left hand to push my right thumb up

I suppose you avoid shotguns and handguns that need hammers cocked in that case? Along with black powder rifles.

Not at all, as I said, these things don't slow me down
Shooting IPSC I had to reenage the safety with my left hand, but that was the only problem I've had with handguns.

Cocking revolvers or rifles is no problem, I just do it a little differently than most. Blackpowder rifles present no difficulty at all.

Holding a pen or pencil, or a spanner or screwdriver are much more difficult.

[wanneroo]

Sounds like it's time to see a specialist, at least to know for sure what is wrong inside and find out what the options are and then go from there.

[wanneroo]

Been a rough week for you it seems... It's been a rough time for a lot of people it seems this past week as well.

Yes, this past year has been strange and a rough time. The number of people that I know of that are very ill or have passed away recently is substantial, plus a couple of people went crazy from all the corona stuff. Even my dog got a bad illness and died too young.

[Diamond Jim]

If I have an electrical problem I call an electrician.
If I have a gas problem I call a plumber.
If I have a medical problem and it persists I call my Dr.

Simples.

I do the same - to get the certificate or the prescription filled out - then I fix the stuff-ups the tradesman/doctor did by taking shortcuts so he can get to the next job as soon as possible. I am f$%@ing over fixing issues caused by incompetent electricians, plumbers, mechanics and medical "professionals".

In this case, however, if your thumb really does bend 180 degrees you have a problem that maybe does need the input of a Doctor - even if you dismiss the advice afterwards.

[Member-Deleted]

Been a rough week for you it seems... It's been a rough time for a lot of people it seems this past week as well.

Yes, this past year has been strange and a rough time. The number of people that I know of that are very ill or have passed away recently is substantial, plus a couple of people went crazy from all the corona stuff. Even my dog got a bad illness and died too young.

Sorry to hear about your dog mate, and any friends/family that passed.

[Member-Deleted]

Not at all, as I said, these things don't slow me down
Shooting IPSC I had to reenage the safety with my left hand, but that was the only problem I've had with handguns.

Cocking revolvers or rifles is no problem, I just do it a little differently than most. Blackpowder rifles present no difficulty at all.

Holding a pen or pencil, or a spanner or screwdriver are much more difficult.

Okay, I forgot revolvers are typically cocked with the left thumb. I'm glad it doesn't hold you back in that regard. How close are you to the Lilydale area? If you're not far away I can see if I can lend you a hand in my spare time to help get some of those things done.

[bladeracer]

Exactly, I have little faith in "professionals" or "experts", they get the job because they managed to pass some exams, with "pass" often meaning they scraped through.

If I went along with Professional diagnoses, I would've just spent a minimum of $9000 replacing two engines that didn't need replacing

If somebody can learn their job then I can certainly learn it also, and I can focus on just perfecting the things I need to learn to fix the problem, I can ignore all the extraneous stuff.

It's why when I bought my first centrefire at seventeen, it didn't even occur to me to buy ammo for it, I learned to make my own from the beginning. I bought that rifle new and it never saw a factory cartridge while I owned it.

I've never fired a factory round of .204, .222, .223, .308, .30-06, 8x57mmm, .303, 7.62x54R, etc. I pick up some with milsurp rifles, and people give me odd stuff, but I don't use it. In 13-years of IPSC I bought one 50rd box of Winchester Silvertip, in 1990, and I still have some of it. If I can't get brass soon enough, I will occasionally grab some factory ammo, like 100rds of .38 Special I bought so I wouldn't have to cut up new .357 brass, I still have about 85 of those as the brass showed up the same day. I bought 100rds of .44Mag because I needed ammo the day I bought the rifle but didn't have brass, I still have most of that also. I bought 20rds of 7mm-08 (I don't recall why, maybe to confirm my chrono was in the ballpark), I still have a few left. I also bought 20rds of a specific .30-30 load last year that a member here wanted velocity data for in the Winchester Model 94. Other than a few hundred rounds of Norma 6.5x55mm I used as a kid, that is probably all the factory centrefire rifle/pistol ammo I've ever bought. I have fired some factory ammo in other people's firearms of course. My brother likes factory .243 ammo, and I put 5rds through my rifle while we were doing load development for our Ruger American Predators.

Same thing with vehicles, and engines. I've bought three motorcycles new, and never allowed anybody else to service any of them

When I had my house built it was my intention to build the roof myself. When it came time, the builder deducts part of what they pay their subbies to protect their jobs, and those guys working for project builders are already working for ridiculously low rates. It didn't make any sense to lose so much income to do it myself, and they did a good job of it anyway. I don't recall the numbers now, but the builder's rates were about half of what I was charging, and knocking about 25% off that for me to do it I'd be giving up two-days work to do the job, and earning less than half a day's pay for it, and asking my own clients to wait on me. A builder will generally tell their teams if the owner is a tradesman himself, because they know the work will be closely inspected. I knew a builder that would tell all new trades that his background was the same as theirs, just to keep them on their toes

If I have an electrical problem I call an electrician.
If I have a gas problem I call a plumber.
If I have a medical problem and it persists I call my Dr.

Simples.

I do the same - to get the certificate or the prescription filled out - then I fix the stuff-ups the tradesman/doctor did by taking shortcuts so he can get to the next job as soon as possible. I am f$%@ing over fixing issues caused by incompetent electricians, plumbers, mechanics and medical "professionals".

In this case, however, if your thumb really does bend 180 degrees you have a problem that maybe does need the input of a Doctor - even if you dismiss the advice afterwards.

[bladeracer]

No, I use the right thumb. My flexor tendons are all good as the blade didn't come out the bottom of my wrist.

Each finger has four tendons in your lower arm, three to retract each finger joint, and one to close each finger (our two middle fingers operate from the same muscle). Our skeleton provides our structure, our muscles control our movements, but muscles only work in tension, they can only pull, they can't push. So you need a muscle in each direction, we don't have any return springs. When I severed all the tendons across the back of my wrist, my hand naturally curled in on itself. I had to wear a splint for six-months that had rubber bands to hold all my fingers open while the tendon repairs healed. The rubber bands "replaced" my abductor and extensor tendons so they didn't have to do any work.

I can "push" down with my thumb, I just can't lift it up, so I have to adjust my grip to hook my thumb over the hammer, I've never liked using my off hand to cock the firearm. Similarly, with damage to my right shoulder (since 2014), I can't raise my arm very high at all, like up onto the handlebar of a motorcycle, I have to "flick" my arm up using momentum, or lift it up using my left hand. The bones are badly messed up, severely restricting the range of movement of the shoulder joint.

Not at all, as I said, these things don't slow me down
Shooting IPSC I had to reenage the safety with my left hand, but that was the only problem I've had with handguns.

Cocking revolvers or rifles is no problem, I just do it a little differently than most. Blackpowder rifles present no difficulty at all.

Holding a pen or pencil, or a spanner or screwdriver are much more difficult.

Okay, I forgot revolvers are typically cocked with the left thumb. I'm glad it doesn't hold you back in that regard. How close are you to the Lilydale area? If you're not far away I can see if I can lend you a hand in my spare time to help get some of those things done.

[bladeracer]

To clarify, 180-degrees is a straight line, my thumb bends past "straight", it doesn't bend through 180-degrees, although it came close when I dislocated it

I appreciate the offer BGC, but I really hate having other people do my chores
It mainly mechanical stuff currently, engine builds, replacing suspension and brakes on the cattle trailer, a fair bit of welding and fabrication stuff, storm repairs to the sheds, and 1400m of fencing.

[Member-Deleted]

I appreciate the offer BGC, but I really hate having other people do my chores
It mainly mechanical stuff currently, engine builds, replacing suspension and brakes on the cattle trailer, a fair bit of welding and fabrication stuff, storm repairs to the sheds, and 1400m of fencing.

Alright, if you change your mind, let me know. Happy to help so long as I have the time. Haven't done much mechanical work apart from working on minor boat engines a little, my mechanical knowledge is lacking. Haven't changed suspension or brakes before either.

Welding I've done a little of in trade school, but I'm not fluent whatsoever. You'd probably be telling me what to do the whole time, but I'm fine with that. If it helps you can think of it as if you were doing me a favour teaching me how to do those tasks.

[wanneroo]

Sorry to hear about your dog mate, and any friends/family that passed.

Losing my dog has been a very hard hit, things are not the same. Some of the folks that passed they had multiple health issues so it wasn't as much a surprise. Right now trying to help my relatives with their issues.

I accept that life is cyclical and then you die, so I've had 3-4 dips in my life where things don't go well for a few months or so and I accept that and do what I can. I follow the principle of look after the old man that you will become so with the down time I have had I've been hitting the gym and swimming pool a lot and focusing on learning more about various investments and doing a lot of reading and reloading. The very cold winter is starting to ease and the snow and ice is beginning to melt, work is picking back up in the spring, corona is fading so things will get better.

[wanneroo]

Exactly, I have little faith in "professionals" or "experts", they get the job because they managed to pass some exams, with "pass" often meaning they scraped through.

It's often said that when doctors practice medicine it's because yes, they practice on you.

I agree with what you are saying and it pays to do your own research on everything as it makes you better informed when dealing with the pros and sometimes you might be better doing it on your own.

However finding quality professionals can save you time, money and other problems in some situations, so I wouldn't rule them out. In your case, seeing a specialist and having it all looked over is not a bad idea and then you can accept or reject what they offer.

[Member-Deleted]

Sorry to hear about your dog mate, and any friends/family that passed.

Losing my dog has been a very hard hit, things are not the same. Some of the folks that passed they had multiple health issues so it wasn't as much a surprise. Right now trying to help my relatives with their issues.

I accept that life is cyclical and then you die, so I've had 3-4 dips in my life where things don't go well for a few months or so and I accept that and do what I can. I follow the principle of look after the old man that you will become so with the down time I have had I've been hitting the gym and swimming pool a lot and focusing on learning more about various investments and doing a lot of reading and reloading. The very cold winter is starting to ease and the snow and ice is beginning to melt, work is picking back up in the spring, corona is fading so things will get better.

While you'll never replace your dog, I have found that having a new one can help, a new connection, new memories, a new personality to learn. It can certainly go a long way.

[Tiger650]

Go see a Quack mate.
Six weeks back I had a reoccurrence of nasty pain in my right foot, across the sole immediately in front of the heel, this has happened before and then disappeared after a couple of days.
Ignored it expecting it to disappear, not this time !
Went to the range and walked out to 100yds and back and 50 yds and and back and functionally crippled, hurt like f#c&.
Visited a Podiatrist who diagnosed a "subluxed cuboid", basically a tendon runs down the outside of the ankle and across, fits through a groove in the cuboid bone.
A bonecracker / physio bloke got the tendon back in place and three weeks later getting better and still nursing it.
Apologies for the physiology lesson but the point is that if I had visited the Foot Quack when it first happened it would have been right in a couple of days.
Sounds like your thumb is a longer term thing, given the history and all but waiting for it to heal may be a waste of time and pain.

[Oldbloke]

Horse.jpeg (18.64 KiB) Viewed 5996 times

[bladeracer]

Go see a Quack mate.
Six weeks back I had a reoccurrence of nasty pain in my right foot, across the sole immediately in front of the heel, this has happened before and then disappeared after a couple of days.
Ignored it expecting it to disappear, not this time !
Went to the range and walked out to 100yds and back and 50 yds and and back and functionally crippled, hurt like f#c&.
Visited a Podiatrist who diagnosed a "subluxed cuboid", basically a tendon runs down the outside of the ankle and across, fits through a groove in the cuboid bone.
A bonecracker / physio bloke got the tendon back in place and three weeks later getting better and still nursing it.
Apologies for the physiology lesson but the point is that if I had visited the Foot Quack when it first happened it would have been right in a couple of days.
Sounds like your thumb is a longer term thing, given the history and all but waiting for it to heal may be a waste of time and pain.

I had something similar a couple years back, starting getting a random but very painful "thing" going on behind the ball of my right foot. I went to a podiatrist who told me what the cause was and what I needed to do to correct it. Haven't had a problem with it for maybe three years now. I'm more than happy to chase up medical opinion when I have to

The thumb is still improving today, including a reduction in the "over travel", which hopefully indicates that the Volar Plate is healing very well. I'll keep babying it for a while but I'm hoping to be able to start doing a few things very soon.

Finally received a 12ga. rifled chamber adapter today, I have .410 brass but I need to order some .45Colt brass so I can play around with it. The adapter fits in both guns very nicely, but you have to remove the barrel on the T1000 to install it.

[Die Judicii]

Which ever way Mate,,,,,, I hope the thumb recovers

And just to let your mind wander and forget it for a few blissful moments,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Heh,,,, you don't know the full meaning of "Frustrated" till you experience this,

A week ago I attended another new property to ping some foxes for the owner.
Come the end of the period I was prepared to stay for,,,, and before packing up I did one more scan and bingo,,,,, there was a pair of dogs (dingo type)
An adult, and a juvenile (judging by sizes) way out past where I had been picking off foxes.
They were play fighting in a grassy area, approx 500 meters out maybe more.
I watched avidly for just on 1/2 hr hoping and wishing that they would work their way into a reasonably comfortable shooting range.
But it was not to be,, and they eventually headed off into the far distance till I lost sight of them altogether.

Now that,,,,,,,,,, is frustrating.
When your sight picks up possible victims that are outside of the realms of sure shots, and all you can do is watch.