Injured my finger - can't play for a WHILE

TheGoodTexan · June 6th, 2004, 02:43 PM

Saturday, 6/5, I had some tree limbs hanging too low in the yard, so I needed to cut them off. Since I had a nasty run-in with a power tool a few years ago, resulting in the loss of 1/2 inch off the tip of my right thumb, I try to use hand tools as much as possible for the little jobs.

[By the way, my right thumb healed up fine, and that thumb nail still grows the same lenght, sticking out about 1/4 over the end of my thumb, so it's kind of like having a built in thumb-pick now. Seriously, it added a tremendous amount to my thumb picking technique... but I don't suggest trying it.]

Back to the story.

So I grabbed a limb-cutting hand saw out of my garage and began cutting the limbs. Holding the saw with my right hand, and pulling the limb down with my left hand, the saw jumped out of the kerf (groove) and directly on top of the tip of my left index finger. It cut a groove about 3/8 of an inch deep, down into the center of my finger and fingernail. It didn't miss the bone by much. Most of the finger nail is gone.

So I'm typing this with 9 fingers and I'm guessing I'll be a non-guitar player for about 6 or 8 weeks, until this thing heals. I hope the fingernail grows back properly.

Lance · June 6th, 2004, 02:45 PM

Sorry about the injury....time to learn some slide?

(gotta be positive about things)

TheGoodTexan · June 6th, 2004, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance

Sorry about the injury....time to learn some slide?

(gotta be positive about things)

Maybe time to revist Statesboro Blues.

Matt Hesley · June 6th, 2004, 03:20 PM

Or maybe brush up on your Eldon Shamblin chord-melody jazz ie. lots of barre chording ...

Seriously, ouch!!

But I bet you can fret with it earlier than 6 weeks if the fingertip itself is OK. Here's hoping so!

Matt

e-merlin · June 6th, 2004, 05:23 PM

Wow! Sorry to hear about that. Hope you're back in action soon. Slide sounds like a good way to pass the time. Maybe some tapping, too.

chipl · June 6th, 2004, 05:39 PM

Maybe you can ease back into guitar playing with the good fingers when you feel ready. Don't forget Django Reinhart played with just two fingers after a fire crippled his fourth and fifth finger. Two weeks ago, I was jamming with a guy who broke a finger playing softball thr day before. He managed to barre a few chords, and play some single notes and felt pretty good that he didn't have to sit the jam out.

Maybe you can work on right hand rhythm drills...no kidding...

But this reminds me: Didn't Pink Floyd once title an album or single "Careful with that Ax Eugene?"

PraiseCaster · June 6th, 2004, 05:59 PM

I hate it when that happens!

Now tell me Bruce, just between you and me (ok everyone else, cover your ear's, er, I mean your eye's!), you wouldnt happen to be Fire Marshal Bill, would ya?

trag-o-caster · June 6th, 2004, 06:21 PM

I'm so sorry to hear that.

Ever watch Gatemouth Brown play? He uses a capo all of the time and does all of his fingerwork with everything EXCEPT his index finger. I saw him on TV years ago with Roy Clark, and was mightily impressed with his playing, but I always wondered if there was something wrong with that finger to where he couldn't use it.

Anyhoo, I was just thinking that you may be able to get by like that for awhile.

Kingpin · June 6th, 2004, 07:12 PM

Reminds me of an accident I had on a bandsaw years ago. Instead of using an air gun to blow away the the sawdust, I tried to brush it away with my left hand. I caught my index fingertip in the blade, which then tried to pull my whole finger into it. With the reflexes of Superman I managed to quickly pull my finger out before things got ugly. I did suffer about a 1/4 inch slice right down the center of my fingertip, and, while it healed quickly, I must have dinged a nerve because I still get occasional jabs of pain if I fret too high on the fingertip. I hope you have managed to avoid any nerve damage and have a speedy recovery.
On the bright side, a layoff most often leads to improved playing and renewed enthusiasm for the instrument.

stantheman · June 6th, 2004, 08:41 PM

Texan what You need ASAP is a small Keyboard
like a Yamaha or Casio and hit the books...I learned so
much when I was recovering from my first bike accident
theory wise Man.
when you're stuck with lemons make lemon merangue
pie buddy!!!

TheGoodTexan · June 7th, 2004, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stantheman

Texan what You need ASAP is a small Keyboard
like a Yamaha or Casio and hit the books...I learned so
much when I was recovering from my first bike accident
theory wise Man.
when you're stuck with lemons make lemon merangue
pie buddy!!!

Thanks for the words of support guys. I really like this one - I've been looking for an excuse to get back on the piano for years.

After two days of peroxide and neosporin, I think it's going to be ok. I'm pretty sure that there's no nerve damage, so the skin on the tip may heal quickly. However, I do think that the finger nail will probably come off altogether within a few days. I'll have to wait to see how sensitive it is.

While waiting for the next hole to load on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004, I picked up a Tele to see what I could do in the mean time - not much at all. I'll have to work on slide or keys in the mean time.

By the way - any Tiger Woods 2004 players out there? If so, let me know - I figured out a way to beat the program last night!

dh · June 7th, 2004, 09:41 AM

I sliced up my index finger a few years ago, but instead of using a saw I used a coffee mug. I was washing out my coffee mug @ work & it sliped into the sink, shattered & a big shard flew up & sliced through my index finger down to the bone.

What I learned (besides that maybe a dirty coffee mug is not the worst thing in the world)

1. As other people said, play slide. I worked on my slide chops in standard tuning (figured I have the time so why not -- it was a sugestion from a Warren H. interview) and now that is pretty much how I play slide...getting away from the common open tunings also forced me to not rely on the typical licks that you hear over & over.

2. Find a good occupational therapist who understands that you are a guitar player & what this means for your rehab work. There is a difference, I learned. You will have to work & exercise your finger back into shape.

3. If the OT does not give this stuff to you, go to a med supply place and get a wad of hand rehab putty (it's like silly putty but a bit less tacky & w./ less give to it), and when you can begin to move your finger, work w/ this stuff 5-6 times a day for about 10 minutes each time, squeezing it b/t your 1st 2 fingers & in your palm.

4. Pay attention to pain. When you start playing guitar again & your finger starts to hurt - STOP - & give it a rest.

June 6th, 2004, 02:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,164	Ouch! Sorry about the injury....time to learn some slide? (gotta be positive about things) __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

June 6th, 2004, 05:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
chipl Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 733	Ouch! Maybe you can ease back into guitar playing with the good fingers when you feel ready. Don't forget Django Reinhart played with just two fingers after a fire crippled his fourth and fifth finger. Two weeks ago, I was jamming with a guy who broke a finger playing softball thr day before. He managed to barre a few chords, and play some single notes and felt pretty good that he didn't have to sit the jam out. Maybe you can work on right hand rhythm drills...no kidding... But this reminds me: Didn't Pink Floyd once title an album or single "Careful with that Ax Eugene?"

June 6th, 2004, 05:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
PraiseCaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Whittier, California Posts: 4,238 16 Photos	OUCH! I hate it when that happens! Now tell me Bruce, just between you and me (ok everyone else, cover your ear's, er, I mean your eye's!), you wouldnt happen to be Fire Marshal Bill, would ya? __________________ Later! PraiseCaster Visit Guitarists Praise and Worship Forum!! Dance Like David, MySpace

June 6th, 2004, 06:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,515	I'm so sorry to hear that. Ever watch Gatemouth Brown play? He uses a capo all of the time and does all of his fingerwork with everything EXCEPT his index finger. I saw him on TV years ago with Roy Clark, and was mightily impressed with his playing, but I always wondered if there was something wrong with that finger to where he couldn't use it. Anyhoo, I was just thinking that you may be able to get by like that for awhile. __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

June 6th, 2004, 07:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
Kingpin Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Here Posts: 1,208	Ouch! Reminds me of an accident I had on a bandsaw years ago. Instead of using an air gun to blow away the the sawdust, I tried to brush it away with my left hand. I caught my index fingertip in the blade, which then tried to pull my whole finger into it. With the reflexes of Superman I managed to quickly pull my finger out before things got ugly. I did suffer about a 1/4 inch slice right down the center of my fingertip, and, while it healed quickly, I must have dinged a nerve because I still get occasional jabs of pain if I fret too high on the fingertip. I hope you have managed to avoid any nerve damage and have a speedy recovery. On the bright side, a layoff most often leads to improved playing and renewed enthusiasm for the instrument. __________________ Bring on da Twang

June 6th, 2004, 03:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Matt Hesley Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 191	Or maybe brush up on your Eldon Shamblin chord-melody jazz ie. lots of barre chording ... Seriously, ouch!! But I bet you can fret with it earlier than 6 weeks if the fingertip itself is OK. Here's hoping so! Matt

June 6th, 2004, 08:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
stantheman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 4,936	Texan....get well, take your time.... Texan what You need ASAP is a small Keyboard like a Yamaha or Casio and hit the books...I learned so much when I was recovering from my first bike accident theory wise Man. when you're stuck with lemons make lemon merangue pie buddy!!! __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

June 7th, 2004, 09:41 AM	#12 (permalink)
dh Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phila 'burbs Posts: 193	Index Finger Blues I sliced up my index finger a few years ago, but instead of using a saw I used a coffee mug. I was washing out my coffee mug @ work & it sliped into the sink, shattered & a big shard flew up & sliced through my index finger down to the bone. What I learned (besides that maybe a dirty coffee mug is not the worst thing in the world) 1. As other people said, play slide. I worked on my slide chops in standard tuning (figured I have the time so why not -- it was a sugestion from a Warren H. interview) and now that is pretty much how I play slide...getting away from the common open tunings also forced me to not rely on the typical licks that you hear over & over. 2. Find a good occupational therapist who understands that you are a guitar player & what this means for your rehab work. There is a difference, I learned. You will have to work & exercise your finger back into shape. 3. If the OT does not give this stuff to you, go to a med supply place and get a wad of hand rehab putty (it's like silly putty but a bit less tacky & w./ less give to it), and when you can begin to move your finger, work w/ this stuff 5-6 times a day for about 10 minutes each time, squeezing it b/t your 1st 2 fingers & in your palm. 4. Pay attention to pain. When you start playing guitar again & your finger starts to hurt - STOP - & give it a rest.