Samshed Finger On The DL

rowjimmytour

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Yesterday at work I smashed my left ring finger moving a rock while I was digging a trench:wallbash::wallbash: I tried to practice last night but any chord that involved my ring finger I got a buzz sound because its black & blue and swollen. Today its still swollen and a little black and blue but I still plan on playing tonight when I get home from work after dinner. Any one have experience w/ this and find its better to rest your finger or keep on playing?
 
Ok, you have a bruise. This is an area of trauma to the tissue (it's broken up) and you had bleeding under the skin (that's the black and blue.) So the area is sore and tender. You are pressing on this area, essentially pressing on damaged tissue. So if I were you, I'd give it a few days REST and STOP PLAYING because what will happen is the area will receive circulation and "clean up cells" that go in and clear out the damaged cells and start to rebuild the part that was squashed. In this case, the pain means "STOP FERGAWDSAKE." Icing the area (soak in some ice water) to reduce the swelling can help. Make sure you keep it clean because fingers get infected rather easily because we stick them into everything and bacteria are everywhere. (If the swelling gets redder and hot, go see someone. Fingers can get infected where you don't see on the surface and they can be a bit annoying to heal up. This is unlikely, but it could happen.) When working, keep the finger covered to protect it and to prevent more damage and to keep it clean. Not medical advice, this is just first aid.
 
Ok, you have a bruise. This is an area of trauma to the tissue (it's broken up) and you had bleeding under the skin (that's the black and blue.) So the area is sore and tender. You are pressing on this area, essentially pressing on damaged tissue. So if I were you, I'd give it a few days REST and STOP PLAYING because what will happen is the area will receive circulation and "clean up cells" that go in and clear out the damaged cells and start to rebuild the part that was squashed. In this case, the pain means "STOP FERGAWDSAKE." Icing the area (soak in some ice water) to reduce the swelling can help. Make sure you keep it clean because fingers get infected rather easily because we stick them into everything and bacteria are everywhere. (If the swelling gets redder and hot, go see someone. Fingers can get infected where you don't see on the surface and they can be a bit annoying to heal up. This is unlikely, but it could happen.) When working, keep the finger covered to protect it and to prevent more damage and to keep it clean. Not medical advice, this is just first aid.
Thanks and maybe I will take a break for a couple days to heal since my fingers help pay the bills around the house. Also I did have leather gloves on when it happen so I could only imagine what my finger would have looked like and I guess it was good I had my palms up so the nail did not get a direct hit.
 
The small injuries are sometimes overlooked by guys. I mean, guys are raised to be tough and that's right but the biggest guy can be brought down by a 0.45 micron bug.

I lost a friend who skinned a knuckle on an engine he was rebuilding. It got infected and he ignored the swelling, pus and heat in the finger. Within days, he had sepsis, which is blood poisoning or systemic infection and it's hard to treat if the doctor can't guess it's a simple infection and pump you full of antibiotics and gawdhelpyou if it's MRSA (resistant.) If it goes too long, the kidneys start to shut down and it's over. So quick action and going to the ER is a must. My husband once showed me his elbow, all swollen and nasty. "Guy, it's Saturday and after 9am so we're goin' to the ER. -of course we get sick on the weekend when the regular dr is closed. We jumped on that and it was cured in a few weeks. But if it had been MRSA, that arm and even shoulder could have been gone or worse.
 
Just sliced into my ring finger on my fretting hand while cooking the other day...deep. I stopped playing for a few days to let it heal. I didn't want to cause more trauma and have to wait even longer to play. It's always best to let your body heal =)
 
You're right. These days, you have to be ultra careful of infection. MRSA (resistant staphylococcus) is on the rise. This is the famous "flesh eating bug" and it's everywhere. One friend at church, her husband split his lip and it got MRSA and he had to have a specialist do all kinds of things to save his lip--and his face. Seriously. Playing on a split finger allows bacteria to enter traumatized tissue deeper and with less defence.
 
Just sliced into my ring finger on my fretting hand while cooking the other day...deep. I stopped playing for a few days to let it heal. I didn't want to cause more trauma and have to wait even longer to play. It's always best to let your body heal =)
Ouch, I feel your pain. I sliced my LH index finger last night. Luckily, it's on the side (a little above the nail) and I'm not feeling like it's hurting when I press the tip, so I may try playing later tonight and see how it goes.
 
Sorry to hear about that. I know how much my fingers mean to me. I'm even cautious with a hangnail these days. If you were at work, you need to let your employer know right away, in case you need medical atention later, then you'll be covered by Worker's Compensation. These guys are right about MRSA, you don't want that. It's life threatening. Give that finger a rest and get some Occupational Therapy if you can.
 
Ouch, I feel your pain. I sliced my LH index finger last night. Luckily, it's on the side (a little above the nail) and I'm not feeling like it's hurting when I press the tip, so I may try playing later tonight and see how it goes.
Okay, I tried playing a bit earlier and my finger works fine, except I can't do barre chords due to where the cut is. :(

Oh, well, it's funny that I had recently gone thru all the fingerpicking tabs I've printed out and culled some for an easy/fun/favorites folder (stuff I might be willing to play for others because of simplicity) so I definitely have plenty to keep me busy. Just glad to be able to play at all. :) Not like that kitchen incident a few years ago that involved severed tendons, surgery, and a cast for weeks, followed by months of therapy. :eek:
 
Sorry to hear about that. I know how much my fingers mean to me. I'm even cautious with a hangnail these days. If you were at work, you need to let your employer know right away, in case you need medical atention later, then you'll be covered by Worker's Compensation. These guys are right about MRSA, you don't want that. It's life threatening. Give that finger a rest and get some Occupational Therapy if you can.
Filled out a injury report today at work just in case and took the night off from Hula-Hula but boy do I miss playin' my uke.
 
The better you treat that finger, the faster you'll be playing again. If you are under 40 it will heal up fast enough.
 
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