A cautionary tale. Warning (very graphic photo)

[BilletHead]

   Chapter two surgery,

         Up early the next morning the 3rd of July we were on the road to Mercy orthopedics surgery center. Things progressed quickly into a room and beginning to be prepped. three different Nurses in and out plus the anesthesiologist. I asked are you going to fully put me out for this, yes, I am telling you man you don't want to be awake for this. Chatting with the bevy of nurses in the room they asked what I had done. I told them and said pretty dumb move on my part. Oh, this is nothing and stuff happens. That is when stories of what they have seen come through there. Self-inflicted injuries to the max. Chain saws, skill saws, table saws and one of the worst reciprocal saws. Lost fingers, hands and even worse. I felt a bit less stupid. They brought up getting ready for the 4th of July surge. Talk about stupid moves this holiday gets crazy. Fingers and hands blown off oh my. One of the ladies comes in with a little container of dark brown thick stuff with a swab in it. She said you are not going to like this. I have to swab your nose. This is a thick betadine it's going to feel nasty. Why my nose I asked? Studies have found after years of looking that flesh eating bacteria lives in the nose. I asked can you keep it out of my mustache? I sure can! My surgeon came in to talk to us about what was going on, Dr. Victoria Kubik. From the morning start in here I heard great things about who was going to do this surgery we both felt like I was going to be in good hands. Two more antibiotics were put into my IV.  Then something else that began to make me drowsy. That was the last I remembered until coming to post op. 

          Coming out of la, la land a voice saying Marty, Marty I'm the nurse that will be sitting with you as you come out of anesthesia what is your pain level? A solid 10 i slurred. Ok I will give you something that will help. She did that twice and it became bearable. My hand was wrapped in a brace castile from elbow to fingertips really tight. Back to room with Pat I dozed on and off. I was given a script for pain killers that Pat already picked up. Told to take one right away and as needed following the directions. Pat told me the surgeon had been in to see her. Told her everything went well. Marty would probably not be able to make a tight fist after this.  We were released to go home with another appointment in three weeks. Don't move anything at all in that hand. I did take that first pain killer and that was all.  I slept well. Next morning looked in the mirror. Man, I need to shave. Looking pretty tough. I am right-handed and lost using the left hand. I tried oof this is not going to work. Asked Pat for help. Now she is great shaving my head but never attempted my face. Head dome and face lathered up she started. She went at it like a crazy woman, I will admit I was pretty scared and rightly so. I told her this isn't like you shaving your legs slow down and be careful. This ticked her off and it got done but I'm going to have to learn to be a south paw. Not supposed to get the cast wet. Shower or bathe as you normally would. Another joke I don't care how many plastic bags you layer and tape and rubber bands you use water seeps in.  I then googled up how to train the right side of your brain to use the left arm and hand. Oh my goodness there is a lot of info out there, but the left side was so stubborn it would not let the right take over. What a nightmare. No fun at all but I made do. A few days later I was feeling froggy and told Pat I was going to the shop. Just what are you going to do? Clean up the flesh and blood off the band saw. I did and thought I need to get right back on the horse after getting bucked off.  Went back to the house and told her I was going to bandsaw that little part off of the bowl blank. I really got the stink eye, and I am going out to supervise you. On the floor below as the blood drips from the crash from the deed I flipped the saw on. More stink eye from Pat. It was awkward but I got it taken off and won that battle! Got to be tuff when you're stupid as my friend Brad tells me all the time. I then took the tension off the blade and told myself it will be changed before I use it again and rolled it back to its resting spot. A few days after this I mounted the blank on the lathe and did some turning on that blank. Awkward but it worked. For the rest of this time, I was a leftie for everything. could not even begin to tell you how many times I could miss my big mouth with the fork and spoon and run it into my cheek. Tried to learn how to write. Looked like a doctor's signature scribble. Tackled another project or should I say Pat did. We wanted to change out our power center in the camper. One that would charge lithium battery. I got to be the boss and Pat the grunt for doing that. Hard to get to place with little room to work. It took us awhile, but Pat became the electrician and got it done! It was a loooooong three weeks. 

   Chapter three next.

[BilletHead]

59 minutes ago, nomolites said:

I’ve been known to do the “f” dance for considerably less than either one of those.

Thank the good Lord for talented physicians and medical advancements!

Mike

              I am now beginning to feel like I am in good company. Thanks @nomolites. 

[Flysmallie]

Look Away!!!

Holy cow that was nasty. I saw the pic and when I came to I read what happened. Glad recovery is going well.

 

My wife has always worked for surgeons that peel peopls faces back and do reconstructive sugery after an accident or something. They love to try to tell me stories but I justy can't handle it. I'm terrified of heights too. 

[BilletHead]

          Chapter three,

   Three weeks checkup. The cast was unwrapped and removed. I was taken back at what I was looking at. First off, I thought what was covered for three weeks would be wrinkled and stinky, NOPE,

   Just a typical old man hand with sun beat skin, still swelled and tingle in the index finger. Wow. Needed x rays. Just keep your hand flat on the table here and they will call you. DO not move the index finger. I said can I test it just a tiny bit? Yes just try to lift that finger barely off the table. I did and it moved. Thats enough do not move that finger any more. Get the x rays and I will be back. You most certainly don't want to undo what I have done there is much more healing to do. Taken back for x rays. Do this do that this angle that angle palm up palm down and side view. The tec said there are some not so good views you need to move that finger this way and that way. I WILL NOT. OOh she got upset. I told her what the surgeon said. She left and came back. OK lets adjust this way and that way but I did not move that finger . Doctor checked everything out, looking good now go to physical therapy to be fitted with a hand cast. It will keep the index finger stable. You can move the rest of the fingers and the end joint of the index finger. Take it off for bathing and right back on. See you in another three weeks which ended up four because they forgot to write me down. :(. Went back to PT where a guy that took some plastic and heated it up. Reminded me of kydex. He worked with it and made a shape that fit my palm and with a thumb hole. Velcro kept it on. Of course, he asked what I had done and what was done in detail. It reminded me of Alices Restaurant as I told him the story. Showed him the picture and he wanted to share it with every other PT person and there was a bunch of questions. Gave me some cloth pieces that fit in wear points against the skin. I wore them out quickly and made more. That brace rubbed hot spots on the wear points. BUT I could start moving places. Shaving and daily tasks came more easily. In fact, I tied some fly's and other things in the shop. Even instructed Pat letting her cut some boards she wanted on the table saw with my assistance. A couple weeks into this I just had toi try something,

 

     Pretty cool friends! Can you tell I was happy? Awkward but hey things are looking up. This got Pat fired up. I want to go fishing. I got to thinking and went over to the carport and climbed up into the jet boat. Tried to squeeze the throttle and Engauge forward and reverse. Again, awkward but it worked. Told her we have a place the Hybrid will be ambushing at daylight in a pinch point. I will take you and be the net man. You catch dinner. Next morning we were there launching before daybreak. Spinning rods in hand this trip. Dropped anchor. I needed help lifting it when moving. First cast bam one caught second cast another. Then three break offs. Next cast another. We are done but you know I have to try.  Yep, as awkward as it was, I got my three. This was nothing but a wear you out meat trip, but we got our fix and good eats. I think I did a report on there if you want to look it up.  My mood was really getting much better at this point. Was really close to the next Doctor visit and I was so ready. Next chapter will be that and physical therapy and we will wrap this story up. 

  I'm really not flipping you all off. It's the hand braces fault.

 

[BilletHead]

Next surgeon appointment, Physical therapy and beyond,

   Let's get this wrapped up. Back to Springfield where I was told everything is progressing well. How would you like to take this thing off and try moving the finger? Heck yes! off it came and ok show me what you have. Not much with all the time of non-use I could not even curl my un effected fingers to touch my palm. Don't get discouraged it will get better. Where do you live from here. I told her. We really want you to see a hand PT specialist. There is nobody really close. Oh, there might be one in Carthage a couple days a week. Do what she says and only what she says in your rehab. We will see you in another three weeks. 

   So got appointment for 7AM on a Monday morning. Showed up and met Marie. She said sit right there and take off the brace. I did. She said to continue wearing it especially if you are doing something where you might fall or otherwise make a move and bend that finger beyond where it moves easily today. Off at night or doing nothing at home. What good news. Now tell me what you did and what all has been done so far, que Alices Restaurant. I did and next thing was she gets out some coco butter. Starts massaging back of my hand and along the index finger. You see this tight skin? We need to get it stretched out and pliable again. It was tight like an old TV or movie star that has had too much botox to remove wrinkles. finger the same with swelling and tingly touching it. You also need to start working that swelling and fluid towards the hand by sweeping it tightly with fingers like waves towards the hand. Show me you can do that. i did. Do this several times a day, ok got that. Then let me see what you can now do which I did.  She took a fancy protractor on each finger and wrote it down. This is our baseline. What do you like to do and what do you want to come out of this like? Hey, you are going to get 110 percent out of me and I' want to be back to normal. You have no idea what time of the year it is and what I like to do. Told her my limitations spine wise with back surgeries. I am still as active as I can be because of that. Ok then we will see how far you can get, might not be what you were but we will try. Washed my hands and she put my arm in a big box that blows finely ground corn, and it massages my hand relacing it. This thing about put me to sleep. Timer went off she brushed the dust away and took out a paper of hand exorcizes. Showed me how on each one. Do this three times daily or more if you feel like it but three times for sure. see you in a week same time. I did just as she said and more. I would wake up at night and do a round at night laying there. Next week she measured again. Oh, is see significant improvement. Keep doing this and this other page of stuff including using a wad of silly putty and rubber bands. So now there will be strengthening involved. Showed me how and see you in a week. By this time, I had thrown the brace in the trash. Done with that darned piece of crap. I was now making a fist but took me three stretches then pretty tight. Skin doing better too. Seen her in a week again. She says Marty I do not need to see you anymore you have done beyond what asked for. Your doctor will be impressed because I certainly am. Keep doing everything you are shown until you next visit with Dr which was coming up soon. So back to Springfield. Ok surgeon said let's see what you have and where is your brace. I said in the dump by now i suppose she laughed. I did my thing, and she said you are a rock star, I said no young lady you are the rock star thank you. I was sure hoping you would get that fist back and you did. You have listened and done what was expected of you. I told her you get what you work for. She said you will have that swelling for at least another year, but it will get back almost normal. The deadness in your finger will get better and might not go totally away but that will not affect function. I thanked her again and We were happy. Amazed to say the least stupid mistake but I was once again blessed with the outcome. god takes care of children and fools. You all know the category I fall into. This is how I am today. Amazing those tendons were put back together and healed the way they did. Note arthritis will settle in and cold weather will affect me some but that is yet to be seen. Story over and thanks for reading. 

[ColdWaterFshr]

Amazing what doctors can do.  Glad you're all healed-up!

[dpitt]

Glad for your recovery. Nice job on the PT.  Thanks for sharing

[Foghorn]

Enjoyed the story just hated how it all transpired. Casting looked great other than those "Crocs".

[jdmidwest]

1 hour ago, Foghorn said:

Enjoyed the story just hated how it all transpired. Casting looked great other than those "Crocs".

I saw that too, looks like he thought his foot was still going to grow into them.

[snagged in outlet 3]

22 hours ago, Foghorn said:

those "Crocs"

Shoulda had an additional graphic warning for those too....Just sayin.😂