Thread: If only, I had stopped for lunch

Well I must say I have definately had better days. We had a nice week down at Apollow Bay last week, came home Friday and packed up some of the fishing gear. Sat morning packed the rest away and then thought about lunch. Decided to cut a few peices of pine for the bedroom, walkin robe and onsuite i am doing. If only I had decide to grab a bit to eat, maybe i was distracted or something, I looked away from the saw bench and then I am not not quite sure what happened.
So 23 hrs later I am in BoxHill waiting for the Plastic team to operate on my left thumb which I have nicely severed 2/3rds through, bone included. I just wish the surgeons would hurry up and at least come by.
My wife dropped the laptop in so I can kill some time. looks like I will be catching up on a heap of un read posts.
Bye for now.
Bruce

Originally Posted by argeng

I just wish the surgeons would hurry up

Maybe they stopped for lunch? (oh come on, you were all thinking it)

Sorry to hear that Bruce. Hope you have a speedie recovery.

Stuart

When I took the tips off a couple of digits on my left hand they left me overnight at Concord. Gave me time to ruminate on how we used the jointer.
They did a good job with the middle which lost the nail.
The surgeon wrapped the skin over so I have lost no sense of touch its just a bit shorter. The other was ok just lost some skin.
Bloody sore for months after must admit I lost my confidence there for a while.
I had been using machinery for 35 years prior.
Worst thing was I'd just learnt to touch type on a computer and was quite good at it. With the sore finger and having to use an old mechanical typewriter at work I now pick away with two just like my kids.
Hope they get to you soon, no fun waiting.
All the best.
H.

Just read of your misfortune.am sorry to hear and wish you a speedy recovery.
Many years ago I had the fortunate opportunity to be mentored by an old wood worker an artisan by todays standards.
He had the misfortune to have all his fingers on his right hand severed by a s vert spindle moulder pre war.No micro surgeons in those days and no anti biotics.He lost all his fingers and all but one knuckle of the pointer finger.he overcame that dis sability and went on to live an old age.
His famous statement was you come to the shop with 10 digits top and bottom make sure you leave at the end of the day with all attached. A lifelong teaching.35 yrs ago whilst drilling a cast iron chuck adaptor from a bigger one last radial hole it bit hard and came out of the vice spinning around like a giant router bit.45stiches later and a lot of pain now makes me and clamp the smallest piece of metal whilst drilling.and when i see someone drilling unclamped i show them the scar 45 reasons why you should clamp up. Get well and back into it.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I hope everything goes well, and you get well soon.

Take care!

Bruce,

all I can think of is "Ouch" -- all the best on mending.

Ouch, sorry to hear about you slip up.
We always think what if after we have done something like this, don't beat yourself up about it, just learn from it.

I hope you have a speedy recovery and your injury doesn't effect projects in the future.

Dave

Thanks for the kind words,
After what seemed like forever I finally went in to the theater last night. Interesting experience, the team decided to do a nerve block on the hand instead of a general. Basically they sedated me while they got set up and then woke me up, thanks!! I got to watch everything, lots of bone triming, drilling of wires and micro surgery, just like on RPA. the only uncomfortable part is they place a very tight strap to stop the blood flow, muscles starved of blood really hurt, they closely monitor and provide some amount of pain relief.
End result is my thumb will be slightly shorter this causes a problem with the lower tendon which was not severed as it will now be too long and may not provided the same amount of movement.
How much movement I will regain is a long way off as the wires that are drilled down the center of the thumb bones and joint wont be removed for 6 to 8 weeks, along with the joint trauma the whole thing will be very stiff. Hopefully if all mends ok the amount of movement may be upto how much effort I put into physio.
Can't dwell on the past, time to look to the future, could have been a lot worse.

Cheers Bruce

HI,
ouch.jpgVery Sorry to Hear about Your Accident. I hope the Operation and Your Recovery goes well.

When you get permission, start squeezing a tennis ball and work down to a squash ball. Worked for me.

Good to hear things seem to be going along as good as can be expected. Not so sure about the "awake" part.


Thanks for the update.

Stuart

You could be a lot worse, there was a block around here years ago that lost his whole hand and was home alone, he grabbed his hand and placed it in a plastic bag and range the ambo. They reattached it but it was never the same, but he still did have it at least.

The ambo said if it wasn't for his quick thinking he would have lost the hand, I am not sure how he didn't pass out or something.

Dave

Of course you know we all want to see some images, just the gory stuff will do.

I hope you do recover quickly.
Like Stu i'm not so sure on the awake part....if it was me would not have been able to watch, actually i probably would have just passed out again and again......
Good luck