Lost the tip of my trigger finger last night (graphic pic)

[Harleyrider_50]

I like to "think" I'd do the right thing but you never know until it happens to you. I'm basing my original words and this post as someone who has been involved in more than my share of industrial accidents as a witness, rescuer, first responder or just the guy that drew the short straw and had to recover bits of a hand from the machine that attempted to "eat" the owner but only got away with an appetizer.

In 25 plus years in industrial maintenance, building maintenance and heavy aviation maintenance I have NEVER seen someone injured that wasn't preceded by errors on the part of the "victim". The lost hand; attempting to clear a jam in a conveyor without shutting it down. The arm that was ripped from a man at his shoulder; again, attempting to clear a jam without shutting the equipment down. The "laceration" to an arm that went to the artery; horseplay. I was even involved in the cleanup of a kid that got wound up in between the rear duals of an 18 wheeler, that one prayed to die.

So no, I've never seen an industrial "accident" that I truly felt the company "owed" anybody anything.

.......SOooooo........?.........ya think the dude just went in ta work with mindset of "Well I think I'll stick my hand in here......see whut happens...." ........................

At's whut Workers Comp's for......an' at's why they pay it.......needs ta pay the dude whutever the injury/med x'penses/ time off/recovery/rehab,etc.......'at it's worth.........an' they WILL.......trus'me........

 

[Audie Murphy]

Thanks everyone for the kind words and prayers. I have to say that this has been the most painful thing I have felt in my life. Both emotionally and physically. The injury will effect my 2 hobbies, guitar playing and shooting.I go to see a ONE surgeon Monday to see what further is needed.

 

[BGDave]

Think Slim Whitman had the same trouble and went to a left hand guitar. Just saying. BTW Norco is kind of a light weight pain med. Have some experiece as I crushed my heel bone in July. You are correct about mentally coming to grips with injury. Still think you are pretty tough to take pictures and text in the midst of this. Hang tough.

 

[Sgtusmc]

As a guitar player myself, I figuratively feel your pain. One name comes to mind though. Tony Iommi

 

[the1kidd03]

I feel your pain. I nearly lost my trigger finger at the first knuckle years back as well. It was reattached, however it'll never be the same. I cannot bend it much, andI have little feeling unless I strike it on something or something else to cause pain and then it is EXTREMELY sensitive. Weird how that works. My body actually went into shock when it happened and I was in almost no pain. That is until after leaving the hospital and their numbing stuff wore off, then it was the most painful thing I'd ever felt. I was on a high dosage of Vicodin and was popping I think 500 mg of Ibuprofin on top of that and it was just enough to take the edge off. It still throbbed in pain for some time afterwards.

Even though I still have the end of my finger, the lack of feeling and flexibility causes me to have a difficult time with tasks that were so simple previously. The only way I can swing a hammer and keep it from canting to one side and missing is if I grasp it closer to the head. I can't throw a straight spiral with a football to save my life anymore, and before I was a pretty good GB for an amateur. Working on mechanical things which require small dexterity is impossible with that hand such as squeezing my hand into small spaces to turn a screw or something. It also forces me to pay extra attention to my trigger control since I have no feeling and flexibility. I have to sort of "relearn" my squeeze technique with a few shots each time I pick up a gun. I also have a really tough time with heavy DA triggers because the pressure causes some pain. Some of my nerves got crossed somehow, and clipping too close on one side of my finger nail results in a VERY sharp pain where before I could clip it much closer. I still don't understand that one, but I'm no Dr. Oh, and very cold temps to certain lengths of times makes it hurt, begin to throb as well.

Even though I still have mine, with the little dexterity and feeling in it I would imagine you may come up to very similar challenges. Sorry about your luck, but at least you have the rest of the hand and you don't have to endure months of painful physical therapy like I did. Good luck. I know some others with similar circumstances taught themselves to shoot with the middle finger, BTW. That may be something to try.

EDIT: PS, one thing you'll want to look out for is that once you're out of bandages and protective devices....the scar tissue that is there will tear off incredibly easily. I mean, as easily as grazing it against some rough sandpaper. It sucks, especially when you work with your hands for a living. My finger's spilled a lot of blood from the one little injury. LOL

 

[Scout]

Now you've gone and done it. You just added to the companies injury rate!

Now there'll be an investigation, and some form of safety put on that machine. It sucks that some companies don't follow up on safety issues until after someone gets hurt.

 

[Audie Murphy]

I'm soaking the hand now so I can do a bandage change. I'll take more pics once I get it off. Scabbed over the bandage pretty good

 

[printcraft]

I'm soaking the hand now so I can do a bandage change. I'll take more pics once I get it off. Scabbed over the bandage pretty good

That left a mark! At the risk of repeating advice you probably already have heard.... Relax, heal, eat some turkey and take your meds.
You lost a part..... but you are still you. People adapt to much worse so don't let it get you down.
Take care.

 

[Audie Murphy]

Maybe a little bit more of a warning would've be nice.

Sorry, I thought the warning saying graphic pic on my thread tittle would be enough.

 

[Harleyrider_50]

Maybe a little bit more of a warning would've be nice.

Sorry, I thought the warning saying graphic pic on my thread tittle would be enough.
View attachment 23590View attachment 23591View attachment 23592View attachment 23593

.......Hard ta b'lieve.......'at some these posters hunt.huh?.........LOL.....

good luck with 'at,dude.......

 

[hoosierdaddy1976]

on the bright side, your junk will look that much bigger with less finger coverage. hope the recovery goes well.

 

[Audie Murphy]

on the bright side, your junk will look that much bigger with less finger coverage. hope the recovery goes well.

That right there gave me a much needed laugh. Thanks brother,

 

[Audie Murphy]

So after a long and ongoing process of rehabilitation, I am cleared to go back to work tomorrow. Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers.
Now for more pics. You've seen the before, this is the after.

 

[actaeon277]

Thanks for the update. Glad you have made progress.
So have you switched fingers, or switched hands for shooting?

 

[Audie Murphy]

Thanks for the update. Glad you have made progress.
So have you switched fingers, or switched hands for shooting?

Switched fingers. Also picked up a 1911 with an adjustable trigger that allows me to make it go bang with minimal movement from my stubby.

 

[mom45]

Switched fingers. Also picked up a 1911 with an adjustable trigger that allows me to make it go bang with minimal movement from my stubby.

 

[Bandsaw]

Your finger looks like that of a farmer I knew, only he took his off in stages. Seems he had a tractor that was not charging. While the tractor was running, he reached out and tapped the belt. Oops! It ran his finger around the pulley and cut it off about the fingernail. Trip to the ER, stitches, and all that.
Weeks later, the finger had healed, but the tractor still was not charging. The tractor was running, and, yep, he again reached out and tapped the belt, and yep, he again ran that finger around the pulley! This time it cut it off at the first joint. His only explanation was that he must be a slow learner.

 

[bulldogg]

Ouch

 

[Sainte]

them sharp nose hairs will get you every time......

 

[atvdave]