Any advice on broken fingers?

[Rick]

Yesterday I slipped on the ice.  fell, hit my hand. left ring finger was bent to one side.  Went inside, showed my wife and she cranked the finger back into line, and she said, "you're all better."  I said I don't think you're supposed to be able to bend your fingers like that, I'm going tothe hospital.  Went to hospital, after diagonosis of a nondisplaced fracture (the Mrs pushed it back into shape) of the  distal left ring finger flange, they put on a frog splint and sent me home.  No guitar playing for at least 6 weeks.  Ugh.  Have any of you had any experience with broken fingers?  They suggested I go see an ortho guy but not sure what they can do.

I suddenly found time to finish my current VIP build.

Any advice much appreciated

 

[stratamania]

I had once a left index finger problem following an accident and it took time to heal and after that it was a case of having to warm up the finger, massage and it took quite some time to get back towards full mobility. The approach was to use it but not overdo things and gradually it got better. The key is to give it time to heal and then the time to get back motion without strain. Though I suspect each case is different and that is where ortho or physio if needed may be able to help.

 

[mayfly]

oooo sucks.  I once broke my thumb on my left hand, and that sure caused problems.  I still have trouble with bar chords, especially when I need to play them through an entire song.

My advice, look into physio right away.  We have a local physio who actually specializes in musicians.  Apparently practicing a lot leads to all sorts of problems with your back, neck, arms, wrists, fingers, etc.  Especially if you hold yourself in a funny position while playing.

Check out physio.

 

[BroccoliRob]

Oh man that sucks, i'm so sorry my dude. i hate being uncomfortable. its so much worse than being really comfortable. When I hurt myself as a kid my dad would shout "rob you fool, you always RICE wounds like that" and I'd be like "oh yeah lol" so thats my advice-

R - rice
I - ingested
C - copiously
E - eliminates (wounds)

He said it in 1985 when i tokyo drifted my Power Wheels into the neighbors blackberry bush, and he said it last week when i was unicycling indoors and "flew too close to the sun" (got hit in the head by the ceiling fan)

 

[ValeBliz]

Physiotherapist here. Seek one knowledgeable in hand rehab, you can vastly improve how a broken joint heals if you know what to do.

 

[NedRyerson]

They suggested I go see an ortho guy but not sure what they can do.

Much more than the GPs and surgeons at the ER.  If you're going to repair a classic car, do you take it to an auto restoration specialist or the kid in the pit at your local Pennzoil?

 

[Ozopart]

About 4 years ago I tripped on a crack in the sidewalk while running and broke the pinky finger on my right hand. I am right handed also I should mention. I confess I didn't go to a Dr. for about a month, probably a dumb decision, but when I went he said just do physical therapy and it would be fine. Long story short, it isn't. It is still painful a lot of days, and will only bend about half way. Fortunately it isn't my left hand as far as guitar playing goes. Either way, Django Reinhardt played with 3 fingers, so there is that. Anyway, if you do go to a Dr. for a second opinion, find a good one. I think mine was bad and something should have been done other than physio.
Good luck, and I hope your finger gets better soon.

 

[Seamas]

Use recuperation time brushing up on your slide playing.

 

[TBurst Std]

Physiotherapist here. Seek one knowledgeable in hand rehab, you can vastly improve how a broken joint heals if you know what to do.

This!!!
While I’ve broken all my fingers, back in the 80s I severely injured my left hand.  After surgery, did physio. Do NOT over due it.  I developed focal dystonia from that. It was 10+ years before I could play somewhat well.  I’m still not capable in the manner I was. 

 

[Sadie-f]

I got lucky with a small broken bone in my left thumb. The lucky part was the thumb itself didn't keep me from playing, what was more trouble was deep bruising across the bridge of that hand, centered on middle finger.

Thumb has healed up to almost normal, very slight loss in range of motion. Rest of hand seems finally ok, that took months.

Hopefully your injury will turn out ok, and with medical help, be back to normal.

 

[Rick]

Following advice and after posting here made appointments with MD's.  I recommend after breaking a finger and you've been to the emergency room, follow-up with an ortho guy. (Thanks Everyone who said go to an ortho.  I've since heard stories about musicians who didn't and it didn't turn out well.)  It's not worth not being able to play the guitar. 

They say I'm healing nicely.  3 more weeks to go.  They have me doing some very gentle therapy.

 

[LushTone]

Dang, that's no fun.

So something very similar happened to a small time guitarist known as Tommy Emmanuel very recently (fingerpicking hand, 2020...). I'm pretty sure he didn't waste any time getting back to playing guitar better than everyone else...

So there's hope in that regard!

 

[mayfly]

ooo F*ck Me!!!

 

[Rick]

Tommy needs my wife to push that finger back into shape.

 

[Seamas]

At least now Tommy can finger that elusive Eb dim b913 inversion perfectly.

 

[Rick]

The ends of the bone are knitting!  You can see how the fracture is less jagged. The gaps on the inside take about another 6 months.  Doctor released me from care unless something takes an unforeseen turn, and I don't need any special PT.

So in case you're wondering here's what to do if you break your finger:

1) Go to hospital.  Put on splint.
2) Go to an ortho person within the week
3) Two weeks after the incident start very gentle therapy, basically just opening and closing your hand 20 times 3 times a day.
4) Four weeks after the incident add a few more gentle exercises.  Buddy tape the finger, no more splint.
5) six weeks out, continue gentle exercises and start playing the guitar.  Take it easy at first, but play!  Buddy tape if lifting something over 20 LBS, or shoveling for another month.

When the doctor told me the best therapy I could do was to play the guitar, I told him the only way he could make it even better was to tell me to drink beer.  ccasion14:  He said, as long as it's with my left hand!

I hope none of you go thru this, but it's good to know what to do.

 

[Seamas]

I'll drink beer with my left hand as a preventative!

 

[BroccoliRob]

U'll be back to 8 finger tapping in no time