tendons and nerves can be touchy in the repair area, side effects can be numbness even after surgery.
As I talk to you right now, I'm typing one-handed, so please be tolerant of spelling or typo's.
I'm a senior in high school, and am going onto college for a musi major, possibly music education... but I've alwyas dreamt of playing. Regardless of that dilemma, I had a very bad injury last Friday in my CADD class. To make a long story short, I was chiseling wood and put the chisel into the middle of my left thumb. I cut through the tendon and it was all very messy. There is no hand specialist here, so I have to drive 2 1/2 hours to Green Bay WI to get surgery early bext week. There might be nerve damage, as I can feel it get more painful as the skin heals.
My question is, will this affect my dreams as a musician? I made sure all of the doctors I saw while trying to get treatment knew I was a musician, but somehow through all the poking and prodding I don't think they grasped the delicacy of technique and grip I require. Also, they avoided stitching the sking and treating it, as I am 17 and a minor, and they couldn't get a hold of my parents for hours.
I guess this hand specialist deals with a lot of musicians, and everyone's been telling me tendons shouldn't be too hard to repair, but I can't help but worry. Will my fulcrum be dead? Will my grip be insensitive or useless? Of course I don't expect you guys to know, but maybe just share similar experiences or hope.
On top of all of this, they estimate a 3 month time with no playing with my left hand and having to go through physical therapy, and my girlfriend of over a year broke up with me last week. I'm determined to stay in things, though, as I have several gigs coming up, and two jazz band festivals. I'm confident I can get by with one hand, reasonably well, but can't help but worry my dreams are dead.
Sorry, I guess I just needed to talk to fellow drummers about how crappy things are going. [img]confused.gif[/img]
tendons and nerves can be touchy in the repair area, side effects can be numbness even after surgery.
I wish you all the best of luck in a full recovery Cameron. FWIW, I recall a guitarist I used to play with who suffered very bad nerve damage and was unable to use the index finger of his left hand. He had to relearn how to play everything with the remaining fingers - and he DID IT! A year later, the feeling returned and he was able to play normally again.
S0 there's hope! I'm pretty sure that nerves are regenerative.
If you feel pain and you can move your thumb, that's a good sign. It seems to me that the injury should heal. Proper physical therapy will be the key to recovery.
Though story.
I can only extend my wishes that your hand will heal and that you manage the other issues in your life right now. I really can't tell you much about your chances of using your hand to its full potential again, but 3 months time-out seems reasonable. Just to cheer you up, I'd say it's nothing out of the ordinary given your accident. Let us know what the specialist says.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think you ought not to panic about your career ending just yet. Increasing pain is common as injuries start to heal, and pain is an indication that the nerves are still functional.Originally posted by Cameron Mahoney:
There might be nerve damage, as I can feel it get more painful as the skin heals.
Wait for your surgery, and maintain a positive outlook. A very significant part of healing is mental.
Well said Moose.
Cameron: Although it may feel as though the world just collapsed over your shoulders, it's real important to keep looking ahead.
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 10, 2005 10:21 PM: Message edited by: Suspiria ]</font>
Cameron -
Withold judgment until all is finished. It is no use worrying about what might happen. You may be surprised. You may gain full use and be better than ever. Just keep your head up and listen to your doctors and work hard on rehab.
Take Care. F.S.
Great advice guys.
Cameron, please keep us updated on your progress. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]
Matched or Traditional grip? Seriously.
As far as nerve damage, i have no idea... as far as tendon damage... i have torn/ruptured my patellar tendon three times in the left leg, twice in the right (it's called trying to recover too fast and doing it all over again cause i was a stupid kid)... however, i am as good as gold now. I don't know about the nerve damage, but i think the thumb would be the one you would wanna get it in, rather than (God forbid) get it originating in the wrist or having an immoble index or middle finger. I think the thumb could be worked around... since it only acts as half of a fulcrum and therefore doesn't really need too much movement. I know people who can't bend entire fingers and have a more rippin' roll than i do with that 'hindering' them. However, i think you will make a recovery nicely... i just don't see it as being a long-term issue.
I think you will be fine. Spend this time to work on your feet.
Let me say again: Spend this time to work on your feet.
Let me say again: Spend this time to work on your feet.
Let me say again: Spend this time to work on your feet.
... get the point??? You will never have another time when you can devote months at a time to your footwork. TRUST ME!!! Imagine if someone tied your hands behind your back and made you practice foot chops... you would be killer after a few months. Well, guess what, someone just did, so now is your chance to have killer feet. Seriously, after a few months of just footwork practice, you could smoke that Nevesis cat with one foot, and that Ballistic Joe guy with the other. (If you don't know them, well, you get the picture).
You can come out of this situation, once your hands are healed, with feet that will have more chops than you will have imagined if you get on it. Think of how hard it is to sit there and work on footwork without starting to noodle around with your hands... well, now is your chance! Deep down i wish my tendonitis would come back so i could get better feet! [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]
So really, if you spend this time working on getting your feet going, this could give you a foundation that you would have NEVER had if you would have not encountered this blessing in disguise. I developed my hand chops when i was away from my set for a year... only had a pad, a stick control book, and a click. Which leads me to the reason why i moved away from my drums... a girl... and which leads me to my next point (segues are my specialty!)...
As far as the girl goes... Double bass work gets chicks! Work on your feet and they will come flocking... as my friend told me when i was just a kid, "Girls dig bass". Sorry, but really... i have two things to say: 1) This won't be the last, but it does get easier. 2) You're going to college next year, and.. well... you will know what i am talking about when you get there [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]
...trust me [img]wink.gif[/img]
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