I broke my finger a while back.......

[BrentSP]

October 28th I broke my pinky finger (fretting hand) playing football with a bunch of my buddies. Orthopedic Dr. put it back in place and had a splint/cast on it for 6 weeks. Its December 26th now and this SOB is still sore, swollen and haven't been able to really play guitar since that day I broke it. I mean its definitely better than a few weeks ago but this is taking forever to heal up. Some how I managed to go through life without breaking a bone in my body so I don't know what to expect. I can bend it ok but fretting any type of chord or lead run makes me want to slap someone

Do broken bones and torn ligaments usually take this long to heal up.......I mean its just a freaking pinky and would think I'd be back to normal in no time, but its not working out that way.

 

[Digital Jams]

After I blasted my middle finger on my fretting hand with a finish nail gun it tooks months for it to feel good enough to play without pain, it just takes time due to the inactivity of using it.

It will return to normal, you are just getting old and need more time to heal

 

[BrentSP]

It will return to normal, you are just getting old and need more time to heal

Your the 3rd person that has told me this. I think I need some HGH then

 

[Vrad]

Hey Brent,
I was wondering what happened to you... Welcome back...

I cut up my left hand really bad in 2002, severed nerves and an artery. It took like 8 weeks to heal so that I could move it and even with surgery to reattach the nerves, I still can't really feel the outside of my pinky. The doctor said I was lucky not to sever any ligaments or tendons. It would have taken a really long time to heal then... I stay away from food processors nowadays...

 

[BrentSP]

Hey Brent,
I was wondering what happened to you... Welcome back...

I cut up my left hand really bad in 2002, severed nerves and an artery. It took like 8 weeks to heal so that I could move it and even with surgery to reattach the nerves, I still can't really feel the outside of my pinky. The doctor said I was lucky not to sever any ligaments or tendons. It would have taken a really long time to heal then... I stay away from food processors nowadays...

Holy crap, I didn't know that about you. Well you can play your ass still so you give me hope

I did tear some ligaments also so maybe thats whats taking so long. I went to the Dr. every two weeks for a while and she just said it should take around 8 weeks to heal completely.....its been 9 weeks this past Sunday and I don't feel completely healed yet.

 

[Mudder]

Go Schenker style and just use three fingers!

Actually it does take a long time to heal, especially if you tore up ligaments. Soft tissue damage can take an extraordinary amount of time to get right, if ever. I have a knee that never will be right.

 

[Vrad]

Hey Brent,
I was wondering what happened to you... Welcome back...

I cut up my left hand really bad in 2002, severed nerves and an artery. It took like 8 weeks to heal so that I could move it and even with surgery to reattach the nerves, I still can't really feel the outside of my pinky. The doctor said I was lucky not to sever any ligaments or tendons. It would have taken a really long time to heal then... I stay away from food processors nowadays...

Holy crap, I didn't know that about you. Well you can play your ass still so you give me hope

I did tear some ligaments also so maybe thats whats taking so long. I went to the Dr. every two weeks for a while and she just said it should take around 8 weeks to heal completely.....its been 9 weeks this past Sunday and I don't feel completely healed yet.

Yeah the first time I picked up a guitar after the surgery, I could barely play. It took months for me to get back to where I was before I cut my self. But it did come back. I asked my surgeon if I'd play ok, he said that he was in the process of reconstruction a guys hand who got it caught in a snow-blower. He said that the damage I did was very minor compared to that guy...

 

[bill]

I jumped my pinky joint catching a basketball years ago and even after resetting it it's still crooked. I also have some numbness due to a pinched ulner nerve in my arm so the pinky and half my ring finger on my fretting hand has the same numbness. I still can play pretty good and have enough dexterity to use both of them. Injuries can take a long time to heal thats for sure.

 

[Dale B]

I'm just now getting back to where I can play again without any pain in my left hand's index finger. A Mullard preamp tube had a fracture in it from being under a tube retainer. I grabbed the tube and it busted in my left hand. I didn't know it was fractured. It sliced the backside of my middle knuckle to the bone all the way across my finger. This happened on the 9th of June.

 

[BradMc]

Yeah i hear your pain Brent,

I`ve dislocated 2 fingers now on my fretting hand playing Australian Rules football, considering what has happened to some of my buddies playing this sport i`ve gotten off lightly!!!

It does take ages to recover, eventually you`ll be back to full speed, and once you get your confidence back with it, you pretty much forget it even happened.
It just takes time unfortunately,

Brad

 

[bobbtoz]

Hey Brent,
I was wondering what happened to you... Welcome back...

I cut up my left hand really bad in 2002, severed nerves and an artery. It took like 8 weeks to heal so that I could move it and even with surgery to reattach the nerves, I still can't really feel the outside of my pinky. The doctor said I was lucky not to sever any ligaments or tendons. It would have taken a really long time to heal then... I stay away from food processors nowadays...

I know what that's like. In 99' I had an acident to my fretting hand. The doctor in the ER sticthed up my hand and sent me on my way. Long story short my ulder nerve was severed. By the time they figured it out and got me in for the operation was in excess of 30 days. The hand specialist stated that w/ the elapse of time I would be looking at a 50% usage of my hand at best. I worked my ass off at physical therapy and applied those techniques throughout my day. I eventually ended up w/ tenitous in the thumb from overworking the parts of the hand that worked. It was close to 3 months before I could hold a guitar. 6 months later when I would attempt to use my pinky to fret a note it felt like I was getting a nasty shock.

Bottom line. Perseverance. If you love it enough you'll figure a way to make it happen. I actually think the adversity made me a better player. Maybe, maybe not, but I appreciate my minimal gains and still love to play.

 

[Gainzilla]

Good to see you Brent!!! I know what youre going through, I sprained my thumb on my fretting hand badly and its still incredibley painful to play, especially up high. Im using Bengay right now and it helps a little but damn, Its almost a month since I did it and it doesnt feel any better. I guess its just going to take time...

Feel better!!!

Kage

 

[CharFace]

Go Schenker style and just use three fingers!

haha... I severely sprained my left pinky in a little motorcycle mishap when I was 15 and just beginning on guitar... I basically learned to play without my pinky, and continue to be a three-fingered fretter to this day.


although I still suck at playing and realize that a 4th finger would add nothing

 

[Gainfreak]

Brent!

Sorry to hear that bro. Like everyone else is saying, its going to take some time. I cut my finger down to the knuckle years ago and it took time for me to play again. There is permanant damage in that finger and it locks up on me sometimes but I just deal with it!

 

[Vrad]

Hey Brent,
I was wondering what happened to you... Welcome back...

I cut up my left hand really bad in 2002, severed nerves and an artery. It took like 8 weeks to heal so that I could move it and even with surgery to reattach the nerves, I still can't really feel the outside of my pinky. The doctor said I was lucky not to sever any ligaments or tendons. It would have taken a really long time to heal then... I stay away from food processors nowadays...

I know what that's like. In 99' I had an acident to my fretting hand. The doctor in the ER sticthed up my hand and sent me on my way. Long story short my ulder nerve was severed. By the time they figured it out and got me in for the operation was in excess of 30 days. The hand specialist stated that w/ the elapse of time I would be looking at a 50% usage of my hand at best. I worked my ass off at physical therapy and applied those techniques throughout my day. I eventually ended up w/ tenitous in the thumb from overworking the parts of the hand that worked. It was close to 3 months before I could hold a guitar. 6 months later when I would attempt to use my pinky to fret a note it felt like I was getting a nasty shock.

Bottom line. Perseverance. If you love it enough you'll figure a way to make it happen. I actually think the adversity made me a better player. Maybe, maybe not, but I appreciate my minimal gains and still love to play.

Yeah they stitched me up but it wasn't a nice neat job like the hand surgeon did. I cut my hand on the 22nd of December and he did surgery on the 24th.. So I was in the OR on Christmas eve... I was freaking mess when everyone came over. After the anesthesia wore off, it felt like my hand was on fire. EXTREME pain. I think I caught it in time... The hand surgeon was on call when I was in the hospital so I got lucky there.

 

[bobbtoz]

Hey Brent,
I was wondering what happened to you... Welcome back...

I cut up my left hand really bad in 2002, severed nerves and an artery. It took like 8 weeks to heal so that I could move it and even with surgery to reattach the nerves, I still can't really feel the outside of my pinky. The doctor said I was lucky not to sever any ligaments or tendons. It would have taken a really long time to heal then... I stay away from food processors nowadays...

I know what that's like. In 99' I had an acident to my fretting hand. The doctor in the ER sticthed up my hand and sent me on my way. Long story short my ulder nerve was severed. By the time they figured it out and got me in for the operation was in excess of 30 days. The hand specialist stated that w/ the elapse of time I would be looking at a 50% usage of my hand at best. I worked my ass off at physical therapy and applied those techniques throughout my day. I eventually ended up w/ tenitous in the thumb from overworking the parts of the hand that worked. It was close to 3 months before I could hold a guitar. 6 months later when I would attempt to use my pinky to fret a note it felt like I was getting a nasty shock.

Bottom line. Perseverance. If you love it enough you'll figure a way to make it happen. I actually think the adversity made me a better player. Maybe, maybe not, but I appreciate my minimal gains and still love to play.

Yeah they stitched me up but it wasn't a nice neat job like the hand surgeon did. I cut my hand on the 22nd of December and he did surgery on the 24th.. So I was in the OR on Christmas eve... I was freaking mess when everyone came over. After the anesthesia wore off, it felt like my hand was on fire. EXTREME pain. I think I caught it in time... The hand surgeon was on call when I was in the hospital so I got lucky there.

It's a good thing the hand surgeon was on call and they diagnosed you correctly. From my limited understanding it's the lapse of time that will lesson your chance of recovery in regards to nerve damage.

 

[kannibul]

October 28th I broke my pinky finger (fretting hand) playing football with a bunch of my buddies. Orthopedic Dr. put it back in place and had a splint/cast on it for 6 weeks. Its December 26th now and this SOB is still sore, swollen and haven't been able to really play guitar since that day I broke it. I mean its definitely better than a few weeks ago but this is taking forever to heal up. Some how I managed to go through life without breaking a bone in my body so I don't know what to expect. I can bend it ok but fretting any type of chord or lead run makes me want to slap someone

Do broken bones and torn ligaments usually take this long to heal up.......I mean its just a freaking pinky and would think I'd be back to normal in no time, but its not working out that way.

The biggest thing you should try and do is get your mobility back. Stretch that fucker - a lot and often. Do it to where it hurts pretty good, but go slowly. Go to where it just starts to generate pain, then press a little further, wait a few seconds, then press some more. You don't want to be reeling in pain, but there has to be some pain to make progress

After a few weeks, it'll move around OK, then you can start working on getting the strength back.

 

[kannibul]

I jumped my pinky joint catching a basketball years ago and even after resetting it it's still crooked. I also have some numbness due to a pinched ulner nerve in my arm so the pinky and half my ring finger on my fretting hand has the same numbness. I still can play pretty good and have enough dexterity to use both of them. Injuries can take a long time to heal thats for sure.

I had the same problem - surgery corrected it (ulnar nerve @ elbow)

 

[CoachZ]

Yeah, it takes a while. I'm one of the younger dudes here and a few years back, I cut my finger deep with an X-acto knife right near the nerve. I had sharp pain there for a good 8 months until it stopped.

 

[bill]

Yikes, I don't want to get cut but at this point will see how bad it becomes or if it starts to heal. I don;t like getting cut.