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well today after a trip to see my consultant at the hospital for my mri results it turns out not only have i got tendonitis from an accident at work on the 4th of january that i have infact broken a bone in my hand too!
obviously this came as a bit of a shock but i expected i would be told i need an operation to fix the tendonitis but now i need a slightly more complex operation to remove the broken bit of bone which is a totally mobile piece that moves as my tendons move.the prognosis is- 4" incision from wrist to halfway down hand,2 tendons to be cut to make room to remove the 2cmx2cm piece of bone followed by smoothing the underlying bone of any sharp edges,reattaching index and middle finger tendon,stitching up,6 weeks in a splint and absolutely no climbing for 6 months
this is obviously not what i wanted to hear having just planned a 2-3 month font trip next spring.i have been told there's a 16 week wait for an operation so im wondering if i can ask to have it after april so i can still get a month in font??is this possible to specify after april?basically my surgeon made me an oppointment in another month to decide what i want to do so looking foreward to that lots.
on a plus side i now get to say that i won a few climbing comps with a broken hand
obviously this came as a bit of a shock but i expected i would be told i need an operation to fix the tendonitis but now i need a slightly more complex operation to remove the broken bit of bone which is a totally mobile piece that moves as my tendons move.the prognosis is- 4" incision from wrist to halfway down hand,2 tendons to be cut to make room to remove the 2cmx2cm piece of bone followed by smoothing the underlying bone of any sharp edges,reattaching index and middle finger tendon,stitching up,6 weeks in a splint and absolutely no climbing for 6 months
this is obviously not what i wanted to hear having just planned a 2-3 month font trip next spring.i have been told there's a 16 week wait for an operation so im wondering if i can ask to have it after april so i can still get a month in font??is this possible to specify after april?basically my surgeon made me an oppointment in another month to decide what i want to do so looking foreward to that lots.
on a plus side i now get to say that i won a few climbing comps with a broken hand
In reply to beastofackworth:
Why do they have to cut the tendons? Seems a bit overzealous and complex to me. Is it not possible to just push the tendons out the way? I'm not a surgeon or he likes but does sound like the surgeon is taking the least skilled approach and will possibly permanently affect your climbing in the future.
Have you had a second opinion? If it were me would be seriously questioning the above approach.
Why do they have to cut the tendons? Seems a bit overzealous and complex to me. Is it not possible to just push the tendons out the way? I'm not a surgeon or he likes but does sound like the surgeon is taking the least skilled approach and will possibly permanently affect your climbing in the future.
Have you had a second opinion? If it were me would be seriously questioning the above approach.
In reply to beastofackworth:
I think you can make requests like that for your operation, my dad did when he needed an operation on his foot that was going to put him in a wheel chair for a few weeks. A couple of weeks before the operation's original date my mum broke her ankle, he was able to re-arrange it until after she would be back on her feet properly so they wouldn't both be hobbling around!
Whether or not going climbing for a couple of months with a broken hand is advisable I have no idea though :P
I think you can make requests like that for your operation, my dad did when he needed an operation on his foot that was going to put him in a wheel chair for a few weeks. A couple of weeks before the operation's original date my mum broke her ankle, he was able to re-arrange it until after she would be back on her feet properly so they wouldn't both be hobbling around!
Whether or not going climbing for a couple of months with a broken hand is advisable I have no idea though :P
In reply to Jaffacake: I had a broken marriage for 18 months, mind you I broke it and still climbed.
Actually a sad tale. a bloke at work had a break in his thumb somewhere and he went in to have an operation and he died under the aneasthetic (how do you spell that word?)
Actually a sad tale. a bloke at work had a break in his thumb somewhere and he went in to have an operation and he died under the aneasthetic (how do you spell that word?)
In reply to SFM: because the tendons are in the way to get at the piece of bone that needs removing and also that the process of smoothing the bone would risk damaging the tendon anyway so its just better in the long run to do it right first time.
i can still climb with my hand like it is,fair enough it can be painful(comes and goes and worse on pinch grips and undercuts than open handed type moves) but i put up with it to keep climbing,its just a case of eventually the broken bone will wear my tendon away making it irrepairable so its needs doing at some point but i would rather go out with a good climbign trip before having atleast 6 months recovery then being weak again for another 6 while i get better again
i can still climb with my hand like it is,fair enough it can be painful(comes and goes and worse on pinch grips and undercuts than open handed type moves) but i put up with it to keep climbing,its just a case of eventually the broken bone will wear my tendon away making it irrepairable so its needs doing at some point but i would rather go out with a good climbign trip before having atleast 6 months recovery then being weak again for another 6 while i get better again
In reply to Fawksey: anaesthetic
In reply to beastofackworth:
get a second opinion, cutting tendons sounds like a great way to get complications afterwards...
get a second opinion, cutting tendons sounds like a great way to get complications afterwards...
In reply to uncontrollable: its taken me 10months to get this oppinion,how long is it going to take me to get another?
In reply to beastofackworth:
Get a second opinion. Cutting tendons sounds ridiculous. You'll be very lucky to only miss 6 months.
Get a second opinion. Cutting tendons sounds ridiculous. You'll be very lucky to only miss 6 months.
In reply to jackcarr: He actually said split tendons so I'm now assuming he meant the connecting sheath that holds them together.the bone that has broken off is under my tendons so I don't see why it should be so supprising that the tendons would be in the way.the surgeon came highly recommended and has a good reputation and is a dedicated hand surgeon so I'm assuming he knows his stuff ??
In reply to Fawksey:
Utter brilliance Fawksey!
> (In reply to Jaffacake) I had a broken marriage for 18 months, mind you I broke it and still climbed.
>
> Actually a sad tale. a bloke at work had a break in his thumb somewhere and he went in to have an operation and he died under the aneasthetic (how do you spell that word?)
>
> Actually a sad tale. a bloke at work had a break in his thumb somewhere and he went in to have an operation and he died under the aneasthetic (how do you spell that word?)
Utter brilliance Fawksey!
In reply to beastofackworth:
As far as I know, it's overuse injuries on tendons which can be the worst things, rather than sudden tear type injuries.
Which I guess means that an operation to cut your tendons might be the same, ie not as bad as an overuse injury so long as you're sensible afterwards, and should recover okay.
Healing after being cut is possibly different again though, thinking about it, but still more hopefull.
If he has a good reputation I wouldn't be put off by people posting on here personally, he might be worth asking about the Font trip as well if he has a good reputation. If it was me I mightn't climb on it though,
out of fear of doing any (more?) damage.
Cheers
Tim
> (In reply to jackcarr) He actually said split tendons so I'm now assuming he meant the connecting sheath that holds them together.the bone that has broken off is under my tendons so I don't see why it should be so supprising that the tendons would be in the way.the surgeon came highly recommended and has a good reputation and is a dedicated hand surgeon so I'm assuming he knows his stuff ??
As far as I know, it's overuse injuries on tendons which can be the worst things, rather than sudden tear type injuries.
Which I guess means that an operation to cut your tendons might be the same, ie not as bad as an overuse injury so long as you're sensible afterwards, and should recover okay.
Healing after being cut is possibly different again though, thinking about it, but still more hopefull.
If he has a good reputation I wouldn't be put off by people posting on here personally, he might be worth asking about the Font trip as well if he has a good reputation. If it was me I mightn't climb on it though,
out of fear of doing any (more?) damage.
Cheers
Tim
In reply to various:
I'm always impressed by the advice on UKC, especially the stuff starting with "I know nothing about it but....."
Why offer advice if you don't have the foggiest? Especially when you are criticising a surgeon via second hand info and proclaiming the official advice is nonsense.
I'm always impressed by the advice on UKC, especially the stuff starting with "I know nothing about it but....."
Why offer advice if you don't have the foggiest? Especially when you are criticising a surgeon via second hand info and proclaiming the official advice is nonsense.
In reply to Fawksey: youd actually be surprised at how many people get set fire to when in an operating theatre.
The anesthetic that the use is highly flammable, and if it leaks from the canula and the bright surgeons lights heat it up then is combusts quite easily.
on a more useful note, i had surgery on my tendons in my hand after severing them at work, had to sew them back together and re join nerves etc, at first about 8 months after the op i found it quite sore but now i find as long as i pre empt the problem with supportive tape use then i have no real problem. good luck to the op though. and id imagine that the trip has to be canceled. il quite happily take the burdon of the spare ticket off you though :P
The anesthetic that the use is highly flammable, and if it leaks from the canula and the bright surgeons lights heat it up then is combusts quite easily.
on a more useful note, i had surgery on my tendons in my hand after severing them at work, had to sew them back together and re join nerves etc, at first about 8 months after the op i found it quite sore but now i find as long as i pre empt the problem with supportive tape use then i have no real problem. good luck to the op though. and id imagine that the trip has to be canceled. il quite happily take the burdon of the spare ticket off you though :P
In reply to mrmanager: I cut a tendon with a panel saw years ago and that took a few years to put right but a surgeon is a little bit more precise with his incisions I would suspect
In reply to beastofackworth:Cronic overuse injuries that is.
Good luck, bodies are pretty good at healing if you know what to do for them...
Cheers
Tim
Good luck, bodies are pretty good at healing if you know what to do for them...
Cheers
Tim
In reply to beastofackworth:
Mine was quite lucky, it was a very very clean cut from a 32mm auger bit that only the day before i had collected from being re sharpened. Crawling around in a loft space and nocked the cordless over whilst installing cables and the trigger got pushed by the cables it was leaning against. Bloody thing. carried on work until the end of the day though and only bothered to go to hospital as the misses was nagging me. Good job really.
Mine was quite lucky, it was a very very clean cut from a 32mm auger bit that only the day before i had collected from being re sharpened. Crawling around in a loft space and nocked the cordless over whilst installing cables and the trigger got pushed by the cables it was leaning against. Bloody thing. carried on work until the end of the day though and only bothered to go to hospital as the misses was nagging me. Good job really.
In reply to beastofackworth: I had the misfortune of having 3 of my extensor tendons on my left hand sliced through by a "very" sharp limestone block about 5 years ago (do you wanna see my scar?) - I had only been climbing for about 1 year. I was out of action for 6 months but followed all the exercises that my physios at BRI gave me to do, getting up at 7am every morning and doing them every hour on the hour until i went to bed at 10pm. 5 years later and i have no problems at all (and my job is a secretary so i need my hands) - the worst time was 4 weeks in when i couldn't see any improvement at all but i kept the exercises going because the fear was that at 3 months if i didnt do exactly as i was told the tendons "could" break. T
In reply to bentley's biceps:
In my case because I have a bio-medical background but am not a specialist. Cutting tendons sounds extreme and folk I know who have severed tendons have had years of problems afterwatds. I'm urging caution and suggesting the OP questions the technique offered.
In my case because I have a bio-medical background but am not a specialist. Cutting tendons sounds extreme and folk I know who have severed tendons have had years of problems afterwatds. I'm urging caution and suggesting the OP questions the technique offered.
In reply to beastofackworth: Ouch. Scoring blade?
In reply to TraceyR: i carried on working with mine for a couple of hours untill my workm ate got freaked out by the amount of blood and the fact i couldnt straighten my finger.the first aider on the building site passed out too.mine had never got back to 100%.i seem to have lost all contact strength in the affected finger but can still crimp and open hand ok.
im pretty sure he just said seperate the tendons,i was still in shock from the broken hand for 10 months bit but will get alot more details when im back in a month.
im pretty sure he just said seperate the tendons,i was still in shock from the broken hand for 10 months bit but will get alot more details when im back in a month.
In reply to SFM:
So you don't know if it involves longitudinal tendon separation, splitting or actual transection but you still think it's inappropriate?
So you don't know if it involves longitudinal tendon separation, splitting or actual transection but you still think it's inappropriate?
In reply to beastofackworth: i seem to recall malc smith having a problem with a broken bone in his hand there was an article about with a bit more detail but i dont think he had the surgey
http://www.freakclimbing.com/modules.php?name=People&rop=showcontent&am...
i'm pretty sure it was a similair injury to the one you describe but i could be wrong
http://www.freakclimbing.com/modules.php?name=People&rop=showcontent&am...
i'm pretty sure it was a similair injury to the one you describe but i could be wrong
In reply to moo: I have a broken carpal boss that is free moving when my tendons move so I've not really got a no surgery option
In reply to beastofackworth:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Gray424.png
the bone is under the dorsal caple liugament which needs cutting then im assuming the dark area under that is what needs cutting to seperate the tendons to get at the bone???
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Gray424.png
the bone is under the dorsal caple liugament which needs cutting then im assuming the dark area under that is what needs cutting to seperate the tendons to get at the bone???
In reply to beastofackworth: sounds incorrect procedure...get a private consultation at Stanmore if can afford it (around 150gbp) or get a second opinion referral to Stanmore...they are THE centre of excellence and love challenges like this...you can get a private diagnosis and recommendation and then they'll do the procedure on the NHS.
In reply to beastofackworth:
I would respectfully suggest you ignore all these internet bullshitters and address your concerns with the surgeon you saw. If you don't trust them, you should request a second opinion from another hand surgeon.
I would respectfully suggest you ignore all these internet bullshitters and address your concerns with the surgeon you saw. If you don't trust them, you should request a second opinion from another hand surgeon.
In reply to mrmanager:
Really? That's brilliant - I would love to know where that gem came from.
> (In reply to Fawksey) youd actually be surprised at how many people get set fire to when in an operating theatre.
>
> The anesthetic that the use is highly flammable, and if it leaks from the canula and the bright surgeons lights heat it up then is combusts quite easily.
>
> The anesthetic that the use is highly flammable, and if it leaks from the canula and the bright surgeons lights heat it up then is combusts quite easily.
Really? That's brilliant - I would love to know where that gem came from.
In reply to bentley's biceps:
I agree, I was just trying to be encouraging/hopefull, but it's probably best to say nothing really, if you don't know anything.
Cheers
Tim
> (In reply to beastofackworth)
>
> I would respectfully suggest you ignore all these internet bullshitters and address your concerns with the surgeon you saw. If you don't trust them, you should request a second opinion from another hand surgeon.
>
> I would respectfully suggest you ignore all these internet bullshitters and address your concerns with the surgeon you saw. If you don't trust them, you should request a second opinion from another hand surgeon.
I agree, I was just trying to be encouraging/hopefull, but it's probably best to say nothing really, if you don't know anything.
Cheers
Tim
In reply to bentley's biceps: i asked for oppinions though so im glad people gave theirs.it was more a "my hand has been broken for 10 months" and i didnt know type shocker and i only really wanted to know if i could put the op off or had to take what date they gave me
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