Skiers Thumb

[Sky]

Back in Feb, I broke my thumb and tore the ligament. It took a week to figure that out (I've sprained my thumb plenty of times playing hoops so I thought that's all I'd done).

Anyway, I finally connected with the Dr and had the surgery to reattach the ligament at the end of April. I finally got the cast off Friday.

Now it's a month in a splint with ONE stretching exercise (touch the thumb to the opposite side of my palm).

Sill feels a bit painful, like a residual sprain. It doesn't hurt to do the stretching exercise...I've go about 1/2" to go.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Hey BIG Man !! Welcome back - sorry bout the thumb man .

I surely know bout sprained thumbs as an old hooper too, they do take time .
Keep stretching, i'm sure that you have the discipline to make the recovery a part of everyday life . Heal well and you'll be gate bashing next season !

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Welcome back Sky..+++++Vibes+++++ on the recovery...does skiers thumb have to do with the use of polestraps? I only use polestraps on days I'm not wearing gloves..were you still skiing with the broken thumb?

 

[Johnskiismore]

Oh man, I wish you well in your recovery!

Buddy of mine broke his thumb in Colorado in Feb. except it was diagnosed as a sprain. Once back in NH it still hurt, after an X-ray it was shown to be broken. Then they put a cast that was too small.... actually did more damage. They put on a larger cast to make sure the thumb didn't move..... the cast is still on!

Oh yeah, his job? Chef! He's gotten really good working with the cast

 

[Sky]

Sorry guys...been very busy.

Daughter graduated HS, Daughter's party, brother's death, cousin's husband's death, work, running a bow saw over the top of my OTHER hand (8 stitches)!

Egad, been emotionally draining.

GSS...I don't use the pole straps. I just had a heck of a fall in the gates. Yes, I skied with it. I stopped racing though. I couldn't stay focused, I wasn't benefiting the team, so I just skied while they raced.

Warp...I do the stretching. I still only have the ONE stretch the Doc wants me to do...touch the thumb to the base of my pinky. I can do it now. The first time...it takes a couple of seconds. Then it's immediate. I'm supposed to keep the splint on, but I ditched it after one week (vs four). I use the thumb carefully...getting my wallet etc. Still not much strength. I go back to the Doc on the 26th. I assume it will be PT from there. I've already got the referral and the guy. Probably won't play hoops at all till next year. The thumb STILL feels like I banged it two weeks ago.

As for my brother's passing....he was three years older than me, but was not well for the past 5 years. So it was certainly a shock to get the call....but not necessarily a surprise.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Sky: My god you've had more than your fair share of pain and sorrow brother ! My prayers are with you . I sure hope things become a little brighter for you and family Very soon . Hope you didn't cut any nerves /tendons with that saw , man i'm grimacing just thinking about it

Take care of yourself BIg Guy chime in when u can ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~VIBES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[mondeo]

All I can say is holy crap and +1 to Warp's comments.

Don't worry about apologizing to us, just take care of yourself and your family.

 

[Sky]

Thanks guys. Taking a look at all the re-prioritization stuff now.

In fact, I'm delaying my work day to take my daughter to an event this morning vs nose to grind-stone.
Plenty of time for the grind-stone later. :>

And no, no "damage" to the OTHER hand from that saw. Just a stupid mistake, surface/skin stuff. Pretty gross when it happened. It didn't bleed and it didn't hurt...which was scarey...which is why I hit the E-room.

The passing of my cousin's husband re-emphasized "tomorrow is not guaranteed". He was 65. Had bypass surgery a year ago. Had recently retired and was adjusting his diet and behaviors. He was no marathoner...but he wasn't at the other end of the spectrum either.

My brother....was unhealthy. Still sad that he's gone. Still half-expecting the phone to ring from him with the update on what's happening at the lake-house (boat traffic, water temp...etc). Never anything earth shattering. I think he enjoyed that level of inactivity. He was comfortable just keeping the stove hot and looking over the lake. I'll post a pic. You'll see what I mean.

Again...thanks for the help.

Sky

 

[thetrailboss]

Sky--

Man, that sucks. So sorry to hear that. Hey, look me up if you are at Sugarbush this winter.

 

[Mildcat]

Sorry to hear about your brother Sky.

 

[Sky]

Thanks Boss and Mildcat.

Here's the view of the house from the lake. Not a terrible way to spend your days.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2681&stc=1&d=1245462430

 

[Sky]

Had my final post-surgery appt today.

Doc is very happy with his work. No PT required. He said it would be another month before I was back to full strength. Most of the flex is back, 75% of the strength. Still feels as though I "jammed" it in hoops two weeks ago...residual dull pain.

Time to ride and play tennis. No hoops for me...not till I'l confident a whack on the hand won't drop me to my knees.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Great news !

BTW as a long time tennis player I cannot imagine either the velocity or the angle of descent of a serve coming from a 6'9'' "aircraft carrier that dominates the paint " glad i never had to catch that baby in the AD court

 

[Sky]

I'm still on a wait list to get that second brain installed just above my arse....to speed the signals up a bit. Got the idea from a dinosaur book I read. :>

I suck @ tennis...but it's an equalizer for me and my wife...and occasionally my #3 son (he's not a hoopster). But if I could put the time in...that serve could be pretty dominating.

 

[Warp Daddy]

I'm still on a wait list to get that second brain installed just above my arse....to speed the signals up a bit. Got the idea from a dinosaur book I read. :>

I suck @ tennis...but it's an equalizer for me and my wife...and occasionally my #3 son (he's not a hoopster). But if I could put the time in...that serve could be pretty dominating.

As a GOOD athlete my man You are extremely coachable , the footwork may come easier for you as a hooper , the smootheness of the swing especially the back hand and the subtleties of various drop and lob shots well lets say this - You gotta play the game

JKeep swinging i gotta tell ya the look of abject terror in your opponents eyes as he/she awaits THAT serve could be AMUSING

 

[Sky]

HEH! I've seen that look. Addictive.