8 weeks ago a friend and I were knocked down when out the country,
outside a pub, 15m from a bend and on a continuous white line a car
took off to do a U-turn as we began to pass it. Driver totally in the
wrong, police called, insurance company accepts blame etc.
My hand on handlebars cracked windscreen and a piece of glass lodged
in my finger cutting the central slip portion of my extensor tendon
(the tendon that straighens the bent finger). I've posted about this
before, but here's progress follow up.
I had my finger repaired the next day (Left (I'm right-handed) index)
and a couple of days later with persisitent soreness, fractures into
joints were demonstrated in ring and middle fingers as well.
My index was in a splint for 4 weeks and in a splint most of the time
for the next 2. Out of splint for 2 weeks.
The physioterrorism for the fractures, and now on the tendon finger,
is on-going 4 days a week.
Today, as if throwing a switch, 7 weeks and 6 days after the accident,
was the first morning my fractured fingers were not very stiff on
getting up. I could now grasp a handlebar with them as long as I
liked. The physio which they now perform early on broken fingers,
apparently gives a better result in the end, but I can tell you, with
joint fractures it's no barrel of laughs.
The index at the moment is twice the diameter of the other and will
allow me to grasp something with my thumb and will type. I'm typing
this with all my fingers, but it's a little bit stiff on the cs and
vs.
I could get no definite answer from anyone on how long the finger
stiffness would persist, but in my case the answer is 8 weeks. The
terminal joint in the ring finger was very painful to mobilise and
without persistent exercise would stiffen up again in a few minutes.
Suddenly it's pain-free. I have persistent crepitus in the finger (a
grating feeling) which seems to be tendinous in origin (not really
detectable if I move finger passively). Am told it's harmless.
Fingers are not normal and remain quite swollen and I cannot contract
them into a decent fist like normal fingers, but they will improve a
lot from now on and in the course of time may come close to normal.
The tendon finger is another matter. From the typing point of view its
almost perfect, but I may not develop a full grasp with it. That's an
unknown for now. I think that typing will definitely help.
There was some discussion (I'm a doctor myself) about whether my
fractures should be pinned. My doctor said no and most of my
colleagues said no. In my case that answer was clearly right as my
movement is now good. I'm writing all this for the benefit of someone
who gets fractured fingers and cannot find any info about stiffness on
the web. Anyway, the modern idea about finger fractures is that you
only pin them if the fracture is unstable, as with a pin you may get a
perfect x-ray, but a permanently stiff finger is more likely.
The modern idea is treat the hand, not the x-ray. It's been right in
my case.
Am I at risk of arthritis in my fingers. Of course, and I'll be
surprised if I don't get some.
I went cycling last Saturday for 25 miles with my mates, having been
off for 7 weeks. I'd been doing so much walking since I was crocked
(50 miles a week) that I was well able for it. Tomorrow I might do 40.
The hand was sore and I felt the bumps. of which there are a lot on
the roads here in Ireland. I think I'll take my FS 10yr old Cannondale
tomorrow. I use road tyres on it and it has the best suspension I've
ever used.
I didn't sleep well for 6 weeks after my crash. I wasn't depressed but
was quite anxious and couldn't bear to think about how my finger
looked when I crashed.
It's like a sausage at the moment, but wouldn't frighten the crows
anymore!
Come on England. Come on Jonny. Your country awaits, and if you're
beaten, you've restored your pride!
Garry Lee,
Cork.