Need some 1st hand advice....

[Joshua M.]

Well, after 34+ years on the farm, it finally happened to me. While unhitching our corn planter, I was putting the rear stand under the frame, and my stepdad released the hydraulics...with my hand still between the planter and stand. So, a trip to the ER, 20 something stitches, and a pain pill prescription later, the Dr. says, "well it kinda resembles a thumb again". Well that was 6 days ago now... Anyway, I'm thinking about starting a campaign to outlaw corn planters, since they can injure or kill you( you know, like those dangerous firearms). Just kidding, I don't mean to troll... Seriously though, I met with an orthopedic surgeon Friday, and I have a decision to make, to get reconstructive surgery, or not. It severed both nerves to my thumb, So I have no feeling from the knuckle to tip. He said he can try, but results may not be positive to regain feeling. I was wandering some real world experience from shooters, since it is my shooting hand if they have any problems without sensitivity. I can't imagine it matters a whole lot, since it is just my thumb, but I'm am trying to weigh all my options before making my decision. Currently, I am not entertaining the idea of having it done, but want to hear from y'all on your ideas. Thanks, and PSA for today, be careful around equipment.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I wish you as quick a recovery as possible. Do you carry or regularly use a handgun that has a thumb safety or decocker? I would think that the biggest concern may be not being able to feel the safety, decocker or magazine release and thereby not knowing for certain if you are actuating them fully or correctly. But I'm just speculating.

 

[Joshua M.]

No on the decocker, but yes on the thumb safety. And until this thing heals a little more, I can't wrap my hand around a pistol. I am to get my stitches out the 11th, so hopefully I can figure that variable in soon. Thanks for the well wishes.

 

[Armored farmer]

No gun advice for you, but I sure hate to hear about the accident. My family farms too and those things can sure happen quick. 200+hp and a jumpy clutch ain't no match for a thumb.
Best wishes.

 

[JRH6856]

An injury to my strong hand thumb left me with reduced flexibility in the joint and nerve damage resulting in surface numbness, but deep sensitivity to pressure such that I can't operate a thumb safety that offers any significant resistance. An extended safety on my 1911 makes it operable but so far, no solution for my BHP. So a gun with no thumb safety is the best bet.

Grip is not a problem using a thumbs forward isoceles grip stance. The thumbs do not actually apply any pressure with this grip. But, you need to be careful to keep your thumb out of contact with the slide. The lack of feeling may let you press your thumb against the slide without realizing it. This can affect the cycling of the slide, and can also allow further damage to your thumb as the slide serrations on some guns can be like saw teeth and without feeling, you won't feel the bottom of the slide ripping your thumb open. I didn't.

 

[PBR Streetgang]

Ya just never know with nerve injuries,,,,,,had mouth surgery and my upper left quadrant of my mouth was numb for about 3 years ...one day I started to have a tingling feeling there and within two weeks it was all back as normal....

 

[bldsmith]

Sorry to hear you are out. It sucks not having full use of our hands. A good friend of mine severed the main nerve in his left arm due to a car accident. After about 5 years the nerve had grown back and he regained most of the feeling and use in that arm. He kept doing Phys Therapy and working out. Think that helped a bit too.

Get well soon.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Farm equipment is dangerous, always has been, and likely always will be. Sorry you got bit by your planter, and I hope you heal up as well as possible as soon as possible.

Do whatever you can medically to keep as much function in your injured thumb as possible ... it does matter.

The best shooting advice I can offer is to start learning to use the other hand, with a pistol that doesn't require a thumb safety (aka DAO, or double action only). I use a DAO revolver (a S&W 642), but have a few Glocks and a S&W M&P as well. Any of those would work, as well as several other currently available handguns.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, it's just a risk we take with machines. I was milling a piece of 7075-T6 a couple weeks ago; turned the machine off, loosened the vise handle and reached in to make a minor adjustment. Managed to catch my trigger finger between the still spinning cutter and the work piece. Yeah........a fingernail offers no protection from a 4 flute carbide cutter!

Anyway, if there is no downside to the surgery to repair the nerves, why not go for it? I mean, they might heal on their own, but might not. It ain't like he can make the situation worse.

 

[Thermactor]

You only get one pair of hands.... if its not financially prohibitive I'd go for the surgery.

 

[Red Wind]

Sorry to hear about your freak accident. Working with farm equipment is certainly dangerous. All 3 of my uncles and my granddad farmed in New Jersey for decades and something was always going astray.

Kicked by cows,trampled by horses,wallowing with pigs, it's not easy!

I agree with MachIVshooter's and Thermactor's advice, to go for it, if there are faint chances of repercussions.
Loss of feeling in the thumb tip can lead to serious problems in the future.

And kudos on the cool pun in the headline!

 

[tyeo098]

Sounds like a good excuse to pick up one of those DAO safetyless subcompacts.

Or a Remington R51

 

[Valkman]

Sorry to hear about your accident! I stuck my left hand into a still spinning table saw and opened up the indx finger and thumb and they got sewed up ok but my index finger is permanently crooked because I severed the tendon that keeps it straight. They could've done surgery to try and fix it but it's no big deal to me since I'm right handed.

I can't imagine it matters a whole lot

That's what I first thought too when I read your post. If the doctor is pessimistic about it I probably wouldn't do it. If you find a doc that says "sure it'll work" then I'd do it. I think as long as you get the strength back in your thumb you'll be ok.

 

[WestKentucky]

Just running the list of things my thumb does when dealing with guns...
Loads shells into shotgun tubes, loads shells into the 30-30 let's hammer ease down on 30-30, pushes shells down into the blind box on my rem700, opens the loading gate on SA revolvers, opens cylinder gate on da revolvers, cocks all revolvers, loads pistol mags, operates decocker, operates pistol safety, recocks after decocking, and all sorts of stuff when cleaning the guns.

My prayers for you and your thumb.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Ouch! All it takes is a moment. Lost a grandfather to his own delivery truck.

I would do as much medically as possible because any strength and sensitivity is better than none. Nothing like you but I had a finger tip reattached as a teen (no effort was made to reattach the nerve) and it took the nerve endings over 20 years to find one another and make a good connection. It's pretty much 100% today but in college I used to be able to bet people how long I could hold my finger over a candle. Also for years at about the time other people would prune in the water, I would start to open up.

You did not say what your concerns are in choosing. Pain or potential disappointment: I'd say go for it. Or is it cost?

Mike

PS. When if comes time to choose a physical therapist or occupational medicine doctor you may want to seek one out who is also a gun guy and understands your priorities.

 

[Bexar]

Ya just never know with nerve injuries,,,,,,had mouth surgery and my upper left quadrant of my mouth was numb for about 3 years ...one day I started to have a tingling feeling there and within two weeks it was all back as normal....

Yep...I've seen it with several people where nerve function just showed back up after a period of time. With all the research going on and nerve regeneration/function being the holy grail of rehabilitative science I'd be willing to bet nerve miracles are just around the corner and will be happening with boring regularity. Good luck, God Bless and good gunning.

 

[larryh1108]

Good luck with your healing! Like others have said, medicine at this time is making advances.

This is a good time to get proficient with your other hand. 1911s have ambi-safeties so you don't have to give those up. Same with the BHP and other guns today. Revolvers have been mentioned also. Lots of choices as lefties have managed for a long time. If you get your sensation back with your damaged hand, you will be able to shoot from both sides.

 

[Sam1911]

I'd definitely do the surgery.

I'd also say USE the moment. You have the ultimate incentive to train hard-core for "weak" side shooting. Every one of us should be way more proficient with it than we are, and you've just been zapped with a cattle prod to get going on developing those skills!

Pick up a left-side holster and get working. I'll bet by the time you're healed up enough to shoot righty again you'll be amazed at what you can do left-handed.

 

[FROGO207]

I am right handed and lets just say that a Saws-All does saw all. I cut off the end of my left thumb at the first joint. Back together and after 2 or so years I got feeling of hot/cold then shortly got touch back. That was over 10 years ago. If they think that they can help with your thumb, even 50-50, I would go for it. Worse case is it is no help and you are still where you are today. Sucks that the odds of injury caught up with you. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

 

[Browning Guy]

OUCH I can relate to your problem. Almost 1 year ago exactly I laid my left hand open with an axe. It was between the wrist and base of the thumb. I severed the 3 tendons, an artery, the main nerve, and chipped the bone. The first hospital I went to treated to stop the bleeding and told me they didn't have the equipment or the Drs. to do the type of surgery req'd. They sent me to Univ. of Mich. who did. So the choice of hospitals and Drs available to you can make a big difference. After the surgery and a healing period I started occupational therapy and they did wonders for mobility as well as strength conditioning. I never got as mobile as my right side but I got a LOT of function back. I am right handed by the way so thank God it was my weak side. My WARNING to you is AFTER therapy ended I didn't make myself continue on my own with their recommendations and since then I have noticed a gradual loss of range and flexibility. So my advise is get the BEST help in the area and then drive yourself follow orders and continue working on it. Best of luck!

 

[hso]

#18

 

[thefish]

I'd go for the surgery. There have been a few times in the past I opted out of surgery and wish I had done it.

I would also ask your doc about stem cell nerve regeneration and see if there is a viable avenue for that.

 

[Joshua M.]

Thanks guys for all the input, and especially the well wishes. My current throw in my pocket EDC is a Bodygaurd 380. I occasionally carry a smith 637, or an EMP 9, depending on dressing requirements. I really do need to get them out and try left handed shooting. All my carry pieces are equipped with laser sights, so for close up SD, I'm confident enough not worry about that. I pretty much had my mind made up before, but I'm now reassessing ...

 

[gojuice101]

Serious injuries to your hands are no fun, especially for someone who uses their hands for things like shooting. I had an accident several years ago with a log splitter. Came home from working a 13-hour overnight shift and went to split wood (bad idea, on no sleep). Log splitter caught my middle finger on the right (dominant) hand and ripped the end pretty much off. They told me I would likely not have feeling in it again, but it mostly returned after only a few months. After about a year I had full feeling again, except for a small spot on the scar itself, which doesn't bother me.

Not pleasant messing with nerve damage because they can never tell how its going to heal. Some people heal up completely and normal, and others don't at all. If there is a chance that it could help, it might be worth going for it though. Good luck.