Screwed up my trigger finger

[230RN]

About a week ago I yanked on the handle of an electronically operated door just as it timed out and re-locked itself. I was using my index finger only, since normally the door opens readily and I had an armload of packages, some of which were hooked around the other fingers of my right hand in grocery shopping bags.

I immediately felt an intense burning sensation in the palm of my right hand, so apparently I strained something pretty bad in there. Hurt like h3ll.

When I got home, since this is my trigger finger, I tried operating a double-action Ruger (unloaded) and could not pull the trigger. On a leaf-spring S&W with its much lighter double action, I could barely pull it once.

This happened a week ago, and the finger feels much better and I can now operate the S&W trigger seven times in a row without having to stop. I have no difficulty racking a 1911, but have a slight problem getting my finger into the trigger guard.

In the meantime, I made an appointment for Monday the 26th with a hand specialist to check it out.

But since the finger is much better, I am considering canceling the appointment. "Yuh, wul, that's muh trigger finger, Doc."

I am NOT looking for medical or legal advice.

What I AM looking for is anecdotal evidence as to whether, left unattended as it has been for the past week, the finger and hand will eventually return to normal functioning, and if so, how long it might take.

Based on you folks' experiences, I may cancel the appointment, or not. I've had some heavy medical expenses lately, and an additional ding to the wallet (despite med insurance) would hurt a lot also.

(I have taken this incident as a firm indicator that I should really start practicing with my left hand. I haven't done this (A) because it's not much fun, and (B) because I had the bliss-ninny attitude that nothing can happen to my right hand. So much for that theory !)

 

[kd7nqb]

I have no clue how long it takes to heal but sounds like an all around bad situation. How did you pull the door hard enough to strain you finger? Hope all is ok.

Your right good opportunity for off hand practice.

 

[ranger58]

give it another week and go from there, my non-professional medical history say's you will be ok.

 

[B yond]

Just let it heal. It's been my experience that if you go to a doctor and say something along the lines of "My finger hurts when I do this." he'll just reply with something like "Well then don't do that." and he'll charge you and arm and a leg (or finger) for the advice.

Nothing against MDs, I work in the medical field and know a lot of good ones. For something like this you should probably just go easy on it until it gets better.

Besides, what would a doctor do for you besides prescribe pain meds? I doubt you've damaged the finger enough to need any kind of surgical intervention, so He's probably just tell you to take it easy.

I say take the money you would spend on the doctor (probably several hunderd), and spend it on ammo and range time to practice shooting with your weak hand or using the middle finger on your strong hand (I've known people who actually shoot better this way).

just my $0.02

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

While I haven't "strained" any of my booger pickers, I have broken plenty of them and have never went to the doctor over it...Just let it heal itself...If it's still hurting in a couple more weeks, then go to the doc.

 

[Bob R]

My non-medical advice is to follow up with your Dr.

You may have done nothing, or you may have injured a tendon/muscle that will seem to heal just fine for now, but in the coming years could set you up for arthritis and limited range of motion in that finger.

Unless you have no insurance, or a high co-pay that you cannot afford, I would keep the appointment.

Just my 0.0197686 Canadian cents worth (converted from 2 US cents) .

bob

 

[Jim March]

I know something about this.

If a tendon is damaged to a point where it needs surgery, said surgery MUST happen within the first two weeks post-injury.

Or you're screwed for life.

So: are you *absolutely* sure it won't need surgery? If not...see a doc.

 

[Roswell 1847]

Go to the specialist if your finger isn't at least almost normal by then.

I've had nerve damage to one arm and the opposite hand so I've got a pretty good idea of just how important it is to be sure the situation doesn't get worse due to some hidden factor.

If you finger/hand gets better you can recover the sensitivity and trigger control by balancing two .38 or .357 cases base to base between the tip of the trigger finger and the web of the thumb, squeezing slowly a few dozen times per secession. You can also balance the cases mouth to mouth if you like.

This is an old pre WW2 US Army Marksmanship trick which helps with the control of the 1911 and its grip safety.
PS
The rest of the drill for best accuracy using the 1911 is to roll the web of the hand up and into the grip safety and use the middle finger to apply most of the rearward pressure, the ring finger should wrap around with much less pressure and the little finger should just make contact.

 

[Walkalong]

It depends on what you did to your finger/hand. Have a orthopedic surgeon look at it. If they think you need an MRI, get one. They may say there is nothing to do but let it heal, but then you will know for sure and won't be second guessing yourself. After all, it's your trigger finger. Take good care of it. Don't take a chance. I have dislocated three finger joints and both thumbs over the years. If you don't treat a dislocated finger right you can end up with it curled up where you can't extend it properly. I aslo dislocated my elbow about 5 years back. Lots of fun. My orthopedic guy says I'm nuts for still playing baseball. (50 years old now) I say, nah.

 

[Ed Ames]

Here's my rule for injuries: Unless I can articulate a specific problem (not just "it hurts") I won't bother with doctors. What does that mean? If I can point to visible damage, show an abnormal behavior (example: someone I know hurt her hand closing a door... if she pulled on the end of her thumb it would "pop" and her thumb would stretch aother 1/4 inch), or the like. Not just how I hurt it, but what is wrong since I hurt it. Why? Every time I've gone to a doctor with "I did this and now my hand hurts" type stories I was told to take some ibuprophen and wrap the injured part in an elastic bandage.

It's always a judgement call of course.

 

[RKBABob]

You indicated that it did not happen at home... Was it a workplace injury? If so, your employer should be picking up the tab. GO!

You may feel less pain, and a return of strength in that finger... but how is your range of motion? A specialist is qualified to test this, and may prescribe exercises to ensure that it heals correctly. GO!

 

[MachIVshooter]

As long as you have feeling, I should think range of motion and strength will return.

I ran into a similar problem after my trip to Macon, GA to get my deuce and a half. The 23 hour ride (done with only a 6 hour rest) left my right hand crippled from grasping the throttle for so long and so intensly (really bad weather for several hundred miles). When I got to the hotel in Macon, I couldn't even get my piece out of the holster. It was really interesting trying to sign all the forms (and make some repairs on the truck basically one-handed), and I had to carry southpaw all the way home. It took weeks for everything to get back to normal.

I understand your frustration.

 

[230RN]

Thanks, everybody !

kd7nqb:How did you pull the door hard enough to strain your finger?

As mentioned: Darned door lock re-locked microseconds before I yanked, and I wasn't expecting total resistance. The locks take four seconds to re-lock after carding them, and I pulled the handle in 4.000001 seconds. I was fussing around with packages and an extra coat I had that day in order to reach for the handle.

B yond:I say take the money you would spend on the doctor (probably several hunderd), and spend it on ammo and range time to practice shooting with your weak hand or using the middle finger on your strong hand (I've known people who actually shoot better this way).

I like that one. 'Cept I like to shoot them old fashioned guns what have them roundy-go things. Had a friend who tried laying his index finger along a derringer barrel and the blast lifted his nail up off his finger --ewwww!

Bazoooka Joe 71:If it's still hurting in a couple more weeks, then go to the doc.

I like that one, too. Same goes for your comment, Ranger 51.

Bob R.:will seem to heal just fine for now, but in the coming years could set you up for arthritis and limited range of motion in that finger.

I've already got arthritis in that hand. And I lost the tendon which closes the first joint in about 1953. Up to now, it hasn't affected my draw or shooting or recoil sensitivity. Good advice, but I think I'll wait it out.

Roswell 1847:If you finger/hand gets better you can recover the sensitivity and trigger control by balancing two .38 or .357 cases base to base between the tip of the trigger finger and the web of the thumb, squeezing slowly a few dozen times per secession. You can also balance the cases mouth to mouth if you like.

Sounds interesting.

Ed Ames:Here's my rule for injuries: Unless I can articulate a specific problem (not just "it hurts") I won't bother with doctors. What does that mean? If I can point to visible damage, show an abnormal behavior ...

Frankly, that's the way I've operated most of my life. The "abnormal behavior" was me dropping my shopping bags and jumping around shaking my hand and hollering, "Feces! What the h3ll did I do?!?!?!"

RKBA Rob:Was it a workplace injury?

Well, sorta. I had signed out, was on my way to the building garage. I reported it the next day, and asked if I could see the tape, which request was denied for "security reasons." Sorta tells me that the camera near that door is really a dummy camera and they didn't want to say so. Too bad. I wanted to watch my own Dance of Agony.

But again, I am not asking for legal advice.

Upshot: I'm going to try to cancel the appointment by phone tomorrow (Saturday) even if I just have to leave a message on it. I'll wait it out, as Bazooka Joe suggested.

Your collective and individual advice incurs no liability. I'm a big boy and can make my own decisions, so I was just looking for comments on similar happenings.

I'm going to take my own belated advice, though, and start practicing with the left hand.

MachIV Shooter: Did not see your post until after I posted this one. That must've been one h3ll of a ride!

(Hope I didn't miss anyone... but all your comments are much appreciated.)

10e6 Thanks.

ETA: Thanks, Clipper ! I'm not young anymore either.

 

[Clipper]

I did that once by wiggling two fingers under a box full of exhaust manifold bolts (12"x12"x12" @ 80lbs) and trying to lift them enough to stick the rest of my hand under to lift them further. Felt the pop of the tendons like being stabbed. Took a couple of weeks (with anti-inflamatories) to get rid of most of the pain, but if I pushed it, they'd bite me as a warning for the next couple of months. They eventually returned to normal, and I was left with a never forgotten lesson that I'm not a young man anymore...

 

[RH822]

About 10 years ago I ran my trigger finger into a 42" band saw. I didn't cut it off, but I did mangle it up pretty good. The Dr told me since I did not cut any tendons and all the muscle was still there, although severely damaged, it would heal and return to normal function. It took time, but it did heal and my guess is that with time your's will too.

RH

 

[230RN]

About 10 years ago I ran my trigger finger into a 42" band saw. I didn't cut it off, but I did mangle it up pretty good. The Dr told me since I did not cut any tendons and all the muscle was still there, although severely damaged, it would heal and return to normal function. It took time, but it did heal and my guess is that with time your's will too.

Good thing it wasn't a 43" band saw.

Ah, I'm just being silly --sorry. Actually, I'm amazed at the curative powers of the body all by itself. Glad to hear it got all better. Very glad.

One thing I did was invent a half-@ssed cast for the hand for sleeping and inactive times. I stuck a tennis ball down a sock and then stuck my paw down the sock and wrapped my hand around the ball. I am absolutely positive that partially immobilizing the hand in this manner during sleep periods helped enormously. I'm going to patent it as "The Hafast Cast."

People will think it was invented by a Dr. Hafast. :rimshot, cymbal clash:

But I'm serious about this makeshift cast. It really did help.

I just unlimbered and unloaded the Ruger DA (my bedside gun which has a coil mainspring) and found I could DA it once, as opposed to nonce, as described in the OP. After trying the Ruger, I went directly to the S&W (leaf/flat mainspring) and I could DA it 16 times.

So this is constant improvement. Woo hoo!

!

There's a lot to be said for flat mainsprings, eh?

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Thanks, All

Closed at request of OP, all necessary advice having been received.

Thanks all who responded.