Thumb update... for those that may care...

[SFW]

Well, it's been six weeks since my accident. Four since my surgery. It's starting to actually look like a thumb again. Having to relearn how to hold a pick, as the part of my thumb where the tip of the pick would come out isn't there anymore. lol! Lost roughly 1/4 inch off the of the thumb. The very tip of the digit is still healing, but I am so happy with the results so far. I was seriously afraid that I might not be able to play anymore. Working it back up. I can get about 10 to 15 minutes in before it really starts to bother me. Anyway... thought I would update for anyone that wanted to know.

 

[Findthetone1]

Glad to hear things are moving in a positive direction. I'm sure the recovery time will be the worst part. Do you still have feeling at the tip of the thumb?

 

[Rottweiler]

Very glad to hear!

 

[grimmchaos]

Glad to hear there has been progress and it has been healing up! That's a gnarly wound. Life always throws curveballs, that's one thing you can rely on.

 

[Exo-metal]

Damn, this must be difficult man. Hope you have a full recovery!

 

[VonBonfire]

Healing well! Great to see.

 

[Tone Monster]

Glad it’s going good! I cut the tip of my finger off, although not nearly as bad as yours, but I’m amazed at how much it has plumped back up. The human body is amazing!

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

Awesome. Glad to see it's healing up good, and you're learning to cope with the change.

 

[stratjacket]

Yikes, I care but can’t look. Glad it’s getting better

 

[SFW]

Glad to hear things are moving in a positive direction. I'm sure the recovery time will be the worst part. Do you still have feeling at the tip of the thumb?

That's actually on of the issues that I'm dealing with. My thumb is EXTREMELY sensitive. The nerves that are now close to the skin were not close to the skin before. So, textures feel completely different now. Rubbing my thumb across my jeans feels like little mountains and valleys. Things that I barely feel with my other fingers feel completely different. They had to remove a piece of bone that was fractured. Now I only have bone on one half of the tip of the thumb. So, part of it is kinda of rubbery- for lack of a better way to describe it. It is still swollen, and that will take a few months to go away.

At the moment, I am figuring out new pick placement mechanics and getting my syncopation back. I laugh, because it really feels like when I first started playing and didn't know what to do with the pick. I'm trying to use it as an excuse to improve my overall technique. I started playing at 14, and relearning at 51 is a unique experience. My goal is to get back on stage again. So, it's a good motivation.

 

[guitup too]

Damnit that hurts me to look at it!
Good luck with your recovery.

 

[Alpha Stryke]

That looks really good for 4 weeks. Welcome to the Iommi club.

 

[mentoneman]

Bless you man!

downhill luging/sitting on my skateboard in high school, racing my friend on his moped and beating him, hit a bump going 30 mph and my right hand slipped under the wheels. basically e-braked by grinding off a corner of my forth fingertip/nail but i can barely tell now.

but almost biting the end of my tongue off last year surfing left me with a trippy texture/sensation/taste “disability” of sorts. it continues to morph/heal but so weird. Thank God it didn’t permanently affect my speech!

 

[harddriver]

I'm glad to hear your thumb is mending and healing well with no nasty infections! Just give things some time and let it heal fully, that usually alot longer than we are willing to be patient. You'll be playing in no time.

Thanks for the update!

 

[PDC]

This is Great News. If you need any additional inspiration, google up the video where World Class Magician Shin Lim talks about a tendon rupture in one of his hands after securing the residency at what used to be the Mirage in Vegas. He thought he would never hold a deck of cards again. And then came back literally better than ever. Sometimes the changes in technique than an injury like this literally 'forces' upon us requires developing a new method or technique that literally elevates our game. Keep at it!

 

[Findthetone1]

That's actually on of the issues that I'm dealing with. My thumb is EXTREMELY sensitive. The nerves that are now close to the skin were not close to the skin before. So, textures feel completely different now. Rubbing my thumb across my jeans feels like little mountains and valleys. Things that I barely feel with my other fingers feel completely different. They had to remove a piece of bone that was fractured. Now I only have bone on one half of the tip of the thumb. So, part of it is kinda of rubbery- for lack of a better way to describe it. It is still swollen, and that will take a few months to go away.

At the moment, I am figuring out new pick placement mechanics and getting my syncopation back. I laugh, because it really feels like when I first started playing and didn't know what to do with the pick. I'm trying to use it as an excuse to improve my overall technique. I started playing at 14, and relearning at 51 is a unique experience. My goal is to get back on stage again. So, it's a good motivation.

Ouch. Stick with it and I hope you make it back on stage soon. Maybe look for some kind of thumb cover until the nerves are less sensitive, Iommi style?

 

[VonBonfire]

Thank God it didn’t permanently affect my speech!

If it had you could've just let your JAMES TYLER do all the talking.

 

[motorboy1]

Ah I just threw up in my coffee…

 

[Tone Monster]

That's actually on of the issues that I'm dealing with. My thumb is EXTREMELY sensitive. The nerves that are now close to the skin were not close to the skin before. So, textures feel completely different now. Rubbing my thumb across my jeans feels like little mountains and valleys. Things that I barely feel with my other fingers feel completely different. They had to remove a piece of bone that was fractured. Now I only have bone on one half of the tip of the thumb. So, part of it is kinda of rubbery- for lack of a better way to describe it. It is still swollen, and that will take a few months to go away.

At the moment, I am figuring out new pick placement mechanics and getting my syncopation back. I laugh, because it really feels like when I first started playing and didn't know what to do with the pick. I'm trying to use it as an excuse to improve my overall technique. I started playing at 14, and relearning at 51 is a unique experience. My goal is to get back on stage again. So, it's a good motivation.

The sensitivity is brutal. I couldn't really fret anything with my left pointer finger for a solid year without pain.

 

[ners]

Must have missed the intro post to this story but that looks gnarly and it's sick that you're already back at it. Keep pushing man.