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Hunting Injury

5K views 57 replies 11 participants last post by  Thunderstick 
#1 ·
Thought I would put this up as we are all getting older. I had a bad year good year bad year for 2019. No animals for months then all at once. After shooting a bear one evening I went to get my keys from my pocket and could not get all off my fingers to work. The pinky wanted to stick up and the other middle fingers were only some what functioning. I went to my doc imediately the next day but could not get in, I then went to emerge where they casted my hand. I then had to wait another two weeks to see my doc. By that time I demanded some action. I drove to Lunneburg Friday to be told they would like to fillet my hand from the finger tip to wrist. It would be a surgery to implant a rod to keep severed tendons from shrinking to much. After four months they would reopen my hand and cut a tendon from my wrist and install in place of the rod, plus drill my finger tips and place steel cleets to a fix the tendon to with no garantee of sucess, plus nerve damage, infection, and a possible third surgery required. The whole process would take almost a year or longer.This folks is all due to pulling an animal with only a rope. One can actually pull the tendons off there finger tips. When this happens to the palm side of your hand they retract up your arm. Time is critical, one has about 7-9 days to get looked at. Our medical system is a failure. Mri's are close to 16 months, ultrsounds similar. Not a clue what to do as I have got no testing to identify the severity of the damage. I was suppose to call today to have the process started tomorrow in Bridgewater? A lot of lessons here. I got a trailer and a bike but leave them home most times due to the bother of hooking up trailer, loading etc. I still figure I am decent shape and I have dragged many animals up on the truck with no issues. I usually deal with horns, but in this case no horns I should have used a pole to wrap the cord around verses my hand. I could of even had a cart for transport. I did not drag far for this injury to occur. A bit disappointed in everything. I can wait and let things settle to get a better understanding of the injury, or jump into the unknown exploratory surgery / repair, with a long recovery not 100% guarantee in full function of all digits. Fek!
 
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#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
Man oh man. It seems it doesn't rain but it pours.

I have never heard of anything like you describe and it would scare the crap out of me for them to do what they say you need to fix it

I don't know what to say other than I think I would try to get a second opinion

Have you been to halifax???

Not the same but years ago they wanted to cut the roof of my mouth for an operation on something behind my eye

I said no way and what ever they said they seen was gone 8 months later

Can you use the hand at all now

Cheers
 
#3 ·
Jesus that sounds horrific! I have early dyuptrens contracture. nodules in my right hand no contracture yet. But the surgery is similar to what you describe on opening up the hand. One my coworker has had surgery for it couple times and his hands look like they where in a blender.
 
#4 ·
WOW, I got a sore wrist from dragging my deer a shot distance to where I could get it with my bike last week, and I thought that I had problems.. Who would have thought that you could hurt yourself doing what you did. I wish you all the best and hope that they will get it fixed as good as before.
 
#5 ·
Pulled a shoulder muscle this yr , with make shift rope harness and padded shoulder rests , as TS said it's so easy to pull a muscle , tendons or even pop out a socket , falling in the bush is so Damm easy and most if not all of us fall or take a tumble of sorts every year .

Hopefully you get some relief TS and It doesn't take too long for getting better and back to normal some what .
Be careful out there guys and gals , they don't make space parts for us , unless artificial but that's not what anyone wants .
 
#6 ·
My cousin slipped at work and almost did the splits. He tore muscle and tendons in his groin area and they stuck him at a desk for a few days. After a few days he went to emerg and the damage was discovered over the next few hours. They tried unsuccessfully to repair the damage during 3 surgeries. He walks with a cane now, can't drive a standard shift anymore and is off on CP disability in his late 40's.
 
#7 ·
Jesus that sounds horrific! I have early dyuptrens contracture. nodules in my right hand no contracture yet. But the surgery is similar to what you describe on opening up the hand. One my coworker has had surgery for it couple times and his hands look like they where in a blender.
Yes its the blender sight that bothered me. I have had some surgeries in my life time. When I was 16 I broke my hip which required an incision from the knee to hip, a metal rod inserted. I never did get the range nor the feeling back. I now have gone twice to emergency doctors and once to mine. They don't seem to be motivated to do any testing, just let a surgeon open up the hand and have at her. Its a piss off, frustrated with this happening and the medical folks. The crazy thing is my hand has never hand an discoloration, signs of bruising. My thumb works, the rest, 20 degrees deflection, a crooked pinky with loss of movement.
 
#8 ·
Yes its the blender sight that bothered me. I have had some surgeries in my life time. When I was 16 I broke my hip which required an incision from the knee to hip, a metal rod inserted. I never did get the range nor the feeling back. I now have gone twice to emergency doctors and once to mine. They don't seem to be motivated to do any testing, just let a surgeon open up the hand and have at her. Its a piss off, frustrated with this happening and the medical folks. The crazy thing is my hand has never hand an discoloration, signs of bruising. My thumb works, the rest, 20 degrees deflection, a crooked pinky with loss of movement.
I'd be asking for referal to go see a neurologist/surgeon , get a real professional opinion , not these hacks that just want ya go thru the surgery without a genuine look over , I've been to 3 different ones , funny thing is the first guy who did not require surgery options was the one who found the real neuro issues/ diagnosis .

What you describe truly is horrific and nothing to mess with , but at same time not just let someone just go in there and turn your hand into part of the 6 million dollar man lol , sorry just trying lighten the mood.

When I was doing my trade I broke 2 fingers with a 110lb solid concreat block , they said you be off work 4-7 months cause we need put pins and crap in your hand , I left it in splint for a week and stayed at work , now I have two crooked fingers middle one included
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
Why, are you giving it away
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?
No I am not joking. I have been trying to do some reading on what you have today and read quite a few medical papers since waiting for the sun to come out and warm my new greenhouse so I can work
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and get heat in it

Seems they say in most 3 or more of 20 cases are caused by the tendons rupturing and tearing away from rheumatoid arthritis and it is important to determine this prior to any attempt to repair them.

I don't know if it is a different procedure or what just got me thinking maybe it may not be all the rope

Cheers
 
#12 ·
No I am not joking. I have been trying to do some reading on what you have today and read quite a few medical papers since waiting for the sun to come out and warm my new greenhouse so I can work
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and get heat in it

Seems they say in most 3 or more of 20 cases are caused by the tendons rupturing and tearing away from rheumatoid arthritis and it is important to determine this prior to any attempt to repair them.

I don't know if it is a different procedure or what just got me thinking maybe it may not be all the rope

Cheers
Funny you should mention that over the past few years my tendons have been tight. I actually go to physio for stiffness in my muscles in my right arm. I used to do lots of building, hammer, body work, and figured it was a cause. The thought did cross my mind as I really did not notice doing anything, no pain, no discoloration. But it had me thinking the same thing, that if your muscles have lost elasticity then one would be more prone to this happening. So frustrating with the medical system, Have to wait another week to see my doctor. Sitting on the fence here, don't want no hacker to jump in and makes things worse, would like more info on the overall condition of the hand, like what will return, what won't with out surgery. It seems that ultrasounds or MRI's must come out of the doctors pocket, as none want to persue that route.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
Funny you should mention that over the past few years my tendons have been tight. I actually go to physio for stiffness in my muscles in my right arm. I used to do lots of building, hammer, body work, and figured it was a cause. The thought did cross my mind as I really did not notice doing anything, no pain, no discoloration. But it had me thinking the same thing, that if your muscles have lost elasticity then one would be more prone to this happening. So frustrating with the medical system, Have to wait another week to see my doctor. Sitting on the fence here, don't want no hacker to jump in and makes things worse, would like more info on the overall condition of the hand, like what will return, what won't with out surgery. It seems that ultrasounds or MRI's must come out of the doctors pocket, as none want to persue that route.
Believe me I know nothing about this other than the few reports I read since yesterday but from reading your first post I was having a hard time trying to figure out how pulling a rope did it with no pain

Again I know nothing but some reports said if arthritis is the root cause ( and it could be) the repair will not last until that is treated first

I think I would be asking for some more tests before the knife but that is just me

Take care

Joe
 
#14 ·
Damn sorry to hear this Thunderstick. Just wondering did you see a specialist? I would want to be positive the results would equal a complete healing/cure. Is it getting any better on its own? You have a lot of thinking to do and a tough decision to make. Hopefully inthe end everything works out for you and you mend quickly and completely.
Yes our medical system sucks,people die waiting for tests etc. We went from one of the very best medical systems anywhere to what's almost a 3rd world system ; yes it's THAT BAD!
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
Damn sorry to hear this Thunderstick. Just wondering did you see a specialist? I would want to be positive the results would equal a complete healing/cure. Is it getting any better on its own? You have a lot of thinking to do and a tough decision to make. Hopefully inthe end everything works out for you and you mend quickly and completely.
Yes our medical system sucks,people die waiting for tests etc. We went from one of the very best medical systems anywhere to what's almost a 3rd world system ; yes it's THAT BAD!
Supposely a mri or ultrasound show tissue, tendon damage. The only offer I had was for a surgeon to open me up and trouble shoot as she goes. Go on the net and look up flexor tendon repair, boy its not pretty. I went to the appointment accepting an operation may be required but not twice or three times with span of a year or more. One could imagine the same area being cut that many times what you would be left with. Trying to determine the next step. I received the number for the private clinic in Halifax that does mri's plus my first cousin has sent me the number of a hand specialist up there that will take my call. If I could get someone or tests to tell me what fingers will recover and that lets say maybe one will not return then the decision would be easier to make to live with it or repair. Sad that one has to go around your health care. Nope, I have had no improvement in four weeks, if anything at times its worse from trying to get the hand moving. I was really hoping for a bit of luck, some signs of improvement and maybe not have to be butchered. Yuck!
 
#17 ·
Had my finger tip Removed at work. Was sewn back on in the er. After that I see Karen landry at empower in Sackville. She was great during my recovery.
My cousin gave me her name and number. Sent an e-mail, have not heard anything back, she was unavailable today. I was hoping she could shed some light. My problem lies with no imaging. If that was friggin done then one would know what's has happened in the hand. I would have been better of if I was leaking fluids.
 
#18 ·
I may have told this one before but, I was standing at my apple pile cutting apples in two while I looked everywhere but where I should have been. Next thing I knew, I cut the tip off my finger just in front of the nail. Blood was everywhere. I made my way back to my car with the tip hanging by a small piece of skin and all I could find was a roll of black tape lol. I flipped the tip back up and taped it on. I then returned to my stand and finished hunting the rest of the afternoon. I never went for stiches but the tip managed to reattach and is still in place today.Albeit, a bit discoloured sometimes. I was 20 at the time this happened and spent every spare hour I could (during the fall) in the woods.
 
#21 · (Edited by Moderator)
Got to love the mecial system. Tried going to a private clinic in Halifax where one would pay for the MRI or ultrasound. One can't go there unless there doctor refers them or a doctor at a walk in clinic which we don't have. This is really stupid.
God sure looks like the BS has not changed Sorry to hear

15 years ago my first time I need help in my life went though similar BS

Just don't give up and keep pushing and pushing until you get to see who you want and the tests you need . It took me over 1 year and 22 visits including halifax and toronto to mostly different docs/ specialists before finally I got the ear of one surgeon and he ordered the the tests I needed and they discovered in two days I have a very rare form of cancer called ZES not a delusional mental disorder as they said here in sydney
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saying I wanted cancer. Who in the F'k wants cancer Unreal

Yes sir lose 66 pounds in 3 months and coughing up blood but it was in my head Stupid Fers

All the best and keep pushing. You need your hands properly evaluated before anyone touches them IMO and I know you agree
 
#22 ·
Thunderstruck , don't give up and don't let the back jobs just go in and experiment with what might work , 6 fkn yrs it took to get a proper MRI and tests done , 18 different doctors surgeons and specialists , 27 different meds to find the few that work at least 80% of the time for pain management all that for my first nerologist to finally admit it was a stroke , not one but two , I never gave up , never gave in .

What ever you do push , push and push some more till you get the proper treatment you need , our health card is really fkd up , but it only takes one to do the job right to help fix the issue , key is find that one , it's a unfortunate way , but it's what it takes .

Take care and get yourself looked after that will be best for you .
 
#23 ·
Thunderstruck , don't give up and don't let the back jobs just go in and experiment with what might work , 6 fkn yrs it took to get a proper MRI and tests done , 18 different doctors surgeons and specialists , 27 different meds to find the few that work at least 80% of the time for pain management all that for my first nerologist to finally admit it was a stroke , not one but two , I never gave up , never gave in .

What ever you do push , push and push some more till you get the proper treatment you need , our health card is really fkd up , but it only takes one to do the job right to help fix the issue , key is find that one , it's a unfortunate way , but it's what it takes .

Take care and get yourself looked after that will be best for you .
Well with multiple trips to my doc, and emerg to get some ones attention it went no where. I even tried to get into a private clinic for imagery but they are not allowed to take your money unless ones family doctor signs off on it. Hard to imagine. The elapsed time now ment multiple surgeries would be required to be done, drawn out over a year, much rehab with risks. Got into a clinic in Dartmouth yesterday to see a hand specialist that my cousin arranged (not our medical system). Looks like worse case I will be one finger down (little), with the other two needing long rehab. Never realized until the doctor showed me that when you can't use your little finger one has to learn the hand to make a fist differently, the muscles now have to function differently. The pain may always be there. An alternative is fusing the finger bent, but that also takes months to accomplish this. I could bring in my front stock for that procedure, to make sure they get the right curvature in the finger
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. Hunting memories made, just didn't think 2019 I would be leaving pieces behind in the woods. I am sure there will be more to fall off in the coming years. Stay healthy folks, our medical system is a mess.
 
#24 · (Edited by Moderator)
Well with multiple trips to my doc, and emerg to get some ones attention it went no where. I even tried to get into a private clinic for imagery but they are not allowed to take your money unless ones family doctor signs off on it. Hard to imagine. The elapsed time now ment multiple surgeries would be required to be done, drawn out over a year, much rehab with risks. Got into a clinic in Dartmouth yesterday to see a hand specialist that my cousin arranged (not our medical system). Looks like worse case I will be one finger down (little), with the other two needing long rehab. Never realized until the doctor showed me that when you can't use your little finger one has to learn the hand to make a fist differently, the muscles now have to function differently. The pain may always be there. An alternative is fusing the finger bent, but that also takes months to accomplish this. I could bring in my front stock for that procedure, to make sure they get the right curvature in the finger
biggrin.png
. Hunting memories made, just didn't think 2019 I would be leaving pieces behind in the woods. I am sure there will be more to fall off in the coming years. Stay healthy folks, our medical system is a mess.
Well is sounds like you have made some progress. So one finger down is no surgery correct

Did the specialist say what caused the damage. Was it 100% the rope they think

I hear you on stuff falling off. I am seven days now not eating due to a diverticulitis attack which is a new one to add to my list. Christ when that hit and I looked in the toilet I thought for sure I was all done. Yep Doc says yesterday that I can afford to lose some weight F'Kn unreal

Take care

 
#25 ·
Well with multiple trips to my doc, and emerg to get some ones attention it went no where. I even tried to get into a private clinic for imagery but they are not allowed to take your money unless ones family doctor signs off on it. Hard to imagine. The elapsed time now ment multiple surgeries would be required to be done, drawn out over a year, much rehab with risks. Got into a clinic in Dartmouth yesterday to see a hand specialist that my cousin arranged (not our medical system). Looks like worse case I will be one finger down (little), with the other two needing long rehab. Never realized until the doctor showed me that when you can't use your little finger one has to learn the hand to make a fist differently, the muscles now have to function differently. The pain may always be there. An alternative is fusing the finger bent, but that also takes months to accomplish this. I could bring in my front stock for that procedure, to make sure they get the right curvature in the finger:D. Hunting memories made, just didn't think 2019 I would be leaving pieces behind in the woods. I am sure there will be more to fall off in the coming years. Stay healthy folks, our medical system is a mess.
Damm sorry to hear this , living with chronic pain is no easy task( 12 yrs now myself ) , I truly hope you get better than predicted , most likely you will need some sort of pain killers , could be life time thing , sincerely hope not , that is no joy either !

I'd go bringing in the front stock for moulding on the little finger , lol , trying lighten the mood some , what ever they do don't settle for second best , make sure they know what YOU want not what they want to do , after all it's your life not there , we deserve better than second best , but as you said our health care is truly a mess ! Went for my shoulder to get checked , have slight pull in my rotator cup , nothing serious , at least it's not torn up , all that as you say from pulling a deer out , well one first things I did was pick up a good winch for my bike , that and chainsaw bracket , I'll be clearing a path to the blinds now over the winter . As said most of us are not getting younger , and yrs of pulling , tugging , hauling , and just plain out doing stupid chitt in the woods take a toll on the body .
 
#26 ·
Got to love the mecial system. Tried going to a private clinic in Halifax where one would pay for the MRI or ultrasound. One can't go there unless there doctor refers them or a doctor at a walk in clinic which we don't have. This is really stupid.
I haven't tried this yet, but this sounds like the ticket for some people and for some items. Maybe you?

An online Dr service! https://www.getmaple.ca/

I just heard about this a little while ago, but it really sounds like what we need (again, some people / some issues. Wrap it into the medical system in each province to cover the fees and it'd be perfect. :)

Anyway, thought I'd mention it since you are open to the idea of paying already...

Rob
 
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