Guess What Chump tripped going to work on Friday and broke her finger!!!

[Toffeewoffy]

Yep, clumsy or what. I do that journey as part of my commute and have been doing it since December 2015, usually when there are loads of people around. Sometimes people catch the 'foot' of my walking stick but generally all is fine.

So I was a bit later in on Friday and there were very few people approaching the staircase down to the train platform (the final leg of my journey to work). Next thing I know I've stubbed my toe against, well, nothing, and I went flying. I tried to stop myself from going over - as I have osteoarthritis in both knees I can't kneel voluntarily let alone anything else. However, I landed on both knees (on concrete) and my left hand with stick went one way and my right hand went the other and I ended up bending my little finger back.

They called an ambulance for me - thankfully, even though my knees hurt like hell I was able to stand up and hobble away from the top of the stairs - and they could see I'd done some damage to my right pinkie which was already swollen up. They asked me what my local hospital was - and took me all the way there rather than to the local hospital as they said I'd find it easier to get home afterwards.

I had an x-ray and I appear to have a hairline spiral fracture round the last bone in that finger (the one nearest the hand). She said she would treat it as a fracture even though she wasn't 100% sure, and the only treatment is to strap one finger to the next one to support it.

Oh, and as you can see from my countdown, we're coming over to Florida in 20 days ...

Mind you, just 2 days later I'm fullly touch typing this, although I will restrap my finger later to make sure I don't bash it - that's the bit that hurts. My knees are still unbelievably sore, though, and I'm finding it extremely painful lying in bed at night.

Hubby will have to lug the suitcases (usually I'm the one who brings them down etc to pack), but they're all on 4-wheels which means I'll still be able to guide mine along. I'm just a bit concerned about driving the scooter. I've been told I should be okay by then, and it is only a thumb-operated tiller after all. I just may have to use my left hand more. Loading it in and out of the car will be a definite no-no, though - DD will just have to help OH while I supervise. There's no way I'm lifting heavy parts in and out of the car!

Oh, and I've got to notify our holiday insurers as well. Hey ho.

 

[FortForever]

Next thing I know I've stubbed my toe against, well, nothing,

Wow, are we related? I do this all the time!

I would be more concerned about your knees, than the finger. Thankfully, I'm sure you will feel any repercussions from your knees well before you leave. I'm pretty sure a fall where my knees landed on concrete would leave me in a hospital bed for surgery. I'm feeling your pain!

Wishing you a pain free vacation. Better now than the day before .... not that I'm challenging you or anything. lol But if you're anything like me, the more careful you are, the more likely to have an accident.

 

[mamabunny]

Oh @Toffeewoffy I am so sorry!

I'm like @FortForever; my knees would definitely land me in the hospital, but having dislocated my finger just days before a WDW trip a couple of years ago, I certainly sympathize with your poor pinkie! My doctor gave me a weird little elastic and velcro strap to "buddy tape" my fingers together, but I found out that KT Pro tape, cut down into "band-aid" size strips, gave me the good support my finger needed, but also enough movement that I didn't have to go to PT for hand therapy once it was all healed. Additionally, it comes in fun colors LOL

Take good care of yourself! I hope you have a pain-free vacation!

 

[Toffeewoffy]

My knees and legs in general have been quite painful the last couple of days, and I was back at work today. I was able to walk around without what I would describe as catastrophic pain which is why I don't think I've done any more than soft tissue damage. My left knee has a huge bruise but strangely my right knee isn't really bruised, but it's certainly more swollen.

I've been able to type okay today. I didn't think I used the 'p' as much as I clearly do, though - it was only the pinkie keys which caused me problems. I can't write, though, as the side of my hand is bruised and tender and I can't lean on it. I can write holding my pinkie up but it's slow, messy and not satisfactory.

I just bound my fingers to and from work to make the commute easier and also because it's easy to knock your hand on stair handrails, etc. I don't know what KT Pro tape is, but I'm using 'Microporous tape' which is readily available here. I wanted to get the 1/2" width as the 1" is actually too wide, so I've been cutting the 1" lengthwise to get it narrow enough - but then it hurts to use the scissors.

I was supposed to make an appointment with the Fracture Clinic after the nurse practitioner released me on Friday, but I just walked out of the hospital and went and got a bus home. It was only once I got home that I remembered! Mind you, for a hairline fracture I don't think it's necessary. I've broken my left little toe and my right collar bone so know what to do. I'm also a first aider.

 

[mamabunny]

@Toffeewoffy - KT Tape (and it's "stickier" sister, KT Tape Pro) is kind of like if someone took an Ace Wrap, or elastic bandage, and then put medical tape "sticky stuff" on the back side. So, it's an elastic self-adhesive bandage, that comes in pre-cut "strips" on a roll, and you tear off a strip as long (or short) as you need. I use the "Pro" version, because it usually holds up during my aquatic therapy sessions.

I definitely got better at using my non-dominant hand for lots of stuff while my finger was healing!

Make sure you don't "buddy tape" too tightly, or for too long - since you have a fracture, you want to make sure it heals properly! Might not hurt to touch base with the Fracture Clinic (do they have a phone nurse you can talk to?) just to make sure there isn't something else you need to do.

Take good care of yourself! We all want you to have a wonderful trip!

 

[Toffeewoffy]

Thanks, mamabunny. I'm now only strapping them up for the commute to and from work. I've managed the last 3 days at work without any - I wouldn't be able to type properly otherwise. I hate it, though, because it makes my fingers feel all tacky and horrible.

 

[cobright]

Thanks, mamabunny. I'm now only strapping them up for the commute to and from work. ... it makes my fingers feel all tacky and horrible.

This may help. I'm a metal worker and I've broken fingers often enough that I don't usually bother seeing a doctor about it anymore. Pinkie is a great finger to break if you gotta break one.

Here's what I do. Get some moleskin and cut some of it into half inch wide strips and some into quarter inch wide strips. With the wider strips run o email long ways around pinkie. Start a ways up the back of your hand and end a ways up the palm. Press it down smooth and then build up another layer this way. Usually two layers is all you need. Sometimes I put another layer that just runs the length of the finger enough to cover the finger joints.

Like this I can still use the finger a little but it gets a lot of support as well. If you can't type like that, snip and remove the part that covers the finger tip and try.

If you need to strap it to the neighbor finger, use the narrow moleskin strips. They hold great, they don't irritate other fingers, and they leave behind no sticky. Not sure how but they make a perfect adhesive strip for bandages.

Good luck.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

Update.

Week 2. I'm still strapping up for the commute - but with a car journey, 2 trains and then a metro train it's vital to stop it getting bashed. I was in a bit of pain around lunchtime today for some reason, but typing is a lot easier.

I'm still having trouble with comfort in bed, though, and have been sleeping in my recliner armchair for most of the night only going up to bed for a few hours after OH gets up for his early shift. I'm sleeping better in the armchair because my knees aren't hurting!

At the end of the day, it was a spiral hairline fracture of one bone and wasn't displaced at all. When I broke my left little toe that was sticking out at a 45° angle!! The only problem is that I can't vacuum clean, can't clean generally and can't even wash up. I'm running out of room in the kitchen sink: while I put most things into the dishwasher, I don't wash baking trays and stuff in there. God forbid OH or DD help me out in any way!!!!

 

[Kaytie]

God forbid OH or DD help me out in any way!!!!

Tell them they need to.

 

[mamabunny]

...The only problem is that I can't vacuum clean, can't clean generally and can't even wash up. I'm running out of room in the kitchen sink: while I put most things into the dishwasher, I don't wash baking trays and stuff in there. God forbid OH or DD help me out in any way!!!!

Yep, I'm with @Kaytie - my family doesn't have the choice *not* to help. LOL they know that if MamaBunny ain't happy, ain't nobody else in the house gonna be happy either! LOL

Can you hire a local teen age kid - instead of babysitting, have them help you with housework? Offer them a nice hourly amount, and if your OH and DD balk at having a "stranger" in the house, then let them know you will be glad to cancel the arrangement as soon as they chip in and help out by washing the dishes and running the vac around the house!

And if push comes to shove - rinse off the dishes in the sink as best as you can, and let them be, and ignore the floors. I know it's hard to do, but if that's the worst thing that happens - your dishes have to sit in the sink for a couple of days - then so be it. I promise, everyone here will keep your secret!

Regardless - I'm glad to hear you are doing better!