My Thumb
A classic scene from The Pope of Greenwich Village, a movie from the 1980’s that helped launch Mickey Rourke (back when he actually looked normal) into stardom. Eric Roberts not so much, but his sister eventually did pretty good.
If you ask me, Paulie should harden the fuck up. After all, it’s just his left hand. Try losing the use of your right thumb, then we’ll talk. Kay?
If you’ll recall, back in November I snapped a ligament at cross provincials. The ligament that makes your thumb work. The injury is commonly referred to as Gameskeeper’s thumb, or Skier’s Thumb. Odd considering I don’t really ski, nor do I keep game.
Eight weeks, three casts and a thumb splint later, it’s not much better. There is swelling, bruising, and a shitload of frustration. With all the physio I do, I am now the Jane Fonda of thumb exercises.
A strength test this week had my right hand at roughly 20% the strength of my left. Apparently I have a long way to go. I’d love to say there are good days and bad days, but unfortunately every day is pretty much the same, with my thumb looking like it belongs to a dead person who has been floating in a lake for a month.
I drop everything, and have found even the most banal tasks challenging. Doing up zippers makes me break out in a sweat. When I swipe my debit card, nine times out of ten it ends up on the floor. Notes I write by hand look like they have been written under the influence of copious amount of alcohol, which is extra awesome when I have to write a note to one of the kids’ teachers. “Deer Mmdamme Dohbjfv, Plleeeze exchuse Julien frm classss thiz afeternooon ass hhe hazz an appoinmmnent wif thu dentisht.”
Ugh.
The silver lining (if there is one) to this shitty storm cloud, is that it is January right now, and not May. While I am quite capable of riding my indoor trainer, without the ability to operate brakes and shift gears, riding on the road would be unadvisable. Or suicide. Not that riding in minus 30 really appeals to me anyway. Maybe I’m the one who needs to harden the fuck up.
Coincidentally, I have exactly 9 1/2 Weeks to heal before I go to Arizona. Weird.
You may not KEEP game, but you GOT game and that’s all that matters.
Sheesh…. Thank GOD for January. That’s the only time you’ll hear me say that. You should have asked Santa for ambidexterity.
That debit card thing has to be a pain…. others may get a “kick” out of it though.
9 1/2 weeks to Arizona. Wasn’t Mickey R in that one as well? I’m sensing a M.R. obsession. Stay the course, you aren’t 20 any more. The thumb s/b ok by Arizona time. Enjoy the next 9 1/2 weeks. BTW, htfu. Don’t be such a pink girl.
Yes, Mickey did 9 1/2 weeks too. Classic sexy fridge scene with honey and the like. When I saw it in my 20’s I thought it was very hot. When I see it now, all I can think is “WHO THE HELL MADE THIS MESS??!!” Sad.
Oh, and thanks for the pep talk…
Broken bones are way better than torn ligaments… My wife tore one in her foot running… took a very long time to heal. But now she is back at it.
You will get better, winter sucks anyways… it’s time to by some new parts/frame/kit maybe?
I bought a SS MTB when I broke my finger…. stupid internet.
If this makes no sense.. the beer is talkin.
Makes perfect sense:
1) Drink tons of beer
2) feel sorry for self
3) make irrational and extravagant internet purchase, like say, a brand spanking new carbon fiber road bike with kick ass wheels and matching race kit.
I got you loud and clear my friend.
I am so on it.
It’s been 5 months and a week since I lost feeling in my left hand last two digits from the 24 hours race at falcon. They call it “Cyclist’s palsy”. Finally getting consistent feeling back now… it’s crazy how long it takes certain things to heal. hopefully your thumb will start to improve more quickly when it stops complaining at you for what you did to it and rather decides to focus its attention on healing.
JP – that is brutal. Injuries suck.
Amen to that. Glad to hear the hand is getting better JP. Gives me some hope, since I was starting to think this could be permanent. Waiting is hard.
Recovery SUCKS … that’s all there is to it! Especially for those who are physically active; since you and the rest of us who are, think that we will recover faster because of our fitness. It sucks, but our bodies heal at a rate which we can only influence somewhat (physio, etc).
I was surprised this past year after I broke my hand at my left knuckle. [http://thetrainingcoopblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/more-trg-coop-injuries-our-secret-htfu.html] After 8 weeks (2 more than planned) and 3 casts, I still needed a bunch of physio before I was ‘operational’ again. It took plenty of time, but I did recover fully. You will and good luck with the rest of it.
It sucks, but it sounds like you are doing everything you can to recover. See you on the trails.
Thanks Tom. I like the orange cast… don’t think I had that option. I did pink (as a joke, then was stuck with it for two weeks) then elegant and slimming black. Glad to hear I’m not the only one who poo-poo’d it at first. Mine happened during warm up lap at Provincials, then I proceeded to race anyway. Doctor was not pleased when I shared that little tidbit.
Could be worse. A knee or back injury would suck serious ass.
Onward!!
Hi CycleChick
I’m surprised you had no surgery for your skier’s thumb. I just broke my thumb’s ligament (ski accident) and was immediately told by the physician I saw that this required surgery to heal. No self-cure to be expected.
I just had my thumb operated, it’s nothing major. From what I’m told, I’ll wear have a splint for 3 /4 weeks than some physio for another 3/4 weeks and it should be ok.
Go see you / another doctor again ?
Cheers
Christophe
Hi Christophe
Thanks for the note, and glad to hear you are on the mend. A subsequent visit clarified that the ligament was severely torn, rather than completely severed, so it looks like surgery won’t be necessary. The ligament healed while immobilized in a cast, but is as rigid as a piece of wood. I still have tenderness, swelling and very limited mobility, something that does concern the doctor as well as the physiotherapist I am paying obscene amounts of money to see. It’s been 14 weeks since the injury occurred and I am starting to think surgery would have been a quicker and less frustrating option. Thanks again for the info!! ~CC
Hi there:
Thanks for sharing your stories! I’m in the middle of it too with a pretty scary prognosis (evidently these things don’t benefit from the belief that they will just go away) so hearing how long some of your injuries have taken to heal is rather comforting!
Sorry to hear about your injury! Yes, unfortunately we can’t rely on time for everything, but it does help. Good luck and heal well!
I’m a heavy piano player, tuner and technician and part time mover in Toronto, Ontario. I’m a heavy guitar player and I sketch and paint. All these abilities are meticulous and repetitive. I have a partially tore ulnar\collateral ligament of left thumb(I’m right handed) seven weeks ago for the second time. I went to Ortho\Doc last week and now I go for an MRI in next two weeks and may need surgery, which is best performed within four weeks.
It seems worse than it was before so I identify with you “cycle chick.”
I’ve had to go on Welfare and have no extrta money for study and interaction. I am adjusting and coaching myself to remain positive and productive. But every now and then I feel like I’m going to snap. I’m looking at months of rehab, especially, if there’s surgery(likely now). Hope you’re getting better “cycle chick” and those of you out there with similar injuries.
Hey Robby. I am so sorry to hear about your injury. I had a partial tear that didn’t require surgery, but did require a 6(8?) week stint in a cast, plus a bunch of physio that I barely had patience for. The good news is that I have full function back, although not necessarily full strength. Gripping things can be difficult, and I am even more useless at opening jars than I was before. But that’s what you men are for anyway. (haha) It hurts sometimes, like in the cold. or if I catch it on something, bit otherwise all good. I hope you have a similar result and wish you all the best! –WCC
Hi CycleChick,
I injured my thumb 2 weeks ago jumping my horse. He over jumped the fence and i caught myself on his neck. I thought i had sprained my thumb but two weeks later swelling,bruising and pain motivated me to see a doctor. I have a partial tear of the collateral ligament, My doctor put me in a cast for four weeks. i got online this morning to look at pictures of thumb ligaments and hopefully positive recovery stories and your story popped up. I am very active and ride a mountain bike here in New Mexico at least 4 times a week. I SOOOO need my thumb back in strong working condition! I am familiar with pain and being broken. I broke my neck years ago C2 and C3 was in a halo for 5 weeks. The doctors called it a Jeffersonian break, same as Christopher Reeves.
I healed and now i am jumping horses cross country, riding mountain bikes, snow shoeing in the winters here and loving life!
I just wanted to say hello, you look like a bad ass, i love your blog and the issues you stand up for and that you are a mom(me too of a 15 year old son). Rock On CycleChick!! we need more of you in the world. Congrats on the trip you won! you looked like you were having a blast, thanks for sharing your awesome memories with pictures.