Help! I majorly tore my thumbnail! How can I fix?

[janice]

Help!  I rammed my thumb straight into something.  This caused the thumbnail to bend back.  So, it didn't break off completely.  The problem is that if it actually were to break off, it would be painful, and practicing the piano would be out of the question!  So basically I am trying to salvage my fingernail until it grows out.  But the top of my nail is rough, so I can't accidentally catch it on anything, or else I'd rip half of my nail off.  I tried putting fingernail polish on it, hoping that it would act as a  sort of "glue", but that lasted a few minutes.  I now have a teeny weeny Band-aid on it, but I can't play the piano like this.  Any advice?  I know that this sounded incredibly stupid--lol--but it's quite an inconvenience!  Thanks for your help!

[bernhard]

Ouch!

Personally I believe that you should bite the bullet and get the nail out. You are just postponing the unavoidable. I doubt it will take more than a day to stop being painful. (Let your doctor do it for you).

Alternatively, use micropore tape (this is surgical tape not band-aid). Wrap it up tight and it will not make any volume (micropore tape is very thin). Leave it there until it is healed (it is waterproof and allows the skin to breathe). You will be able to play the piano with it (I’ve seen a video of Brendel playing recently with it on all fingers! I wonder why… ).

I hope this helps.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[donjuan]

Hi Janice,
I know what you are going through.  I rammed my thumb into my guitar case when I slipped in the school washroom - people laughing, sniffsniff.--  There is nothing you can do to speed the healing.  I live in Canada.  I dont know if you have this stuff where you are, but it's called "New Skin".  It comes in a bottle like fingernail polish and acts to numb the pain and cover any tender areas with a resistent film.  You will be able to play piano for a good hour before having to apply more.  I used this, and in the end, I didn't lose too much piano practice.  I hope you dont have a recital coming up.  I feel so bad for you because I know what it is like.
donjuan