While out walking the dog...

[the_fervid_pig]

before the bloody thing took off after a cyclist, got to the end of his lead and pulled me over before i realised what was happening. I went arse over tit and bent all the fingers back on my left hand. It's swollen up and has gone all stiff. i'm sat here now typing this with 1 hand and a bag of frozen chips on the other (I'm out of peas). I want to practice a Chopin prelude, and I have band practice (sax) later. What should I do?

[starstruck5]

There is no real constructive answer to that!  You could consider getting a budgie instead of a dog -or get someone else to take the bloody thing for walks.

[perfect_pitch]

There is no real constructive answer to that! 

Sure there is - SEE A BLOODY DOCTOR.

I'm sorry if that answer seems a bit blunt, but considering that doctors and physiologists spend years racking up uni debt to go to EXTREMES to understand the complexities of the human body and hand - I'd recommend asking his opinion than random people on the internet.

If anything happened to my hand, as a pianist (or as a general human being who cares for their body) I'd go see a doctor. You can get x-rays to see if any bones are broken, if any tendons are snapped etc... and then get recommendations about how to heal it the best and avoid any possible permanent damage.

[iansinclair]

Oddly, I just sprained my left wrist yesterday, cranking an old tractor to get it started.  Your complaint sounds familiar.  A doctor isn't a bad idea, although I have to admit that I didn't see one.  Ice (or frozen chips).  Ibuprofen or aspirin.  And patience.  Assuming that everything works, but without a full range of motion, it will heal.  In time.  It may take a couple of weeks before you find Chopin manageable; that's what I'm expecting.  In the meantime, don't stress it at all.  If you find you can't help but stress it, a doctor is very much indicated -- he or she will put a short cast on it to hold it still.  If you do that, though, you will also need some therapy to get the range of motion back when the cast comes off.

[the_fervid_pig]

It's Saturday today, quacks don't do saturdays, it is quite a bit better, just stiff and only hurts when I pick something heavy up, or when I stretch it. I don't think there's anything broken, everything moves as it should, and this morning I did get someone else to walk the bloody thing. I have asthma so can't take Ibuprofen or aspirin, so I had a few measures of Scotch instead. Had to cancel the band but I managed to get some practice in with  just the RH. Hope your tractor injury soon heals, may I suggest getting one with an ignition?

Cheers!

[maul]

Opiates. They will cure you.

[iansinclair]

aargh... first time practicing both hands today, having been stupid Friday... (see above).  It's going to take a while to get the flexibility in that left wrist back.  Never mind the power...

Sigh...

[the_fervid_pig]

Sorry to hear that! Annoying isn't it! Went away for the weekend so couldn't practice, but managed to do a bit last night but some of the bigger stretches made my hand ache a bit.

[melba]

Perhaps you should start singing lessons now!!

[gvans]

Not all docs are quacks, mate.

For soft tissue injuries, the general rule is: Ice, ace (wrap), elevate. If you've got a fracture, it should become apparent by prolonged point tenderness. An open fracture, with the bone protruding, is an emergency. Some hand surgeons advocate rapid treatment of certain closed hand fractures and tendon injuries, including game keepers thumb (caused by thumb over-extension). Most soft tissue injuries get better with conservative treatment (what you're doing).

Last thought: get a harness if you've got a powerful dog, then you can control him without harming your hands.

[the_fervid_pig]

Thanks for the reply, I had it in ice most of the night. It's a lot better now but does look rather bruised. There's definitely no bones sticking out though. I do have him on a harness most of the time, the injury came from landing on my hand and bending the fingers back.