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Old February 25, 2012, 06:27 PM   #51
farmerboy
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You are gonna have to use your your other hand and let your injured hand rest, sometimes its nice to use your other hand for a change. I bet you get good practice.
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Old February 25, 2012, 10:18 PM   #52
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Constantine: I sincerely urge you not to push it. I have had thumb joint reconstruction (CarpalMetaCarpal) surgery on both hands at the same time as CarpaTunnel Release surgery - left hand first, right hand a year later. This was followed by surgery for trigger finger and Duputren's on my left hand about two years ago. All required OT therapy and home therapy. I'll never have 100% recovery, but I'm able to shot long guns, hand guns and compound bows. Patience - recover first - then slowly return to perfection shooting. Easy for an old f..t to write, but still my honest advice based on too much actual experience.
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Old February 26, 2012, 02:31 AM   #53
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You guys are all absolutely right. :/ its just that this is my passion, hobby, love in life. It's my release...I'm recently single again so even more so now.

This whole not carrying thing has me feeling naked and vulnerable. Damn Miami...

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Old February 26, 2012, 07:59 AM   #54
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You are about 3 months away from using your right index finger normally, and about one year away from it feeling fully normal IF YOU GET HELP FOR IT NOW. People intuitively believe that since a finger is small, it should heal quickly. They don't. If you had messed up your knee you might expect 3-5 months of recovery in order to bet back to normal, and probably up to 13 months to have have it feeling fully normal. Your middle finger (PIP) joint is just as complicated as your knee. Also, your trigger finger's middle knuckle will be remain enlarged after this. Maybe not a great deal, but permanently.

One of my pet peeves (can you tell?) is people getting an injured hand/finger and no responsible health care professional in primary care or the ER telling them that they need therapy. Instead a month or two or three go by and "Gee, you're still having trouble with that, huh?" Maybe we should think about sending you to therapy for that." Too late, Bubba.

Where I live and work I see people for hand injuries for my daily bread. Men will come in with a pretty severe injury on one hand, but I always look at the entire body. I will see a crooked or otherwise deformed finger on the other hand and ask about it. Guys will say, "Oh I broke that 3-4 years ago." Did they get any therapy for that? No. The reason that we have two thumbs, two hands and eight fingers is not just for spare parts so that we can just keep going. It's because we need them.

The index finger is our most dispensable digit. The thumb is the least dispensable. When people lose the index finger (aka pointer finger or trigger finger) in an accident, there is very little therapy involved since the middle finger takes over automatically. (Like when you have tape or glue on the tip of your index finger and need to pick up a toothpick, coin or other small object). You just do it with the middle finger. But don't ignore the index finger when it's hurt and expect that it's going to recover in a few weeks with no attention. It won't.

Especially in health care (which have you noticed is not getting cheaper?) it pays to be an informed consumer. You are now informed.

BTW, if affording therapy is an issue, you are not alone. Many people think they have adequate insurance only to find that a huge deductible needs to be met, or that therapy isn't covered. See a hand therapist (CHT) once if that is the case and tell him/her that cost is a concern. We run into this all the time. Even if you just get one session of good care, attention and advice you will have a better outcome.

Trust me. Why would I lie in a case where I won't make any money?

What, you expected to fire expert with your left hand on your first rip to the range? Get real. Go back to fundamentals and practice. You will always be able to perform well with your left hand after this.
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Old February 26, 2012, 09:29 AM   #55
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Murdock! Thanks a million for the response! I have torn my ACL and meniscus in my right knee. Back in October of 2008 which threw me out the academy. Got my surgery after the holidays January 5, 2009 and therapy thereafter lasted all that year till the crap insurance I had then ran out. So had it again next year (PT) was denied clearance to return to the academy because of muscle athrophy. So I know all about this therapy being necessary. However not the extent you mentioned which I am forever grateful you mentioned in such a serious way brother. Thank you, this is extremely important to me and I need to have the best possible outcome. I will call the number of the certified hand specialist that they gave me as soon as I hit "submit" on my phone. Ka have great insurance now. I didn't pay a cent when I went to the ER for this finger Xray and all that fun stuff. I'll keep you all posted. Damn shame I had to have a massive standstill or loss on 2 of my lifes greatest passions. Law enforcement and guns... :banghead:

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Old February 26, 2012, 09:37 AM   #56
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Looks like you and have something in common. I am like a walking manual of trauma treatment and care. My medical file looks like the Enclopedia Britanica. It is just about as many volumes.

For working on your lefty shooting I wold say load your 642 with some real soft shooting .38 spcl full wad cutters. Then get a pocket holster for it. While not being uber fast with it you have it. Besides when walking with your hand in your pocket it looks like you are well walking with your hand in your pocket.

Also a pocket holster is cheap, and can be used in the pocket of either side.
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Old February 26, 2012, 10:53 AM   #57
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I guess mine was different, I had pins in myfinger, they couldn't reset it because a bullet went through the nuckle.

There was no shooting with that hand regardless of what finger you used, the recoil killed me. I couldn't even shoot rifle or shotgun. If I shot, it had to be a pistol/revolver with my left hand.

Every since then I've been practicing with my left hand.

As I said, that was in 1977, damp cold still gets to me.
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Old February 26, 2012, 03:10 PM   #58
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Rub some dirt on it Nancy, and walk it off!(per Frank Barone, "Everybody Loves Raymond"
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Old February 26, 2012, 03:58 PM   #59
B.N.Real
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This is an easy fix.

Train yourself left handed shooting with your Glock.

Don't worry about reloading just concentrate on hitting what you are aiming at.

You'll want to leave that broke finger out of the process until the pain happys go away.

Fun part is when your right finger gets better you'll be a two shootin' sum gun.

(Your 642 would be a good quick fit but impossible for you to reload)
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Old February 26, 2012, 05:43 PM   #60
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Quote:
(Your 642 would be a good quick fit but impossible for you to reload)
No sir, regardless of whether you shoot a revolver or semi pistol, learn to reload it with one hand.

It can be done, the more you practice, the faster you get.
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Old February 26, 2012, 07:17 PM   #61
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I feel your pain. I am still in a cast from a bad dog bite (2 severed tendons). I will be in a hard splint for another month and probably 2 months of a removable splint after that... if i don't have another surgery. BUT I have been shooting off a bench left handed to take up my time. Its still as fun my groups are just a lot larger lol.
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Old February 26, 2012, 07:24 PM   #62
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I feel your pain. I just recently started being able to shoot two handed again after breaking my wrist in 5 places
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Old February 26, 2012, 08:31 PM   #63
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That looks like an ER photo.
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Old February 26, 2012, 10:05 PM   #64
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Nice socks.
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Old February 26, 2012, 11:14 PM   #65
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ER socks?
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Old February 27, 2012, 01:03 AM   #66
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Nice socks !
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Old February 27, 2012, 08:24 AM   #67
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Agree. Nice socks! Lol. Feel better man. That looks freaking terrible!


Oh and gentlemen. I sold my 642. Traded it rather for my mossberg 590 and the Rock Island Armory was used before me and the person who used it destroyed the frame / feed ramp. So it was a jamomatic only when hand loading. Ie: slingshoting the slide and or slide release. Also gone.

I have my Glock 21sf with 2 extra mags on my night stand as usual. Feels weird putting it away before heading out :/ I grab my Glock 27 instead now. I wrap around it a lot more. Guess if I'm in a life or death I can at least defend myself and not really care about a little extra time in this splint.


Right?

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Old February 27, 2012, 11:02 AM   #68
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Lol the socks are a pair of motocross socks (I busted my wrist on the dirtbike). Some of the socks have funky patterns.
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Old February 27, 2012, 07:06 PM   #69
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Quote:
No sir, regardless of whether you shoot a revolver or semi pistol, learn to reload it with one hand.
+1

Learn it now 'cause you don't wanna learn to do it in a fight.
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Old February 27, 2012, 08:06 PM   #70
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Quote:
I feel your pain. I just recently started being able to shoot two handed again after breaking my wrist in 5 places
Man, that looks familiar. My own LEFT wrist was broken in 6 places in 1970, speed skating. 2 different casts for 6 months, But the OS was good, hardly any signs of arthritis after almost 42 years. Hopefully yours was just as good. My shooting has never been affected by it.
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Old February 27, 2012, 08:34 PM   #71
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I can reload all of my carry guns one handed if need be. The thing is I do not carry a reload. I carry a second gun. That is between 18, and 21 rounds depending on which primary I am carrying. Though I can at the range reload them with one hand.

The only one that is challenging to reload with one hand is the Wildey Magnum. I definately am not going to try shooting it one handed. .357 Wildey Mag in not a wimpy round. (.475 Wildey Mag necked down to .358) It shoots 180 grain bullets at holy canoli velocities. Recoil is enugh to want to hang on with both hands.
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Old February 27, 2012, 09:31 PM   #72
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Oh wow that wrist does not look comfortable . Anyone ever recover from tendon injuries? Apparently when they repaired them my tendons are shortened a bit so I'm wondering how that will effect my grip. I hope you have a speedy recovery Constantine!
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Old February 28, 2012, 03:46 PM   #73
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Anyone ever recover from tendon injuries?
Last year I recovered from a torn (not through) biceps tendon. A month of PT did it for me-those folks knew what they were doing. The scary part was the OS told me that if it had been severed, there wasn't much that could be done. I had never heard of that and it scared the hell out of me. Didn't do any shooting during this time, getting better was all I had on my mind.

A friend of mine had tendon surgery on a finger and has a permanent bend at the first knuckle.
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Old February 28, 2012, 05:33 PM   #74
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Lol @ socks..
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Old February 28, 2012, 06:04 PM   #75
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Jesus Christ! Honkylips.

Glad I ate an hour ago.

Looks like you got a universal joint in your wrist now.

I hope they realign that bad buy before they set it or you will never be able to use it under stress again.

Prayers to you and the OP as well for a quick, safe and complete recovery.
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