I turned a pen tonight to get back into turning and to get over the initial fear of using the bandsaw again. Whoo, glad to be turning again! Now for the bad news, the re-attachment didn't take (bottom pad was black and when he excised it, there was not enough bleeding/blood flow), and they ended up taking my left pinky off at the first joint a week later. It's healed over now, missing some feeling on the bottom, and still very swollen. Dr. said it would take 2-3 months for the swelling to subside and a year or more for the nerves to regenerate. Can only bend it about 45 degrees until the swelling goes down. Tried swinging a golf club for the 1st time tonight, really a weird feeling not having the pinky to grip with but will be able to play... next week. Going to have to fab up a 1" extention for guitar playing (see, I'm not giving up). You don't realize how much you use it til it's gone. So be careful out there!
Dale (stubby)
For those who may not have read my original post from 3-20-08, here it is:
Injury, careful out there!
I was hesitant to post this because of my pride but here it goes. Long story short, I cut my left pinky nearly off Thurs. afternoon in a bandsaw accident. Cut it about 1/8-1/4" above the nail ,clean through the bone with only a piece of skin holding it. Spent 5+ hrs. in the Hospital. The Ortho Specialist decided to try to save it and reattached it since there was some skin and 1 blood vessel still delivering some blood flow and the fact that I play guitar and need all full digits. I go back to him a week from Mon. to see if it takes. So, how did this happen to an experienced wood worker? I was not paying enough attention and didn't have my hand out of harms way. Totally my fault, I new better! The piece of wood had a crack that binded the blade for a second and when the teeth caught (in an split second) it pulled the wood and my hand holding it into harms way. So here I sit typing with one hand, hopped up on pain meds. No work, golf, wood working, guitar... and on and on for the near future....I've already beat myself up for it, but it could have been much worse. Be careful out there and work safely!