Life without a thumb

[normanaj]

Sounds more dramatic than it actually is but I'll be having surgery on my left thumb on July 13th effectively ending any use of said thumb for the rest of the Summer. Gonna make fishing and just about everything else a PIA!

In 2020 I took a pressure treated splinter into my left thumb. Having been in the construction industry as a painter for most of my life I became a pretty good self surgeon over the years,at that time I assumed I got the whole thing out but apparently not. After an ultrasound the doc could see that little bastard buried deep into the nerve making a portion of my thumb lose feeling so it's gotta come out but that's no guarantee that I'll regain feeling.

For the next two weeks I'll be hitting the surf hard and buying a pair of slip-on shoes!

 

[chopsaw]

Good luck ! It's surprising how much a thumb matters . Splinters are hard to get out all the way .
Hopefully it all goes good and heals up fast .

in the construction industry as a painter for most of my life I became a pretty good self surgeon over the years,

Couple months ago , I stuck my right thumb in a router spinning a 3/4 " bit .
Tore the damn thing up pretty good . Used a nail clipper to cut the flaps of skin off , then some super glue and electrical tape to hold on the part that could be saved .
Grew back real nice , no feeling on the tip , but it looks good .

 

[normanaj]

Used a nail clipper, then some super glue

Two of the best tools in the trades!

 

[BC Buck]

I feel your pain. I was in tool and die traid and would get metal splinters so fine could only be seen under high magnification. You can spend much time trying to get splinters out.

 

[zwiller]

Rooting for ya Norm! It could be much worse. My Dad's best friend was a life long tree trimmer so you know what I mean.

 

[voyager 663rd]

Bad news. Hard to lose any limb or use of anything--I had skin cancer surgery under one eye a month ago--the swelling is finally down about 90% but in the meantime, it is so hard to judge distance with only one eye (thankfully it was temporary) so I hold out hope for you to regain full feelings in your thumb.

 

[gmc2003]

No plum pulling for you Norm. At least for a while. Good luck with the surgery and quick/full recovery.

Chris

 

[jcam222]

Sounds more dramatic than it actually is but I'll be having surgery on my left thumb on July 13th effectively ending any use of said thumb for the rest of the Summer. Gonna make fishing and just about everything else a PIA!

In 2020 I took a pressure treated splinter into my left thumb. Having been in the construction industry as a painter for most of my life I became a pretty good self surgeon over the years,at that time I assumed I got the whole thing out but apparently not. After an ultrasound the doc could see that little bastard buried deep into the nerve making a portion of my thumb lose feeling so it's gotta come out but that's no guarantee that I'll regain feeling.

For the next two weeks I'll be hitting the surf hard and buying a pair of slip-on shoes!

I had an inch long pressure treated splinter in my left thumb pad for multiple years. One day I say a little protrusion and voila pulled it out. Wild

 

[normanaj]

I had an inch long pressure treated splinter in my left thumb pad for multiple years. One day I say a little protrusion and voila pulled it out. Wild

That's happened in the past for me but after 6+ years not this time. No choice but to open up the thumb.

 

[sandyut]

Hope all goes well. Sounds painful....

Nerve damage is strange.
I had a trimalleolar ankle fracture (right ankle) in college. Yes I was drunk and yes it was late. the top of my foot and a few toes were numb for at least 5 years, but eventually came back.
Fast forward to 2025, a skier took me and gave me a trimalleolar on my left ankle. Now my big and second toes and tingly all the time. they work but feel asleep. I am hopeful it will come back to normal one day.
Thats my experience with that.

 

[forktender]

Good thing they found it, my uncle lost his middle finger from a P.T. splinter that got super infected.

You'll find a way to hold your fishing rod, and do most other things, it will just take time.

As far as slip on's go I highly recommend these, I'll never be without a pair, I have four different styles, they feel like slippers with great support and cushioning.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSLF166V?th=1&psc=1

Good luck with the thumb.

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Good luck Norm… hoping all goes well. Sometimes those things can as you said be a PITA. Or thumb!!

Keep us informed on your progress.

 

[zwiller]

Gonna lose manly points, but as a musician I glove up. Does not stop everything but most. Years ago BIL gifted me some Hyflex gloves and life has been different ever since. Harbor freight/Lowes make good copies of them pretty cheap.

 

[Winterrider]

Best of luck. Being without use of a thumb does suck. I have been without a couple different times for short periods. Once was from a Northern Pike wanting it more than me, and another from smashing it between two machines on the railroad. Opened it up so you could see right through it. Still very little feeling from that accident.

 

[indaswamp]

Man...hope everything goes well for you and you regain the feeling in your thumb.

 

[JLinza]

Hope it all goes well for ya, Norm.

 

[Fueling Around]

Hmm
Wishing the best for you.
Getting a block so you can watch? I would but that's me.
Going to lose the entire left hand usage for some time. If your wiping hand start practicing now.

 

[normanaj]

Thanks all.
I am right handed so there's that.
In the end unless the surgeon is a complete moron at worst I'll be no worse off minus the lump and swelling.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

Nerve damage sucks. Back in 2009, I broke a big glass water bottle. It severed the nerve and tendon in my right wrist. The shard was so sharp, I didn't even feel it. Had surgery to fix the nerve and tendon, but the nerve didn't take. I still have no feeling in my right index finder, and limited feeling in my thumb and middle finger.

Hopefully, your nerve isn't damaged, and you get back to normal quickly.

 

[Ishi]

Hoping for the best! That would make fishing hard. I’m left handed but right dominant so I do many different things with each hand and I’m somewhat able to fish okay using my right hand. Might be worth a try to learn cause a mans gotta