 Poster: A snowHead
|
Well I managed to land badly (yes at the bottom of a green slope just as I was stopping, of course) and may have torn or ruptured the ligament in my thumb. Today meant a visit to the A+E and tomorrow, providing the snow isn't too deep, brings a visit to the hand clinic for them to decide what to do.
What is anyone's experience of this particular injury and how long it took to heal etc etc
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
There's a lot of documentation on this, including a detailed report by a New Zealand researcher which I recall was presented to the International Symposium on Safety in Skiing a couple of decades (or so) ago. Don't rely on me for medical expertise at all - you'll need a good consultant - but my understanding is that a ruptured ligament is surgically operated if you want to regain use of it for grip etc. Sounds like you're in good specialised hands (pun unintended).
Many people suffer this injury (I once did both thumbs in a fall, but only sprains) and unfortunately no protective shield for the hand has ever caught on. Marker (the binding manufacturers) once made thumb-protection poles with handles that shielded the hands to protect the thumbs.
As for me, I recovered good grip, but it takes a while and your thumbs tend to show some permanent effects.
This has been a big problem on plastic slopes over the decades. My wife did a thumb quite badly on one of them.
Good luck for a good recovery.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Very sorry to hear about your injury, Tollpepper. I tore the ligament in my thumb when I dislocated it on the local dry slope in 1999. I was lucky that I got a very up to date hand orthopaedic consultant. I may be out of date as it was ten years ago, but at that time, the most recent research said that you should be operated on within two days to reduce the risk of arthritis. Anyway, I was operated on as an out-patient under general anaesthetic on day 3, and was in plaster for six weeks. This was very itchy as the skin kept sloughing off in the plaster. After that, I had physio and ultrasound (to soften the scar tissue), one visit a week for about four weeks. I did work very hard at the physio - doing the exercises in the bath when your hand is nice and warm is easiest.
I went skiing about 12 weeks after the injury, not using the strap on the ski pole. My thumb has been fine since, with a very neat and almost unnoticeable scar. Certainly no sign of arthritis. I still don't use the straps on the poles as this can lead to hand damage if the poles catch in the snow.
In contrast, my sister had the same injury but they initially refused to operate (different NHS hospital). They eventually operated at two weeks and her thumb hasn't ever been right since. So I would say, push to be operated on ASAP unless recent research suggests otherwise.
With very best wishes for a speedy recovery.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
That point about urgent surgery (when it's needed) rings true from what I've read, but - as I say - it's for a quality consultant to determine the scale of the injury and appropriate treatment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Ah well I did it on Friday - might explain the frowns in A+E ' cos I waited until I got back to see someone. The X-Ray said that no bone had sheered off so it is just ligament, fingers crossed that it isn't in need of surgery but I rather think I am looking at it since my thumb was very floppy after I did it 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Tollpepper, sorry to hear about your injury. Were you using pole straps?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I do, not sure my poles were involved, I just tipped and hit the floor putting my hand down to stop myself .... dink, ouch and then realised it was a little more serious when I nearly fainted
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Tue 5-01-10 23:16; edited 2 times in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The main test they did on me was to check for stability (thumb wobble). Wobble = surgery. I'm glad I was operated on, as the outcome has been so good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Tollpepper, I did mine last year, had it operated on about a week after I did it (had to go private), and it's basically fine now. Thread about it here. I see now I didn't report back about the recovery, so I'll do so now. I was in a cast for 6 weeks, but my consultant was also a skier, so made sure the cast would fit around a ski pole, and I went skiing a week before the cast came off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The theory that straps on poles influence this injury is - I think - wrong. Tollpepper's account rings true - it's the tip of the thumb jamming into the snow/plastic, and the hand wrenching it back that does the damage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Tollpepper, I've had this injury twice (once whilst skiing a couple of years back, and once in a fall at school as a kid). So you have my sympathy!
The first was really quite bad and required surgery, quite a bit of time in a thumb splint/spika, and a load of physio. The good news is that I managed a full recovery with return of full strength and 100% mobility in my thumb.
The second time was a couple of years back after an low speed fall while skiing. This time, although I thought I'd really screwed my thumb, it turned out the ligaments were just badly pulled and had not detatched from the bone. Treatment was about 6/8 weeks in a removable thumb splint and more physio. Again I made a full recovery and was skiing a couple of months later.
My top tip is to be persistent at A&E. Unless the nurses/docs have actually seen the injury before, they may try and tell you that it's just a sprain and 'go away, rest and take pain-killers' (this happened on both occasions with me) - so it's at this point you might need to push a bit, in order ensure you see the right person and get the right treatment.
Fingers crossed, your ligaments have not been torn and are still attached go the bone, in which case it's probably a splint and physiotherapy from a nurse specialising in hands (in my case I ended up in a 'occupational therapy dept.' - where they seem to specialise in treatment of hands). If it's worse, then if's off to see the surgeon.
Main thing is not to worry. Hopefully it's not as bad as you think, but even if it is, it can be fixed!
All the best for tomorrow, and if you want any more gory details about my experiences feel free to drop me a PM!
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
| Quote: |
The theory that straps on poles influence this injury is - I think - wrong.
|
Well I'm pretty convinced that sometimes they do - though it would be daft to suggest that's always the case. How often do snowboarders (or bladers) suffer this particular injury? Given the frequency with which they fall you would expect them to have a lot more dislocated thumbs than skiers do.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Well I'm pretty convinced that sometimes they do
|
+1
The docs / nurses that treated me the second time around, were certainly of this opinion.
[And yes, I know how to use my pole straps correctly  ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
I've essentially knackered my right thumb through staving injuries over the years. Oddly, never through skiing or boarding, but rugby, judo, basketball and motorcycling have all had their go at it. I've been lucky to never fully rupture anything, but the scarring from the various injuries has left me with limited movement and a weakened grip. So, the sooner you can get it sorted (and the more comprehensive the treatment) the better.
I'm supposed to be a physiologist (to some degree anyway) and I have a hard time working out how a correctly used pole strap can cause the injury. Unless simply having the handle of the pole attached to the palm of your hand encourages you to fall with your hand in a configuration that means the thumb is likley to impact the floor almost perpendicular to the surface. If this is the case it would explain why boarders tend not to have the injury (as they can fall with open, flat hands, or a full fist- thumbs better tucked in).
hmmm... methinks there's an interesting PhD for someone here... 
Good luck with the recovery anyway
Tapstick
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Well a happy morning in the hospital, all I seem to meet is skiing hospital staff which is good I suppose, but because of the weather we seemed to get through quite quickly.
Anyway the doc said splint and physio so I now have a lovely piece of custom formed plastic wrapped round my thumb and hand, seems that although I have probably torn the ligament, a floppy thumb being the clue, it will probably repair because I still have some rigidity in it (does that make sense?). I get to wear the splint for 6-8 weeks and start physio in 2 weeks, I'll have to nag if it doesn't heal as we are skiing again in March.
The doc was surprised I actually did it on the slopes as he said it was more common on dry slopes but since it was icy where I fell that was the explanation. The hand physio called it slalom skiers thumb (used to be called gamekeepers thumb) as they are the most likely to do it. With regard to the straps it would seem that those who wrap them round their thumb are in danger, mine are round my wrist or loose which is right apparently if you don't want the injury.
The doc did say that if you do this kind of injury the best place to get treated is in the ski resort hospitals as it is something they regularly deal with and go straight away, we waited because we were coming home on Sunday and I did it on Friday and didn't really think it was that bad - doh!
So hopefully it will heal quickly and I'll have no problems - fingers crossed - but I am glad to see that most seem to have recovered well from this type of injury, it gives me hope
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
I think one problem is that even if you are holding the poles correctly, the pole itself is long enough to exert very powerful leverage against the thumb.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
ware is u stikin da thumb? i thinks skieing is wiv da feet, no? u is naughty boys 4 fun wiv da thumb. to much of da hand shandy goin on. easy geezas go slow an punani will be please
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Tollpepper, glad it went okay
| Quote: |
it will probably repair because I still have some rigidity in it (does that make sense?)
|
Yep, I seem to remember a similar remark. I think that means that the ligament hasn't detached from the bone (which is a good thing!).
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Tollpepper, makes good sense - a complete rupture of the ligament would definitely warrant early repair and leads to a thumb which you can bend out sideways at the 1st MCPJ. If the joint is laterally stable but hurts when you try and deviate it that is less severe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
