youch... stitches.

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

youch... stitches.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>General >>

Page: [1] 2 > >>

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

youch... stitches.

unfortunately, the other day i suffered and a hand injury requiring some needle work as well. i got eleven stitches all together on my pinky and ring fingers leaving them useless for awhile.

my p, i, and m fingers are still in working order. so i'm just working on my picado and alzapua for now.

so does anybody have any alzapua tips for me? i'm just learning this technique. do you keep your thumb parallel to the strings? do you anchor your other fingers or just let the hand float? where does the movement come from: the base joint of the thumb or rotation of the wrist? what are/were your favorite exercises?

Thanks!

Here is a picture of what I have to deal with. Take care of yours hands, people!

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2009 3:50:44

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87) 1 votes

Egad!!...Yikes!!!

Bad news....

Why don't you take a look at that "modern" alzapua technique demonstrated by Pimientito?

Get well soon.

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2009 3:55:03

Stu

Posts: 2664
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87) 1 votes

Jeeez! that looks nasty, I was afraid what I was gonna see as I scrolled down, thankfully it was just the bandages!!

surely you should be practicing anything for a while at least.. what did the doc say about practice???

Oh and how did it happen??

Stu

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2009 4:59:36

val

Posts: 800
Joined: Apr. 4 2007
From: London

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87) 1 votes

quote:

hand injury

That looks awful. You have my sympathy, but hopefully it shouldn't take too long to recover. Maybe now's the time to get yourself along to a dance class

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2009 6:39:00

Arash

Posts: 4504
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87) 1 votes

This is like cutting off half of the penis of a pornstar.

Hmm, are you sure it is a good idea to practice anything at the moment?
I would not play anything for a while .....

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2009 6:42:04

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to Arash)

quote:

This is like cutting off half of the penis of a pornstar.

good analogy, LOL.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2009 8:44:12

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to Stu)

quote:

Jeeez! that looks nasty, I was afraid what I was gonna see as I scrolled down, thankfully it was just the bandages!!

i thought i'd leave the gruesome stuff out.

no need for anyone to see what i have to see.

quote:

surely you should be practicing anything for a while at least.. what did the doc say about practice???

i told the doctor i played guitar and that it's important no ligaments or tendons were torn and she just said "yeah, i don't think you'll be playing for awhile. now hold still, this might sting a little."

but it actually doesn't hurt as long as i play nicely. just got to remember no golpes!

quote:

Oh and how did it happen??

i wish i had a cool story to tell but actually, i just tripped on a cell phone charger cord right when i was about to place a glass down. kinda silly

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2009 8:59:10

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87) 1 votes

Might be best to wait until you get the stiches out.

Listening closely to stuff is also very valuable, so just have a "listening" week?

Usually it's hard to find the time because you're busy actually practising.

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2009 9:21:04

srshea

Posts: 833
Joined: Oct. 29 2006
From: Olympia, WA in the Great Pacific Northwest

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87) 1 votes

Ugh, man, that’s just… ugh.

I once cut my right index when a wine glass broke in my hands while washing it (my heart would start beating a bit faster every time I washed a delicate glass for years afterward. No joke!). It was right across the knuckle, and I got the tendon a bit. It was bad enough that I really should have gone to the doctor, but instead I decided to be cheap/stoic and made myself a splint out of disposable chopsticks and wrapped it all in toilet paper and tape. Needless to say, the results weren’t entirely satisfactory, and that finger still gets a bit creaky and stiff, six or seven years later……

Yeah, it’s probably best to let that hand rest a little while and heal up properly. You don’t wanna screw things up long-term by trying to get back to work too soon. Get that left hand in shape, ligados and such.

Good luck, and speedy recovery!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2009 20:30:11

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87) 1 votes

You could spend some time tabbing and transcribing for us. Je je je.

How long will the stitches be in?

I lost my right index fingernail a while back. Didn't lose it right away though, took a little over a month. Took 6 months to grow back, but when it came back, it felt like it wasn't my nail at all. It reminded me of when I'd tried acrylics and it always felt like the whole thing would just tear off...

If it was just tissue damage, you can take solace that you weren't me.

_____________________________

Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2009 21:31:19

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

so just have a "listening" week?

i might work on some ear training actually. that's a good idea. my brain might blow up out of frustration though.

quote:

my heart would start beating a bit faster every time I washed a delicate glass for years afterward. No joke!

i know what you mean! i can't go anywhere near glass. i just might start using sippy cups from now on.

quote:

that finger still gets a bit creaky and stiff, six or seven years later……

maybe some wd40 would be a fix? but seriously, it helps to hear that someone had a bad cut too and even with a home made fix up, you can still use your finger. do you have a bad ass scar?

quote:

You could spend some time tabbing and transcribing for us. Je je je.

How long will the stitches be in?

if i transcribed anything for anybody, i think i would have a hit put out on me. i've always been a moocher, always depending on other's transcriptions so i'm pretty bad. trying to change that though.

stitches are supposed to be in 10-14 days. bad thing is, i don't have health care and i don't feel like paying to get stitches removed

how'd you lose your index nail?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2009 12:56:25

henrym3483

Posts: 1584
Joined: Nov. 13 2005
From: Limerick,Ireland

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87) 1 votes

hope your one the mend mate, lots of rest, good meat and fish oils help repair cut skin faster.

if you're passing a chinese pharmacy ask them for yunnan bone knitting formula, gave some to my friend last year in a powder format and it caused a big cut by a stanley knife about 4cm deep in his thumb to heal rapidly he was up cutting wires and plumbing again within a 8 days and no pain. the herbs and roots mixture accelerates the bodies healing process.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2009 14:36:09

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to henrym3483)

wow, that's incredible. 8 days! it's surprising how well alternative medicine can work. i'll probably go try to find it tomorrow. maybe they'll have some stuff to help my nails grow stronger too. i'll pass on anything i find. thanks for the tip, henry!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2009 17:06:23

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87) 1 votes

quote:

ORIGINAL: at_leo_87

if i transcribed anything for anybody, i think i would have a hit put out on me. i've always been a moocher, always depending on other's transcriptions so i'm pretty bad. trying to change that though.

stitches are supposed to be in 10-14 days. bad thing is, i don't have health care and i don't feel like paying to get stitches removed

how'd you lose your index nail?

So then you could use this as a study period for ear/transcription training. We'll hold off on hit squads until you can hold a gun or knife, m'kay?

In the future, ask for the stitches that dissolve. It shouldn't be a big deal to remove them on your own if you have some nice tweezers or vascular clamp...

I was moving a very large steel grate and someone decided to "help" me and gave it a shove, pinching my finger between the grate and the concrete lip. It hurt so much I didn't even think and yanked it out, tearing off the flesh from the centre line of the finger to the edge, between the last knuckle and the fingernail.

With an exposed root, there was little chance of it staying. Worse, I should have drained the blood from under the fingernail much sooner than I did (well, the doctor should have as well).

Here's a first aid tip for guys who need to keep their fingernails:
When you hit or pinch a nail and it turns purple or black underneath, that's blood/bleeding. Technically called a subungual haematoma.

You need to drain that blood, because it forces the nail to disengage from the nail bed. Pressure can cause the blood to spread out separating more nail from bed. Separate enough, and you can lose the nail. Get enough of a pocket, and it's a problem for finger-pickers when the pocket gets close to the edge.

If you can reach the haematoma from the side with a pin, you're lucky. Otherwise, heat up the end of a paper clip until it's red hot, and lance the nail with it. Careful, because it can squirt if it's fresh. Don't use a needle, you don't want to pierce the nail bed, because a scarred nail bed deforms future growth of the nail.
Apply pressure around the hole to drain it. Drain it often. After it's stopped leaking a day or two, you can fill the hole with super glue and use a nail buffing kit to help prevent snagging.

Fun trivia, when a wound leaks clear fluid, that's actually blood. More accurately plasma. A lot of burn victims bleed out because people don't know that.

_____________________________

Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2009 21:15:26

Francisco

Posts: 879
Joined: Jun. 13 2005
From: SW USA

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87) 1 votes

Ouch, Leo. I agree tho, should probably lay off for a little while. It's arguable that the stressing the injury too early could add to the local inflammation which could delay the healing. On the flip side, doesn't really look too horrible. Good luck, man. Maybe you could do some compas on the table. Here's a video to practice with.....

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2009 22:43:20

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to Exitao)

quote:

In the future, ask for the stitches that dissolve.

i hope there won't be an "in the future." my girlfriend is training to be a nurse so maybe she can practice on me.

that's a gruesome story man. yeeesh. hopefully, i won't ever have to use your first aid tip ever but who knows. where'd you learn that from?

quote:

Maybe you could do some compas on the table. Here's a video to practice with.....

is there an actual technique to "table knocking?" sometimes it looks like they do rasgueados on the table or something. you can see what i mean at 47 seconds.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2009 14:58:44

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

ORIGINAL: at_leo_87

quote:

In the future, ask for the stitches that dissolve.

i hope there won't be an "in the future." my girlfriend is training to be a nurse so maybe she can practice on me.

that's a gruesome story man. yeeesh. hopefully, i won't ever have to use your first aid tip ever but who knows. where'd you learn that from?

I'd learned the how, during First Aid courses. They just didn't give enough info as to the whys and whens. Deal with a couple times (myself and others), you go out of your way to learn more.

I'm the modern version of the company nurse, as well as the safety officer. Just no one slaps my ass.

_____________________________

Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2009 15:44:37

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to Exitao)

quote:

Just no one slaps my ass.

LOL maybe if you wore some heels and started being more of a tease.
but seriously, sexual harassment is really awkward and uncomfortable. something about paperwork must have put the older women at my old work really into heat.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 10:19:15

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87)

so i got the stitches removed today. that's the good news. the bad news is that nerves were injured. that's why i can't feel anything on one side of my E and A fingers. also, it's likely that i tore the tendon in my pinky. i can't move the top joint, well, not by much anyways, like maybe 1mm. and it hurts when i try.

i have to go see a hand specialist soon. i went to a different hospital this time. apparently, i was supposed to get x-rays when i went in for the stitches. they didn't do that. so now it might be too late to do anything. i didn't think hospitals do half @ss jobs.

so now my fingers are in a splint because if i keep using it, the tendon can tear completely and retract down my hand. at this point, it doesn't seem like i'll be competing in the challenge anymore.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 30 2009 16:55:55

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87)

Good luck at_leo, i had my share too this year, and had to stay clear of palying for a solid ugly month.... it really sucks!!

Too bad you are not going to participate in the competition. I guess you belong on the jury at this point.

Feel better and recover fully, amigo.
suerte.

_____________________________

gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 30 2009 18:52:01

domzo

Posts: 64
Joined: Jan. 10 2007

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

so now my fingers are in a splint because if i keep using it, the tendon can tear completely and retract down my hand. at this point, it doesn't seem like i'll be competing in the challenge anymore.

Not to offer medical advice, but please take it very very very easy on your hand till you get this checked out properly by the hand specialist - don't try and do anything with it, don't even post at the forum, let alone practice alzapua! I've had a thumb tendon tear completely in the past and it involved a serious operation (tendon graft) and very long recovery period. You really want to avoid this if you can.

Good luck in your recovery - the guitar will wait!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2009 2:42:24

Stu

Posts: 2664
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to domzo)

**** man....thats no good... although its less competition

...its still bad news.

anyways good luck with it.

quote:

Good luck, man. Maybe you could do some compas on the table. Here's a video to practice with.....

duqendes hair do in that vid is another classic!!!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2009 3:00:48

srshea

Posts: 833
Joined: Oct. 29 2006
From: Olympia, WA in the Great Pacific Northwest

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87)

Boooooooooo! Man, that sucks. I dunno what to say other than try not to be to discouraged and too bummed out, and try to think about things long term. It’s no fun, but ultimately you learn to deal with certain chronic ailments and work with and around things. I’ve got a permanently messed up left thumb that gets problematic from time to time, and that creaky finger I mentioned earlier- you just try to fix what you can medically, and adapt to those things you can’t fix. There's hope! So, take it easy and good luck!

quote:

i didn't think hospitals do half @ss jobs.

I once went to the hospital with a broken arm. I had to argue with the doctor at length and finally demand that he give me an x-ray. He was insistent that I couldn’t possibly have a broken arm, and that an x-ray would be a waste of money. “Look, you’d know it if you had a broken arm.”, he sez. Apparently I wasn’t whining enough and showing enough pain symptoms for him. Anyway, the x-ray came back and, surprise, I had a broken arm. The doc disappeared after that, and someone else attended to me. I later saw him sheepishly skulking down the hall and he gave me an embarrassed, sidelong glance. Now that’s healthcare!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2009 18:51:18

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to domzo)

quote:

don't even post at the forum, let alone practice alzapua! I've had a thumb tendon tear completely in the past and it involved a serious operation (tendon graft) and very long recovery period. You really want to avoid this if you can.

hi domzo, thanks for the advice! i've been taking it very easy and stopped guitar altogether. the forum, at this point, has become an addiction which is a different medical condition. one problem at a time!

do you mind me asking how you tore your tendon and exactly how long it took to heal? i like stories

quote:

**** man....thats no good... although its less competition ...its still bad news.

you never know, i might enter this competition at the last second with a new super precise robotic hand that's much more capable at flamenco guitar.... watch out!

quote:

I once went to the hospital with a broken arm. I had to argue with the doctor at length and finally demand that he give me an x-ray. He was insistent that I couldn’t possibly have a broken arm, and that an x-ray would be a waste of money. “Look, you’d know it if you had a broken arm.”, he sez. Apparently I wasn’t whining enough and showing enough pain symptoms for him. Anyway, the x-ray came back and, surprise, I had a broken arm. The doc disappeared after that, and someone else attended to me. I later saw him sheepishly skulking down the hall and he gave me an embarrassed, sidelong glance. Now that’s healthcare!

wow.... next time we get injured, want to car pool up to canada?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 1 2009 12:18:12

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to gj Michelob)

quote:

Good luck at_leo, i had my share too this year, and had to stay clear of palying for a solid ugly month.... it really sucks!!

Too bad you are not going to participate in the competition. I guess you belong on the jury at this point.

Feel better and recover fully, amigo.
suerte.

thanks gj,

at this point, it doesn't seem like i'll participate anymore so if you need a hand (yes, singular!) with the uploads or anything, i'll be willing to help.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 1 2009 12:21:03

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

thanks gj,
at this point, it doesn't seem like i'll participate anymore so if you need a hand (yes, singular!) with the uploads or anything, i'll be willing to help.

I appreciate that, at_leo, and will keep it in mind.

It should have been a foot, right? The perfect excuse to sit and play endlessly. Well, we'll plan the next injury more carefully.

PS: after a month-long break, and cautiously resuming the longed-for practice, some disagreeable detachment (to which i had forced myself during the break)has unexpectedly survived. Although i am now free to do so, i have not touched the guitar the entire weekend (and typically i play no less than two hours a day). A defense mechanism perhaps?

_____________________________

gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 1 2009 18:47:14

domzo

Posts: 64
Joined: Jan. 10 2007

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

hi domzo .... do you mind me asking how you tore your tendon and exactly how long it took to heal? i like stories

Snowboarding... I broke my wrist and then had it mended by an incompetent surgeon who put a pin in the wrong place.... A week later the tendon just went ping

Can't remember exactly, but it took quite a few months to get better although I was in plaster for weeks so everything had seized up - it may not be comparable to your injury.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 2 2009 13:51:18

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to domzo)

quote:

ORIGINAL: domzo

quote:

hi domzo .... do you mind me asking how you tore your tendon and exactly how long it took to heal? i like stories

Snowboarding... I broke my wrist and then had it mended by an incompetent surgeon who put a pin in the wrong place.... A week later the tendon just went ping

Can't remember exactly, but it took quite a few months to get better although I was in plaster for weeks so everything had seized up - it may not be comparable to your injury.

It's funny how things can work that way. I had a leg kicked out from under me in gym class (more than 1/2 a lifetime ago, jode), a week later while dragging something up an incline, my knee popped and wound up with ligament damage and a permanent 'sag' in my knee.

So, whatever you do, wait more than a week. LOL.

_____________________________

Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 2 2009 22:50:55

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to gj Michelob)

quote:

PS: after a month-long break, and cautiously resuming the longed-for practice, some disagreeable detachment (to which i had forced myself during the break)has unexpectedly survived. Although i am now free to do so, i have not touched the guitar the entire weekend (and typically i play no less than two hours a day). A defense mechanism perhaps?

i completely understand. im terrified of anything made out of glass now. must be some pain aversion tactic our minds are playing.

quote:

Snowboarding... I broke my wrist and then had it mended by an incompetent surgeon who put a pin in the wrong place.... A week later the tendon just went ping

quote:

It's funny how things can work that way. I had a leg kicked out from under me in gym class (more than 1/2 a lifetime ago, jode), a week later while dragging something up an incline, my knee popped and wound up with ligament damage and a permanent 'sag' in my knee.

yikes! you guys both should have sued. or called the mafia or something.

btw, we should just turn this into a painful memory thread.

the other time i got stitches was when i fell down an icy hill and smashed my face into an icy rock. i had to get stitches on my lip. the worst part was when they had to inject novocain. they had to stick it under my lip next to my gums and up into my cheek.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2009 3:46:32

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: youch... stitches. (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

worst part was when they had to inject novocain. they had to stick it under my lip next to my gums and up into my cheek.

A colleague of mine caught the clap while working out in the Far East.
He was given antibiotics by the medic on board the ship, but it was no good and he was in total agony after a week, so they flew him onshore for medical attention.

The Doc told him to drop 'em. His testicles by now were the size of oranges.
Reaching for a large syringe, he loaded it and said to him, "OK ...I've got enough penecillin in here to cure a horse...".

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2009 4:30:38