Okay, So I sliced my fingers open.

[Mo'Phat]

Last night, I decide to be a good samaritan and help my neighbor take the front bumper off his old '64 Chevy truck. I'm using a ratchet an a stubborn nut, it pops free, and my index and middle finger on my right hand get slashed by the steel bumper. I break my middle nail in half, slice to the bone on the top of the finger, and gash right across my fingerprint in my index finger. Blood...lots of blood.

Here's the kicker...I'm playing a 3 hour gig tomorrow. How much does that suck?

Any magic elixir to heal me quick or am I going to be pouring super glue into it during the night?

[Frank Martin]

Ouch...
This sucks real bad...
I'm afraid I'll have to break the news for you: it wont heal in only one day. Sorry

One thing you can do is go and see a doctor whether they can do something about it and wrap it up in gauze bandage...
Or play with a pick, cause it will hurt and make additional damage to the wound if you play

This sucks real bad, man.

[The Golden Boy]

Slicing to the bone means stitches. If you haven't gotten stitches by now you're probably going to end up with some evil scar or deformity. When I've injured my fingers to the point of stitches, cloth medical tape with super glue on the outside. Don't superglue the tape to your finger though...

Good luck, hope it heals well.

[Mo'Phat]

Okay, maybe it wasn't "to the bone", but it's pretty deep and there ain't much flesh on the tops of fingers, y'know? I'm not going to the doctor, and chicks dig scars.

I figure by showtime I'll have had about 48 hours to heal.

Anybody tried Nu-Skin or the Liquid Band-Aids?


The other kicker is that I have 6 new songs to learn by then that we haven't rehearsed as a band yet. It's important that we play them (old favorites for old fans of the band)...so I'm listening to them over and over...learning by osmosis because I can't actually play them.

(ps. I'm typing with my thumbs. Pretty good, huh? It took me 14 hours to type this...with water breaks.)

[Mon Rominee]

Ouch.

You're really not going to be in any position to be playing for a bit, judging by your description. Fingerstyle is almost definitely out, as you will be impacting the wound, regardless if you're not technically flexing it open.

Who knows, you might end up wincing a lot, and people will think you are " quite an into it, concentrating-intense mofo"

Seriously tho, NuSkin works good, but it won't hold up to the abuse of the strings. Nu Skin, covered by sport tape, or electrical tape...dependint on which feels better tactile-wise...(both will STILL be "alien" to you, so keep at it...)

Been there. You'll more than likely still end up with blood on yer strings.

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by Mo'Phat

I'm not going to the doctor, and chicks dig scars.

Anybody tried Nu-Skin or the Liquid Band-Aids?

I've tried all 3 and really the only difference in the Nu-Skin and Liquid Bandage stuff is that they smell like cloves. Otherwise it's pretty much all the same.

Super glue was made for this stuff.

http://www.fensende.com/Users/swnymph/refs/glue.html

History and development:

In 1959, a variety of cyanoacrylate adhesives were developed, some types of which are now used for surgical purposes in Canada and Europe. These glues polymerize on contact with basic substances such as water or blood to form a strong bond. The first glue developed was methyl cyanoacrylate, which was studied extensively for its potential medical applications and was rejected due to its potential tissue toxicity such as inflammation or local foreign body reactions. Methyl alcohol has a short molecular chain which contributes to these complications.

Further research revealed that by changing the type of alcohol in the compound to one with a longer molecular chain, the tissue toxicity was much reduced. All the medical grade tissue adhesives currently available for human use contain butyl-esters, which are costlier to produce.

In 1964, the Tennessee Eastman lab submitted its first application for new drug approval to the FDA. The military learned of this new glue and became extremely interested in its potential for use in field hospitals. MASH units in Vietnam were overloaded. Many solders were dying from chest and abdominal wounds, despite the best efforts of medics. In 1966 a special surgical team was flown to Vietnam, trained and equipped to use cyanoacrylate adhesive. A quick spray over the wounds stopped bleeding and bought time until conventional surgery could be performed. The possibilities were immediately seized by the medical communities of Europe and the Far East. Meanwhile the FDA changed standards and kept requesting additional data until Eastman was reluctantly forced to withdraw his application. (Jueneman, 1981)

Histoacryl Blue (n-butyl cyanoacrylate) has been used extensively in Europe since the 1970s for a variety of surgical applications including middle ear surgery, bone and cartilage grafts, repair of cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and skin closure. It has been available in Canada through Davis & Geck Canada, with no adverse effects reported to date. Further, laboratory studies have been done which concluded that it has no carcinogenic potential. Tissue toxicity has only been noted when the adhesive is introduced deep in highly vascular areas (the perineum qualifies). While I always take claims of harmlessness with a grain of salt, if used as directed, these adhesives appear to be basically safe.

(Quinn & Kissick, 1994) Current use: Although not labeled as such, over-the-counter Super Glue products contain methyl alcohol, because it is inexpensive to produce. Cyanoacrylates cure by a chemical reaction called polymerization, which produces heat. Methyl alcohol has a pronounced heating action when it contacts tissue and may even produce burns if the glue contacts a large enough area of tissue. Rapid curing may also lead to tissue necrosis. Midwives have not noted such reactions because minimal amounts are being used for perineal repair. Nevertheless, with a greater toxic potential, over-the-counter products are inappropriate for use in wound closure. (Quinn & Kissick, 1994)

Medical grade products currently available contain either butyl, isobutyl or octyl esters. They are bacteriostatic and painless to apply when used as directed, produce minimal thermal reaction when applied to dry skin and break down harmlessly in tissue. They are essentially inert once dry. Butyl products are rigid when dry, but provide a strong bond. Available octyl products are more flexible when dry, but produce a weaker bond.

When used for repair, ideally the wound to be closed is fresh, clean, fairly shallow, with straight edges that lie together on their own. The glue is applied to bridge over the closed edges; it should not be used within the wound (on raw surfaces), where it will impair epithelization. The only currently FDA approved adhesives suitable for use as suture alternatives are veterinary products; n-butyl- cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives Vetbond (3M) and Nexaband liquid and octyl-based Nexaband S/C (intended for topical skin closure when deep sutures have been placed). Histoacryl Blue (butyl based) (Davis & Geck) and Tissu-Glu (isobutyl based) (Medi-West Pharmaceuticals) are sold in Canada for human use. DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) or acetone serve as removers. (Helmstetter, 1995; Quinn & Kissick, 1994)

[xyllion]

I have heard that there is a difference between the super glue at your local drug store and the stuff that can be used medically. My understanding is that the ordinary super glue that you can buy is not good for you and can hurt you.

If your fingers are that badly messed up, I think you are foolish to try playing using them. Take the next two days and learn to play with your thumb and/or a pick. You really don't want to mess up your fingers to badly.

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by xyllion

I have heard that there is a difference between the super glue at your local drug store and the stuff that can be used medically. My understanding is that the ordinary super glue that you can buy is not good for you and can hurt you.

(Quinn & Kissick, 1994) Current use: Although not labeled as such, over-the-counter Super Glue products contain methyl alcohol, because it is inexpensive to produce. Cyanoacrylates cure by a chemical reaction called polymerization, which produces heat. Methyl alcohol has a pronounced heating action when it contacts tissue and may even produce burns if the glue contacts a large enough area of tissue. Rapid curing may also lead to tissue necrosis. Midwives have not noted such reactions because minimal amounts are being used for perineal repair. Nevertheless, with a greater toxic potential, over-the-counter products are inappropriate for use in wound closure. (Quinn & Kissick, 1994)

[i like tictacs]

Three words: left hand tapping

[Jazzin']

One word: pick

[Mo'Phat]

HEY! I can still slap...and pop with my pinky. Maybe I'll get a Chapman Stick, learn it tomorrow, and pioneer the 7 finger tapping technique.

Yep...I think I'll be slapping my way through punk and reggae songs. I can't really hold a pick 'cause of the index finger cut.

[fatbassjazzer]

Ouch man, I can't even believe how much that sucks. Definitley try a pick or your thump. If its that deep then it won't be completeley healed for a while.

[cosmodrome]

i once slashed my left index pretty deep. had to rehearse that night, i played with the other fingers but it was a bloody mess anyway (good practise though). good luck playing.

[romac]

When opening the box my first bass came in, on my day of excitement, I had finally got my bass, let the learning begin. Well I slashed my finger on the stanley knife opening the box. The learning didn't begin till 4 or 5 days later

Not funny at the time though.

[Frank Martin]

Originally Posted by Jazzin'

One word: pick

Three hours late and a dollar shorter

[Mike Money]

Dude, act like you got a pair and just play. Best elixir ever.

[Mo'Phat]

Originally Posted by Mike Money

Dude, act like you got a pair and just play. Best elixir ever.

Actually, I think I'm gonna cancel the show, quit the band, give up bass, castrate myself, move to the wilderness, poke myself in the eye with a stick, and cry through my depression until some compassionate bear decides to eat me.

Yep.

ps. If you're a compassionate bear...eat me

[Frank Martin]

Originally Posted by Mo'Phat

Yep...I think I'll be slapping my way through punk and reggae songs. I can't really hold a pick 'cause of the index finger cut.

Slap will be ok with punk (i think) but for reggae use rather thumping - and I think it will even sit well with it.

If you have your hand bandaged, then you'll be able to hold the pick - but play softer with it, then, and rather turn the volume up

Good luck with it

[Frank Martin]

Originally Posted by Mo'Phat

Actually, I think I'm gonna cancel the show, quit the band, give up bass, castrate myself, move to the wilderness, poke myself in the eye with a stick, and cry through my depression until some compassionate bear decides to eat me.

Yep.

The first one I can understand, and you have your objective and subjective reasons for that, but as for the rest?
Dont do it! i mean Dont give up bass, dont quit the band, dont castrate yourself, etc.
Rather have a rest and take some Prozac and stuff

[Aaron Saunders]

Just use your thumb. You don't have to slap, just play with your thumb.