Medical Advice...

[Bob Clayton]

Last night I slammed my hand in a car door. I only hurt one finger, middle finger on my left hand to be exact. It's not broken, I know this because it doesn't hurt when I'm not doing anything and I can bend it.

Since it happened though, it has been numb only on the inside from the second knuckle up to the tip. The finger does hurt if pressure is applied from any directions, especially from side to side.

Any advice on what it might be?

[Vince S.]

Go see a doctor if you are concerned.

[Jonny B]

Originally Posted by Vince S.

Go see a doctor if you are concerned.

And I second that motion.

[meev992]

I never even sleep on my hands, that's how paranoid I am about my playing ability.

Go see the doc.

[hubcaps]

Get it checked out. My guitarist had to finger injuries over the summer from playing flag football and is just starting to play again.

In the mean time ice it (15 min on at a time max) and take some aspirin, motrin, to reduce any inflammation.

[MakiSupaStar]

Ice it. Swelling can pinch nerves. Reduce the swelling. See a doctor.

[Diggler]

Originally Posted by Vince S.

Go see a doctor if you are concerned.

Now that you've fulfilled the first part of medical care, which is posting on a non-medical internet discussion forum, it's time to see a doctor.

[middy]

Originally Posted by Bob Clayton

It's not broken, I know this because it doesn't hurt when I'm not doing anything and I can bend it.

That's doesn't mean there isn't a fracture. Go to a doctor.

Or just wait for it to heal... it doesn't sound like there will be any complications. You can trust me, I'm from the internet.

[mikemulcahy]

My professional advice would be...GO SEE A DOCTOR. Unless you have developed xray vision and can diagnose nerve damage in a single bound.

Mike

[J.D.B.]

I always come to the BASS FORUM for my medical advice. Go to a doctor. Yup, they cost money(what doesn't?). The medical advice you get over the net is almost worth what you pay for it. Notice how many are sending you to a doctor?
Josh

[Loose Cannon]

I did a similar thing last summer; mashing my finger in an old one-piece garage door bracket. I didn't know it was possible for a finger to get THAT flat. Really freaky. I had the same symptoms in the finger for a few days. Not having any money to see a doctor, I lived with it, and eventually it got nearly back to normal. "Nearly back to normal" means it works fine and has no pain anymore, but it is a little misshapen. "A little misshapen" means the first joint of the injured index finger measures 2.2 centimeters across and the other measures 1.9 centimeters across.

Like the others said, if you are concerned, go see a doctor, don't ask us. If you are not concerned, live with it and you have a good story to tell.

[flakeh]

well yah see, you pinched the left mainceeroial nerve, that should heal in about 2-3 weeks, maybe 4. ice it everyday and take aspirin as directed by the bottle. When it goes numb come back and we'll have another looksee. Now go up to the front desk and shelly will give you your bill.

[morf]

Just go see a doc man. Sucks though, you probably won't be able to play bass for awhile

[Bob Clayton]

i can still play bass.. the only concern is that it is still numb.

it doesn't hurt now and there is no swelling... just numb.

[toytech]

I used to just ignore battered fingers, at ,most I would tape a broken one to the one next to it back in my younger martial arts days, now I wish I had been more carefull with them, martial arts combined with 20 years of wrenching on cars has left them pretty gnarly looking. I wear a size 12.75 wedding ring (it is tight) and my right hand ring finger is even bigger. I am only 5'9" tall too.

[cheezewiz]

See a doctor. I did a major cut to my pinky finger last year, and it's still numb, due to nerve damage. I pretty much had to retrain my left hand to play, and had to change the way I finger a lot of songs I play. It makes it almost impossible to use proper left hand technique on the upright. It's really nothing to screw with if you value your bass playing.

[Bob Clayton]

looks like i'll go check out a doc tomorrow.

[Marcury]

Good Idea!