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Broke My middle finger last night

iriegnome

iriegnome

Bassstar style
Supporting Member
Nov 23, 2001
11,263
5,577
61
Kenosha, WI 53140
#1
Don't really know if this is technique or not, but mods do your stuff..
Anyway, last night I was messing with my daughter and I went to swipe at the back of her shirt as she walked passed me. Well, I missed. The shirt that is. The wall I did not. I broke my middle finger on my left hand. Fortunately my band is off for the next 2 weeks. However, I don't know how to play without my middle finger on my fretting hand.. This is going to be a very difficult 2+ weeks :bawl:
 
#2
iriegnome said:
Don't really know if this is technique or not, but mods do your stuff..
Anyway, last night I was messing with my daughter and I went to swipe at the back of her shirt as she walked passed me. Well, I missed. The shirt that is. The wall I did not. I broke my middle finger on my left hand. Fortunately my band is off for the next 2 weeks. However, I don't know how to play without my middle finger on my fretting hand.. This is going to be a very difficult 2+ weeks :bawl:
Click to expand...

Simple answer is you don't.
Depending on the type of break it will start to fuse in a matter of days. In about 6 weeks the process will be complete and the matter of re-habilitation starts for real. this will last anywhwere up to about 3-4 months, again depending on the type of break.

So use the 2 week break you have and do not use the finger.
If any bone fragments or bone material enters the blood stream then complications can occur, so rest is the order of the day.
As a bone heals the break will thicken as a result of the bones natural process in healing and the tissue around it can harden. sometimes a visible lump is left because this tissue was not broken down and removed in the blood stram as waste.

This thickening can cause problems, but if you use Arnica tincture in the tablet form and later as a cream to rub in to the finger then it will break down easier and help reduce the effects of any thickening.

Remember it is just six weeks of your life to rest and give the injury time to heal correctly. In the scheme of things six weeks is little to ask for when you consider what's at stake, so put the bass down and enjoy the rest till it gets better.
 
#3
Tough break, man! No pun intended. I imagine the worst part is going to be when you start playing after the break is officially healed. It's going to be sore and a little weak. The instinctive moves are what's going to get you. My finger's sore just thinking about it.
 
#6
swipe at the back of her shirt? that sounds very strange to me.

why would you ever take a swipe at your daughter? maybe you could have injured her.

how far away is her body from her shirt? and if you had enough force in your "swipe" to break a finger, you worry me.

how old is she?

and how old are you?
 
#7
You will be amazed at how fast you will adapt. I had 2 left hand fingers out of commission for a while a number of years ago, and only had my 2nd (pointer) and ring finger functioning for several months. A little pain will train you quickly (not trying to be mean, but reflexes are able to be remapped). Good luck!
 
#8
Here's one you can borrow.
images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQipD6s8GIXCOfTJxGYSf6NrDUtu9-hQBSwx18uU7rmwgUrbNYegw.jpg


Just kidding.:hiding:

Not really sure about any techniques. Probably just have to see what will work for you without overdoing. It's already been said, but don't risk an even longer term problem by pushing it too much right now.

/Really hope I don't get in trouble for this, but I just can't pass up a chance to use this awesome pic of Cash.
 
#9
Wow that really sucks. No real advice to offer about rehab but I hope it heals quickly and without complications.

You said your band is off for 2 weeks but I would be getting a sub on board anyway (or get your band's gigs rescheduled) cause you're gonna be out of commission longer than that even in the best case scenario and as previous posters said, the worst thing you can do is try to rush it back and just delay things more in the process.
 
#11
LOL I broke my right middle finger (non-fretting hand) 6 weeks ago. The bone is now healed and yesterday, I tried to play bass for the first time since the incident. Fingering failed big time because the middle finger was just sore every time it hit the string. At least I was able to do "the hook" and used pick for some of the songs.
 
#15
Largedon said:
Here's one you can borrow.
images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQipD6s8GIXCOfTJxGYSf6NrDUtu9-hQBSwx18uU7rmwgUrbNYegw.jpg


Just kidding.:hiding:

Not really sure about any techniques. Probably just have to see what will work for you without overdoing. It's already been said, but don't risk an even longer term problem by pushing it too much right now.

/Really hope I don't get in trouble for this, but I just can't pass up a chance to use this awesome pic of Cash.
Click to expand...

Dude, LOVE that pic. But, it always reminds me of John Belushi.
 
#16
So it is just a hairline fracture, but it hurts like hell. Going to be interesting. Simplified bass lines... Oh Yea.. However, I can just see using my index and ring finger and trying to float my middle finger. That is going to be funny
 
#17
If there is any pain don't play.

If you broke your leg you wouldn't walk on it. Treat your finger the same way. Let it heal and get back to 100%. You can cause more damage lengthening your recovery time and may have to take more time off later compared to just a few weeks now.

I have a very crooked and deformed pinky becaue i didn't take care of a hairline fracture and continued to use it afterward.
 
#18
I broke my left ring finger one time, I splinted it up and was able to play simplified lines using mostly my index finger. I broke my left wrist minutes prior to going on stage once, the endorphins kept the pain at bay for the first half of our set, but it was screaming during the last half and I eventually ended up in a cast. I took a month and half off after that one.
 
#19
I broke my index, muddle and ring fingers in 5 places when I was 16. Car wreck. I was just getting serious about bass and was the only player in my high school program. My doc splinted all three, I covered with an ace bandage and used a banjo pick on my thumb for 6 weeks.

When they were healed up, the doc was gonna have me do pt. when I asked when I could play my bass again, he told me that 1-2 hours a day of playing was the best pt I could do.

I made sure to skip at least 2 classes a day to practice after that ;)
 
#20
Well, I skipped out on practice last night. The swelling has come down a bit. I did also have a hairline fracture of my right wrist. Played in a soft cast for 9 weeks. Had to use a pick the whole time (Something I rarely ever do these days). I think my finger is worse than my wrist. It is one of those things you just don't realize how much you use it until you can't.
 

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