[TheAudioDude]

Well... this just sucks. Right after I got home from work, I had this feeling that something bad would happen. Little did I know...

I was leaving my apartment to go hang out with a few friends and I was carrying out my trash and a six pack. I start to turn to go to my car and guess what? Whole parking lot/stoop is just a sheet of ice w/ 3 inches of snow on top. It didn't seem so slippery when I came in after work; there was maybe a 15 minute gap between coming home and going out.

I slipped, fell, looked at my six pack and thought, well there goes a beer... ******* it.

I then looked at my right hand.... the skin on my ring and pinky fingers was literally torn open. I thought I could see some bone too. I also noticed that my ring finger didn't look quite right. Hmmm...

Yep, the top of my finger (top joint) was bent downwards. Could not move it at all.

So me, being the responsible person I am, picked up my trash and six pack, walked slowly back inside, told my friend I wouldn't make it, wrapped up my hand, and drove myself to the ER. Keep in mind I drive a stick shift. Also, it just snowed like crazy so everyone is going painfully slow. Ironically, I felt absolutely no pain up until it was time for my local anesthetic shots...

Anyways, I get to the ER, get looked at, then end up sitting in a room for an hour. Now, I'm a very patient person (no pun intended; just imagine typing this with your non-dominant hand), so I comfortably sat there until the head doctor came in.

Let me tell you... getting a needle pushed into not one, but two deep lacerations in your fingers hurts like the bowels of hell. After that it was smooth sailing.

As he's checking out the damage, he says, "Well, this is very bad. Not good at all." So I ask, "What is it?" And he tells me that I completely severed the tendon in my ring finger, hence the reason it looks so weird and I can't bend above my top joint.

Yep, I need surgery on my finger. If not tomorrow, then Monday.

But I try to be optimistic about things... at least I'm not going into work tomorrow.

 

[logwed]

O.M.F.G. Wow. owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

I definitely thought a dirty thought upon reading the title of this thread.

Get better, man!

 

[h.rav]

I had a similar injury a couple of months ago and it's *ai*ful.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Can you use your WA22? If not, you may send it to me (just kidding)

 

[koven]

Any pics?

 

[TheAudioDude]

Yeah dude. After seeing what happened, I was incredibly (and happily) surprised that I felt no pain at all. I must have been in some state of shock.

Anyways, I'm about to go back to the ER since there's a bloody spot in the bandage on my ring finger and it's only getting bigger.

BTW, any lawyers in the house??

As the nurse was dressing my wounds I joked about suing my apartment complex since you know, there was not even a speck of sand or ice to be seen. But anyways, I'm not the type that asks for reparations of any sort. A wise man once said, "crap happens."

Sorry but no pics.

I wanted to look at my wounds as little as possible.

 

[GreatDane]

OUCH. That sucks. Good luck in recovery.

 

[Clayton SF]

Yikes, TheAudioDude! YIKES! After reading about your accident I had to put my hand, I mean my headphones over my ears, turn on my WA22, and play something loud so that I could get the vision of your bent finger out of my mind!

There. All better. At least for me.

Here's wishing you a speedy recovery. I guess there'll be no soldering either, huh?

 

[balderon]

Your story sent chills down my spine. I can't imagine and hope to never experience the level of pain and suffering you have to endure. Hoping the best outcome from surgery followed by a quick and full recovery.

 

[TheAudioDude]

Thanks everyone! It actually hasn't been bad at all. The worst part was seeing my fingers so torn up. I think surgery and physical therapy will hurt a lot more, not to mention my wallet. I need to check what my plan covers. Hopefully it won't cost as much as Head-Fi!

BTW, the beer that shattered was Stoudt's Fat Dog. Kind of puts a new meaning to the term "the hair of the dog that bit you."

Also, I'm praying for some strong painkillers after surgery. Percocet + Woo Audio + Pink Floyd = one happy dude.

edit
I just checked my health plan and it looks like they cover 100% of surgery costs.

 

[intoflatlines]

I'm no lawyer but in Chicago you are required to keep places like that shoveled and salted. If you're serious about possibly getting the law involved you should take pics ASAP of the conditions of the parking lot and take pics often whenever it snows or is icy.

 

[Clayton SF]

Okay--I took my headphones off long enough to catch up on what's going on with your finger, etc. I'm glad that you are covered 100% by your health plan. One less thing to worry about. I hope you're well enough to drive back to ER and back again and you have some beer on ice right next to your comfort chair of choice.

Take care.

 

[Uncle Erik]

You said you needed a lawyer?

I don't know much about Massachusetts' laws and am certainly not licensed there. However, PI lawyers usually give free consultations. It never hurts to talk to one and it's always good advice to tell someone to talk to counsel. Maybe you have a claim and maybe not, but go talk to someone. If you need a referral, call the Massachusetts State Bar. Most Bars have referral programs. You can also talk to a local lawyer you trust or one used by friends or family. Even if that lawyer doesn't practice PI, they will know someone who does and will hook you up. You can also get a referral by dropping by the local prosecutor's office, Legal Aid or the public defender. They all know people and will be happy to pass along a referral.

And I'm real sorry about your accident and the upcoming surgery. I really hope everything can be put right and that you make a 100% recovery.

Are you right or left handed? I hope you didn't mess up your dominant hand - that would really be a tough break.

I hope you're doing alright and please keep us updated on your progress. I'm pulling for you.

 

[TheAudioDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif You said you needed a lawyer? I don't know much about Massachusetts' laws and am certainly not licensed there. However, PI lawyers usually give free consultations. It never hurts to talk to one and it's always good advice to tell someone to talk to counsel. Maybe you have a claim and maybe not, but go talk to someone. If you need a referral, call the Massachusetts State Bar. Most Bars have referral programs. You can also talk to a local lawyer you trust or one used by friends or family. Even if that lawyer doesn't practice PI, they will know someone who does and will hook you up. You can also get a referral by dropping by the local prosecutor's office, Legal Aid or the public defender. They all know people and will be happy to pass along a referral. And I'm real sorry about your accident and the upcoming surgery. I really hope everything can be put right and that you make a 100% recovery. Are you right or left handed? I hope you didn't mess up your dominant hand - that would really be a tough break. I hope you're doing alright and please keep us updated on your progress. I'm pulling for you.

Thanks man. Unfortunately it was my dominant hand; my right hand. I'm glad it was only my ring and pinky finger. If my videogaming fingers got injured, it would be a tragedy.

I may talk to somebody, not just for my own sake, but IMO the parking lot has to be free of ice even if there's a blizzard. Given, when I went out it had just stopped snowing about 3 minutes prior, but still... an apartment complex has to be 100% aware of its tenants and prevent any possible mishap. By the time I got back from the ER at ~9p.m. (it happened just before 6p.m.) the parking lot was plowed and salted and sanded. Taking pictures was the last thing on my mind (the first million things were oh god what have I done), so there's no real "evidence" aside from my hand.

Anyways, I just called the hand specialist today and I'll be having surgery on Monday. I'll go out later today to pick up some gauze and disinfectant cream.

Lucky me, I have a 4-day weekend!

 

[hypoicon]

It's amazing how much those fingers are important to hand function though. About twenty years ago my pinky had an altercation with a 30" guillotine paper cutter. The finger survived, but it severed the tendon. Got taken by an ambulance to the ER, but then had to drive my stick shift to the hand surgeon (pain killers are wonderful). He told my that it would heal fine, but might have arthritis problems later. So far, no problems and it's perfect. Good luck, dude!

 

[pimfram]

Finger surgery doesn't sound like much fun. I've had a few finger injuries, mainly because I have a knack for injuring myself. Slicing open fingers on glass, can lid, chrome rim, etc, isn't much fun. Best of luck.