Fractured bone end joint in middle finger advice

[cocob1]

I fell headfirst down some stairs and have a confirmed fracture in my middle finger of my left hand . I see a hand specialist this Wed. I was midway in Cathe's 3 mo LIC/STS rotation and feeling great and now this .
Any pointers on to to continue my workouts? What are "dumbell hooks?"
Colleen

 

[KellyG]

Hi Colleen,

So sorry to hear about your finger! Ouch! How frustrating. A few months ago I tore the tendon in the end joint of my left middle finger and ended up with what the doctors called a "mallet finger". I had to wear a splint to keep it straight for 8 weeks. When it happened I was right in the middle of STS Meso 2 and I did NOT want to have to stop! I too was feeling great and seeing strength gains already. My physiotherapist recommended that I stop doing heavy weights until my finger healed. This news made sense, but I really wanted to keep going. So I did! Many of the exercises (chest, triceps, shoulders) were fine, I just kept that one finger in the splint and straight while lifting the weights. Biceps was a little harder because you rely on those forearm muscles and fingers to lift. The most difficult exercises I found were any where you have to hold heavy weights palms down (deadlifts, barbell rows) and even lunges holding heavy dumbells was hard. I bought myself a weighted vest so I could take some of the weight away from the dumbells. I also used Cathe's weighted gloves, and if necessary even put wrist weights on. That way I wasn't having to hold onto such heavy weights with my hands and fingers.

I did actually finish STS and I loved it! I did go lighter on some of the exercises I talked about just to save my finger a little. As I said, my therapist recommended no heavy weights at all, which of course makes sense. But if you are bound and determined like I was ,maybe some of these ideas can help.

I don't know what dumbell hooks are, but I wondered about those as well.

Hope your finger feels better soon! Good luck!

Kelly

 

[cab0899]

I'm a health care professional that works in rehab of post op hand surgeries. I would strongly recommend that you wait until a x-ray shows that there is callous or bone growth before ANY movement of that digit. If you move the joints distal or proximal to the fracture site you may displace the fracture and require surgery. I had a patient do that just last week. Feel free to PM me with any questions as this is the area of therapy that I specialize. Good luck on Wednesday.

 

[cocob1]

Kelly and CAB0899 thanks for your kind reply's.
Kelly, I forgot about a weighted vest. Brilliant. How's your finger now? Did you do any of Cathe's Low Impact Series? Lot's of light hand weights and push ups.
CAB0899, my initials are CAB! I'm taking what you have to say very seriously. I'll pm you tomorrow. I've been doing Cathe's yoga relax and yoga max a few times a week and now I'm wondering if I can do that? How about push ups?

Insult to injury ... we have to move out of our house and put everything into storage for two weeks and I'm the part time worker in the family who was to have boxed up all the books , clothes , dishes etc.

the other CAB

 

[KellyG]

Colleen,

I love Cathe's LIS! I did (and still do) many of those workouts. My finger was fine throughout all the workouts I did in this series.

CAB0899 was very helpful to me when I injured my finger and gave me lots of good advice. Hi there CAB0899!

Good luck and keep us posted on your recovery!

Kelly

 

[cocob1]

I have a mallet fracture. I was given this splint but it covers the tip pf my finger so I can't type. I takes forever using two fingers. I go back for an xray in 4 weeks. Our whole society is now based on keyboard communication.

 

[JeanneMarie]

I'm a health care professional that works in rehab of post op hand surgeries. I would strongly recommend that you wait until a x-ray shows that there is callous or bone growth before ANY movement of that digit. If you move the joints distal or proximal to the fracture site you may displace the fracture and require surgery. I had a patient do that just last week. Feel free to PM me with any questions as this is the area of therapy that I specialize. Good luck on Wednesday.

Having experienced a broken wrist last year, I can say that this is excellent advice and you'd do well to listen closely!

Trust me, I was the ultimate "cranky person with a broken wrist who didn't want to quit running and working out". I managed to restrain myself appropriately and I'm so glad I did. I did keep running, although my doctor asked me to wait at least 2 weeks into the cast to do that. Every x-ray check-up I had, I held my breath. You just don't want permanent disability because you weren't willing to follow doctor's orders. It will not hurt you to wait a few weeks to get back into your routine. It won't affect your fitness long term. Really, truly! I am almost 56 years old and am about 98% back to normal use of my wrist after one year. It took work (OT), but I did it. You can too!

Good luck! I know fractures are NO FUN!

 

[cocob1]

I'm more frustrated tying to type with a splint on my middle finger. I'll do what the Dr. says to do. It just couldn't have happened at a worst time. We have 3 weeks to get everything packed up to move. I'm not getting much done.
JeanneMarie, is it you who got bit by a dog? I hope your'e ok.

 

[JeanneMarie]

I'm more frustrated tying to type with a splint on my middle finger. I'll do what the Dr. says to do. It just couldn't have happened at a worst time. We have 3 weeks to get everything packed up to move. I'm not getting much done.
JeanneMarie, is it you who got bit by a dog? I hope your'e ok.

I remember trying to type without use of all my fingers too! My wrist was casted all the way to the first knuckles of my hand. It was beyond frustrating!

Yes, I was one of about 3 of us who got bit by a dog recently while running! Thanks for asking how I'm doing. I am fine. My leg is still bruised, but is finally turning all those lovely yellow and purple colors that indicate it will go away soon.

All of my injuries are exercise related. The dog bite was while running. I broke my wrist falling while doing a step routine using my aerobic step. The step slipped off the risers and I fell backward, putting my hand out to break my fall.

Good luch with your move. I can't even imagine how tough it will be to pack and move with a broken finger.