broken finger

**powder11** · 07-18-2006, 03:42 PM

what a dummy...

I was riding down a fairly steep rock slab with a small drop in the transition. I was going to slow for it and did one of those slo mo endos landing on my right hand/arm/shoulder. Upon inspection, I came out of it relatively unscathed, but I believe my finger is broken. Its jutting out at a wierd angle and it hurts. I iced it down and all that. Is it necessary to have a finger set, can I just give it a yank myself or just leave it as is and make a splint?

Im American in Canada, so no free health care for me...

**The Dad** · 07-18-2006, 03:45 PM

Should you fix it yourself?

Hmmm. I guess it depends on how important your finger is to you.

I broke four or five fingers at various different times growing up, had each professionally set (dad was an internist, and professional courtesy was a marvelous thing), and several are still a little off.

**Van_skier** · 07-18-2006, 03:54 PM

Sorry to hear, that sucks.

I'd recommend to get it checked out... I landed on my fingers about 4-5 weeks ago and when I went to see the doc, he said it was a good thing I came...
If it's broken, apparently it sets really fast (2 weeks max) and it can reset crooked which would be permanent (they have to rebrake it to reset properly). If it's broken and jutting out and you don't get it set in the right spot and properly splinted, it could be permanently jutting out...
So I recommend to see a doc (although I'm sure Shirk will laugh at me for this and say that's what girls do

).

Good luck with the finger

**seanyob** · 07-18-2006, 04:15 PM

Yeah, go have it set. Broke my finger drunk in college and never went in to see the Doc. Now my grip strength in my left hand is considerably less than my right.

**Art Shirk** · 07-18-2006, 04:18 PM

Funk that. I have broken 3 fingers and all ten toes from either tennis or skiing. In fact, I have a broken toe right now due to an errant stiletto. Just make sure it is straight (if not, snap it into place), and then duct tape it to its nearest relative. No use in going to the doctor for this type of injury unless you are a "hand model" or your girlfriend is Palmela Handerson and you want to keep her beautiful for those long cold lonely nights.

**powder11** · 07-18-2006, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Van_skier

(although I'm sure Shirk will laugh at me for this and say that's what girls do

).

Good luck with the finger

tell Shirk I was clipped in and I blame him for calling me out on being a pussy for not riding clippless

**Jim S** · 07-18-2006, 05:09 PM

Been there, done that. Had some fixed and some not.
Get it seen and taken care of by a pro.

**shirk** · 07-18-2006, 06:00 PM

Pussy........

Just yank it back into place. Apply beer and some mary jane, then tape it up and keep on riding. Atleast that what I did when I messed up a pinky finger several years ago.

Oh and keep with the clipless, see what happens when you don't commit to the line with speed

We might be up your way this weekend with a crew.

**Squirrel99** · 07-18-2006, 06:07 PM

crap luck man. heal it up for august- I think we got some hiking to take care of

**Dexter Rutecki** · 07-18-2006, 06:36 PM

I thought your policy was to only wreck yourself while skiing.

you should get it checked out, it's possible that there's more wrong than just the broken bone. my brother broke a finger and because he didn't deal with it right away had problems for months and months, including some cast type thing for awhile.
At least have them look at it to tell you you don't need anything.

**hutash** · 07-18-2006, 06:36 PM

It depends on which finger and what you intend to use it for. Tape and popsicle sticks got me through a season of water polo with a broken pinky.

**P_McPoser** · 07-18-2006, 06:45 PM

Go get it checked out. A guy at work had what he thought was a broken finger which turned out to be a detached tendon, which could have required amputation if not operated on pretty quickly.