Shootin' Southpaw for a while now

[jhearne]

Monday night I slammed my knife into my finger, much like a cleaver. My right index, straight to the bone. Required 4 stitches. The wound is just past where my index finger meets my hand, towards the end of the finger. Movement isn't an issue, seems to have full range though I refrain to keep from opening up the gash.

I normally shoot righty, though I am a natural Southpaw. Thankfully I can shoot lefty, just not as accurate as my normal hand.

I was trimming a piece of plastic with my knife (I know, big no no), had my right hand directly in the path of the blade and it slipped out into my hand. I got stupid and paid the price. Just after while wrapping it up I remembered I have a Dremel and should've just drug it out and went to work....would've been so much safer too. Was impatient and stopped thinking clearly.

I surprised myself by how efficient I was at covering and applying pressure to the gash and then locking up the dogs, turning off the stove, computer monitor and finally locking up the house. Adrenaline kicked in along with the endorphins and got my butt in gear. Wasn't so bad since I live about 1/2 mile from the nearest Fire Station and under 2 miles from Urgent Doc (a walk-in style doctor's office for less critical emergency care). Apparently my Boy Scout first aid knowledge kicked in but only after I completely disregarded simple yet serious Blade Safety. Guess I'd get all 4 corners taken off my Totin' Chip lol.

Here's links to the pics while at the Doc's office, there is one bloody pic and show a bit of graphic content so there's a NSFW warning, which is why I'm not posting the pics directly here.

Before Stitches *Open wound, minimal blood
After Stitches *Stitched, good bit of blood
Covered up *Freshly bandaged back from the doc at home, minimal blood seeped through first layer of gauze

First time to get stitches, probably won't be my last. At least I learned a lesson this time....well I hope I remember it.

Josh

PS The knife in question was my EDC, a SOG Twitch II.....very sharp.

 

[Russ7777]

Ouch! Glad it wasn't worse than it is.
I am also a natural southpaw that shoots right. I am planning on learning how to shoot leftie though.

 

[Bountyhunter]

That's a good one. I've done the same thing to the same finger three times in the last 8 years at work. Razor blades. :roll:

Also a little super glue goes a long way. :lol:

 

[Cholo]

jhearne, you're just lucky you didn't slice a tendon or something. You'll be shootin' righty in no time.

I did the same thing one time. Cutting the cable ties off a set of tie down straps to anchor a machine in the back of my PU. Did I think to ask the guy if he had a pair of wire clippers? NooOOOooo Just had to get 'er done with a razor sharp Spyderco knife. The 1st 3 went ok, the 4th wasn't giving. Just when I thought I should move my left hand out of the way it gave and I jammed that thing into the web of my left hand 1". Yes, there was a line on the blade and I measured it.

Being a Saturday and I didn't want to spend the rest of my day in some emergency room to get a few stitches, I went to a drug store and got some Super Glue. Took 3 weeks to heal and I have one hell of a scar.

So, it looks like Bountyhunter and I aren't the only ones to glue the bi**h shut :roll:

 

[tdyoung58]

Good job

Sliced my thumb open once cutting turnips for a rabbit trap, basically from one side to the other down to the bone.

It's not a bad thing to be able to shoot with either hand, hell try shooting with your middle finger on the trigger as well.

Never know when you might need to

 

[jhearne]

I can't feel the top outer part of my finger from the cut to the tip. I heard when they inject the deadening stuff, that if they hit a nerve and inject into it, it can kill that nerve. A coworker has a deadened index finger from when he sliced into his webbing of his hand between the thumb and index. Regardless of how I lost the feeling, I'm none to optimistic about getting it back any time soon.....just feels weird, all pins and needles.

Was able to wash my hand for the first time yesterday, what a relief lol.

I've heard about the Super Glue method, a few coworkers have had to do it at work on less severe cuts.

Josh

 

[Jeepnik]

Sorry to hear of the injury. But, think of it as karma. A southpaw shooting right handed. Shame on you. Don't deny your special nature.

 

[toysoldier]

I heard when they inject the deadening stuff, that if they hit a nerve and inject into it, it can kill that nerve.

I've heard about the Super Glue method, a few coworkers have had to do it at work on less severe cuts.

Josh

Tendons run along the top and bottom of the fingers; nerves and vessels run along the sides. One thing that hand specialists hate is E.R. docks who numb up a cut and stitch it up before determining possible nerve or tendon damage. By the time the local anesthetic wears off and the loss is noted, repair is more difficult or impossible.

I don't recomment self-treatment with superglue. We use it in surgery, but only after cleaning the wound and putting in deep stitches to hold things together. Most people don't do sufficient cleaning of a wound (or apply inappropriate solutions, like alcohol or turpentine) before slathering on superglue. The human body is amazingly resiliant, and can heal in spite of lots of inappropriate treatment, so many times this self-treatment gets the job done.

 

[wildturk]

Sounds like you guy's were lucky. I crushed my Rt. Hand and RT index, middle fingers 7 years ago. I can do a little with the hand, but the fingers are useless. Learning to shoot "lefty" after doing it right handed for 35+ years takes a lot of practice. Good to hear your going be ok.

 

[ZiggyK]

I'm a lefty too but can shoot righty although not as good as lefty. I was never forced to do things righty so I do most things southpaw but find that I can play certain sports like golf and baseball righty better sometimes even though it feels weird swinging a club or ball. Can't throw righty for crap but use my right hand for certain things such as drinking. I have hit bullseyes at 15 yards righty one handed which was a shock to me having not practiced much but again sometimes I just do better righty even though it feels odd.