How do you relieve pain?

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Finally after about 3 weeks, this was my first week back under restrictions. Of course those that know me know I sorta push my limits

The third day back I was trying to get a broken handle out of a blacktop patch tamper. Using a BFH of 6 pounds to hammer off the tamper off the broken handle, the BFH glanced off and hit my thumb directly. My helper had no idea of all the foul languages I could speak in foreign tongue. OMG did it hurt, I think it hurt more than a tooth ache or when my appendix went. I played off that yeah it hurt, but no big deal.

I get home and show the Mrs. By now it is turning shades of purple and black. Now all of my hand is throbbing. Pain shooting up my arm, tears running down my face, and not any of my pain meds would ease things one bit.

Wife googles smashed thumb. Tells me she has to heat a paper clip up red hot and poke it through my nail. Huh?? "Honey I love you, but I've never done this before". ah geeeezzzz it hurts so bad and I think at this point anything can't be worse.

Well, I ate those words pretty fast. She finds one of those large paper clips that looks about the thickness of a 14awg wire. She gets it nice and hot and presses hard down on my thumb nail. Oh oh owwwww the pressure of her pushing down on the nail and then the point of the clip going through my nail and I swear it hit bone. Now I don't know which is worse the pain in my nail or the burning deep inside my thumb. At this point, she looks at me and tells me that I had better lie down. I was chalky white and ready to pass out. About 10 minuets later my color comes back and stupid me I let her try again, again, and again. Each time making it worse. Hardly got any sleep. By morning, just the thumb was throbbing. By noon the pain eased up where I could keep my mind on my tasks.

I don't think she followed the instructions on how to do the procedure correctly. My helper said he did his own and it was just a quick touch to the nail. He used a small pin as well.

So how do you take care of a badly smashed finger or toe?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

Amputate it
freeze it with some R22

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

She's got the right idea SS, but it needs to be red hot and I'd use a smaller clip. You can also take a very small drill bit (boil it to sterilize it) and with your fingers, twist it back and forth til it eats through the nail. A new bit clearly is the only way to go with that method. Or just go to the ER and have it done. Should be workman's comp anyway right? That's really the only thing that will make it feel better is getting the pressure off. Then some Percocet and a good night's sleep.

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

I smashed my thumb in the clamps on a bending machine 25 years ago.Went to the clinic and the doc did the paper clip thing.VERY painful!!!!

All you can do now is work with as best you can.When not working/off duty the only time mine didn't hurt was when sleeping.

Good luck.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

This works for me in the short term. I think of the point of the pain. Then i mentally trace it back from my hurting limb to my brain and just shut it off. It works to different degrease of success and for me definitely takes the edge off of the pain.

ps still not as good as some of those good drugs the doctor subscribes

 

[woosterken]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

OMG!!!I just about snoked out just reading that

woosterken

 

[JB]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

Ice. If that doesn't work, morphine.

 

[i386]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

Tiny drill bit to release the fluid pressure. Flush with hydrogen peroxide. Neosporin. Ice. Anti-inflammatory such as Aleve (Naproxin) or Ibuprofin.

Hang in there!

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

fortunately i have health insurance, so this candy *** lets surgeons do that dirty work.

 

[Nandy]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

Your pain and throbbing is due to the fluid pressure built between your nail and your injury. I never done that procedure you describe but my nurse friend got a hypodermic needle and drill the hole in my nail that way without the need of heat. You can get the needles for less than a dollar and they are already sterile. By now most of that blood has cloth so you will have to put a bit of pressure to get the fluid out as the hole might plug with the blood.
I have use this method plenty of times since I learned. It always work and the earliest you do it the better as the blood will come out faster and you experience less pain. Make sure you drill the hole and not try to punch a hole in the nail. If you punch it the needle might go too far in and it could damage a nerve. Drill slowly, you will get an early sign (blood will start to flow our of the hole) that you need to stop.
Good Luck.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

He must have gone to the er, it's been over an hour ago. Hope you can show us a photo of that bad boy! It's been a while since I've seen a mashed thumb.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

Ice...... aspirin...... and in the morning if the nail looks discolored..... borrow the wife's nail polish and paint them!

OMG no more tools for you....... it hurt just reading the thread.... how did you ever type everything with only one typing finger left

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

Ice...... aspirin...... and in the morning if the nail looks discolored..... borrow the wife's nail polish and paint them!

OMG no more tools for you....... it hurt just reading the thread.... how did you ever type everything with only one typing finger left

lol Bob..I was thinking the same..also I ain't freaking typing all of you guys with a pounding thumb, making it hurt while I tell you how much it hurts! kinda vic- OUCH -i DANG!!!- us SONOFAAAAA cy-ARGHHH-cle-BEACH!!!!

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

SS..take care o your dang self..hasn't been your luckiest of days lately..

Thumbs are really important! Seperate us from the chimps..no wait they have thumbs too...freekin monkeys

Really, hope you get that taken care of.

CBK

 

[ebry710]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

I do not care if that technique worked. OMG. I cringe just thinking of the pain you went through. I will stick with the small drill bit though.

Oh, by the way, your wife must be a good women. She thought of the results and not necessary your immediate pain. That is not easy to do. Kudos to her.

 

[rwise]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

start with tylox or similar, chase that with a few shots of whiskey then go soak it. I think that hot rod was supposed to be poked through the other thumb!

Edit: tsk, tsk. JB

 

[mthieme]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

Ice. If that doesn't work, morphine.

Agree !!!
Morphine is wonderful but causes some nasty constipation.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

EDIT: Naughty quote gone. JB
thats not cool Rwise

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

start with tylox or similar, chase that with a few shots of whiskey then go soak it EDIT

This post has to have been accidental or just a really poor attempt at humour. I can't believe a forum regular would intentionally post something this tasteless.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: How do you relieve pain?

he BFH glanced off and hit my thumb directly. My helper had no idea of all the foul languages I could speak in foreign tongue. OMG did it hurt, I think it hurt more than a tooth ache or when my appendix went. I played off that yeah it hurt, but no big deal.

I get home and show the Mrs. By now it is turning shades of purple and black. Now all of my hand is throbbing. Pain shooting up my arm, tears running down my face, and not any of my pain meds would ease things one bit.

Wife googles smashed thumb. Tells me she has to heat a paper clip up red hot and poke it through my nail. Huh?? "Honey I love you, but I've never done this before". ah geeeezzzz it hurts so bad and I think at this point anything can't be worse.

Well, I ate those words pretty fast. She finds one of those large paper clips that looks about the thickness of a 14awg wire. She gets it nice and hot and presses hard down on my thumb nail. Oh oh owwwww the pressure of her pushing down on the nail and then the point of the clip going through my nail and I swear it hit bone. Now I don't know which is worse the pain in my nail or the burning deep inside my thumb. At this point, she looks at me and tells me that I had better lie down. I was chalky white and ready to pass out. About 10 minuets later my color comes back and stupid me I let her try again, again, and again. Each time making it worse. Hardly got any sleep. By morning, just the thumb was throbbing. By noon the pain eased up where I could keep my mind on my tasks.

I don't think she followed the instructions on how to do the procedure correctly. My helper said he did his own and it was just a quick touch to the nail. He used a small pin as well.

So how do you take care of a badly smashed finger or toe?

If you hit the thumbnail itself, you can use a red-hot wire or needle or small drill bit (a #50 seems to be the best mix of small enough to be virtually pain-free, but big enough to do the job.....not that I would know...) Actually, i do my left thumbnail often enough that I am always on the lookout for a micro pressure relief valve for permanemt installation.

If the nail itself was not the focal point of the impact, and there is not an obvious collecting of blood under the nail, there may be other damage and the pain will not be treatable by piercing the nail.