Stiches

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Over the years of working with my hands, mishaps do occur. It is always 2 or 3 stiches, nothing major. It has been several years accident free until today.<br /><br />I was changing out a condenser motor on a refrigeration unit that has two fans. With it being a mulifunctional unit, I needed to leave it on line. I have done this job numerous times without any problem. Today while removing the fan guard #1 with a combination wrench, the dang on wrench slipped off and bingo, my index finger went through the guard of fan #2 striking the end of one of the blades. Ouch Got the bandaid out of my wallet and put on it. That helped slow it down some. Finished changing the motor out with a new one while bleeding all over everything. <br /><br />Filled out the incident report, went to the local Workers Comp Clinic. They got me in quickly and said I would need 2 stiches. (In the past 2 or 3 stiches were always done without my wound being numbed) Well this doctor says he has to numb it and that it would sting. I told him to just sew it up without. Doc said he has too because of standard procedure. So 5 pokes of the syringe (which did hurt more than the cut) to numb it and two pokes of a needle to sew it. Whats up with this picture? <br /><br />Must just be away to add charges to the bill.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Stiches

SS MAYFLOAT You betcha it will add to the bill. Workers comp is a gravy train to these doctors.<br /><br /> Three years ago I cut the ends of three finger off down past the first knuckle. the bills I saw from that were outrageouse. $15,000 for trauma visit and three days in the room this included meds.( morphine) $30,000 for the surgery, nothing real fancy, no fingers sewn back on just clean up and 200 stiches. 3 1/2 hours of work, two doctors. They did do an awesome job though.<br /><br />I often wonder if it was not workers comp if the bills would have been so high.

 

[Topmason]

Re: Stiches

I just removed my thumb below the knuckle with a skilsaw July 25th. No reattachment for me either as the saw chewed it up real good.<br />I also hit the middle finger just behind the nail bed. I came close enough to the knuckle that it had to be pinned and fused.<br />I'm at about 15 grand so far and now I have a nerve that has to be removed from it. Another $7500 for that one.<br />Happened at home so no compensation for me.<br />2 weeks after it happened, I was laying stone again, well me and hydrocodone were.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Stiches

Yikes y'all be careful. I nearly cut the tip of my thumb off last year (taped it up and it healed) but I will never forget the nerve pain and throbbing. I feel for ya.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Stiches

Wow, Tool Time in real life. I have had a lot of stiches, but never cut anything off. The worst was cutting the side of my hand on a rotary meat slicer like in a deli. I was slicing onions and got Onion juice in the cut. 5 stiches that time. If I have a new knife, I have to cut myself to cristen the knife. Too bad, I really like knives.

 

[11 footer]

Re: Stiches

Last year my dad chopped up his ring finger real bad in a food processor or work. One of the guys who worked for him jury rigged it and the thing turned on when he was changeing the blade. He has no feeling in the tip of the finger any more.<br /><br />I ripped off two fingernails in my life time, one time It needed two stiches, I did it with a big *** stilson wrench trying to take rusted boilts off my trailer, when they let to I got my finger crushed by the wrench. The other time I got a fireproof door slamed on my middle finger, that hirt.<br /><br />Stay safe!

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Stiches

no stitches in my hands, but if I would have just gotten stitches, they woundnt be so scarred up today, ah well, the things you learn late in life<br /><br />of course, as a towing/auto service owner, heavy duty tow operator, painting contractor, and my facination with machinery in general has led to countless cuts scrapes and assorted abrasions, I cant remember a time when working outside wrapping bushes with dropclothes that I didnt get at least a scrape, or when under the hood not getting some skin sliced off by radiator fins, slipping wrenches, etc, its easy to stay safe if you take your time, but time is money when you are doing to make hay, lol, band aids are cheap enough, I bought em by the gross!<br /><br />

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Stiches

Wow. Gruesome stories. I haven't had stitches sine my mom made me get them when I was a kid. I had this 10" long cut in my thigh, went down to the bone. 16 stitches later I was outta there. Now I use super glue and duct tape to fix things up. My Doc is still real impressed with the way my finger looks, he wanted to stitch a bad cut in it (to the bone again) but I said no way, super glue and duct tape will it fixed right up. There is almost no scar at all

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Stiches

Filleted myself a few times and more "minor incidents" with power tools than i can count... No stiches, yet...<br /><br />Most memorable one's gotta be the one where I was too lazy to chuck this piece of aluminum, that i was grinding on, into a vice... Nahhh, just gotta grind a litte with a little die grinder/carbide rotary rasp action, I'll just hold onto it.... Well, you know what happend next... I slipped, the bit grabbed and caught three fingers, part of my thumb, and chewed up the nails on two fingers cutting a perfect pattern of the teeth of the rasp into the nails.... Honestly, it did'nt even hurt immediately, but about 5-10 seconds later, EEEEOOOUUUCCCHHH! (insert colorful explatives here).. Mucho blood..<br /><br />Slipped and stabbed my thumb with a screwdriver about a month ago... That felt good... <br /><br />The wounds that I hate the worst are burns.... Backed into a hot exhaust manifold last week, burned the back of my leg right in the tender spot at the knee joint..