you too benhall? even the doctor thought he could come up with something. I've already been playing thumbless tonight although it sounds like krap. I have vicodin though -that might make it sound a bit better (to me anyway)
Airport - have you asked your doctor for one of those small plastic splints? They look a bit like a guitarist's thumb pick and I think they're designed for supporting fingers and/or thumbs which have been broken but which are nearly healed. Might help, though. I wouldn't mind betting you'd have to either cover it or the bow in somethng soft as well, so as not to scratch the bow.
Actually, thinking about it, would a very sturdy make of guitar pick work at all?
I just experimented, assuming it is just the tip of the thumb, and it seemed to sorta work this way:
Hold your bow hand in the usual position--index and middle fingertips lightly touching the thumb tip--and put both the frog and stick deep into the vee between thumb and fingers. The bottom of the frog rests on the base of the thumb, and index knuckle (i.e., part of the palm) applies pressure from the top. The index finger does not touch the stick.
that looks great actually - the doctor apologized for being out of his preferred splint, but I'll call around tomorrow. Guess my thumb AND my google are broken
Thanks too mickray -that's exactly what I've been experimenting with. It will probably have to do. Doesn't help that I just received six bows I'm supposed to be trying out!
Also--if you can use the bow hold I described, and it does not put any pressure on the injured spot, you might be able to get by with just a good wrapping of adhesive tape for the gig (to form a tube with a certain amount of stiffness). A good team trainer (that's what we call the first-aid guys for athletic teams, here in the U.S.) could probably set you up.
But that's assuming that the base of the thumb is not injured. If it is, you might be better off skipping the gig, and healing up faster.
I've just thought of something. Stupid little thing perhaps, but I might be inclined, if I were you, to tie the bow on to my wrist, loosely, with a lakky band or bit of string or something. If I was having to protect my thumb I think it's just possible that I might drop the bow, and then it might not be just the tip of your *thumb* that's broken. Thumbs heal - bows are trickier.
I read once that Max Weinberg, Bruce Springsteen's drummer, used to tape the sticks to his hands for concerts. (If it's a good bow, you might want to protect the finish with a layer of paper or plastic baggie.)
it's a good point benhall - especially since I'm hoping to trade in my current bow. And mickray, it's exactly what my vicodin-addled mind thinks might be possible. If I could just transfer that pressure to any part of my thumb other than the tip it would be fine (the base isn't injured at all). I'd upload the x-ray's if it were possible!
well, I love you guys, and vicodin too. I'll let you know how it all turns out. I just tried your suggestion mickray, but I can't touch the thumb tip at all without pain -what I've been trying is the middle finger where my thumb would go. Works well for old-time tunes, not so much for Irish though...
Well, I just meant that's how the thumb and fingers would be positioned. The tips don't need to touch. The bow is held between the base of the thumb and inside of the first knuckle--like a golf putter (I guess--don't play golf, myself).
But if you're on vicodin, and it hurts that much--you should just put yourself on injured reserve for a while, so you can recover faster.
A long time ago I saw someone holding the bow with middle two fingers under the stick and the index and little fingers on top. I've just been experimenting and it is possible to get control of the bow that way.
Hope this helps - otherwise, I know it's hard, but sometimes you have to stop playing now in order to be able to play later.
I played a six-hour session once with two broken fingers on the left hand. I can't recommend it, but I got away with it, though my middle finger still aches now and then.
I broke my fourth finger in a really nasty place (the joint one out from the bit where it leaves the hand - apparently very brittle and difficult to repair at that point) and had it pinned for a while. I saw a couple of specialists in musicians' injuries, and they both recommended playing as a way of getting the joint back to work again. Sounds like possibly yours isn't so bad but I was told categorically that splinting it was absolutely the worst thing you could do. In my case - it might be different with yours - so do get a second opinion!
Seems like if it's just the extreme tip, you could put the thumb under the frog, but use the first joint back from the tip (and a little on the side) as the contact point, maybe wrap something there to keep from rubbing the skin or something.
Mark, that "no splinting" advice is interesting. Over the years, I've broken every finger on my left hand at least twice, and every finger on my right hand at least once, and the doctors never splinted any of them. The most they did was tape two fingers together for a week.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. The speediest way would be to give it a rest, and some, very gentle motion for the thumb to prevent the base from getting stiff.
Hi Will CPT - I remember now - that's what they did for my finger. They taped it to an adjacent one for a week or so, then just encouraged me to move it. A bit scary when it was more or less solid at the time!! But one doctor said that normal physio (ie sqeezing a rubber ball) wouldn't necessarily help with playing the harp - only playing the harp would encourage the right motion in the affected finger. Sounded logical and it worked.
Will - what's your job ? Broke every finger.....? There's an ad up in the Tube at the moment for a tv programme on lumberjacks, listing all one guys' injuries. You sound as bad.
I'm just recovering from sawing my thumb, whilst sawing down the wedges of spruce to make a flat-top mandola, it's put me back 7 weeks, although I did gig rather naughtily, without telling the physios, as it wasn't the grasping tendons that were damaged. It's best to let it heal up, is my advice, a gig you can't do justice to will disappoint the audience.
And watch out for those old Volvos, they can be viscious. Mine's about '87.
LOL, nope, sorry. Just baseball, volleyball, and soccer when I was young, and years of mountain biking and skiing. Oh, and skateboarding. And hockey.
Fingers aren't too bad--they heal fairly quickly. I've also fractured my skull once, broken my jaw twice, crushed the orbit around my left eye, broken both knee caps (mountain biking again, no mafioso involved), most of the ribs on my left side, my tail bone once, nose, both wrists, right elbow, and lots of minor foot bones. The jaw and ribs are the most painful and take longest to heal. And the associated concussions are no fun at all (not to mention the cumulative damage to grey matter).
Not really any good stories--just stupid stunts, bit of an adrenalin junkie, and the statistics of chance catching up to me for taking too many calculated risks too many times.
that's awesome - thanks Will. I feel a bit less depressed. Had no idea how difficult my left handed, non-fiddling life would be. I'll give it a week though, then I'm velcro-ing my thumb to the frog...
LOL, yes, it helps to know you're not alone, and that someone out there has mangled themselves even worse than you are at the moment.
Airport, you could try putting your thumb completely underneath the frog, instead of between the frog and stick. You might be able to let the frog rest far enough down your thumb to not cause any pain or trouble, and still control the bow passably well for playing at home.
when that happened to a friend of mine he figured out this way to play, stick your two middle fingers through the gap between the hair and stick. the 1st and pinkie sit on top. There you go. no thumb involvement.takes a bit of practice, you got a couple of days still.....
Thanks Ionannas - c.g. suggested that too, but it's harder for me than the club handle method! I'm thrilled to be able to play at all, and I'm trying not to overdo it. Nothing like a little deprivation to light a fire under a person...
temporarily grounded
temporarily grounded
I broke my right thumb today - any advice on bow-friendly splints?
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by airport
Re: temporarily grounded
Might be better to take a break from it for a few weeks - you might
aggravate the injury.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by Hup
Re: temporarily grounded
Oh, you poor thing. I think I'm with hup, sad though that is.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: temporarily grounded
aww but Hup, it's just the tip - no tendon involvement, and I have a gig Friday. How about a second opinion?
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by airport
Re: temporarily grounded
you too benhall? even the doctor thought he could come up with something. I've already been playing thumbless tonight although it sounds like krap. I have vicodin though -that might make it sound a bit better (to me anyway)
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by airport
Re: temporarily grounded
Airport - have you asked your doctor for one of those small plastic splints? They look a bit like a guitarist's thumb pick and I think they're designed for supporting fingers and/or thumbs which have been broken but which are nearly healed. Might help, though. I wouldn't mind betting you'd have to either cover it or the bow in somethng soft as well, so as not to scratch the bow.
Actually, thinking about it, would a very sturdy make of guitar pick work at all?
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: temporarily grounded
What about this, that I got by Googling 'thumb splint'? The site I've found is UK, but maybe you could find something in your neck of the woods ...
http://www.return2fitness.co.uk/Supports_And_Braces/Fingers_And_Thumbs
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: temporarily grounded
Oh, man.... I hope it heals up quick for you.
I just experimented, assuming it is just the tip of the thumb, and it seemed to sorta work this way:
Hold your bow hand in the usual position--index and middle fingertips lightly touching the thumb tip--and put both the frog and stick deep into the vee between thumb and fingers. The bottom of the frog rests on the base of the thumb, and index knuckle (i.e., part of the palm) applies pressure from the top. The index finger does not touch the stick.
Is that what you tried?
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by mickray
Re: temporarily grounded
that looks great actually - the doctor apologized for being out of his preferred splint, but I'll call around tomorrow. Guess my thumb AND my google are broken
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by airport
Re: temporarily grounded
Well, thing's like that have a way of making other things broken too. I really hope you survive your gig and it gets better soon.
Good luck.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: temporarily grounded
Thanks too mickray -that's exactly what I've been experimenting with. It will probably have to do. Doesn't help that I just received six bows I'm supposed to be trying out!
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by airport
Re: temporarily grounded
Also--if you can use the bow hold I described, and it does not put any pressure on the injured spot, you might be able to get by with just a good wrapping of adhesive tape for the gig (to form a tube with a certain amount of stiffness). A good team trainer (that's what we call the first-aid guys for athletic teams, here in the U.S.) could probably set you up.
But that's assuming that the base of the thumb is not injured. If it is, you might be better off skipping the gig, and healing up faster.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by mickray
Re: temporarily grounded
I've just thought of something. Stupid little thing perhaps, but I might be inclined, if I were you, to tie the bow on to my wrist, loosely, with a lakky band or bit of string or something. If I was having to protect my thumb I think it's just possible that I might drop the bow, and then it might not be just the tip of your *thumb* that's broken. Thumbs heal - bows are trickier.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: temporarily grounded
I read once that Max Weinberg, Bruce Springsteen's drummer, used to tape the sticks to his hands for concerts. (If it's a good bow, you might want to protect the finish with a layer of paper or plastic baggie.)
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by mickray
Re: temporarily grounded
it's a good point benhall - especially since I'm hoping to trade in my current bow. And mickray, it's exactly what my vicodin-addled mind thinks might be possible. If I could just transfer that pressure to any part of my thumb other than the tip it would be fine (the base isn't injured at all). I'd upload the x-ray's if it were possible!
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by airport
Re: temporarily grounded
In that case--vicodin--you should wait until tomorrow and see how it feels. If you have any doubts, just skip the gig. There will be other gigs.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by mickray
Re: temporarily grounded
well, I love you guys, and vicodin too. I'll let you know how it all turns out. I just tried your suggestion mickray, but I can't touch the thumb tip at all without pain -what I've been trying is the middle finger where my thumb would go. Works well for old-time tunes, not so much for Irish though...
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by airport
Re: temporarily grounded
Well, I just meant that's how the thumb and fingers would be positioned. The tips don't need to touch. The bow is held between the base of the thumb and inside of the first knuckle--like a golf putter (I guess--don't play golf, myself).
But if you're on vicodin, and it hurts that much--you should just put yourself on injured reserve for a while, so you can recover faster.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by mickray
Re: temporarily grounded
Out of curiosity, how did you do it?
Also, (sounding like your mom) why aren't you in bed asleep? Sleep is a wonderful healer, y'know.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: temporarily grounded
1983 volvo door, and you're right - I should go to bed!
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by airport
Re: temporarily grounded
Don't forget your vitamins, brush your teeth and say your prayers too
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by Hup
Re: temporarily grounded
A long time ago I saw someone holding the bow with middle two fingers under the stick and the index and little fingers on top. I've just been experimenting and it is possible to get control of the bow that way.
Hope this helps - otherwise, I know it's hard, but sometimes you have to stop playing now in order to be able to play later.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by c.g.
Re: temporarily grounded
I played a six-hour session once with two broken fingers on the left hand. I can't recommend it, but I got away with it, though my middle finger still aches now and then.
Heal well and lilt tunes till you're fit again.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: temporarily grounded
I broke my fourth finger in a really nasty place (the joint one out from the bit where it leaves the hand - apparently very brittle and difficult to repair at that point) and had it pinned for a while. I saw a couple of specialists in musicians' injuries, and they both recommended playing as a way of getting the joint back to work again. Sounds like possibly yours isn't so bad but I was told categorically that splinting it was absolutely the worst thing you could do. In my case - it might be different with yours - so do get a second opinion!
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: temporarily grounded
Have you tried bowing with your foot instead?
I'm teasing, good luck airport, get well soon!
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: temporarily grounded
Seems like if it's just the extreme tip, you could put the thumb under the frog, but use the first joint back from the tip (and a little on the side) as the contact point, maybe wrap something there to keep from rubbing the skin or something.
gl though.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by lunchblaze
Re: temporarily grounded
Use your right foot...
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: temporarily grounded
Or secure the bow between your knees and move the fiddle up and down it...
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by ceolachan
It requires a rocking motion. You could become the next Jimmy Hendrix of the fiddle world. That's it, hold the bow between your teeth...
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by ceolachan
Now just rotate your head right and left as if saying "yes!" repeatedly... That's it!
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: temporarily grounded
Mark, that "no splinting" advice is interesting. Over the years, I've broken every finger on my left hand at least twice, and every finger on my right hand at least once, and the doctors never splinted any of them. The most they did was tape two fingers together for a week.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: temporarily grounded
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. The speediest way would be to give it a rest, and some, very gentle motion for the thumb to prevent the base from getting stiff.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by Atahualpa Quigley
Re: temporarily grounded
PS You are the only judge as to whether you can or should work the top joint. Give it a while. Go slow!
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by Atahualpa Quigley
Re: temporarily grounded
Buy a cheap bow. Glue it to a glove (advice from The Other Person In The House)
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by c.g.
Re: temporarily grounded
Hi Will CPT - I remember now - that's what they did for my finger. They taped it to an adjacent one for a week or so, then just encouraged me to move it. A bit scary when it was more or less solid at the time!! But one doctor said that normal physio (ie sqeezing a rubber ball) wouldn't necessarily help with playing the harp - only playing the harp would encourage the right motion in the affected finger. Sounded logical and it worked.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: temporarily grounded
Will - what's your job ? Broke every finger.....? There's an ad up in the Tube at the moment for a tv programme on lumberjacks, listing all one guys' injuries. You sound as bad.
I'm just recovering from sawing my thumb, whilst sawing down the wedges of spruce to make a flat-top mandola, it's put me back 7 weeks, although I did gig rather naughtily, without telling the physios, as it wasn't the grasping tendons that were damaged. It's best to let it heal up, is my advice, a gig you can't do justice to will disappoint the audience.
And watch out for those old Volvos, they can be viscious. Mine's about '87.
# Posted on July 16th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: temporarily grounded
Will - there must be some good stories behind the breaking of so many
fingers -- was it the mafia? the IRA? the russians? the Taliban? the NFL?
# Posted on July 17th 2008 by Hup
Re: temporarily grounded
LOL, nope, sorry. Just baseball, volleyball, and soccer when I was young, and years of mountain biking and skiing. Oh, and skateboarding. And hockey.
Fingers aren't too bad--they heal fairly quickly. I've also fractured my skull once, broken my jaw twice, crushed the orbit around my left eye, broken both knee caps (mountain biking again, no mafioso involved), most of the ribs on my left side, my tail bone once, nose, both wrists, right elbow, and lots of minor foot bones. The jaw and ribs are the most painful and take longest to heal. And the associated concussions are no fun at all (not to mention the cumulative damage to grey matter).
Not really any good stories--just stupid stunts, bit of an adrenalin junkie, and the statistics of chance catching up to me for taking too many calculated risks too many times.
# Posted on July 17th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: temporarily grounded
that's awesome - thanks Will. I feel a bit less depressed. Had no idea how difficult my left handed, non-fiddling life would be. I'll give it a week though, then I'm velcro-ing my thumb to the frog...
# Posted on July 17th 2008 by airport
Re: temporarily grounded
LOL, yes, it helps to know you're not alone, and that someone out there has mangled themselves even worse than you are at the moment.
Airport, you could try putting your thumb completely underneath the frog, instead of between the frog and stick. You might be able to let the frog rest far enough down your thumb to not cause any pain or trouble, and still control the bow passably well for playing at home.
# Posted on July 17th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: temporarily grounded
That's working - all I can play are barn dances so far, but Lucy Farr's is a good one!
# Posted on July 18th 2008 by airport
Re: temporarily grounded
As long as you're not causing yourself undue pain, it's gotta feel good to still be able to play a bit. Cheers.
# Posted on July 18th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: temporarily grounded
when that happened to a friend of mine he figured out this way to play, stick your two middle fingers through the gap between the hair and stick. the 1st and pinkie sit on top. There you go. no thumb involvement.takes a bit of practice, you got a couple of days still.....
# Posted on July 18th 2008 by Ionannas
Re: temporarily grounded
Thanks Ionannas - c.g. suggested that too, but it's harder for me than the club handle method! I'm thrilled to be able to play at all, and I'm trying not to overdo it. Nothing like a little deprivation to light a fire under a person...
# Posted on July 19th 2008 by airport