Whos missing a ring finger.......

[DustyDave]

When I was in high school a kid I knew had a smashed finger that wouldn't heal so he sprayed it with Freon until he couldn't feel it then cut it off with a butcher knife. Didn't sound too good to me but he seemed happy with the outcome. He said to be sure you leave enough skin to cover the bone. There wasn't an EPA to get him for venting R12 yet!
Dusty

[53Bash]

Since people are posting their personal 'hero with mutilated hand', here's mine - Mark Pauline of survival research laboratories. Pretty much the worst case scenario as hand injuries go, he hasn't let it stop him. I'd say do what needs be done. Given the business you are in, having 10 fingers probably just hurts your street cred anyhow.

[Knuckleduster]

Aron Ralston cut off his entire arm with a Swiss Army knife, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aron_Ralston)
I also used to know a guy who was missing a thumb, (it was shot off, by a trigger happy cop) he could play guitar, roll joints, and pretty much everything else. I also know a guy who only has his thumb (right hand), he lost all 4 fingers (at the knuckle closest to palm) due to a grizzly table saw accident. He is still a home builder, and still uses saws, he now utilizes his right arm kind of like a wing, and his thumb like a hook.

Personal experience, I punched a fridge 10x, obtaining an extremely painful "boxers fracture" involving my pinky, and ring fingers. I also have arthritis from swinging a hammer for 25 years. I have extensive nerve damage to the Ulnar nerve. I have to massage my arm(from elbow to wrist, in the Ulnar nerve area) daily to loosen the tendons,muscles, and nerves enough that I can utilize my hand/ fingers. I have continual pain in the wrist, and back of hand. I sometimes have difficulties in the simplest tasks, such as lifting a 44 oz. drink, or even something as light as an 8 oz. cup of coffee. I would say my Range of Motion in my wrist is about 95%(I do have bones that grind and pop in there upon utilizing RoM, primarily twisting *like with a screwdriver), RoM in fingers 95%, however, my overall grip is likely at about 60-70%. Nor can I sustain my grip for any real length of time. Essentially my pinky and ring fingers are "flompy". I have a permanent Dr. Spock hand now. I don't have any health insurance, nor am I independently wealthy, so I just live with the pain (like a man, no pills!) and smoke a lot of the Devil's lettuce. I would never consider removing the two affected fingers. From what the two people I knew/know told me, just because the extremity isn't there, does not mean that you will not feel pain there. In some cases, the pain could be amplified, by other severed nerve endings. They both told me that it felt as if there fingers/thumb were still there, and complained of numbness. It's a sensation known as "Phantom Pain".
Not to mention, removing a finger, would leave an open wound that could be prone to (potentially life threatening) infection. Think - before you act!

[lepetitmtl]

My diesel mechanic doesnt have a ring finger on his non dominant hand. Hes the best diesel mechanic ive ever met.

I say if the possibility of it coming back to normal is less than 30-40% then cut it off.

[75xlch]

my uncle lost his ring finger on his dominant hand a few years ago, though hes only a log truck driver but he does all his mechanic work on the truck (finger got sucked into the turbo) it hasnt effected him or slowed him down one bit, he always said fuck it you dont need the damn thing its only to show off the bolt that holds the ball and chain on. i say hack it off

[farmall]

Fingers get munched all the time, so if you do snip it do some homework about the best place then show up at the ER saying a shear got it and destroyed the detached finger.

No point in creating any drama.

OTOH some folks do it for the drama...

http://news.bme.com/2007/08/13/diy-finger-amputation/

...and not just fingers.,..

http://www.bme.com/media/story/837239/?cat=hard

He told me he would give me $2,000 cash if I would cut his 7" penis down to 3" and be without pain and function comfortably such that he could put it in a crock-pot and enjoy it the same day.

[AMFshovelheads]

Be aware of phantom pain. Even if you cut your finger you might still feel the pain. You hear it a lot from people who lost a limb that they say they still feel it.

[gonzoguilt]

If you were to do it, maybe make some money while doing so...

[3fngrokr]

I lost my left ring finger by my clutch lever when a 92 year old bloke got confused and tried to kill me with his Hyundai 11 years ago. I was a lead guitarist in a rock band at the time, I'm right handed so it fucked my playing in the beginning but playing also helped with recovery. Eventually I developed my own style and kept rockin, most people don't even notice it's gone. Anyway I just wanted to share a couple of thoughts. If you do take it off make the stump as short as possible, without the finger there to act as a feeler it's amazing how many times you jam that stump into stuff when reaching into tight spaces. Dizzy clamps used to get me all the time, it hurts so much that you eventually learn not to do it. You will lose some power and grip in that hand which I really notice when climbing, still can just got to be careful at height. I used to get a bit of phantom pain but I was lucky I could rub the scar tissue which would tingle and get rid of it. I still drop shit all the time, mainly small things, can be frustrating but probably less than what you're dealing with. Apart from a few things like that it hasn't slowed me down and of course I've been riding foot clutch ever since. IMHO you should get a surgeon to do it. Good luck.
Finally got a first post out a me.

[Ramzilla]

I say chop it off. I really like the shifter knob idea.
Hell and when people ask what happened just tell them it got in your way and pissed you off so you whacked it off.

[metalheart28]

my dad lost his pointer finger on his right hand in a punch press probably bout 30 years ago. it hasn't slowed him down at all. he cant feel temperature in that hand because of nerve issues from losing the finger. it could go either way say you did have it taken off it may go numb or you may still feel it even though its gone.

[sdsbassist]

My grandfather lost his pointer finger when he was a kid. He flew 100 missions over North Vietnam and figured out a way to pull the trigger.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Gustafson

[Jackfrost]

If it were not for the pain and swelling I'd probably just superglue it to a finger that does work to keep it out of the way.

[ScarTissue]

If you were to do it, maybe make some money while doing so...

I really wanted to like this movie, but it just sucked so bad... Tim Roth was horribly miscast.

[spidr]

If it were not for the pain and swelling I'd probably just superglue it to a finger that does work to keep it out of the way.

I usually keep them taped together, but it gets in the way because it doesnt bend the same.

[FatChibs]

I really wanted to like this movie, but it just sucked so bad... Tim Roth was horribly miscast.

Gotta agree, but the thing is its universally accepted that Tarantino outclassed the other directors in the movie by a long shot. I mean its not really a great film, but more of a weird art film experiment. It had 4 different directors for each story. Its shite

[seaking]

oh for fucks sake man, go see that other plastic surgeon! don't cut the motherfucker off.

[spidr]

oh for fucks sake man, go see that other plastic surgeon! don't cut the motherfucker off.

I am.........I honestly believe that they will work with me, it got off on a tangent somewhere........

I'm sick of dealing with it, and in pain, but I'm not stupid. Should have the call in the next couple days, and hopefully they'll work with me.

[seaking]

man it's gotta suck, I wouldn't appreciate getting dicked around by that specialist, six weeks is too long to wait and see if you're in pain like that. Obviously it doesn't look like it'll ever be 100%, but what's best case scenario, 0 pain? 20% use? I don't know, but I'd get a second opinion as soon as possible if you're getting that fed up. What about a cortisone shot? They've gotta be able to do something in the interim.

[spidr]

The reason he waited so long was the hope that it would heal. The surgery has a high failure rate.
I'd say on a good day I'm about 50% useage of the finger. Cant squeeze hard, cant count on it for support, and I work real slow because I have to be mindful of it. If I break the rules, I'm down to abut 10% useage.

Hes told me BEst case, I lose the pain, and it doesnt get injured further. Worst case, I tear the repair, because I cant afford 3 months off, and the finger becomes a wet noodle. Likely situation is somewhere in between.

I dont take pain shots, or anything more than the occasional tylenol, becuase if it hurts, I'm damaging it. I want to know when I am. When it swells up I lose the mobility it has, so even if theres no pain, I still cant work. Nasty catch 22. I'm literally just waiting for a call from the 2nd plastic surgeon, for the other opinion, I got sent to the first one because hes the best at this, but his diagnosis is pretty dismal. Dont think anyone will disagree with him on the odds, as hes the one that they call apparently.

This isnt where I want to be right now, not really a decision I want to make, but honestly, if it comes down to missing a digit, but my kids keep a roof over their heads, I really dont care, its a no brainer..........I guess a part of me thought that I might be crazy, but it seems like everyone else kind of agrees they might do the same in my position.....Sucks, because the pain I canget over, but not making any money I cant.