kcobean Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 I was working on a mountain bike and long story short I took off the tip of my "shooting" finger at about the base of the nail. Accident happened on July 2nd. It's healing nicely and the joint itself is in tact. The amputation missed the tendon attachments to the distal phalanx. Some of the nail is growing back and the doc says in 2 to 4 weeks he'll be able to close up what's left of the open wound. God willing I'll still be able to shoot with it. I hope to get a match or two in before the end of the year, but this came at a bad time given the upcoming A8 championships and Limited Nationals. Rather than attach a pic, I'll provide a link for anyone with a morid curiosity. Kinda graphic. http://www.vipercrazy.com/hosting/kcobean/misc/finger.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wgnoyes Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Sorry that happened, man; hope you mend soon. And thanks for not imbedding the picture. That's the kind of (I haven't looked at it) gross stuff that people on Facebook think nothing of forcing out on everybody within shouting distance. I appreciate the discretion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppa Bear Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 That one is going to leave a mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Steele Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 I had to look. DAMN that had to hurt. Hope you heal up and shoot well at A8! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Imagine that smarted a tad ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind bat Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Yeesh. My grandfather did something similar as a kid with an ax or saw. Supposedly his mother sawed finger back on. It was always crooked. Didn't stop him from kicking butt in WW2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 The summer before my freshman year of HS, I cut about the same amount off of my weak hand pinky with a joiner. That is the first day I openly cussed in front of my Dad!! I know it hurts......but get well soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIIID Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 As a friend of mine would say, "Put some chain poop on it and you will be fine." Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeislarge Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 I work on a lot of bikes so I have to ask for my own personal safety.... What in the heck on a mountain bike is capable of doing that to your finger???? Either you've got REALLY sharp teeth on your crank sprocket and a REALLY tight chain or you have knives welded to your frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alecmc Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 time to become a righty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remoandiris Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Guy I shoot with doesn't have the strong hand index finger tip. Lost it years before he started shooting. When he moves and reloads it looks like his finger is in the trigger guard, but it isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 (edited) ^^^^^Yep - and this same fellow and I were doing a little shooting together in one of the bays and after looking at a target I made the comment that I thought he had too much finger on the trigger...and then he held up his trigger finger....and then it got a little awkward. Obviously, I was wrong. KC - I think you will be able to shoot again, the body is an amazing thing when it comes to healing and compensating for injuries. Many others have been able to overcome....and you can too. Hope you heal quick and get back to the shooting soon! Edited July 25, 2013 by Bamboo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcobean Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 Thanks for the kind words guys. I do think I'll still be able to use it to shoot with. The joint is perfectly functional, the finger is just going to be a tad shorter. The first thing that went through my mind the instant it happened was "crap..I can't undo that." Lifeislarge, I was adjusting the caliper on the front disc brake. I spun the front tire to see if the pads were rubbing on the disc and my finger slipped into the one of the openings in the disc. The action of the disc spinning through the caliper was like one of those cutters you use to take the tip off of a cigar. And yeah, it hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeislarge Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Made me go look and yeah, I can see that.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remoandiris Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 ^^^^^ Yep - and this same fellow and I were doing a little shooting together in one of the bays and after looking at a target I made the comment that I thought he had too much finger on the trigger...and then he held up his trigger finger. ...and then it got a little awkward. Obviously, I was wrong. Damn Bob, that is funny!!! I'm guessing Duane gave you a different finger once he stopped laughing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Uh, ummm, yeah....when I realized my faux pas I gave him a full body Bro hug and told him it wasn't my fault as I was born insensitive and it is a curse. Thankfully, Mr. Duane is a gentleman and didn't kick my ass. I appreciated that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultimo-Hombre Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Scars are like tattoos with better stories.... Partial amputations are at least equal to a full sleeve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcobean Posted July 26, 2013 Author Share Posted July 26, 2013 Made me go look and yeah, I can see that.... YUP.....exactly. Like a guillotine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin c Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Merle Eddington was a prominent GM a few years back who had the same problem (not sure if it antedated his shooting career). Didn't slow him down a bit. And, yes, he had the same problems with RO's thinking what was missing was inside the trigger guard. When you're well, come back and shoot. Like any injury, rehab and adjustment will be needed, but you can and will get back to where you were, and beyond, if that's your goal. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcobean Posted July 26, 2013 Author Share Posted July 26, 2013 Merle Eddington was a prominent GM a few years back who had the same problem (not sure if it antedated his shooting career). Didn't slow him down a bit. And, yes, he had the same problems with RO's thinking what was missing was inside the trigger guard. When you're well, come back and shoot. Like any injury, rehab and adjustment will be needed, but you can and will get back to where you were, and beyond, if that's your goal. Good luck. Thanks Kevin. I will be shooting again ASAP. It's what I do, and this isn't going to stop me. A friend told me about Merle when this first happened. 1994 Open Nationals Champ as I understand it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FJR05 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I've experienced the near the same injury to my strong hand...I was lucky(?)mine healed good enough without add'l work by Doc. Get used to letting the R.O.'s know about the shortness of your finger. You'll also appreciate finding short reach trigger combinations and Grips. With the nerves kinda fubar'd that finger tip gets heat/cold INSENSITIVE. It'll take some effort but, soon you'll not be thinking about it and just shooting. Good luck, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcobean Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share Posted August 16, 2013 (edited) Thanks John. It's healing up pretty well. Here's a picture of it 44 days post-accident. I have an app't with the plastic surgeon on the 30th. We'll see if he wants to do anything with it. http://www.vipercrazy.com/hosting/kcobean/misc/finger-healing.jpg Still a fair amount of swelling, especially if I do a lot of walking and such. I've been RO'ing matches my son shoots at and it really sucks not shooting, but it's still sore to the point that pulling a trigger is uncomfortable. It's a little better every day though and I hope to be shooting in a month or two depending on what the doc does. Edited August 16, 2013 by kcobean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FJR05 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 (edited) By the looks of the pic, I'd say it's healing pretty well. I lost a little bit more than you did, I've barely got a nail at all... You'll be good to go soon. Dryfire at first to get the feel of the trigger again(or lack of). I have a bit more take up on my triggers now. Little or no take up can surprise you...Trust me, your finger tip will just be numb. Sensitivity will come back, just not right away. Practice a bit before heading back to matches and you'll be fine. With off season coming up, maybe you'll be able to take in indoor match if available. (takes the cold out of the equation). Good luck! John Edited August 16, 2013 by FJR05 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpspeed Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 That is amazing! I can't believe how well that has healed up. I trimmed the index finger & thumb on my left had ( I'm a righty ) on a table saw. I too thought "crap..I can't undo that." 25 years later you wouldn't notice it unless I pointed it out but at the time, it looked bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver_Surfer Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I knew I seen that finger before. Hope you a 187% recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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