February 03, 2009

Ummmmm.... ouch...


I decided to work on a cane tonight. Near the hand grip there was a knot.... It was a stubborn knot...

While holding the the cane about eight inches below the grip in my left hand, I was working on said knot with the knife in my right hand, and it slipped....

There was a harshly vivid split second of clarity as the blade plunged completely into the palm of my left hand and burrowed its way through the flesh between my thumb and index finger... nice... I snatched the blade out and slapped my right hand on it and looked around to see if anyone noticed.. Then I noticed the copious amount of blood that didn't seem to abate in its flow.

"Julie"....
"Did you cut yourself?"
"Ummm Yep.."
Then I showed her..
"Oh my God.."

Julie vanished, she was getting dressed for the hospital, I made my way to the sink... Promptly to experience a drop in blood pressure and begin the menacing dance of "hey let's pass out"...

My in laws are in town for a visit and went into action...exactly what all happened I'm not really sure.. I sat in a chair and was very lightheaded for a while as I bled.. then asked Julie if she thought I needed stitches.. my father in law looked at it and said.. "I think you do"..

So off we went..

A few hours later... I sit here and write this out one handed... I had seven stitches, a whole bunch of little stinging shots, a tetanus shot, lots of testing for range of motion... I was informed that I nicked an artery and cut it to the tendon casing. "You did a thorough job" was the quote from the doctor.. along with "This might hurt a little bit"...

Now I have to have it checked by an orthopedist for damage... But "It looks ok, nice and clean" It looks like Frankenstein stitches from the palm to the back of my hand, but forgive me for not unwrapping it to share it.. I'll post a photo at the first dressing change.. scheduled for twenty four hours from now... I wouldn't watch the procedure but Julie did.. she informed me that it was quite bloody and very butcher shop looking... That's the knife with a bit of my blood on it...

The worst part is... I have a chain mail glove for my left hand designed to prevent these types of things... The damn thing is on the table next to my bed... son of a bitch...

9 comments:

boo said...

Oh, Holy Nixon Onna Stick! You gotta be more careful, babes! I'm the clumsy one, remember? I'm glad MIL and FIL were there to keep you in one piece. I'm calling shenanigans on you. There are easier ways to take my mind of my troubles, yaknow. Thank Nixon for the heroic Jules, you'd be a mess without her.

HeartofGoldPlate said...

You are not allowed to need a hospital visit unless I am in a waffle house with Justin and have to hurry back.

I haven't had this happen to me, but I bet this was much better than having them fish a bug out of your ear.

ucmama said...

ooooo! I hope that heals quickly. I once had a chisel go almost through my hand while helping my son do a pinewood derby car. It was a shark. He was excited because the blood dripping down the side made it more realistic.

Junebug said...

Well this adventure I was in on!
I've said in many blogs I wished I'd been there with you.
Well tonight I was! With blood all over,lightheaded.Son-in-law you rock.
I don't wish to make many trips like this,but should this ever happen again I'd make the trip with you....
xo

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry, but I can't help but laugh. The chain mail glove, irony at it's best. We're men, right? We don't do things the right way.
Reminds me of a couple of years ago when I was drilling a car part and thought I ripped my pinky off. I'll have to share that one some time.
Can't wait to see the carnage. You better post pics!
Hope it heals quickly there, buddy.

C.S. Perry said...

Things like this make me nervous. Especially after you mentioned the glove. We are, after all, related and we both have small sons and I start to get worried about genetics and progeny and other little biological things like that.

Still...maybe at least it'll be a cool scar.

Just me... said...

Nothing pisses me off worse than doing something like this... But, then, there's nothing worse than being pissed off with yourself!!
Hope it heals nicely and doesn't leave a heinous scar!!! :)

LADY ROOTS said...

Idren Clay,

I am torn between intense sympathy for your injury and your pain and intense outrage that you had a protective device available and you didn't use it! That's like driving too fast on the highway without your seat belt on. Tssk, tssk, tssk!

Please don't take risks like that!

You are too precious to too many people for you to take careless chances like that. Give thanks that someone was with you when it happened!

Heal quickly and know that prayers have been said for you and for sweet Sistren Jules.

Much love,
Bless Up,
Lady Roots

Unknown said...

Clay,
June told me you cut yourself, but I had no idea it was this bad!!
I hope it heals well and no extreme damage was done. You'll have to give Julie a big Valentine heart for taking good care of you.....but don't carve it on a tree. You've done enough damage.
Love,
Joanne