An injury I didn't think possible. It's even tractor related

JRSutton

Well-known Member
Helping one of the 4h kids take a trans fluid filter off a tractor today - spin off canister type.

She didn't have a large enough filter wrench or a strap filter - and the filter was on solid.

So I gave it a try by hand - wouldn't budge - gave it another try - and another - trying harder each time, convinced I could get it...

On the last attempt I THOUGHT I crushed the canister in - felt like it collapsed and made a weird crunching noise - much like having a handful of uncooked spaghetti and cracking it all in half...

Tursn out, it wasn't the canister crushing in - it WAS was my thumb.

I think I dislocated it (but came back in), and I definitely tore some stuff up inside. The poor 4h girl heard it from 10 feet away. Gross noise.

Hurt so bad all I could do was laugh.

Throbbing's gone away but I can't grasp anything without severe pain.

I never expected you could really exert enough force on something to break a body part like that.

Must be getting old. might be time for some new thumbs.
 
Time to apply a cold pack. Whenever the doc tells me to apply a cold pack, I ask if I can use a hot pack instead as I don't like cold packs. She give me a nasty look and says" "I told you a COLD pack". Don't really like those; lived in AZ too long I guess.
 
yeah I'm not big on cold packs either. Honestly I'd rather just have the pain.

In my case maybe I've lived in New England too long - tired of frozen extremities. :)
 
After the kids got old enough that they didn't use the swing set anymore, I dismantled it. The 6 legs were in some serious concrete, so I dug the dirt out around the concrete and was able to pull the pipes and concrete straight up and out of the ground by gripping the pipe against my chest and pulling upward. On that last one, CRACK. Never felt pain like that. Broke a rib or two from pressing that pipe so hard against my chest. Coughing and sneezing was not fun for a few weeks.
 
For many guys, around 40 years of age signals the start of failure of connective tissues. Some due to overuse, some due to trying to do something you routinely did before, but after a period of inactivity, some just genetic disposition. Every single muscle is held in place by some sort of connective tissue, which can tear even from the strength of the muscle itself, like your thumb (most likely).

Very few will heal normally if left alone, complete ruptures need surgery. I started early: ACL/MCL at 35, achilles tendon at 37, the other achilles at 42, right elbow, both shoulders, left middle finger (not from that!) etc. Much more careful now about lifting, catching, throwing, jumping- even carrying my lunch box with my right arm hurts. Use the cold first, then warm. If normal doesn't return in 2-3 weeks, see your doc. The functioning, opposable thumb is the only thing that separates us from the beasts of burden!!!
 
I've had it happen more than once. The muscle is stronger than the tendon. When you're older I've noticed I don't feel stuff as much, so I'm more inclined to pull harder, unaware of the stress its putting on that body part. Muscle pulls and the weak link breaks, be it the part, the muscle, tendon, etc. that's why I try to use tools whenever possible these days.
 

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