I kept him under control that time but he was just standing there on a hair trigger, trembling. So I urged him to go past again and that was it. He took off running sideways across the field, full bore. I had a death grip on his mane in my left hand and another one on the rein in my right, trying to pull his head around but he was too pumped at that point and I couldn't, but I did finally think to say "Whoa Bob!" and he did stop. So I didn't have a crash landing, but then I happened to look down at my left hand and my thumb was pointing down at around the 4 o'clock position instead of it's normal 2 o'clock and I thought "Eeewww, that's not supposed to do that" so I pushed it back into place, but any time I put any pressure on it it didn't want to stay there so I figured I'd better get off at that point rather than risk another melt-down.
I led him back past the hogs and back to the barn without incident and got everybody fed then I gave Kari a call to see what she thought and she recommended I go to the ER, so I did, and I'm glad because the Physician's Assistant who saw me also works at the local bone and joint clinic. They x-rayed it and said my field reduction had worked fine but the ulnar collateral ligament, which is the one that allows you to grip things, was torn clean through, so that's why my thumb still wanted to go into unnatural positions. So she cast it and I'm supposed to go see the an orthopod tomorrow. They may decide that 6 weeks of a cast or splint will do the trick or they may decide that it needs surgery. We'll see I guess, but I've still got use of my 4 fingers so I can still ride. I'll just have to adjust the way I hold my reins and mount from the off side since I won't be able to use my left hand like I normally do to pull myself up. I ain't missing my Best of America by Horseback ride the first weekend in May!
Is this your doctor's opinion, or yours? ;~)
I can't talk, I rode Saddle Seat at Arab regionals in a cast, we had to tailor my show jacket to fit over it. I still can't believe my parents let me do that!
What a story... Do you remember the pain of it happening? Or was it lost in the adrenaline of the moment?
Sure glad you came out of it the victor.
On this part, I assume it makes a difference whether that ligament will grow back without surgery, or if they'll have to mend it. It would seem this is a fairly important function in life, to be able to use your thumb.
On a related note, I cut the tendon on the outside of my pinky finger clean through with a hedge cutter several years ago now. This is the tendon on either side of the joint that keeps the finger straight when it bends. I can bend my pinky at the last knuckle, sideways about 45 degrees without feeling anything. I opted to not repair it, but the doctor said if I played piano or something, I might want to.
A pinky's not as important as a thumb. :~\
Well, I’m so glad y ou were not hurt more seriously and sorry you were hurt at all. Sounds like it could have been bad.
Maybe Bob needs to be tied up to the side of that pen for awhile:)
Sure you can still ride...The only problem I had with riding when my arm was broke was putting the saddle on. You always have enough people around that if that’s a problem you can get help.
Becky
Ouch - I just realized something had happened to you and came back to find it. Hope you heal rapidly.
PS - vet wrap is great for people too - that’s what I did to my foot when the doctor wanted it in a boot.
I dislocated my pinky trying to ice skate once. It didn’t hurt at all either until I saw it . Then it hurt:’)
I had almost the same accident years ago, except my horse fell through a jump (triple combination - cleared the first, misstrided, knocked down the second, panicked completely and fell through the third. He was not the sharpest knife in the drawer.) Broke my pinky in 3 places and tore all the tendons. Had almost the same cast you did (except the other way around). They had to surgically repair it, put 2 stainless steel screws in my hand.
The good news is that, aside from the fact that the finger is ugly (it has a permanent crook in it but the scar is no longer visible), it's 100 percent functional. I can sew, type, and play the piano.
If they want to surgically repair the tendon, I would say go for it. It really wasn't a big deal (and I say that as somebody who gets spectacularly sick from general anesthesia. It was still worth it.)