Road to recovery

[Stumpkiller]

Not sure if this falls under "form", but it certainly will effect my shooting.

I usually shoot two arrows every morning before going to work.

Last Saturday I killed a buck at sunset and had a short bloodtrail.  All good.  Sunday I was putting away the tractor and recalled the night before the headlights stopped working, so I left it running (HUGE MISTAKE!) and went forward to investigate.  I spotted a mouse nest and loose wire, figuring the insulation may have been chewed and shorted I followed the wire with my fingers . . . ZING.

Nine hours later I left the hospital with the ring finger of my right hand in a temporary dressing until I could meet with a plastic surgeon and ostro-surgeon to determine if I'd keep all of that finger.

Happily I have seen all and been prodded by all and I am now in a plastic sheath/splint and have circulation and a full length finger (barring infection or the bone tip not refusing).  Prognosis is excellent for a regular finger "in two years".

Anyway, I mentioned I wanted to keep as much as possible because I am an archer & bowhunter.  The osteo dr. raised one eyebrow and said "That may not be someting you want to try until Spring."  Or a similar quote thereabouts.

So, in the mean time, have any of you sufferred a finger injury and what did you do to rebuild strength and lessen sensitivity.  I got out my lowest # bow (45# @ 28") and, even with the finger splint, the pressure on the fingertip was "unpleasant".  The bone was severed RIGHT where I hook the string.

I am confident I will eventually get there but I'm fishing for ideas.  Carry paint pails?  Squeeze tennis balls?  Practice shooting left-handed?  Get a 25" target bow?

All thoughts welcome (and yes, a head slap for being so stupid as to stick my hand into a running tractor fan is welcome as well).

[gringol]

Sorry to hear about your accident.  I'd take docs advise.  

You might be able to draw a bow without using your ring-finger (I do it sometimes, 2 finger-split), but if it causes you discomfort I wouldn't do it.  Not worth it IMO.  Wait until doc gives the ok, then just start with a light bow.  just my $0.02

[McDave]

I would second the advice about trying 2 under, which many people use even when they don't have to.  You would have been much worse off, archery-wise, if it had been either of the other two fingers you use to draw the bow.

45# is not all that light if you're trying to recover from an injury.  If it were me, I would consider buying a Samick Sage for about $130 retail in a 25# draw weight.  You can have a lot of fun with a bow like that if you shoot 1616 or 1716 arrows.  I have several bows around that weight for my grandchildren and students.  I shoot them fairly often myself, in order to be sure that I won't look too bad if I'm asked to demo one of them for a student.

Another suggestion would be to shoot left-handed for a while.  I'm sure your injured finger would bother you less if it were on your bow-hand.

[reddogge]

Sorry to hear of your accident. I've have a couple in the last 3 years, a couple of torn tricep tendons and one was in a tractor accident. For my education, what got the finger? Fanbelt, fanblade?

Agree with McDave. Forget hunting weight. You want to rehab your hand with a 20-25# bow. I keep several from 20, 30, 38# just for the grandkids but I've rehabbed myself with them.

[Stumpkiller]

It was the fan blade.  Big 'ol 1/8" thick steel 1956 fan with no guard.  The plastic surgeon asked the nurse whether it was a pinch or a crush injury.  It doesn't look like a cut.  Yuck.

Hadn't thought about two fingers under.

Keep the ideas coming.  I like the excuse to buy a target bow.  I used to shoot target in college.

[Ed Q]

When I got a temporary right-hand injury, I thought I'd try shooting left handed.  At first it was really awkward, but now I can shoot better lefty than righty.  I say if it doesn't hurt or aggravate the injury, you might want to try shooting lefty.