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  1. #1
    Senior Dog coopersmom's Avatar
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    Finger Physio...ouch!!!!

    I broke my finger six and a half weeks ago while walking Cooper (he was spooked by an unleashed dog and somehow my baby finger got snagged in his leash) and while the fracture is supposed to be healed my finger is stiff, swollen, discoloured and painful. Yesterday I had my first physio appointment and boy did it hurt!!! I am told that because the fracture was in the joint surface, it will take up to a year for my joint to return to normal size. At the physio appointment she did a hot wax treatment (which was very nice) followed by gently (her words) pulling the joint apart, twisting it laterally and having me bend it....OUCH!!! It hurt so much...but before this she had measured my flexion at 60 degrees and after the traction it measured 75 degrees. So I guess the pain is worth the gain!! I also had acupuncture done. My grip strength is 50 in my injured hand and is 80 in my non-injured hand...who would know that one little finger would have such an impact. After just one session my finger feels different, in a good way, can't describe it, but just feels better.
    I go back for another session (torture) on Thursday.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    I'm no physical therapist, so your description of pulling and twisting at the joint sounds more like torture than therapy! Maybe next time they can do a hot wax treatment on both hands, followed by a lovely manicure to draw people's attention away from the swollen joint to your brightly colored fingernails!
    Sue

    Chase 9/29/2006- 6/30/2017 Always in our hearts
    Lark 12/25/2012- 2/2/22
    Henry 7/14/18
    Joey 5/14/2022

    “Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

    Mary Oliver, Hidden Content

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    coopersmom (10-07-2014)

  4. #3
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Does not sounds like fun at all. DD had a very similar type fracture, caused the same way, tangled up in the leash.

    Many years ago my Dad broke a finger and all that was done was to cast it and make sure it healed straight. Over time, he slowly lost full range of motion of the finger. Guess, what I'm saying is that, although it hurts, keep up the PT, it will really pay off in the future.

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    coopersmom (10-07-2014)

  6. #4
    Senior Dog coopersmom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by POPTOP View Post
    Does not sounds like fun at all. DD had a very similar type fracture, caused the same way, tangled up in the leash.

    Many years ago my Dad broke a finger and all that was done was to cast it and make sure it healed straight. Over time, he slowly lost full range of motion of the finger. Guess, what I'm saying is that, although it hurts, keep up the PT, it will really pay off in the future.

    My therapists words were "no pain = no gain" and I really believe she meant it. I will grin and bear it (and take some pain meds) with hopes to have a fully functional finger in the end

  7. #5
    Senior Dog Scoutpout's Avatar
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    it is amazing how one of the smaller parts of your body can impact things in such a big way. my fracture wasnt nearly as bad as yours, but i still find myself unconsciously "protecting" it. and now that it should be basically healed, I'm trying to do range of motion and strength exercises with it, but there's a big difference in flexibility between it and the same finger on the right hand. I'm not doing physio, so hopefully it functions well enough with just what i'm doing. i know when i broke my middle fingers, thats all they did - set it straight, and leave the cast/protector thing on it. and the one thats been broken twice has less range of motion, and aches on wet cold days.
    I hope you stick out the physio, it should make your finger much much better!

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    coopersmom (10-07-2014)

  9. #6
    Puppy LabsN'Hounds's Avatar
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    I'm actually in PT school......and furiously studying hand muscles right this second!

    PT should get less painful with time. Just make sure to always tell your therapist that you have pain with what he/she is doing.

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    coopersmom (10-07-2014)

  11. #7
    Senior Dog coopersmom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LabsN'Hounds View Post
    I'm actually in PT school......and furiously studying hand muscles right this second!

    PT should get less painful with time. Just make sure to always tell your therapist that you have pain with what he/she is doing.
    Good luck with your studies!!!

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    LabsN'Hounds (10-14-2014)

 



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