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Skier's Thumb?
- Thread starter mollmeister
- Start date
persee
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Ack! luckily my thumbs are Ok. But I have repeatedly sprained both my ankles. As my last PT said - my tendons are like loose rubber bands in my ankles. Makes it real easy for me to just flip my ankle over when they get weak, or I'm on uneven footing. :( This fall when I was walking on cobble stone and ripped open my knee it was due to my right ankle just giving out. It does that. Amazingly the ankle didn't hurt all that much after the fall - just my poor knee that took the impact. However I do feel my ankles when the weather gets stormy sometime. Not debilitating, just a bit of nudge.
Calgary ski chick
Certified Ski Diva
Had a fall 2 months ago and ***** up my thumb - it still hurts today! That picture is great - I think a lost of people don't bother with correct strap use - as a former roommate / ski instructor said: "The bunny comes up through the hole and grabs the carrot!"
something else
Just a bump here, but something I noticed after skiing last Friday...my right thumb was sore by the end of the day. I did nothing as far as falling, gripping etc. Finally, I was riding up the chair lift, realized that my friend and I sat on the same sides on all our rides, so I was putting my poles in my right hand every time. I'm somewhat of a "clutcher" riding the chair and grip whatever I can relatively tight. That's what was making my thumb/base of thumb sore because I gripped my poles very hard on the ride up.
If you didn't have any falls, injuries you could remember, maybe you were doing something like I was.
Just a bump here, but something I noticed after skiing last Friday...my right thumb was sore by the end of the day. I did nothing as far as falling, gripping etc. Finally, I was riding up the chair lift, realized that my friend and I sat on the same sides on all our rides, so I was putting my poles in my right hand every time. I'm somewhat of a "clutcher" riding the chair and grip whatever I can relatively tight. That's what was making my thumb/base of thumb sore because I gripped my poles very hard on the ride up.
If you didn't have any falls, injuries you could remember, maybe you were doing something like I was.
mollmeister
Angel Diva
Well, I think it would be mostly better by now, were I not a mommy to young children, who is constantly having to grip and lift things and people. Honestly, I think the biggest things impeding a quick recovery are those stupid sippy cups-- I am a rightie, and have to grip the cup with my injured right hand to screw those sometimes stubborn tops off.
I have full range of motion (I can easily touch the base of my pinkie, although it feels a little *tight,* if you kwim) and no noticeable aching, bruising or swelling. It doesn't exactly hurt, but feels a little off when I grip something tightly with it, especially things about the diameter of a doorknob or Coke can. But although it's a little weakened, I have enough strength to grasp most things.
Test will be this weekend. We're supposed to be skiing again. I have to figure out how to use athletic tape to support it, because the one stupid splint I found is NEVER going to fit in a glove. Nor would I be able to grasp a pole.
I have full range of motion (I can easily touch the base of my pinkie, although it feels a little *tight,* if you kwim) and no noticeable aching, bruising or swelling. It doesn't exactly hurt, but feels a little off when I grip something tightly with it, especially things about the diameter of a doorknob or Coke can. But although it's a little weakened, I have enough strength to grasp most things.
Test will be this weekend. We're supposed to be skiing again. I have to figure out how to use athletic tape to support it, because the one stupid splint I found is NEVER going to fit in a glove. Nor would I be able to grasp a pole.
MaineSkiLady
Angel Diva
Seriously sounds like a mild sprain to me, esp based on your descriptions after the fact. Mine was a little more acute/serious, I still get the old twinges/tightness. I think you'll be okay. I had the whole beverage can/door knob issue as well - and taught myself jar-opening w/other hand - was also dealing with young kid when my injury occurred, rendering me unable to be on the DL.
skyhighifly
Diva in Training
I wiped out my right thumb skiing New Year's Eve. Waited 6 days to see a doctor while watching the swelling go up and down, a rainbow of color changes, and not being able to pinch or grab anything. Hand specialist casted it for 6 weeks (partial) and I just got the cast off 3 days ago. I have a splint to wear, but come on... I teach deaf kids and sign all day so messing up my dominant hand was fun. Going skiing again in 2 weeks, but I am not supposed to dynamically grasp anything for 4 more weeks. I have a brace on order, but most likely will be skiing without poles to avoid grasping. Should be an interesting experience.
I didn't have a good spill. Got off balance in moguls and put my hand down instead of sitting due to being cautious of my ankle after having surgery on it in August. Well, with my hand down I kind of slipped forward and back with my hand stuck (pole in hand + hand warmer) and at some point there was a pop. As an ex-gymnast, I know better than to put my hands down EVER!!! Next time, I'll just sit down!
I didn't have a good spill. Got off balance in moguls and put my hand down instead of sitting due to being cautious of my ankle after having surgery on it in August. Well, with my hand down I kind of slipped forward and back with my hand stuck (pole in hand + hand warmer) and at some point there was a pop. As an ex-gymnast, I know better than to put my hands down EVER!!! Next time, I'll just sit down!
MaineSkiLady
Angel Diva
^^^^ 
What was the diagnosis, sprain or did you have any bone involvement/fracture? This is what I was talking about - the fact that sometimes this is needed and necessary- guess it depends on severity. Well, certainly a major inconvenience, but given your profession (can't imagine how tough that's been since this!), you really don't want to have years of pain following a non-treatment scenario.
Good luck - and consider this: had you gone for the "sit down" alternative, you might have had your lower leg shoot out from underneath you - which is the single biggest recipe for ACL rupture. Having watched my share of this type of sit-down/lower leg slide videos, I long ago learned to fall to one side, to clear my knees.
Right. Like falling on your hip is fail safe
...wound up with acute bursitis in the hip from that one point landing - it's better now but still talks. Luckily, my hearing isn't wonderful. I ignore it.
Keep us posted re your pending ski day sans poles. Also a good brace recommendation if available OTC.
What was the diagnosis, sprain or did you have any bone involvement/fracture? This is what I was talking about - the fact that sometimes this is needed and necessary- guess it depends on severity. Well, certainly a major inconvenience, but given your profession (can't imagine how tough that's been since this!), you really don't want to have years of pain following a non-treatment scenario. Good luck - and consider this: had you gone for the "sit down" alternative, you might have had your lower leg shoot out from underneath you - which is the single biggest recipe for ACL rupture. Having watched my share of this type of sit-down/lower leg slide videos, I long ago learned to fall to one side, to clear my knees.
Right. Like falling on your hip is fail safe
...wound up with acute bursitis in the hip from that one point landing - it's better now but still talks. Luckily, my hearing isn't wonderful. I ignore it.Keep us posted re your pending ski day sans poles. Also a good brace recommendation if available OTC.
skyhighifly
Diva in Training
The doctor really took into consideration my profession and that it was my dominant hand. Although it was an inconvenience that last 7 weeks, it was a great opportunity to improve my fingerspelling using my left hand.
Just for clarification, when I put my hand down, my skis were not moving. I was standing between two moguls after having slipped down the one above. When I put my hand out to steady myself on the uphill side, my skis slid. A few inches of fresh on hardpack, plus a not so good angle resulted in my hand being stuck.
3 days after getting the cast off, I am not convinced that it is 100% better. The next few weeks will tell the story. In 20 years of skiing, this is the first injury that I have actually sought medical attention. The others were just bumps, bruises, and strains. All my major injuries were related to other sports. It sucks getting older and I'm only 26.
Just for clarification, when I put my hand down, my skis were not moving. I was standing between two moguls after having slipped down the one above. When I put my hand out to steady myself on the uphill side, my skis slid. A few inches of fresh on hardpack, plus a not so good angle resulted in my hand being stuck.
3 days after getting the cast off, I am not convinced that it is 100% better. The next few weeks will tell the story. In 20 years of skiing, this is the first injury that I have actually sought medical attention. The others were just bumps, bruises, and strains. All my major injuries were related to other sports. It sucks getting older and I'm only 26.
MaineSkiLady
Angel Diva
Oh my. About the only thing I can add to that getting older comment is:
Hmmm, I've got a few years on you.
On a serious note, this is likely to be a long healing process, so be patient. Is there any PT involved? I have no idea, because like I said, I ignored mine and have to live with the long-term consequences of doing so. I still think it was a good idea to really be aggressive in terms of treatment. Finger joints get nasty and cranky when one gets REALLY old - injuries exacerbate. Having done a similar kind of positional injury to mine, I surely sympathize. Hope things improve for you w/time.
skyhighifly
Diva in Training
No PT, but that is mostly because I am compliant and when given exercises to do, I do them. For now, removable splint for approximately 2 weeks (it's off for over 24 hours at this point) and exercises. No dynamic grasping for 4 weeks. Tomorrow I can decide what to do for work, splint or nothing. Signing is just good PT because of the range of motion you naturally go through.
I do plan to go skiing in 2 weeks. It's out family trip we do every year and I am not flying in just to sit at the cabin or in the lodge while everyone else hits the mountain. My brace for skiing that the doctor ordered should come next week. Pretty much the doctor said "I don't want to know." in regards to skiing. I can guarantee that if I fall, that hand will get securely tucked in next to my chest.
I agree, going to the doctor and getting treatment was a good thing in this case.
I do plan to go skiing in 2 weeks. It's out family trip we do every year and I am not flying in just to sit at the cabin or in the lodge while everyone else hits the mountain. My brace for skiing that the doctor ordered should come next week. Pretty much the doctor said "I don't want to know." in regards to skiing. I can guarantee that if I fall, that hand will get securely tucked in next to my chest.
I agree, going to the doctor and getting treatment was a good thing in this case.
Bravosarah
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Has anybody tried the Leki Trigger Straps & Poles or the Poles & Gloves System? It's suppose to release during a fall. I'm not sure how consistant or reliable the system is, any thoughts?
