Alright dudes, I haven't been around for a while since baron sold out. But I figured you'd be the best folks to get an opinion from. So here goes I was kicked in the hand on July 30th and knew that I'd need a few stitches to get my self put back together. The Dr sewed me up took an Xray and confirmed that the proximal end of my index finger was fractured. The er doc sent me to an orthopedic dr who looked at the same Xray and told me that I needed to take it easy for a while but other than that I was good to go. I made arrangements to to only do half of the horses that I had scheduled for the next 3 weeks. Any way I went in on Monday August 24th for a check up and the new Xray didn't show much healing going on so I went into surgery the next day. They put 2 "k wires" through the bone in an X fashion to hold me together and advised me to start moving my finger quite a bit as the extensor tendon was wanting to contract and limit the amount of movement in the finger permanently. So I guess my question to you all is, how long do you think that I should stay out from under horses? I have another Dr's appointment on September 3rd and I'll get plenty of information from him then however my kids need to eat every day and I'm a terrible patient. Regards J Hill
This last April i tore by bicep muscle loose from its moorings. To make a long story short; I healed two months earlier than the doc expected. ( He had to surgically reattach the ligament.) Like I told the doc: I don't smoke or drink and i take vitamins and minerals. And like the doc said, "And you're Dutch." In 2000 i broke my left leg. Again the doc was amazed how fast i heeled. Don't drink or smoke (or use tobacco.) and take your vitamins and minerals. t really does help.
I hate not being able to work. It's only a finger, how can I let a stupid finger slow me down? I haven't been wounded in 8 years. And Iv gotten really good at loading myself up with lots of work. Now I'm busy rescheduling people for the next 5 weeks. At least I'm still able to help coach the 3rd,4th grade football team, not really profitable but loads of fun.
I had my left hand operated on, had to take weeks free. I did exactly what was expected of me and the end result was my hand healed up just fine. My customers understood. I'd also arranged for a couple farriers to help me out if needed. Take what it takes to heal up, if you don't, you'll fight it for a longer time.
Wait for it to heal. Wrap it up real tight, work and wait for it to heal. Have the end cut off and go to work. Pick your poison.
J Hill, I m a strong believer that farriers know hooves and that MDs know the human body, or at least the parts that they in, for that reason when I want info bout hooves etc . I ask farriers and vets............when I want info bout human parts and the workings, I ask MDs............... that said, when your down for awhile, it makes one realize the comradeship of this trade, or at least the importance of it, that along with insurance, a backup plan for work and or income etc.. My advice, do what the Drs. tells you if you trust them. Regards and hope ya get on with it sooner than later! Ray
I've been broke up a number of times (most not shoeing related), been pretty good about following Dr's orders and am still shoeing at 77 years old (not too many tho). Listen to the doc.
The trouble I'm having here is that there are only 2 farriers in about a 45 mile radius and tons of horses getting ready to start gathering cattle out of the mountains or going hunting ect... I can only imagine what folks are saying right now. Coincidently, there was 3 of us working locally till about 1 week before I got kicked. The 3rd guy told me that he had gotten a job at the tire store. I'm really starting to feel bad for the one sound horse shoer. Poor guy is starting to look pretty gant. I kinda feel like placing some blame on the dr as she told me to go ahead and keep working just "take it easy" a buddy of mine says city folks idea of taking it easy just ain't the same as rural folks. I E my first thought was to cut my work load in half. It sure seemed like that was taking it easy. Apparently though it wasn't quite easy enough as i now find myself in this stupid condition with wires n other crud poking out of me. Only 2 more days and I'll be able to take jacks advice and get some information straight from the horses mouth. Please don't misunderstand my "placing blame on the dr" comment as i know that she was doing the best as she could and I am very appreciative of the care I've received. The comment is made with a little tongue in cheek.
The trouble I'm having here is that there are only 2 farriers in about a 45 mile radius and tons of horses getting ready to start gathering cattle out of the mountains or going hunting ect... I can only imagine what folks are saying right now. Coincidently, there was 3 of us working locally till about 1 week before I got kicked. The 3rd guy told me that he had gotten a job at the tire store. I'm really starting to feel bad for the one sound horse shoer. Poor guy is starting to look pretty gant. I kinda feel like placing some blame on the dr as she told me to go ahead and keep working just "take it easy" a buddy of mine says city folks idea of taking it easy just ain't the same as rural folks. I E my first thought was to cut my work load in half. It sure seemed like that was taking it easy. Apparently though it wasn't quite easy enough as i now find myself in this stupid condition with wires n other crud poking out of me. Only 2 more days and I'll be able to take jacks advice and get some information straight from the horses mouth. Please don't misunderstand my "placing blame on the dr" comment as i know that she was doing the best as she could and I am very appreciative of the care I've received. The comment is made with a little tongue in cheek.
This isn't a 100 yard dash, this is a long distance race - if you don't take care of yourself now, now one else will. When you're broke down now one will care, they will just find another farrier. Like one of the other posts said, maybe it's time to raise your prices. I know what it's like, I worked for an outfitter, we had around 80 head of horses and mules and they had to be up all the time.
Ha. The Dr said that I'm healing like a bigdog. Said I could work as long as i don't tango with anything rough, and to just not use my index finger while working. Sounds easy enough. I'm going to try a couple of old campaigners tomorrow evening. I still need to keep the stupid pins in for another 3 weeks but oh well. Here's what my Xray from last Monday the 24th looked like. I got kicked a month earlier
