Well… that was stupid…

[S854]

Over the years my wife has driven me to the ER so many times. Here's a good one. I decided to put a Briggs motor on a bicycle. Top speed was about 65 mph...insane on a flimsy bicycle & no helmet. I had an ignition toggle switch for a "Jake brake".
First trial run I had the side cover off, started it, it was idling and I had a flat blade 6" shaft screwdriver I was going to adjust the carburetor with. BOOM! The screwdriver shaft hit the spinning flywheel fins which drove screwdriver into my right eye .
I shut motor off & pulled screwdriver out. Closed my good eye and looked at the sun. I was blind except sun I could see what looked like a purple curtain. I went to house "well...I did it now!" I said to wife. She grabbed a towel, drove me 80 mph to hospital flashers on, me holding a bloody towel over eye.
X-ray showed screwdriver went into my brain. (That's what's wrong with me ) Doctors asked why I pulled it out? Just a reaction. All they could do was sew up the eyelid, sent me home with an eyepatch and pain meds. The screwdriver went through lid at top, rolling eyeball back.
Looking at it next day it was horrible, red and iris wasn't there. I went to a local eye center to be checked out and given drops of some sort. Then checking every few days the white part appeared, then after a few weeks something below which was the iris. Day by day the iris slowly moved around until finally it was back! Vision was blurry at first but cleared up! Back at the eye center they called me "the miracle guy". I'm 71, no cataracts and they said 20-20 vision. I do use reading glasses for close work, although I can read normal print ok.

Well… now I don’t feel quite so stupid…

 

[WinterDeere]

X-ray showed screwdriver went into my brain.

Well, that explains a lot. (j/k)

I'm assuming you've read up plenty on Phineas Gage?

Awesome story. We need a whole thread of, "why women live longer than men." This could've been the inaugural post!

 

[Eagle1]

Well, that explains a lot. (j/k)

I'm assuming you've read up plenty on Phineas Gage?

Awesome story. We need a whole thread of, "why women live longer than men." This could've been the inaugural post!

No way some of us might get new ideas beyond our normal range of stupid ideas...

 

[dougtrr2]

I have had a couple close calls with my table saw. The "worst" one (no loss of digits or function) was my own stupidity. It involved a narrow rip cut without using the zero clearance insert I had sitting on the shelf. Doh!

I think switching from using a table saw to a circular saw is a mistake. I do not see how a circular saw is safer than a table saw, especially when using push sticks and caution.

Doug in SW IA

 

[MossRoad]

I’ll start with the “easy” one… I’ll just put in the thumbnail view… clic if’n ya wanna… there’s more where this came from…

Nice! Here's mine from a few years ago...

 

[S854]

Nice! Here's mine from a few years ago...

View attachment 842530

Looks like your doc used a leftover part from his thanksgiving turkey… “hey if it holds the birds legs together it should keep this gentlemans finger in place”

 

[S854]

One more pic… after the ER sewed the hamburger together…

 

[S854]

Hmmmm… maybe I’ll contact these people… offer them my severed digit in exchange…

 

[ruffdog]

One more pic… after the ER sewed the hamburger together…

I find that an injured finger like that will always get cold quick. I now have to wear mittens when I'm out in the very cold temps as my one finger doesn't have good circulation any more. Good luck!

 

[S854]

the damaged part is gone… hopefully the stub has good circulation…

I guess I’ll just wait and see

 

[ruffdog]

the damaged part is gone… hopefully the stub has good circulation…

I guess I’ll just wait and see

View attachment 842562

Okay...I was going to say that the last photo didn't look good. You may have less problems this way. Over the years I knew lots of people in your condition, some missing that same finger (one was dumb snowblower accident) and they adapted fine. good luck.

 

[jjeff]

Re lost fingers.
I remember my dad (he worked in the shipyard during the war) telling me you could always tell a plater. They were missing at least one finger from using their finger to check for rivet hole alignment. He would always say to me, "Never stick your finger where you wouldn't stick yer doins' " Word to live by in my books LOL
Many years ago my wife, I and two kids were visiting my folks....a knock come to the door, it was their next door neighbour white as a sheet holding one hand in the other. "Would you mind taking me to the the ER? " "Sure, no problem" as I was turning away to get my coat he was holding the screen door open and as I couldn't see anything wrong right away, I asked him, "What's wrong, you not feeling too good"
"Not really" he says and proceeds to hold up his curled up left hand with his right and opens up his left hand. He had cut thru the palm of his left hand from base of hand to base of fingers on his tablesaw. Well...I've got a pretty strong stomach but that almost did me in. Nice straight cut tho...he must have used the fence I figure

Spud wrench's are finger saving invaluable tools for lining up holes on steel projects. I knew a few retired iron workers missing digits.

 

[4570Man]

I have had a couple close calls with my table saw. The "worst" one (no loss of digits or function) was my own stupidity. It involved a narrow rip cut without using the zero clearance insert I had sitting on the shelf. Doh!

I think switching from using a table saw to a circular saw is a mistake. I do not see how a circular saw is safer than a table saw, especially when using push sticks and caution.

Doug in SW IA

That’s what I was thinking. I’d much rather use a table saw to rip a 2x4 than a circular saw.

 

[MossRoad]

the damaged part is gone… hopefully the stub has good circulation…

I guess I’ll just wait and see

View attachment 842562

Well, at least it makes it easier to rock on, dude!

Hope a little humor helps. Here's to a quick recovery.
Be sure and follow up with all physical therapy.

 

[orezok]

the damaged part is gone… hopefully the stub has good circulation…

I guess I’ll just wait and see

View attachment 842562

Now how are ya gonna signal that the guy who just cut you off really should go first

 

[S854]

Now how are ya gonna signal that the guy who just cut you off really should go first

I'll let Julie drive... then I can "fly the flag" out the passenger window...

 

[WinterDeere]

the damaged part is gone… hopefully the stub has good circulation…

I guess I’ll just wait and see

View attachment 842562

Well, your career as a bagpiper is over. Every note will now be F.

Looks like signaling other drivers from the drivers side of the car is also limited.

Hoping a little humor lightens the mood.

 

[S854]

Well, your career as a bagpiper is over. Every note will now be F...

…Hoping a little humor lightens the mood.

I also feel like Paul Sheldon from Misery… ‘cept instead of Paul’s missing “n”… I’m having a heck of a time figuring how I’m gonna get to “d” and “e” on my QWERTY keyboard…

 

[sixdogs]

Over the years my wife has driven me to the ER so many times. Here's a good one. I decided to put a Briggs motor on a bicycle. Top speed was about 65 mph...insane on a flimsy bicycle & no helmet. I had an ignition toggle switch for a "Jake brake".
First trial run I had the side cover off, started it, it was idling and I had a flat blade 6" shaft screwdriver I was going to adjust the carburetor with. BOOM! The screwdriver shaft hit the spinning flywheel fins which drove screwdriver into my right eye .
I shut motor off & pulled screwdriver out. Closed my good eye and looked at the sun. I was blind except sun I could see what looked like a purple curtain. I went to house "well...I did it now!" I said to wife. She grabbed a towel, drove me 80 mph to hospital flashers on, me holding a bloody towel over eye.
X-ray showed screwdriver went into my brain. (That's what's wrong with me ) Doctors asked why I pulled it out? Just a reaction. All they could do was sew up the eyelid, sent me home with an eyepatch and pain meds. The screwdriver went through lid at top, rolling eyeball back.
Looking at it next day it was horrible, red and iris wasn't there. I went to a local eye center to be checked out and given drops of some sort. Then checking every few days the white part appeared, then after a few weeks something below which was the iris. Day by day the iris slowly moved around until finally it was back! Vision was blurry at first but cleared up! Back at the eye center they called me "the miracle guy". I'm 71, no cataracts and they said 20-20 vision. I do use reading glasses for close work, although I can read normal print ok.

I don't think any of us can top that. I do recall a picture of a guy in the ER with an arrow in his chest and his son clutching a bow. That could be a contender but in my book, we have a winner right here.