+ 1 My cut thumb extensor tendon
I wanted to share with the community my recovery from cutting my thumb extensor tendon. A conversation started in a sources si and I didn't want to clog up the si talking about this. First pic is at work right after I cut it. I took a video to send to my sister who is a nurse to ask if that was the bone. She wouldn't say yes or no because I'm a baby and probably would've fainted if she told me it was my tendon haha. She just said get to the hospital now. Next picture is after they cleaned it up to get a better look and told me that white I see is the tendon that pulls the thumb upwards. One week later I had surgery to put the tendon back together and was put in a cast for 10 days. That's the picture you see. Then the cast came off 10 days later and a brace was put on that can only come off for physical therapy and must be worn all day. Today is 8 weeks post surgery. 6 weeks of physical therapy. I am just able to start bending it more than just a wiggle lol. It shakes a lot when trying to move it as it is still really weak and we're working on trying to start strength training the tendon. The first 6 or 7 weeks of physical therapy was just movements to try and keep my range of motion. I work construction and because it happened at work, I am covered by workmans comp, thank God. But looks like I'll still be out for a while. Already 8 weeks out of work because the risk of rupturing the tendon. Has anyone else here been through anything like this? Thanks for any insight on this process
- Bookmark
- 1
- 0




Moved to forums.
This is "off-topic" not gear pic, selfie or a lab test.
How did you cut it? I tore my distal bicep tendon at work.
At work too! I contract for a bunch of apartment complexes and I was trying to finish up a bathroom. I was putting a vinyl tub surround on the walls and I laid one off the pieces on top of an old table left behind. Utility knife in my right hand, of course just put a new blade in the knife. So my right hand was trimming just a little of the end, right hand was about a foot, foot and a half away from my body. Left hand was resting on top of the run surround I was cutting, also a foot to a foot and a half away from my body. Hands pretty far apart trying to be "safe". Well the knife slips off the vinyl and unbelievable I came across my whole body and chopped right where you see the cut. Not a slice, like an axe chopping wood. It felt like I hit it with a hammer. I knew the cut was gonna be bad because the new blade. Before I seen it I had a brand new microfiber towel (luckily) in my back pocket. I pulled it out and squeezed my thumb for a good minute until I got to look. No blood, at first lol. I seen the white and thought wtf, I cut to the bone!? Then the blood so I covered and squeezed again and took myself to the hospital which was about 7 minutes from where I was working. They say oh no, that's not the bone, that's your tendon that lifts your thumb up. I said I can move it though, well I could only bend it downward and it would go back straight. Doc says "try and give me a thumbs up" and nope, that thumb would not go up. The surgeon said I was only able to move that little bit because I cut 80% of it and 20% was still intact. He also said luckily it was a new blade because the cut was clean, no jagged or serrated edges that had to be trimmed back during surgery to stich the tendon back together. Im about 8 weeks after surgery and almost 7 weeks with physical therapy. Still very weak and shakes like crazy trying to move it. How well did you recover? That sounds painful as hell, the bicep distal tendon!?
I took a bunch of 5ft sheets of plexiglass out of the nursing home windows that we had in place for a/c units. Wheeling about 10 sheets stacked on a cart down the hall and whole pile started falling forward. Reflex was reach out and grab not realizing its probably 400lbs and i heard a snap. Arm was all disfigured and went to nurse "i think something is wrong with my arm". Right to the er. Days later 2 cuts, drillled hole in bone and anchored tendon into bone. The after pain was the worse. Went back after 2 weeks in a brace that got adjust every 2 weeks for another 6 weeks. After brace came off just more rehab then finally after maybe 12 weeks i cant remember i could do exercise. Could curl 50 on right arm and like 5lbs on the other. Slow progress and year of some on/off pain and some hgh i fully recovered and full strength back now