Injury - Crushed finger in implement u-joint

[greenmojo]

3 weeks ago, while building the pasture for the flying cow (different thread)...

I wanted to get the auger hooked up the night before starting work on it, so I could begin drilling post holes early in the morning. I was in a rush and it was getting dark. Dumb, dumb.

The PTO shaft was not yet hooked up to the tractor, and it was a bit dirty / rusty from sitting all winter / spring.I picked up the yet a few times to drop it and knock the dirt out of it, and finally I lifted up as hard as I could to throw it back down, and didn't realize that my finger had slipped up inside the u-joint. I felt it pinch, then the u-joint rotated, and the auger tipped toward me to rest against the three-point, and that was enough pressure that I literally heard a crunch so loud, it sounded like I bit into a carrot.



I dropped it, pulled my finger out and it initially felt like a good smashed finger. I pulled my glove off, and immediately noticed it wasn't straight, so I straightened it.

I knew it was broke, but wasn't sure how bad, so I went inside, iced it, wrapped it and took some ibuprofen.

The next morning, I have a dentist friend who was curious how bad I broke it and let me put my finger up on his X-ray machine...



Turns out I crushed it into more than 8 pieces... It's slowing me down.

Nice little lesson in taking things slow.

~Moses

 

[CalG]

ouch!

 

[breadtrk]

I've smashed some fingers, learned about gloves too. None of that would have helped you.

Does it feel better now?

 

[greenmojo]

I've smashed some fingers, learned about gloves too. None of that would have helped you.

Does it feel better now?

It's healing up, but still a bit sore. Another couple of weeks and then I get to choose when they will re-break it to set pins.



~Moses

 

[kcflhrc]

It's healing up, but still a bit sore. Another couple of weeks and then I get to choose when they will re-break it to set pins.

View attachment 429338

~Moses

Does this make you feel any better? Brush hog 3 point collapsed on my right thumb.

 

[MoKelly]

Very sorry.

You are right, bad things seem to always happen when you are tired, its late in the day and you are in a rush to get finished. We all know that in our brain but we still do foolish stuff.

Hope it gets better as fast as possible.

MoKelly

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sounds like something that would normally happen to me!

It always amazes me how fragile the body actually is.

Where does Holleywood find all these guys that are indestructable?

 

[oldpilgrim]

you run a farm and your hands and nails are THAT clean?

I'm calling shenanigans.

 

[5030]

That thing is ugly (not your finger, don't care about that) the U joint and the coupler and from what I can see the slip splines. Own a grease gun? I suggest you use it before and after you put your digger away for the winter..........

 

[roadhunter]

I do not like hooking my auger up for the fear that I will end up doing something like you did.

All I cans say is that there is a reason most construction equipment does not use a 3 point hitch or a PTO like they do on tractors. I do not look forward to hooking up the auger at all as it is always a PITA it seems.

If I ever do it over I will buy a hydraulic unit for the FEL. Much easier to hook up, more down pressure, and you can even reverse it if you get stuck.

 

[5030]

Does this make you feel any better? Brush hog 3 point collapsed on my right thumb.
View attachment 429366

You need to cook that thing and serve it to some needy folks for dinner...lol

 

[kcflhrc]

You need to cook that thing and serve it to some needy folks for dinner...lol

It was ugly. Doc ran stitches through the nail to keep it together. I didn't feel much, it's been over a year and It still feels weird. Probably always will.

 

[greenmojo]

Does this make you feel any better? Brush hog 3 point collapsed on my right thumb.
View attachment 429366

Ouch! And I know that feeling. Did it break or squash it like a grape?

They removed my nail, and then stitched up my nail matrix (line of cells that generates the nail), then stitched up my nail bed (under the nail). They had to remove the nail, because the crush damage under it was pretty bad.

Very sorry.

Hope it gets better as fast as possible.

MoKelly

Thanks. Not looking forward to more weeks of this especially after they re-break it.

you run a farm and your hands and nails are THAT clean?

I'm calling shenanigans.

I own a software company by trade... I have keyboard hands, what can I say.

That thing is ugly (not your finger, don't care about that) the U joint and the coupler and from what I can see the slip splines. Own a grease gun? I suggest you use it before and after you put your digger away for the winter..........

I bought it used when I got the JD a few years back. Looking at that picture it does look in pretty bad shape. I didn't feel like greasing it... I felt like running it over with the bulldozer a few times. ;-)

~Moses

 

[kcflhrc]

Ouch! And I know that feeling. Did it break or squash it like a grape?

They removed my nail, and then stitched up my nail matrix (line of cells that generates the nail), then stitched up my nail bed (under the nail). They had to remove the nail, because the crush damage under it was pretty bad.



Thanks. Not looking forward to more weeks of this especially after they re-break it.



I own a software company by trade... I have keyboard hands, what can I say.



I bought it used when I got the JD a few years back. Looking at that picture it does look in pretty bad shape. I didn't feel like greasing it... I felt like running it over with the bulldozer a few times. ;-)

~Moses

Just broke the very tip but squashed the rest. Hurt like ****. New tractor and implements. Just unfamiliar with the hazards. Lesson learned. Hope you heal quick.

 

[HEC]

That will make think a little harder next time I hook up for sure . Thanks for sharing

 

[Cat_Driver]

One thing about everyone getting injured around tractors and reading about it here, you all have saved me hundreds of times, so I THANK YOU. All the bad things that go wrong make me SLOW WAY WAY WAY DOWN around all my equipment. I find myself getting off equipment like I'm a 100 year old crippled man with a broken leg. In other words, I move SLOW, and cautiously, where before I would jump and fly off equipment while it was running. Today I've learned to shut equipment off if people are near it, or I get off it. I've learned to have three points attached as I climb off equipment, two arms holding FIRM - WHITE KNUCKLE FIRM,( not just "slightly holding" ) and one leg on a solid surface. Can't tell you how many times this has helped me not fall. I grip things when dismounting like that grip needs to hold my entire weight, and several times it needed to.
So for all you guys that get hurt and pass that info along I THANK YOU with ell my heart for saving me and others I'm sure.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Crush injuries are always nasty, and among the worst things for orthopedists to try to fix.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I learned a long time ago, even though I have to remind myself often, not to JUMP off a piece of equipment. Here my foot got caught (due to inappropriate footwear) on the steps of my loader. Nothing seems to humble one quite as quickly as having your face smash into the ground faster then you can react! Good thing, I still drink a gallon of milk a day, or I am sure something would have broken. Very, very painfull, nevertheless!

 

[brown40]

I too applaud the walking wounded for sharing their experiences, and preventing a bunch of repetitions.

Just taking that extra step between thought and action gets hands and feet in better places.

I once had the privilege of resting a finger beneath a chain on a logging winch and using the other hand to test if the 3pt was picking up the 24" ash... it was--I just didn't have traction to pull it--or sense enough to account for all extremities before proceeding with thought. Didn't break, just popped the flesh out the side--thank you gloves!

 

[greenmojo]

Ya'll are welcome! Here's to not sharing another story anytime soon!

Crush injuries are always nasty, and among the worst things for orthopedists to try to fix.

One tip I might add, if you are unfortunate enough to crush a digit, head to the clinic or emergency room as quickly as possible. A break is one thing, but the orthopedist was pretty concerned about me crushing that finger and not going in until the next afternoon.

~Moses