Print

[Northern monkey]

I'm sure there's more than one topic on here about broken digits,but the search functions not playing tonight, and seeing as I can't play because of it, thought I'd ask for advice

Broke my middle finger on my right hand
Had my hands up to take a catch in the slips, and the balls clipped the top of the finger,breaking the bone twice
Looks horrendous on the X-ray and hurts a little as you can imagine, ( I did carry on fielding for 15 overs after!) idiot

I worked this week with it, but after visiting trauma ward today, they've signed me off and said, please don't lift anything heavy or bang it etc, so I'll have a week off work and see how it goes.
They've also said I'm looking at a lack of full movement and most likely arthritis in it, which is crap, after I've just been told I have arthritis in my thumb,( played 40yrs now, caught a lot of cricket balls).

Any advice, apart from hang up the boots and take up golf most appreciated

[JB]

Broke two fingers on my right hand on a double weekend about a month ago. Didn't get them seen to, still giving me a lot of problems day to day! Haven't missed a game though

[Vitas Cricket]

There are of course degrees of damage when it comes to hand and finger breaks, so it's hard to compare my experience with yours

Being a football goalkeeper and a wicket keeper I guess I'm in the firing line more than most, I've broken fingers/metacarpals about 6 times now but have never missed a game, I even saved a penalty after breaking a metacarpal (toot toot, blowing my horn lol)

I generally look to isolate the movement as much as possible with plastic splints (Google plastic finger splint) and a load of cloth/cotton tape. It's easier for me I suppose as I can hide this under a big wicket keeping glove. Load up on painkillers and freeze spray and crack on

You know your own body though, and from experience I know my pain threshold is high enough to defy moderate warnings from doctors, I also know my bones seem to heal quicker than doctors say they will. If in any kind of doubt of course don't play and let yourself heal.

Why not go and do the warmup this weekend and see how it goes? Maybe a net/training session in the week with the aim of playing some sort of role next week?

[rickjames]

I messed up my pinky earlier last week but I feel there's no point in me going to MIU, they'll just say leave it for 4-6 weeks.

Did break two of my fingers on my right hand last year playing football, required surgery of 3x1.5mm screws in each hand to put everything back together. Have a lovely scar to show for it also and still feels numb, but hey ho.

[Northern monkey]

There's no way I'm playing with it at the moment
I'm no pro and I've nothing to prove, so I've no intention of making it worse by playing

It's in a finger splint at the minute

[Vitas Cricket]

There's no way I'm playing with it at the moment
I'm no pro and I've nothing to prove, so I've no intention of making it worse by playing

It's in a finger splint at the minute

Sorry, I must have misunderstood, thought you were looking for advice when it came to playing with it.

Perhaps put the finger next to it through some moderate exercise and do some umpiring for a while, or just wrap it round a pint glass and watch team mates score some runs and take some wickets

Hope it heals soon

[Woodyspin]

When i broke my finger i was told that to avoid losing any movement in it i had to keep it in the splint... Then light exacise it which was basically likeover stretching the tendon so that dont stiffen up and just make a fist and open it up again.. Hard to explain really..

[Northern monkey]

Yeah  that's what they've told me too

[Biggie Smalls]

Apart from stretching excercises etc for broken fingers /arthritis,  I've found squeezing a squash ball in the hand helps me a lot . I have had my left index and ring fingers broken and also have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands (everywhere,  actually) . I'm a left arm orthodox spinner so keeping up this trick has possibly been the difference in me still being able to give it a rip or not .

[Northern monkey]

Thank you  biggie

Did you play whilst it was broken,or did you allow the breaks to heal before playing?
My biggest worry is causing more damage,as there are two breaks already.

[Biggie Smalls]

When i broke the ring finger i played as a batsman and didnt bowl for about six weeks . I used sausage gloves when batting . I used freeze spray and heavy bandaging to help get through fielding ......and did fine leg to fine leg . Once i was exercising the finger i would put a ball in my hand and try to spin it as i would when bowling . When i could do that to my satisfaction i recommenced net bowling . I don't think the healing was adversely affected by batting .
With the broken index finger i didnt play any cricket for a month . I use my left hand the most batting (top handed right hand batsman ) and grip in such a way that the index finger does most of the work ( almost pistol grip like ) . I just found gripping the bat too frustrating and difficult .....plus throwdowns quickly showed me that the finger couldn't take the jarring .
Basically , if you feel you can bat then do it . If you feel your batting will be compromised then there's really no point anyway . Perhaps if you bowl pace and the injured fingers dont affect your grip on the ball /are on the other hand etc you might be fine too . Can't give you any experiential advice re if you're a keeper . But ultimately go with your gut because if you are second guessing yourself /lacking confidence then you may as well just have the time off .

[Northern monkey]

Cheers
I'm a batter, so there's no chance I can hold the bat at the moment
I'm hoping to get back playing for the last two games which is on a Saturday /Sunday double header.
That should give it a good three weeks without playing

I suppose my initial enquiries, were to see if I was being soft or not
But at the minute, I can't afford to be off work and if I risk further damage by strapping the finger and/or using freeze spray, then I'm just not gonna risk it.

It's interesting seeing the replies as I can't understand how people are playing with them broken?
My fingers in a splint, and the bones broken twice, if I freeze it and catch the ball again, surely I'm not gonna have much finger left?

[Alvaro]

Do the physio.

This is the most important thing.

Yours,

Currently nursing a fracture.

p.s. I have been looking at buying kit recently, which is indicative. Almost as good as playing, no?

[Biggie Smalls]

Yeah , you're just putting feelers out to get an indication of if you're being soft.... well , id say you're  not being soft . I played through with one injury , but couldn't with the other . It's case by case , and whether or not you think you'll cop a knock on the finger or not . Plus , some people's jobs /real life require fully functional digits .
Three weeks rest will give you a good chance . Do the physio , stretching stuff etc . When you think you're about right , have some throwdowns . If that goes ok id recommend maybe having a net against spin before facing pace . If you're holding back against the spinners then chances are you're not right yet .

[Biggie Smalls]

Oh , and once you're healed /back playing still keep up the stretching etc indefinitely.  I find that if i let it go for a while my finger mobility regresses .