Toe v. Thumb

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Messages 21 - 30 of total 30 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
quantum7

Trad climber
Squamish
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 15, 2018 - 07:54pm PT
Thanks for the continuing responses. Two weeks til I meet the surgeon to discuss proceeding or not. I am still undecided. In the meantime, I did get me some new fingers. Not functional, merely for cosmetic purposes. I don't anticipate wearing them too often as they just feel too wacky.


the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Aug 15, 2018 - 10:30pm PT
Looks a lot like Tony Iommi. Do you know that story? Lost the tips of those fingers on his left hand, almost gave up playing guitar, but instead tuned his guitar lower, changed his style and it ended up playing a huge part in the development of heavy metal.
High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Aug 16, 2018 - 10:59am PT
Adrienne,

FWIW, I agree with Russ Walling.

I'd really be surprised if after indepth research, I changed in my initial leaning and chose to keep the toe at the thoe's expense.

Good luck.

PS

If I were in your situation, I also think I'd try to reach out to Hugh Herr...

https://twitter.com/hughherr

by email or snail mail to get his perspective. All the moreso, as I'm also a fellow moutaineer, runner and climber.

Notwithstanding the added corrective surgery(ies), the risks involved, the expenses, and my way above average passion for adventure sports, it just seems to me... all things considered... a functional thumb is more useful than a functional toe given my overall lifestyle in the long term.

If it's okay, please keep us in the loop.
Happiegrrrl2

Trad climber
Aug 16, 2018 - 11:24am PT
Off on a tangent, but is there no possibility of using a Donor Toe?...Well, a Donor Thumb, really, since...obviously - why put on a Donor Toe when you could replace the thumb with a thumb?

I am guessing it must be to do with potential rejection of the replacement part, but if it's possible, it would make me so happy to imagine that when I die, my thumb could be used to give someone who had lost theirs a better chance at improved dexterity.

Good luck with this; I think many of us just cannot imagine how difficult it is, both physically and emotionally, to adjust to a loss like you had. I am sure that having the input and discussion is helpful in coping.
fear

Ice climber
hartford, ct
Aug 16, 2018 - 11:40am PT
I'll sell you my toe... bidding starts at...
TradMike

Trad climber
Cincinnati, Ohio
Aug 16, 2018 - 11:49am PT
A good friend of mine is a hand surgeon. He just showed me a procedure where he took the index finger and put it where the thumb was. The finger acts like a thumb just perfect with the remaining three fingers.
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
Aug 16, 2018 - 12:39pm PT
^ ^ ^ ^ ^*Well then give up a recommendation or contact information
Edit
takes some moxie & sailing skills

Q-7? i'M SORRY,If you want, I'll take the pictures down.
They make an excellent point of the type of things you've been up to,
They are proud pix, not at all reveling, but they are yours to post
my appologies
from Quantum's profile pageI would say the "adventure gene" runs broad & deep.
but her bone structure?

The hand in question, (graphic)

http://www.supertopo.com/photos/41/20/533529_1386_XL.jpg

Maybe not so much?






For those who missed the 1st thread :

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=3082497&msg=3103405#msg3103405




`

I was told by Dr(s) (@,the Hospital for Special Surgery) Considering all factors,size, location, severity, duration of time since injury. . .
At a certain age, the a point here, that the body's ability to heal decreases rapidly.
In the case of a withered part it is often better removed & replaced.
but, especially where the damage was catastrophic -not a surgical amputation- re-attaching body parts is . . .
well thats what experimental surgery is. experimental.



just for the video, i do not have a recommendation, my wife saw a women in the same practice.

https://www.hss.edu/physicians_lee-steve.asp
the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Aug 16, 2018 - 01:44pm PT
Happiegrrrl2, my guess would be that to use a donor thumb you would need to take immuno-suppressive drugs for the rest of your life to prevent rejection, and those drugs can have bad side effects. IMO not worth it for a toe or a thumb.

RE: index finger, I'm looking and my index finger looks like a much better match for my thumb than my big toe. Maybe for other people it's different. As I mentioned previously a friend had his thumb replaced with a pinky, so it was good for writing, but not strong like a thumb. If my doctor didn't offer me the choice of an index finder I'd definitely get a second/third opinion. Maybe your left index finder, since you'd want to keep your right index since the middle/ring are shortened?

I was serious on the other thread about using athletic tape to pull the big toe up and wrap the tape around the ankle to hold it up to see a little bit what it's like to not have a big toe. I'd walk around like that for a day at home barefoot and see what I thought. For me the thing I would think not having a big toe would most impact me happens to be climbing. I can't think of anything else where it would be as important to have the ability to put all my weight on that one toe. Seem like hiking, skiing, soccer, etc. you could compensate pretty well even without a prosthetic.

But as mentioned talking to people who have had the procedure and others who decided not to is probably the best input.
D-Storm

climber
Carbondale, CO
Aug 16, 2018 - 02:00pm PT
+1 for the opinions urging you to keep the toe. I have a friend who lost 9 of her toes to frostbite, and about three years later she has never entirely regained the physical ability she once had (it took about a year for her to relearn how to walk unsupported). It's affected her in all kinds of ways that I never would've guessed and I now think about my own toes with a whole new appreciation.
the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Aug 16, 2018 - 07:30pm PT
I have a friend who lost 9 of her toes to frostbite

There must be a huge difference between missing all toes on a foot vs. just the big toe. I'd think the other four could compensate a lot.

It is interesting wearing 5 Fingers shoes though (great for approach shoes). You have more dexterity and realize how regular shoes do a lot to combine all your toes into one unit.

Come to think of it since I'm left handed if I lost my left thumb I'd opt to replace it with my right middle finger so I'd look like Jerry Garcia. ;-)
Messages 21 - 30 of total 30 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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