I like to say that quilting is in my blood–(My grandmother, mother and sisters are all quilters.)–but now I can say quilting is in my bones as well!
On Monday, in a rushed, unfocused nano-second, I stitched right through the middle of my nail. I launched out of my chair and ripped the broken needle out of the pad of my finger. I quickly wrapped my finger and sat and sulked for a while.
By Wednesday, my finger still throbbing, I decided to see a doctor and get an antibiotic. The doctor ordered an x-ray and imagine my surprise when this is what it revealed!
Several hours later, I was carted off to the operating room. The surgeon said the needle went into my bone and shattered. He found the thread and removed it along with most of the metal shards from the needle, but he was forced to leave a small metal shard embedded in my index finger.
So… six x-rays… thirty minutes of surgery… one small bottle of pain meds… one large bottle of antibiotics…and one tetanus shot later…This is my cautionary tale!
Below –my favorite image-taken during surgery-reveals the thread still attached to the needle!
The good news: Doctors orders: No dishes for six to nine months!?
My new motto: Make haste slowly!
Lori
171 comments
Suzanna
I hope your finger (and you) feels better in no time, although I think this might be the right time to recruit dishwashers for Thanksgiving 🙂
Kathy in WV
Whoa!!! I’ve sewn through my left index finger before…once….but the needle came right back up so I only had a hole in my fingernail and a sore finger for a week or so. I’m so sorry….but I’m glad for the “no dishes” part….thank goodness the doctor didn’t say “no quilting or typing”!!! lol AMAZING X-RAYS.
Ethne
Goodness
I jabbed my finger with a needle felting needle earlier this week and it still hurts a little but this is way way more
You poor thing – I hope everything heals up quickly for you with no side effects
Lori Kennedy
Thanks. Lots of antibiotics, so I am hopeful no side effects!
Lisa M
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Judy @ GrandparentsPlus2
Wow – those Xrays tell the story. Wishes for a fast recuperation back to the sewing machine and hopefully you have a built in dishwasher. 🙂
Lori Kennedy
I do, but I really don’t think I should even have to load that, do you? Plus vacuum cleaners are probably unwise to use as well?
Sharon
I think unloading the dishwasher and vacuuming would definitely put stress on the finger and should be avoided totally! I hope the pain meds are doing their job. I’m amazed that you can keyboard.
Carol Claytor
Wow, I’ve heard of this happening to other people but not to this extent. When you do something you go all out! Feel better soon.
Lori Kennedy
That’s me–go Big or go Home!
Ros
A drastic way to get out of the dishes….wishing you a speedy recovery!
Lori Kennedy
Not with Thanksgiving coming up!
Barb Schellinger
Lori! Yikes! Isn’t this the second time w/in a few months?!? As my quilting students are learning how to use their sewing machines today, I will put your surgery xray up on the big screen for a cautionary tale. They will be really interested in meeting you now in December!
Lori Kennedy
Yes, it was my second time this month. I’ve been sewing for years and I’ve never had a problem. I think the lesson is to slow down and respect the sewing machine as a heavy piece of equipment! We don’t want to scare your students, though–if they can’t relax, they won’t be able to freemotion quilt!
Vikki
Ouch, sorry to hear, but amazing X-ray pics. Get better soon.
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