I have just been on the phone about an appointment to have something done about my Dupuytren's contracture, apparently the waiting time for an appointment is 58 weeks.
Can anybody give any advice on home finger amputation as this would seem to be the best method of resovling the problem?
Disc brake rotor is the preferred method of the forum, not sure I’d recommend it though.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes Will have some advice.
I recommend WERA tools, or PB Swiss, Park simply doesn't cut it anymore.
A climbing mate had this. He paid to go private on this due to the wait as his job involves rope access and other safety critical stuff at height. Anyway, the op went very well and he has full movement and is back climbing at a high level again.
Was thinking about using the secateurs , they have good power and are quick.
A mechanic I worked with amputated the tip of his index finger when he absent-mindedly spun the rear wheel backwards on a fixed gear bike when he was checking the chain tension.
His finger got caught between chain and chainring.
Carelessly lube the chain on an in gear running motorcycle. Place finger on the underside of the upper run of the chain, near the rear sprocket.
As above, garden shed, vice and electric fretsaw was the Ranulph Fiennes approach I believe.
No personal experience of success as my two (what an idiot) attempts with my grandads old folding knife where only flesh wounds.
My dad was more successful, he used the dodgy guard on a table saw method.
One of my uncles used the get careless a the back of a bin lorry method.
In both cases carrying out the procedure in the workplace meant paid leave and potentially a bit of a payout.
My mum just went for the casual leave a digit in a slamming door method but that was just the last joint of a thumb, we found the amputated piece a week later stuck in the door catch.
I am a bit perturbed that in 58 weeks for a first look, I will loose the ability to ride my bike and paddle my kayak. So it's self surgery or private which I probably can't afford.
Cigar guillotine - works a treat, so my enforcer tells me.
Self surgery is the way forward.
I used to have a little bit of a lisp so I read that the little bit of skin under the tongue being too tight can cause it so I cut it one evening with tin snips.
Those little polyp things you sometimes get on your neck used to bother me too, so I tied nylon cotton around the 2 of them (separately) and pulled tight to cut them off, bled like mad mind you.
Done a bit of teeth repair/DIY veneer too but that's another story.
If anyone needs me help just let me know.
I don't eat the bits of flesh I cut off or anything. Im not even German.
Tourniquet will kill the finger but you'd still need to cut through the bone 🤮
We use battery powered hydraulic cutters to cut cable at work, would make short work of a finger and are pretty quick.
I have a knackered little finger and was told it was 'cosmetic' and the Drs refused to do anything.
I then asked what the process 'would be' to amputate it and they refused to tell me.
I then asked what type of 'injury' would remove my little finger with the best recovery and least long term damage and again they refused to answer and asked me to leave the hospital.
If you do get a decent answer then please ping me and I probably will give it a go.
Heras fencing and a wedding worked well for someone I knew........
For a more natural approach, try the Terry Nutkins method. Find a cheeky otter and give it a stroke. Thought will need to go into ensuring the correct finger is nibbled.
I would just go with something fast. I've worked with guys who've used powersaws and an industrial extractor fan - it's basically over before you know what happened, although it does sting a bit afterwards, apparently. Despite what they tell you when you're a kid, cake mixers won't actually take the finger off, they'll just make it hurt quite a lot, don't try that unless it's a massive industrial one.
Whatever method WCA would use.
Given WCA's record I'd hesitate to call it a method. Equally, given WCA's record he could probably lose a finger putting the bins out or something. Opening a cereal box. Restringing a ukelele (that might take an eye out too)
I like the idea of the otter method but I have only ever seen otters in Shetland, Mull, Skye, and Trefor. So locating an otter might be a problem and I might be a bit nervous of handling an enraged otter.
Angle Grinder.
A metal bar, a rope and a spooked horse was very efficient for a friend of mine. Surprisingly little bleeding considering she lost the top of 3 fingers.
Might also add that the Banshees of Inisherin provides a helpful guide.
Try asking over at http://www.yakuzatrackworld.com
Away from the donkey is my suggestion.
There is an injection to dissolve the collagen build up in the tendon sheath. I looked a this years ago in lieu of surgery (in a professional not patient capacity). It was eventually licensed as Xiaflex(TM), which I thought remarkable. On that basis, why not spare the amputation and just inject some dishwasher cleaning tablet into your hand*?
(*Please don't).
OP
Join your local Yakuza group and tell them you are Yubitsume curious.
You won't feel a thing.
edit>>,damn you devash for taking advantage of my slow typing<< edit 😉🤣
Carelessly lube the chain on an in gear running motorcycle. Place finger on the underside of the upper run of the chain, near the rear sprocket.
I didn't think motorbikes had a reverse gear (aside from a Goldwing?)
aside from a Goldwing
which doesn't have a chain.
Arctic holiday and this until frost bite kicks in?
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My wait has been much less but I keep putting it off, it's my little finger that's gone curly which fortunately matches my handlebar grip, about 70' of curl I think. I may have it done over winter so I can ride over this summer. Keeps getting caught when I put my hand in my pocket and I now give Freemason like handshakes.
Table saw or chop saw, nice fine disc for masonry, not a rough wood cutting disc.
Source A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving.
I like the idea of the otter method but I have only ever seen otters in Shetland, Mull, Skye, and Trefor. So locating an otter might be a problem and I might be a bit nervous of handling an enraged otter.
We saw otters last weekend at a zoo in Telford. There were two of them having a huge fight about who got to go in the favourite hidey hole. I could easily imagine the biggest problem is making sure they only took your finger and not the whole arm. Maybe try something a bit safer like a lion or tiger.
Ask Walter.
Get in touch with this guy, just make sure you specify it's your finger, like be really, really specific
If you try this yourself, chances are you'll not do the job cleanly enough, you'll likely flinch. It will have to be a hard quick strike, with something extremely sharp and weighty.
Oh and its going to really really hurt 😆
Powered saws dont cut off digits cleanly, makes a right bloody mess. Seen a number of saw and spindle moulder accidents to know thats whats left looks like burst hamburger*.
.
A meat cleaver will cut it off, but they smash through the bone and its far from clean. I'd happily volunteer here, but its years since i used one, so my aim might be a bit off.
Then of course theres the infection issue, which could lead to serious complications, loss of the remainder of the limb, or worse.
And you cant just cut it off and stick an elastoplast on it. Chances are again you'll end up with it being infected and well that is likely to be an emergency state of affairs.
.
It's a wait to be done by a surgeon, but I'd wait.
.
* Spindle moulder accident, so you can see despite the cutter being very sharp and moving at 8000 rpm it makes a hell of a mess. Sure most of it gets vapourized, but the end bit is ragged, so please dont try to use a powertool.
My own little accident involving a metal planer(shaping machine) and finger left a hell of a mess.
Where’s Stoner when you need him?
Find a cheeky otter and give it a stroke.
TBF, go to the right place on Mull and the cocky wee buggers come to you and start growling like a Rottweiler.
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I removed my little finger by clipping a road sign at about 80mph on my motorbike.
Do that 👍
Get smashed and use this...
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Fiskars-PowerGear-10-9-in-Carbon-Steel-Compound-Anvil-Lopper/1000427565
Job Jobbed.
to Valhalla 😉
My brother lost half a digit on the fan-belt pulley of an old tractor when he was young.
My grandfather lost his little pinkie jumping out of a truck in WW2 when it got caught on a nail.
But for maximum STW points you could try what I did last night where I almost sliced off my little finger on a sharp branch end in the FOD while going down a technical decent at a fair old lick. I think I got down to the bone and it is still smarting today!
ouch!
I think that I might get a quote for private treatment as I am probably to much of a wuss for most of the suggestions.
Either that or tackle an annoyed bittey squirel.
If you do it yourself, don't forget to cut the skin ahead of where you'd cut the bone so there's enough skin to join up.
I removed two of mine by getting them crushed in a lorry tailgate.
I really don't recommend it although I bought a house outright with the compo.
Join the Yakuza
Become a comedic western actor?
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There's some great posts on here that highlight mans lack of attention in dangerous circumstances, but please god don't attempt DIY surgery for the sake of £3k!! Even if you do end up selling a bike or two to fund it!!
Assume none of the steroid or radiotherapy options are available to you then? Or is it still 58 Weeks just for a consultation?
Maybe halfway point of private consultation to know all options.
Apologies if I've got the wrong end of the stick and the private consultation alone is £3k? That would smart a bit!
I went private for mine (full fasciotomy not amputation!) It was £5k or thereabouts, I had no choice as the waiting list was obscene.
From where?
Timely, just phoned the hospital to find out where I am on the list for my Dupuytren's procedure. 'Nearish to the top' apparently - the consultant's waiting list is 12-18 months and I've just passed the 12 month point since being told I needed the op. That was after 8 or 9 months just to get it looked at.
It's got significantly worse in that time and and is really starting to impact my day to day life - mtb might be out soon. I have genuinely considered amputation of my (little) finger. If it was an option with a shorter wait time I would deffo consider it.
They did stick me on the 'willing to fill a short notice cancellation slot' list though when I groaned at the delay. It might be worth phoning your consultant's secretary to ask about that? Squeaky wheel gets the oil and all that!
Good luck OP, if you find a good diy fingerectomy technique, you can come and do mine!
Find a cheeky otter and give it a stroke.
Stroking the cheeky Otter is now my new favourite euphemism. As for finger removal, I’ve worked with two people that managed to lose fingers to a baler and one to a circular saw. Could you not tie a piece of string really tightly around it and leave it until it falls off? Basically like a massive skin tag that’s nothing like a skin tag.
It's 58 weeks for the initial consultation.
Hopefully I can get a decent quote. If not I will do the surgery in A&E so they can tidy things up.
I wonder if enraged otters can cope with A&E
Had the operation on my left little finger twice around 7 years apart and it is still bent over approx 90degrees so if you find a fairly pain free way of removing it let me know 😀
Christ a year for a consultation.
Best of luck 🤞
Get a job in a saw mill.
My mate got a job, looked around and spotted numerous people missing digits. He then got a job in a sandwich factory and still has all his own fingers.
Good luck op!
If you're going to use a bike wheel, you need a tri-spoke or something from Spinergy in the late 1980s for certainty.
I forgot some health and safety!
Make sure you get some gaffer tape in and a few, fairly clean bits of rag from the garage to stem the blood flow.
Better safe than sorry.
How about just going private for the consultation, if not a good wood chisel, mate and a hammer. And don’t ask WCA or you will have the wrong limbs off.
FTFY 😀 😉
Not sure if I'm more disturbed or relieved by people posting serious responses to this, surely nobody - in this day and age - would consider doing it would they? :vom:
Watching Rebus, the heavies used one of these to take a blokes finger off…
A couple of stiff drinks, a couple of co-codomols and maybe some Voltarol beforehand might be a good idea.
Befriend a Samurai and commit a really tiny act that brings shame upon them. Offer your finger as a way to make amends for your transgression.
There is an injection to dissolve the collagen build up in the tendon sheath
not anymore I'm afraid. Xiaflex was withdrawn from the EU (and even us) as it's a bit rubbish.
Surgery is the answer, but over a year is a bit much. I have had surgery on one finger (private i'm afraid), and a load of radiation to slow it down (which has been successful).
I did take part in a trial using an anti arthritis drug, which did work (disappointingly, I had the placebo). It's not on release yet https://ridd.octru.ox.ac.uk/, but may well be out before your appointment!
If you must use a HED3 trispoke, you’ll need to put it in backwards. The NACA aerofoil has a blunt front and sharp exit. Just saying. Ride down the road and realign the front brakes whilst moving. Try a carrot first.
Even running backwards it'll only break the finger (i've got one downstairs) the spinergy on the other hand, that makes a serious mess and could work.
Surely the only correct answer is a honey badger?
Even running backwards it’ll only break the finger
I was thinking in a 10 at 30+ mph. Got to work hard for that amputation. Could always sharpen the trailing edge too. Mine's a bit twitchy in the wind, so I have three on the trike for stability.
@petec thanks for the link. the paper is published. injecting 40mg of Adalimumab (Humira) directly in to the nodule is an interesting approach. Normally patients with rheumatoid arthritis are also taking methotrexate to suppress antibodies against the drug. Given the cost, modest response and anti-drug antibodies, I think it looks like surgery.
"Follow-up over a period of approximately 10 years would be required to assess the effect on flexion deformity and hand function." that's the regulatory endpoint.
The market's reaction to Xiaflex was the same as mine.
Now you've asked the question and got the answers,
fate the world and just coincidence will probably come together tomorrow and you'll end up slamming a car door and unintentionally end up losing the wrong one 🙂
Had the operation on my left little finger twice around 7 years apart and it is still bent over approx 90 degrees
That's disheartening 😕 Mine's about 60 degrees* and quite rapidly getting worse. It's amazing how much that stops you doing quite basic stuff. Obvious things like gripping, holding and lifting but also stuff like press ups, dusting, cleaning the car or anything that requires a flat hand.
It's also starting to catch on stuff and genuinely be a PITA. It's permanently sore/itchy too, but I could live with that if I was able to straighten it again. Hearing I might not is not welcome news! I have it both hands too, joy! Only one is seriously bent at the moment though.
*45 is the minimum before our NHS trust will consider surgery.
Sush that makes me cringe.
Going to see a physio to try and get an idea on about time scales on the progression of the contracture and get a recommendation for where to go for private treatment.
Any accident is much more likely to damage the working fingers as the dodgy one is tucked out of the way.
My neighbour removed his finger (and most of his hand) with a chainsaw so give that a try.
To be fair he was a complete cock so fully deserved it
I am banned by my partner from buying a chainsaw, I don't know why? I nearly got permission when we had a complete tree fall down in the garden but managed with hand tools.
A couple of stiff drinks, a couple of co-codomols and maybe some Voltarol beforehand might be a good idea.
Sit on it for 20 mins beforehand and it'll feel like you're cutting someone else's finger off.
I think that's how it works?
You need a rabbit called Norman. They sewed my middle finger back on, but mr consistent, old Norman, kept going and got the index the following week. Again sewn back on but very neatly degloved apparently.
My Grandfather, Father and Uncles have all had it, total claw hand, my Father had surgery about 25 years ago whilst pretty invasive sorted it out. Last year the fingers on my right hand started to twist outwards so I thought its my time, but no.. osteo-arthritis in my knuckles, if it gets too bad its a case of fusing the joints. Sods law, it'll be the contracture next. Some days I think due to the pain it would be great to just loose the index finger.
