Broken hand advice

[2long]

I'm an idiot, so let's get that over and done with first.

2 weeks ago, my drunken anger caused me to hit a wooden wall/fence and I'm 95% sure the 3rd finger hand bone is broken. This also happened 20 years ago, (4th bone I think). Back then I left it one week and the doctor had to rebreak the bone and put the hand in cast. Not fun.

 

The three reasons I haven't done anything about this are..

1- inconvenience of a cast for a month or more

2- having to explain in Thai to God knows who what happened, or lie about it

3- the cost

FYI I'm 48, and I ride a motorbike every day and go swimming 5 days a week and use a computer 15 hours a day... hence the inconvenience

It still hurts, but it's not the end of the world. I have pretty good range of movement, but I'm pretty sure it's broken near the knuckle.

All advice welcome, along with a 'man-up slap' or comments.

 

[Handsome Gardener]

You would be asking this on a thai visa website because …… 

[2long]

Because I live in Swaziland and have full healthcare!
Why the F do you think?

[jvs]

Dont punch any one for awhile.

 

[BritManToo]

Broken finger usually just gets straitened and taped to the next finger.

Less than 1,000bht in a government hospital.

(90Bht doctor fee, 200bht x-ray, 50bht foreigner fee) 

 

No need to explain anything, they don't care how you did it.

Edited August 15, 2019 by BritManToo

[2long]

It's the hand bone, but thanks.

[Isaanbiker]

8 minutes ago, 2long said:

It's the hand bone, but thanks.

Go to a government hospital and there's no need to think about any excuses.

You fell off the bike, there are so many other excuses without making you look damn stupid.

 

Guess you know the deal, if you wait too long, or you've already done so, they'll have to break it again. Better now than next week.

 

Now be a man and go there tomorrow. Much better is to go in the afternoon, you won't have to wait that long. 

 

  Tell them to give you a shot first and you don't feel the klick. Username fits. Waiting 2 long.

 

  

Edited August 15, 2019 by Isaanbiker
broken dreams

[2long]

Thanks Isaaanbiker

The cost excuses are only a factor for insurance. I will say that I hurt it a fortnight ago, and then hurt it again on the day of the visit. That way it should be covered.

2-3 weeks without swimming won't kill me, but more than that would really be a pain.

As for the cracking it back into place... it's not the end of the world and not a painful body part. For me, it's the damn inconvenience of a cast and explanations.

Will probably go Monday (wife away for the weekend... have kids).

Cheers for your help.

[timendres]

Xrays at any hospital are super cheap. Get one done.

[SteveK]

10 minutes ago, timendres said:

Xrays at any hospital are super cheap. Get one done.

Really? I seem to remember my MIL paying quite a bit for x-rays to diagnose her kidney stones at Ubon hospital.

[timendres]

3 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Really? I seem to remember my MIL paying quite a bit for x-rays to diagnose her kidney stones at Ubon hospital.

$14 USD to x-ray my ankle at BumRunGrad.

[Ron jeremy]

Jerkoff with the other hand. And to say it's the second time you have punched a wall with the same result?

[BritManToo]

11 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Really? I seem to remember my MIL paying quite a bit for x-rays to diagnose her kidney stones at Ubon hospital.

100-200bht for a foreigner in my local hospital.

Were you asked to contribute to your MiLs x-ray fees by any chance?

Should have been totally free if it was her local hospital.

Edited August 15, 2019 by BritManToo

[taninthai]

My advice..

dont have any crazy wanking sessions and give up the drink????????????

[Sheryl]

As you already know, you need to see a doctor, get some films and perhaps have it splinted or casted depending on exact situation.And if you have left it too long they may have to do more. So do not delay further.

 

If it were me I'd shell out and see a hand specialist at a private hospital but if you want least expensive option go to a government hospital. Which one, I would need to know where in Thailand you live.

 

It will be dirt cheap at a government hospital. Few hundred baht max.

 

No one remotely cares how it happened. Just say you fell. People often fracture finders or hand when falling because the hand reaches out to break the fall.

[2long]

Thanks everyone.

Private hospital 5,400B but probably ramped up because on insurance.

Confirmed fracture and in a 3/4 cast. They say 6 weeks, but I can't do that. He didn't reduce/reset/rebreak it, so the cast is just to immobilise it.

Riding the scooter home was interesting (right hand). No, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed and am equally stubborn.

Now just have the embarrassment of having to explain to neighbours, which will be a bore.

Interestingly, our dog is obsessed with the cast and tries to hump it!

[thaibeachlovers]

I had broken hand bone from m'bike accident. The clown that put it in a back slab didn't get follow up xray and I had to get it pinned after the swelling went down and I could see it was not aligned properly.

My advice- if it's necessary for surgery do NOT get it pinned. DO get it plated. Pins stick out and have to be dressed every day at hospital; plate is internal.

Plating may cost more, but worth it.

 

 

[Sheryl]

17 minutes ago, 2long said:

Thanks everyone.

Private hospital 5,400B but probably ramped up because on insurance.

Confirmed fracture and in a 3/4 cast. They say 6 weeks, but I can't do that. ..

 

6 weeks is the minimal amount of time for bone fracture to heal suffiicently that it can be used without risk of dislocation.  Even at 6 weeks the new bone formation required for healing is only around likely just 50% but that will be enough to let you use it.

 

To not follow this advice would be foolish in the extreme, and lead to more injury -- quite possibly worse injury than you had to begin with.

[thaibeachlovers]

PS, I see that you are in a cast, so disregard my advice, but valid for anyone else that may need surgery for a broken hand.

 

However, if you don't want a cast for 6 weeks a plate would solve that for you. Once skin heals you are independent again.

Should only need one day in hospital, if not done as outpatient.

Edited August 16, 2019 by thaibeachlovers

[Isaanbiker]

12 hours ago, 2long said:

Thanks Isaaanbiker

The cost excuses are only a factor for insurance. I will say that I hurt it a fortnight ago, and then hurt it again on the day of the visit. That way it should be covered.

2-3 weeks without swimming won't kill me, but more than that would really be a pain.

As for the cracking it back into place... it's not the end of the world and not a painful body part. For me, it's the damn inconvenience of a cast and explanations.

Will probably go Monday (wife away for the weekend... have kids).

Cheers for your help.

Your motorbike insurance will cover expenses up to 12 K. Perhaps 15 now, times are changing. 

 

P.S. You don't have to lie to anybody and tell them what you did. You just got hit by another vehicle and fell. 

 

   The cast might be inconvenient, I know that. I've had one for a long time and had to go to work. 

 

  But that was on my leg, a full cast. Just don't worry what others think, it's your life.

 

There's really no need to think about making up a story.

 

They won't ask you many questions. And it foreigners are trying to make fun of you, just tell them to mind their own business. 

 

 

 

  

Edited August 16, 2019 by Isaanbiker

[Old Croc]

So, having broken a bone you find it inconvenient to be in a cast and embarrassing having to explain it!  You worry about cost, but seem to be insured! 

Exactly what advice did you expect to get on a forum other than where to go to get treatment?

My suggestion - Suan Saranom Hospital in Surat Thani

 

 

[2long]

Thanks
Deep down I was hoping for enough people to tell me not to worry about it, or to get it sorted. And sorted it now is. ???? Not a serious fracture. I'd been hiding the injury from my family, and don't do the social media attention seeking thing. So I had no one else to ask, really.

I wasn't expecting to get it on insurance, which was a bonus.

Explaining in hospital isn't a problem, it's the local neighbours who will ask ask ask when they see the cast and although I can speak Thai ok, it's going to be boring having to.

Thonburi 2 Hospital, Taling Chan.

[Sheryl]

Just tell neighbors "Moto accident".

 

I recently had a bad accident (run over by motorcycle at high speed), was in hand and leg cast for 6 weeks and even after they ca,e off had to use first a walker and then a cane for awhile. A single word answer "Moto" satisifed people.