So last Tuesday I’m wrestling with a jammed closet door, right? Then POP goes something in my left pinky. Hurt like hell. Figured it’s just a stub but next morning? Whole finger’s puffed up like a sausage.
Ignoring It Like An Idiot
First couple days, I tried the usual dumb stuff:
- Wrapped it in a damn bandaid like that’d fix anything
- Kept bending it open/shut thinking “it’ll loosen up”
- Pressed ice on it while yelling at Netflix shows
Zero improvement. Couldn’t even hold a coffee mug without wincing.
The Lightbulb Moment
Remembered that pain test trick from a physio pal. Super simple: pinch your fingertip sideways.
- Gently squeeze fingertip left-to-right
- Then try top-to-bottom
Did the squeeze test – BAM. Hot knife pain shooting sideways. That’s when I knew. Real splint time.
MacGyver Mode Activated
No fancy medical gear here. Grabbed:
- Stiff cardboard from a cereal box
- Medical tape (the kind that doesn’t rip skin off)
- Scissors to trim it pinky-sized
Shaped cardboard around my crooked pinky like a tiny hot dog bun. Taped it snug but not cutting off blood flow. Looked ridiculous but hey.
Living With The Franken-Pinky
Kept that sucker taped 24/7. Brushed teeth one-handed. Typed like a chicken pecking keys. Even slept with it – dreamt about mummified fingers.
Two days later? Magic. The sideways pinch test? Just faint soreness. Still taped it for heavy stuff though. Moral of the story? When simple stuff like opening jars hurts – just check with that dumb pinch test before you waste weeks “toughing it out”.
