Saturday, March 31, 2012

Another Volleyball Injury

2012 was an injury filled year for our volleyball team. First, we lost Ryan, one of our big gun to a torn patellar tendon and broken wrist, then Big D (my dad) scheduled his second hip replacement (he still finished the season, of course...he's one tough dude!), then, it was my turn.

We won the league, despite not having Ryan for half the season. We felt pretty confident going into the tourney that we could play well...not necessarily win, but play well. We aren't really a tourney team, we are more of a grind out the season kinda team.

I started in my usual middle back position, being a defensive/passing minded guy. After a few quick rotations, I found myself on the front row. I jumped to block, and the ball struck the inside of my left thumb, pushing it back and out, which popped my bottom knuckle out of joint. I shook my hand hard two or three times, which popped the joint back in. The swelling and numbness was immediate. I called time out so I could get some tape...if dad is out there with a bone on bone hip, there was no way I was going to stop playing with a sore thumb.

Of course, the thumb greatly hindered my performance, and we didn't make it to the Final Four, which was disapointing. At numerous points, I vocally told people I thought it was broken. The next day, the damage was evident.


(The bruising my the bottom knuckle is where the dislocation occured.)


(Bruising and swelling.)


(More of the same.)

I didn't get x-rays, because I wanted to wait for the swelling to come down before I did anything. I thought it was improving. Two weeks later, while playing a pick up game of basketball, one of my nephews came across for the steal and raked my thumb. I was almost in tears. X-Rays were in order.

The x-rays were negative, and my thumb ended up not being broken. The doc gave me this handsome soft cast.




Two weeks of cast, and if the pain is still around, then I have to go back and discuss possible ligament damage. The life of a baller isn't always glamourous, that's for sure!!

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