Anyone reduced dislocated thumbs without medical assistance?

[kerry]

My 14 yr old daughter dislocated her thumb this morning as we were removing a heavy sea kayak from the roof of the TD. As she was screaming and I stood by the garage looking at the digit askew, I considered grabbing it and giving it a firm pull forward. I then thought better of it and took her to the urgent care down the street where they numbed it and then reduced it. I'm wondering how easy and how painful it is to do it yourself without medical assistance. If it had happened in the wilderness far away from medical help, I'd have had no choice. Anyone with experience in this area?

[tankdriver]

No experience, but I saw Ernest Byner dislocate his finger in a Skins game, run over to the sideline and got it pulled back into place, and got back on the field the play after. It can be done I guess, but I wouldn't want to have it done to me, or do it to someone else for that matter.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by kerry

My 14 yr old daughter dislocated her thumb this morning as we were removing a heavy sea kayak from the roof of the TD. As she was screaming and I stood by the garage looking at the digit askew, I considered grabbing it and giving it a firm pull forward. I then thought better of it and took her to the urgent care down the street where they numbed it and then reduced it. I'm wondering how easy and how painful it is to do it yourself without medical assistance. If it had happened in the wilderness far away from medical help, I'd have had no choice. Anyone with experience in this area?

How easy? not too bad according to the wife. However, she is a trained professional with experience in all floors of the hospital except L&D and the operating room. You, based on your questions, are not. She would have numbing agents at her disposal. You do not. She knows what to check for. She would know when to move something and when not to and what you need. She could make the decision to leave somebody on the floor because it is better than risking a neck injury moving them. Now, if it is somebody you don't like, have at it. If it is your daughter and you like her, best let the professionals do it. If you do it while there is a lot of swelling, you might damage something.