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Skier's Thumb is WACK

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ja.
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 144
Currently both my thumbs are swollen and I'm bummed cause almost every day skiing I re-injure one or the other. I don't really wanna lose the poles cause I'm not a fan of no pole skiing.

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for how they avoid skier's thumb. Any info on those custom braces from PC would be helpful too.

thanks.
Mar 1 2010 6:44PM
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AEROPLAEHN
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 192
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=273015103771
Mar 1 2010 7:06PM
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AEROPLAEHN
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 192
Link fail... http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=273015103771
Mar 1 2010 7:06PM
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
The only time I've ever gotten it in 16 years of skiing, was while snowboarding.

I don't get how this happens??
Mar 1 2010 7:12PM
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special_k10101
Posts: 1498 - Karma: 72
broke my thumb twice, went to a hand specialist, got a custom heat molded plastic brace that i wear skiing now as kind of a comfort thing because it fits under a glove still. it can be cumbersome and doesn't get under park gloves, but it's about as low profile as you can get for something that still protects you. it has definitely saved me some pain.
Mar 1 2010 7:18PM
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Mtougas
Posts: 870 - Karma: 77
I have the same thing and so does my friend. The only full proof thing is to keep any pressure off it for quite a long time which is hard to do because you dont want to skip a season for your thumb. I would say tape it up or put it in some sort of cast.
Mar 1 2010 7:20PM
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
how do you wear your pole straps? because you have to put your hand through the loop and then you have to place the strap so it is sandwiched between the grip and the hand. I hope that makes sense
Mar 1 2010 7:24PM
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rj.
Posts: 3323 - Karma: 28
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Mar 1 2010 7:25PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
pat just broke his thumb too. bummer.


do you wear pole straps? and if so, the right way?
Mar 1 2010 7:27PM
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ja.
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 144
no, I dont wear straps at all. I was thinking that may help cause if I do fall I could let go of the poles and extend my hands. But not sure if that would help.
Mar 1 2010 7:30PM
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zflink
Posts: 309 - Karma: 283
i just got out of my cast, which i had for 4 weeks, last monday from skiers thumb. the hard cast was nice because there was no worry of injury while skiing. now i have to wear a thumb spica brace to skiing. but now my thumb is wicked messed up. i have a massive bump where i injured the ligament. has anyone found permenant damage from the injury?
Mar 1 2010 7:33PM
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rickroller
Posts: 2468 - Karma: 483
duck tape your fingers to your pols
Mar 1 2010 7:35PM
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ALLIANCE_1
Posts: 126 - Karma: 15
i fucked up my thumb over in mammoth in jan, just bad skiers thumb and it still hasnt healed

We should make a ban on poles!!!!!

poles are awesome
Mar 1 2010 7:37PM
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steevner
Posts: 4502 - Karma: 47
just wear your pole straps and let go of the grips when you fall. It's not hard.
Mar 1 2010 7:37PM
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ALLIANCE_1
Posts: 126 - Karma: 15
yeah dude wheni fucked my thumb over in mammoth i did ligament damage aswel and i have a lump there too, im super worried about it because it hasnt fully healed and is not really getting better when i injured it about 7 weeks ago and the doc said it would only take 3 weeks to heal. i think you and i both need to go to our doctors on this one haha
Mar 1 2010 7:45PM
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dirty.
Posts: 736 - Karma: 69
I broke mine jamming the shit out of it on a rock skiing 3 years ago and never did anything about it/didnt know how fucked it really was. now everytime i land on it when its in a fist or drag it at all it hurts for a few days. nothing some ice, ibuprofen, and bong tears cant take care of though
Mar 1 2010 8:23PM
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special_k10101
Posts: 1498 - Karma: 72
i had ligament damage the second time i broke mine. i popped a little piece of bone off with the ligament. right now i think i have a little less flexibility when i try to bend it back and whatnot, but it's not really noticeable.
Mar 1 2010 8:42PM
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b-kul
Posts: 4350 - Karma: 1,111
as long as you wear your pole straps the right way it should be a non issue.
Mar 1 2010 8:57PM
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Broseph_Stalin
Posts: 3745 - Karma: 178
eirther a cast or tape of sorts to immobilize it. then it wont keep moving in odd directions. not a professional opinion but its what i think
Mar 1 2010 9:00PM
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ChristianJames
Posts: 214 - Karma: 19
yeah i fell hard on a rail and fucked up my thumb and now i fall on it all the time so it will never be the same. it sucks...
Mar 1 2010 9:04PM
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special_k10101
Posts: 1498 - Karma: 72
i wore my pole straps correctly, now i don't even wear them, and believe me it can still happen. it takes a pretty conscious effort to release your pole when you're about to fall.
Mar 1 2010 9:04PM
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SKIU4EA
Posts: 2387 - Karma: 2,072

Here’s the thing…

 

 

This is what typically happens with skier’s thumb.  I’ve broken both thumbs countless times.

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Once you get it, usually it will continue to be a problem.  You don’t need super specially ordered braces to prevent it.  Just a simple thumb immobilizer from Walgreens or rite aid for $11.99.   If it gets to be a real problem buy them.  I haven’t had a problem since, and I had it really bad for years and years. 

Click for larger image

 

 

 

Barely being able to use your thumbs is the downfall, but it outweighs wincing pain every time you fall.  I wear em everytime I'm in the park.

Mar 1 2010 9:06PM
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Scott0_robot0
Posts: 3291 - Karma: 212
skiers thmb sucks totally man, i would get that brace if it keeps happening to you my friend just broke his thumb and is now wearing that. he says it keeps his thumb from being jarred around to much.
Mar 1 2010 9:09PM
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skiRay
Posts: 7558 - Karma: 926
i had it twice last year on my right and once on my left. and at one point it was on both so that shit was gay. i just iced them a lot and wrapped them
Mar 1 2010 9:11PM
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Hogis
Posts: 551 - Karma: 393
Skier's thumb is a pain in the ass. Right after its "healed" it happens again over and over.
I took my straps off and it helpt ALOT, but I still get them thought.
Mar 1 2010 9:36PM
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The_Future
Posts: 1418 - Karma: 607
I got a severe sprain on sunday... a little piece of my bone is like pulled off, but not completely detached.  I'm stuck with a very simple splint on it for a week... then it's game on.
Mar 1 2010 9:45PM
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ja.
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 144
but a brace won't prevent jamming your thumbs, it will only stop your thumb from moving ill regularly.
Mar 1 2010 11:03PM
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MADDECENT
Posts: 5579 - Karma: 951
Skiers thumb sucks buttt
Mar 1 2010 11:53PM
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belingajohn
Posts: 23 - Karma: 11
I just tore a ligament in my thumb today. How do the straps cause skiers thumb?
Jan 14 2011 8:28PM
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mr.k2
Posts: 504 - Karma: 156
dude skiers thumb sucks. i broke my thumb last year when i hit the back seat. shit sucks
Jan 14 2011 8:30PM
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N.L.
Posts: 2420 - Karma: 2,744
i dont even use straps, its from "punching" the ground when you fall. then the grip pushes your thumb out. my right hand suffered this along time ago but doesnt happen anymore, i think the ligament just healed torn.
now my left is going thru it, and yeah, its the worst.
Jan 14 2011 8:31PM
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doyle.
Posts: 1624 - Karma: 596
i've done this a couple times in the last year, it sucks. just give it some time and tape it up so gets held in there a bit better
Jan 14 2011 8:37PM
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zflink
Posts: 309 - Karma: 283
i'm now on my 5th re-injury of my right thumb. its like no fail for me to hit my thumb somehow when i dont wear my brace.
Jan 15 2011 3:42PM
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hoodratz47
Posts: 12020 - Karma: 9,475
wear your pole straps right! not that hard
Jan 15 2011 4:15PM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
what the fuck is skier's thumb?
you guys honestly sound like vaginas right now
Jan 15 2011 4:31PM
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CMYK
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 336



This. And wear your poles right. Fingers up through loop, grab poles. Nothing should be looped around your thumbs. (sorry most likely and awful explanation)
Jan 15 2011 5:31PM
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Sam.Carson
Posts: 2884 - Karma: 33
tape your thumb to your pole
Jan 16 2011 2:06PM
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zues
Posts: 6434 - Karma: -5,330
ehhh yea i got pretty bad skiers thumb.... it sucks and won't go away...
Jan 16 2011 5:11PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
Not being a dick here, just telling you that it's "foolproof".
Jan 16 2011 5:20PM
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Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9092 - Karma: 3,022
Wtf is skier's thumb?
Jan 16 2011 5:22PM
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jgomez
Posts: 92 - Karma: 37
ive been getting it pretty bad this year and i think i just broke my right thumb on friday but still gotta get checked by doc
Jan 16 2011 5:38PM
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dozerr
Posts: 4007 - Karma: 403
dont use pole straps
Jan 16 2011 5:39PM
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zerospinskier
Posts: 4867 - Karma: 350
Basically this. It doesn't eliminate it, but makes it less common. The right way means if you let go of your pole, it drops down and out of the way.
Jan 16 2011 6:34PM
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TBigCat
Posts: 629 - Karma: 4
ive had that many times... dont know how to prevent it.
Jan 16 2011 6:45PM
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nCrow
Posts: 1204 - Karma: 7,866
never had it

Jan 16 2011 6:58PM
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ChrisSkisChronic
Posts: 1128 - Karma: 230
The first time I skied using poles I was 8 or 9 and I sprained my thumb, I recall it hurting a lot. I havn't used the straps since
Jan 16 2011 7:51PM
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Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9092 - Karma: 3,022
In pow I pole plant way too hard to not use pole straps.
Jan 16 2011 7:54PM
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zues
Posts: 6434 - Karma: -5,330
yea... i don't use the straps, but this might be the reason I get skiiers thumb. I don't let go i keep holding them and put my thumb down which jams it... over and over ...
Jan 16 2011 7:55PM
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KennyC
Posts: 1922 - Karma: 46
funniest thing i have seen all day.
Jan 16 2011 7:57PM
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Elmo.
Posts: 4317 - Karma: 663
gotten it like once. seems to be a huge problem with ppl. i hope i wont get it


but i would lose the poles for a little til it feels a lot better then pick em up again? idk if that would work
Jan 16 2011 8:13PM
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Colston
Posts: 168 - Karma: 113
in my opinion these injuries are like the worst.. since its minor and you can move n shit you think your all good to go ski and not limited at all.. but then your scared to try anything cause you dont want to fall and hit your thumb, and if you do as much as touch it to the snow it hurts like a bitch
Jan 17 2011 1:52PM
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