Fractured hand, no lifting for 6 wks

[jimike]

Hi coach.
I was on the SS novice programme and a gym veteran, as is often the way of things it seems. Was loving all the squatting especially but then disaster struck.
I fractured a bone in my hand (the so called "boxers fracture" beneath my ring finger) and was told by the lady in A&E that i would be unable to do any barbell training or putting much pressure on it for at least 6 weeks.
This has obviously thrown a spanner in the works. I get out of my plaster cast in 14 days if all goes to plan and i'm reluctant to stop strength training but now my options are somewhat limited in regards to following your programme.
I feel i may have to dust of my dress and start using the instruments of satan otherwise known as resistance machines again, leg press, pec flyes along with high volume air squats and so on that i can do without involving my hand.

My questions are
1.Do you give me your blessing for such an unavoidable use of machines and state for the record that i do not infact have a pussy in spite of evidence to the contrary?
2.What sort of structure could i use for these workouts?
It seems that the 3x5 SS model was due to the lifts fatiguing your CNS ability to recover doing more, but as machines are fundamentally for pussies mostly i can't imagine that this would apply.

Thanks for your time and i know this can't be pleasant reading for you, forwarding the cause of machine usage but i can't think how i can do any mans exercises without stressing my hand.

p.s. I hope to try to see you when you eventually get the the UK for your BB cert. Do you plan on staying here long or will it be more a whistlestop visit?

Cheers Mick

[Mark Rippetoe]

Precisely where is the fracture, and how did you do it?

[jimike]

It was in this place but about a centemetre higher up towards my fingers, just before the wider part of the knuckles and not as severe looking as that pic.

http://z.about.com/d/orthopedics/1/0/1/1/fxaphand.jpg

It didn't seem like that bad having seen the x-ray and looked like the fracture was small, running lengthways through the bone and was well aligned (i'm not 100% on any of these though as i know nothing about xrays pics).

Sadly i got it in a bar fight 2 days ago when some drunk aggressive random idiot of the highest order managed to drag his friend into a fight with my friend after this idiot half nutted my friend and threatened him with a empty beer glass in a bar. Which then caused me to get involved to even the numbers up. Caused a fairly big scene. There was probably a few bruises and black eyes but i think i was the only one that needed to go to the hospital after after hitting his forehead or some other solid mass a couple of times with my fist.

My first fight i've been in since i was 14 just about. I'm 27 now. I really couldn't have avoided it.

[AidenBloodaxe]

Fourth metacarpal fracture? You could use the very heel of your palm to support the bar when squatting?

[Mark Rippetoe]

That's it: we'll let the Scots teach the English how to fight, and the English can teach the Scots how to train. History repeats. But don't hit people with your hands anymore. At least not that way.

[Joel Chapman]

I'm almost afraid to ask, but what does it mean to "half-nut" a guy?

[jimike]

Fourth metacarpal fracture? You could use the very heel of your palm to support the bar when squatting?

Yes, It is the fourth metacarpal fracture having just googled it.

I don't know how i would really do that safely with my palm to be honest. I'm sure at some point i'd get a bit of a wobble in the bar midlift or something then revert to my original grip or a more secure one.

I've witnessed much sillieness on these boards in regards to the medical profession but i figure they know their stuff about fractures and the like. I'm very hesitant to put my hand in a position were it could be subjected to a large load.
6 weeks off sucks but i've to keep these hands for the rest of my life. I'd be pretty paranoid about screwing them by coming back too early.

And Rip. You are indeed right no more punching. If i had employed my hometowns Glasgow Kiss i would likely have injured nothing, it wouldn't have been the same for the other guy though.

You also forgot to say that we also teach the English manners as you American's did yourselves back in the day
Sorry Aiden i couldn't resist a wee dig. I'm sure you'll retaliate by calling us all miserable drunkards. Which is quite unfair as we're all fairly cheerful mostly. lol

[Mark Rippetoe]

I'll bet you can figure out a way to back squat with some tape and a grip adjustment, maybe going very wide with the bad hand. The English (actually, their silly government) can't be taught manners. They have fucked up everything they have touched for the past 1000 years. But, the people on both sides of the wall are very cool. I enjoy my time there immensely. We'll need a description of the Glaswegian Kiss.

[jimike]

I'm almost afraid to ask, but what does it mean to "half-nut" a guy?

It does sound a bit kinky now that i think about it. Headbutt=to nut. Half-nut would be not a wholehearted attempt.

The Glasgow Kiss is an affectionate greeting people in glasgow have for meeting strangers. Or so it seems sometimes. (it's also a headbutt)

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed yourself Rip. Did you need to hire a translater for your trip?

I give the wide grip and palm thing a try a week or so after i get this plaster off.

[Kostas]

I enjoy my time there immensely. We'll need a description of the Glaswegian Kiss.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...laswegian+kiss

A head butt. Where one person violently smashes his or her forehead into the face of another normally resulting the latter's discomfort and/or severe facial injury.

I think it's more commonly referred to as a Glasgow Kiss rather than Glaswegian. And remember kids, if you ever need to administer one, don't use your forehead as though you are doing a header in soccer, you will likely break your own nose, and it will hurt. Use the top of your head towards the front, and use your body and legs to give the power and thrust to the movement, not your neck. This is tried and tested even by the 130lb weakling I was once.

(Coach I have no idea if you will allow this through, as violence is not the solution to anything, but as so many guys on here are newbies who are small and skinny, they might need to know this stuff until they become big strong warriors ;-) I'd just like to say thanks at this point to my sadistic meathead Kung Fu/Krav Maga teacher from back in the day).

Final note, after you administer one, run away. When the other guy gets up, he'll be very pissed off and will probably kick your arse.